Raised bed gardening has become popular for many. But is growing pumpkins in a raised bed is plausible?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Raised bed gardening has become popular for many urban and suburban gardeners. These compact growing sites require no tilling, are easy to access, and convey a tidy appearance to the backyard.
Yet not all plants adapt well to growing in small spaces, which leaves gardeners wondering if growing pumpkins in a raised bed is plausible.
Pumpkins are a type of winter squash which grow on vines that can reach 20 feet (6 m.) in length. Varieties of pumpkins range in size from those small enough to fit in the palm of ones hand to record breaking giants weighing over a ton.
When garden space is limited, which is often the case with raised bed methods, choosing an appropriately sized variety is the first step for successful pumpkin cultivation.
Miniature or pie varieties as well as those with a semi-bush or compact growth habit are good choices when using a raised garden bed for pumpkins. This information can usually be found on the seed packet, plant tag, or in the catalog description.
To get you started here are a few varieties that do well as raised bed pumpkins:
Growing pumpkins in a raised bed can be a fun and rewarding gardening experience. With the right planning and care, you can have a bountiful harvest of pumpkins even with limited space In this complete guide, we will cover everything you need to know about successfully raising pumpkins in raised beds.
Why Grow Pumpkins in Raised Beds?
There are several benefits to growing pumpkins in raised beds compared to traditional in-ground gardening:
-
Better drainage – Raised beds allow for superior drainage which pumpkin plants prefer over soggy soil.
-
Warmer soils – The loose, raised soil warms up quicker in spring allowing for earlier planting
-
Less weeding – Raised beds make weeds easier to spot and remove before they overwhelm your pumpkin plants
-
Accessibility – Raised beds elevate your pumpkins so you don’t have to bend over as far to tend to them.
-
Space saving – Those with small yards can grow more pumpkins by utilizing vertical space with a raised bed.
-
Custom soil mix – You can fill your raised bed with a soil mix optimized for pumpkin growth.
Choosing a Raised Bed Site
When selecting where to place your raised pumpkin bed, keep these factors in mind:
-
Sunlight – Pumpkins require at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
-
Space – Allow a 4×4 ft bed per plant, more for large varieties.
-
Access – Place near paths for easy harvesting and vine training.
-
Soil – Avoid areas with high clay content or poor drainage.
Ideally choose a sunny spot with plenty of room to spread. You can guide vines beyond the bed perimeter.
Constructing Your Raised Bed
You can either build a raised bed yourself from wood, stone or other materials or purchase a pre-made raised bed kit. Here are some quick tips:
-
Size beds at least 12 inches deep and 4 feet wide. More depth is better.
-
Use rot-resistant wood like cedar or pine for frame boards.
-
Line the bottom with hardware cloth to keep pests out.
-
Include vertical supports if using a trellis for vine training.
Take time to properly build and fortify your raised bed for lasting pumpkin production.
Selecting Pumpkin Varieties
With hundreds of pumpkin varieties, selecting the right ones for your raised bed is key.
-
Choose smaller varieties under 15 lbs to maximize space.
-
Look for compact, semi-bush habits requiring under 15 ft of vine.
-
Miniature types like Jack Be Little work well in narrow beds.
-
Pie pumpkins produce smaller, sweeter fruits on shorter vines.
-
Larger vine carving varieties can work if you have the room.
Match varieties to your bed size, support system, and end use to optimize success.
Preparing the Soil
Pumpkins thrive in loose, fertile, well-drained soil. Here are some tips for getting your raised bed soil prepped:
-
Loosen soil at least 8 inches deep using a shovel or garden fork
-
Mix in 2-3 inches of compost or well-aged manure
-
Add a balanced organic fertilizer by following label rates
-
Consider a soil test to reveal any deficiencies to amendment
-
Rake smooth and form into rows or hills based on vine habit
Take time to properly prepare soil for your pumpkin plants to thrive.
When to Plant Pumpkins
Pumpkins cannot tolerate any frost or cold weather. Follow these planting guidelines:
-
Direct sow seeds 1-2 weeks after your last spring frost once soil warms.
-
Transplant seedlings after danger of frost when soil reaches at least 65°F.
-
Plant most varieties from late May in northern climates to July in southern zones.
-
Stagger plantings a week or two apart for extended harvests.
Be patient and wait until soil and air temps warm to ensure a strong start.
Planting Pumpkin Seeds & Transplants
You can start pumpkins by seed or by transplanting seedlings:
For seeds:
-
Plant 1-2 seeds per foot, 1 inch deep in rows or hills.
-
Space hills/rows 4 feet apart based on vine size.
-
Thin to one plant when sprouted if you plant two seeds.
For transplants:
-
Harden off plants for 7-10 days before transplanting.
-
Dig holes 12-18 inches apart keeping same depth as containers.
-
Gently remove seedlings and place in holes, firming soil around stems.
-
Water thoroughly after planting and provide shade until established.
Follow proper planting techniques for the method you choose to start your pumpkins.
Caring for Pumpkin Vines
Once sprouted or transplanted, pumpkin vines need:
-
1-2 inches of water per week. Provide extra during fruit set.
-
Trellis or guide vines using techniques below.
-
Weed weekly to prevent competition for nutrients and water.
-
Side dress with balanced organic fertilizer monthly.
-
Protect from pests like cucumber beetles which spread disease.
-
Monitor for common pumpkin diseases like powdery mildew.
Proper vine care is essential for growing quality pumpkins in your raised bed.
Training Pumpkin Vines
The long sprawling vines of pumpkins can easily take over your raised bed. Here are some tactics to train your vines:
-
Pinch main runners once fruits form to promote side vines.
-
Weave vines through an encircling trellis or fencing around the bed.
-
Allow vines to grow beyond bed perimeter but keep organized.
-
Guide vines to climb vertical supports like a strong trellis.
-
Use horizontal netting above bed to support vines as they grow.
-
Grow miniature varieties up teepees or obelisks in center of bed.
With training, you can grow viney pumpkins in a neat and space efficient way.
Pollinating Pumpkin Flowers
Pumpkins have separate male and female flowers on vines. Pollinating females is key:
-
Male flowers appear first and die quickly after opening.
-
Female flowers have a swollen ovary behind petals which forms fruit if pollinated.
-
Hand pollinate female flowers by transferring male pollen with a brush.
-
Support bees by avoiding insecticides which aid in pollination.
-
Poor fruit set is often due to inadequate pollination.
Take time to hand pollinate for the best fruit production from your vines.
Harvest and Storing Pumpkins
With proper care, pumpkins will be ready for harvest in late summer or fall:
-
Harvest when rinds are hard and deeply colored.
-
Use pruning shears to cut pumpkins from vines, retaining stem.
-
Cure for 7-14 days in warm area, then store around 55°F.
-
Periodically check stored pumpkins, using immediately if any go soft.
-
Properly cured, most varieties can store 2-3 months.
Patience leads to the best quality and storage life from your pumpkin harvest.
Growing pumpkins in a raised bed allows you to produce your own fall fruits even with limited space. Follow this complete growing guide for raised bed success. With the right planning and care, you can harvest pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns, fall décor, pies, and more!
Tips for Growing Pumpkins in Raised Beds
One of the challenges of growing pumpkins is that their vines can grow to ridiculously long lengths – 30 feet or more! This massive growth can easily take over a small garden. That’s one of the reasons I’ve shied away from growing pumpkins in the past, but my young neighbor loves them, so I plant them for her to take home each Halloween.
I have found that growing pumpkins in raised beds is one method that will allow you to keep your pumpkin patch a little more neat and compact. Below are some things to keep in mind.
Choosing Your Varieties The variety of pumpkin you plant will depend upon what you want to do with it: carve it at Halloween, bake it into a pie at Thanksgiving, or use it for fall centerpiece in your dining room. You may want to grow the traditional orange pumpkin, or you may want to spice it up with white, caramel, yellow or a warted variety.
If you take a look at Johnny’s Selected Seeds pumpkin page, you’ll quickly see how many choices there are.
Determining what you want to use the harvest for will help you narrow down your options.
My neighbor only wants carving pumpkins and I don’t like pumpkin pie, so we always choose a mid to large size Jack o’ Lantern variety.
Planting Location Because of pumpkin’s vast vining habit, I never grow them in the center of my garden. I choose one of the raised beds on the edge for planting pumpkins. This allows me to let the long vines trail over the edge of the bed and grow along the perimeter path that doesn’t get much use.
I have a two foot fence around my garden, so I train the pumpkin vines to climb and follow the fence to keep them out of the way of other vegetables.
Sometimes they even hop the fence and start growing into my perennial garden, which gives them even more room!
When to Plant Pumpkins and other squash are not frost tolerant, so make sure you wait until after your average last frost in spring. In my 5a/b garden in Wisconsin I plant them around the same time as tomatoes and peppers, the third or fourth week in May depending on the 10 day forecast.
How Many to Plant How many pumpkins do you want to harvest? The number of fruit each plant produces often depends on the variety and size of the plant. Large carving pumpkins usually produce a handful of pumpkins per vine, three to five. Medium-sized varieties can produce up to 10 fruits per plant. Very small pumpkins can produce up to 12 or more pumpkins.
My neighbor and I aim for one or two pumpkin vines so she has at least four fruits to take home for her whole family to carve. If there’s an extra one or two for me, that’s great, too!
Direct Seed or Transplant Pumpkins are one of the vegetables you can plant by either seed or plant. My personal rule of thumb is that if I’m only planting one or two of something I’ll often purchase seedlings (plants) at the farmers market instead of buying a packet of seeds.
I’ll also buy plants if I want to try a couple of different varieties and I don’t want several packets of seeds laying around that I may never use again.
If you love growing pumpkins, grow a lot of them, or have a variety you love, buying a packet of seeds isn’t a bad plan. Pumpkin seeds germinate very easily and consistently, so it’s easy to just plant them by seed.
Watering Like all squash, pumpkins don’t like sitting in soggy soil! Raised beds improve drainage and allow you to water the pumpkins adequately without the soil becoming too soggy. I have an entire article that delves into watering pumpkins the right way.)
Growing butternut squash, which is similar to pumpkins, on a cattle panel trellis
Grow Up! Even with a large garden I sometimes feel like I don’t have enough room to grow everything on my list, especially things that take up a lot of room, like pumpkins and winter squash. Over the years I’ve built four cattle panel trellises of various styles in my garden and often use them for growing vining plants like pumpkins.
They are a huge space saver and a conversation starter! They’re one of the features of my garden that gets the most comments from neighbors.
Remember that some pumpkin vines grow 20-30 feet long, so training them to grow up and away from your other crops on a trellis saves a lot of space and makes for a neater appearance.
Timeline The plant should blossom and begin to produce fruit within 8-10 weeks after planting, and within 90-120 days you should have ripe fruit. For a deeper dive, read all about the pumpkin growing stages.
Harvesting and Storing The article about watering pumpkins also covers when and how to harvest, and how to store them.
Tips for Pumpkin Planting in Raised Beds
Once youve chosen one or more varieties of pumpkin, planting in raised beds requires forethought as to which direction the vines and fruit will grow. New growth can easily be redirected. However, established vines send out secondary roots from the base of each leaf stem. Disturbing these roots by moving older vines is not recommended.
5 Tips How to Grow Ton of Pumpkins at Home
FAQ
How deep does a raised garden bed need to be for pumpkins?
They should have at least 8 inches of soil depth to accommodate the root systems of plants, because the majority of plant roots require 6 – 8 inches of soil for healthy root growth. A depth of 8 – 12 inches will suffice for most gardening situations.
Do pumpkins grow better on the ground or on a trellis?
Although the difference is pretty minimal, growing on the ground puts the full effect of the sun on leaves – you are maximizing the photosynthetic surface area. By trellising, the plants have to harvest light from the side, which is a little less intense, and therefore the plant might be less productive.
Where is the best place to plant pumpkins?
- Choose a sunny location: Select a spot that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Prepare the soil: Amend heavy clay soil with sand, compost, and manure to improve drainage and fertility.
-
Utah State University Extensionhttps://extension.usu.eduHow to Grow Pumpkins in Your Garden | USUPumpkins prefer a sunny location and fertile, well drained soils. Incorporate plenty of organic matter and a complete fertilizer into the area before planting.
-
- Create hills or raised beds: This helps with drainage and provides a warm, raised environment for the seeds.
- Mulch: Mulching helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.
-
GrowVeg.comhttps://www.growveg.comPlant a Pumpkin Patch: Your Step-by-Step Guide – GrowVeg.comMay 14, 2024 — Squashes and pumpkins love warm, sunny and moist conditions, and the spot I’ve chosen has all that in spades. It faces the afternoon sun, it’s shelt…
-
- Water: Water the area thoroughly before planting.
What should not be planted by pumpkins?
Plants from the shade family, such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, should not grow next to pumpkins. These plants are also heavy feeders and susceptible to mildew.
Can you plant pumpkins in a raised bed?
Compost is an all-natural, super-rich fertilizer that is full of microbes that will help your plant grow and produce great pumpkins. You can always just top off your raised bed with 2-3 inches when you prepare the bed for planting your pumpkins and then side dress with more compost during the season a couple of times.
How much space should a pumpkin plant take up?
Pumpkin plants are monsters when it comes to the overall space they will take up in a raised bed or a yard for that matter. One plant will easily take up an entire raised bed and encroach onto your lawn if you are not careful. I recommend giving a pumpkin plant at least 4 square feet if you are growing them in a raised bed with limited space.
How to grow pumpkins?
If the fruit is on the ground, you should use a pumpkin pedestal to keep the fruit off the ground, which is a good thing. It can save your fruit from diseases and pests, also it promotes uniform coloring. Pruning the plants of pumpkin is necessary because these plants can grow up to 20 feet. So it is good to thin the vines of plants by pruning.
Can trellises grow pumpkins?
Overgrown grass has the same effect as weeds. Competition for nutrients and water, reduced sunlight, and increased risk of disease make this a poor option for handling vine growth. Conversely, trellises are an appealing method for growing pumpkins in a raised bed.
How deep should a raised bed be for pumpkins?
If you are choosing to grow pumpkins in containers, choose a container that is at least 12-18 deep so your pumpkin can establish a good root system. How Deep Should Raised Beds Be for Pumpkins? A raised bed should be at least 12 inches deep but can be as deep as you want them to be for pumpkins.
How do you grow pumpkins from seeds?
Or you can sow the seeds indoors or in a mini greenhouse using any small container and multipurpose compost or peat pots. Sow the seeds of pumpkin before 3 to 4 weeks of the last frost. After the germination of seeds, wait until the seedling harden off and then plant them in your raised bed.