Growing pumpkin in the container is really surprising to listen to even if some people will not going to believe that this is possible. Yes, it is made possible now. Growing pumpkin in the container is made possible and easy now. If you have heard from your neighbor or friend that growing pumpkin in the container is not possible or easy. Then you must be aware of facts that make this thing fail or impossible.
Growing pumpkin in a container requires a lot of space. The right container is most important for this purpose. Moreover, it is also important to know which type of pumpkin should grow in a container or not.
In this article, you will be able to find the exact right way to grow the pumpkin in a container and which type of pumpkin is best for growing indoors.
How to grow pumpkin in the container?
#1 Right-sized container
As you know very well the size and shape of the pumpkin. It requires a lot of space to grow and roots to spread out.
The right-sized container is the most important step toward growing the pumpkin in the container. If the container is not good or right for pumpkin the plant will eventually die.
There are different varieties of pumpkin for growing indoors. If you are growing a small-sized pumpkin at home then a pot of size 10 gallons is required. But in the case of growing large pumpkins that are ideal for making jack-o-lanterns then a gallon of 20 -25 is required.
Along with a big size pot, you also need a deep depth. The roots of the pumpkin require a lot of space to spread out. Therefore a pot of deep depth is required. The pot or the container should be 20- 26 inches deep down with the same width.
Pumpkins usually do not like to stand in water therefore you have to make holes in your pot. If your pot does not have a drainage hole then you have to drill the holes to drain the water out of the container.
#2 Appropriate exposure to sunlight
For the best growth of pumpkin, you need to expose it to sunlight for a scheduled time. As the pumpkin needs the sunniest location to grow fully. Therefore if you are growing even small cultivars you need to locate them in right sunny place.
Pumpkins require a 6-hour exposure to sunlight per day. Direct exposure to sunlight is not good it will retard the growth and the plant will eventually lose the moisture from it.
#3 Type of soil
The type of soil is also an important choice regarding the growth of pumpkins. You need a bagged soilless potting mix for container growing. This type of soil is recommended as it allows the plants to retain moisture and absorb most of the nutrients.
As pumpkins grow in a massive size that’s why you need to provide a lot of nutrients for proper growth. Therefore chose a soil that is full of nutrients. You can also add some compost to the soil. It also retains water and allows the plant to absorb nurtients.
You also check the pH of the soil. Pumpkins prefer a pH of 6 to 7.2.
#4 Provide support to the growing vines
As Your pumpkins start growing, you need to provide it support. Some people let them grow on the ground but it can introduce a number of bacteria to your plants. Their support is necessary for growing vines of a pumpkin.
For providing the support you can build a trellis. It is recommended to make an A-shape trellis to support your pumpkin. As your plant grows, you need to train the growing vines to grow up with the provided support system.
Types of pumpkins for growing in the container
When you are going to grow pumpkin in your home or in a container it is always preferable to choose the best type of pumpkin. Some types of pumpkin have small sizes and are best for growing indoors.
If you want to make the growth of pumpkin successful then must know about the type of pumpkin. Here are some types provided you can choose any one of them.
Bushkin
It is a perfect pumpkin for a container due to its small size. It can grow up to 5 to 6 feet long and have a weight of 10 lbs. These pumpkins are best for pie carving due to their small weight.
Baby Bear
Again it is among the best indoor growing pumpkin. It takes 105 days to become mature. It grows up to 5 to 6 inches wide and weighs up to 2 lbs.
Baby Boo
It is a small size miniature pumpkin that grows up to 2 to 3 inches. It turns pale yellow when it becomes mature that’s why it is the best variety that is harvested before complete maturity.
Small Sugar
It is often called England Pie. These are small-sized pumpkins that become mature in 105 days. It weighs up to 5-8 pounds. This small-sized pumpkin is used for baking and in the kitchen.
Care that your container pumpkin require
Watering your pumpkin
Pumpkins usually require a cool, moist, and humid environment to grow. You need to water them regularly. Pumpkin requires water supply once every week. they require one inch of water every week so water them deeply and regularly.
At the same time pumpkins usually do not like to stand in water. Therefore you need to put them in a container that has drainage holes.
You can read more about plants that don’t need drainage holes.
Proper fertilization
Fertilization is necessary for proper growth. It boosts the growth of plants moreover it also provides immunity to your plant against disease. Therefore fertilization is a must. But excess of everything is bad.
In the case of pumpkin, it is a heavy feeder. It requires a large amount of fertilization for fast growth and protection against disease. For this purpose you can add compost to your container it helps to create moisture and nutrients.
In the early case, you can use 15-15-15 fertilizer for pumpkin but when it starts growing you can minimize the amount of nitrogen. When the vines of pumpkins start growing it is recommended that 15-5-15 fertilizer is good. It is rich in potassium phosphorus and has a small amount of nitrogen.
Protection against pests and disease
Your pumpkin plants can fall a victim to pests and disease easily. Here are some tips regarding protection against pests like squash mosaic, squash bugs, mildew, and aphids.
Squash mosaic
It is a virus that affects the plants and is spread by affected seeds and cucumber beetles. Its symptoms may vary but usually, the affected leaves are discolored and malformed. The leave is distorted and turns yellow.
the only way to protect your plant from this virus is to use certified disease-free seeds. Try to keep the garden clean and debris discarded properly.
Squash bugs
It is also a type of virus that can turn the leaves yellow and brown. It usually affects the leaves and underside of the stem. They cause the leaves to wilt and blemish fruit. Eventually can kill the whole fruit.
To keep away these types of bugs, you need to keep the garden clean. Properly discard the debris of plants after harvesting them. Use a plastic row cover around your plants so that they will remain safe from pests and you can also use some pesticides and insecticides soap on your plants.
Aphids
These are small-bodied insects that like to stick to the leaves and undersides of stems. They create a sticky mass on plant leaves that encourage the growth of mold. They completely destroy the whole plant very soon if not detected early.
To handle these aphids, you need to water your plants with a garden hose. You can use pesticides only in severe cases. For mild cases use neem oil and pesticide soap on your plants.(check the price on Amazon).
