How to Grow Pumpkins in a Pot

Growing pumpkins is a beloved gardening activity, often synonymous with sprawling fields and vast spaces.

But did you know you can cultivate these vibrant gourds in the confines of a pot?

Whether you're short on garden space or just want to adorn your patio with a touch of autumnal charm, this guide will walk you through the steps to successfully grow pumpkins in a container.

Soon you'll be harvesting your very own pot-grown pumpkins, perfect for carving, cooking, or simply adding a festive touch to your decor.

Growing Pumpkins in Pots - the Basics

Pumpkins are a complete package when it comes to carving them for ornamental purposes or creating delicious sweet and savory courses with them.

A long growing season is required for growing this yellowish-orange fruit.

Even if you don't have a large enough outdoor space to grow the delectable fruit, you don't need to worry.

With rich soil, necessary space, and the required care, pumpkins can thrive in your pots and containers.

Here's an overview on how to grow pumpkins in a pot:

Choose the right container.

Find the right pumpkin variety.

Fill with fertile potting soil with good drainage.

Position the container in a sunny location.

Mulch to help keep the soil moist.

Keep watered.

Install a trellis if desired. Fruit will need to be supported with slings if you choose this route.

Harvest when ready.

Growing pumpkins in pots or containers are as easy as growing them in the garden.

Below we dive into the details of each step to help your pumpkin crop be a huge success.

1. Select a Pot

Whether you are planning to grow large or small pumpkins varieties, you still need large pots to grow them in.

The bigger the container the better, to provide the vines with enough space to spread.

For small pumpkin varieties, a large-sized pot of about 10 gallons is suitable.

For larger varieties, a 20 to 24 inches deep container of about 15 to 25 gallons would be necessary.

Remember to choose one with enough drainage holes.

2. Choose the Right Pumpkin Variety

Did you know there are about 150 different pumpkin varieties? You can grow any variety in a pot but mini pumpkins are perfect for a smaller space.

Learn varieties here: 73 types of pumpkin you need to know

Don't feel overwhelmed! The good news is that it's easy to order seeds online, which means you have a huge selection of pumpkin varieties to choose from.

Check out our post about where to buy garden pumpkin seeds online to see all available options: Top 50 Online Stores For Pumpkin And Squash Seeds

3. Choosing the Optimum Soil

For the soil, a temperature of about 65 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for seed germination.

Pumpkins need a lot of nutrition, and they prefer soil that is very rich and is not too moist.

You can add mature compost to the soil to contribute to the organic matter and the structure of the soil you're about to plant the seeds in.

You can prepare your soil in advance by pouring it in your pot and digging old manure about 12-13 inches deep in it or by mixing 2 to 3 layers of compost to loosened soil.

4. Planting Conditions

Proper timing and planting conditions are important when choosing todo this in a pot.

They require about a hundred frost-free days to thrive; therefore, it is best to let all the frost pass before you start growing your pumpkins.

Remember, the warmer the soil, the faster the process. In cooler climates, you can plant them from April to late May and in warmer climates, till July.

If the climate around you is tropical and frost-free, you may be able to grow them all year.

5. Positioning the Pot

It is best to place your pot in a place where there is plenty of sunlight available.

They need about 6 hours of sunlight a day to thrive. Moisture and cold will slow their growth and result in fungus growth.

Wherever you decide to place your pot, make sure it receives proper air circulation.

6. Planting Pumpkin Seeds in Pots

Plant your seeds about 1 to 2 inches deep in the soil. Digging them any deeper can cause them to have trouble emerging from the soil.

Under proper conditions, in a week or two, dark green leaves with jagged edges will start appearing.

After their growth, the vines keep getting taller and taller, and the pumpkin plant will begin to grow.

7. Providing Support

As the pumpkin vines expand, they spread all around. It is necessary to situate a big and durable trellis to support them.

Trellis formed in the shape of an A is a good choice. Keep it at a distance from your walls to avoid any infections or illnesses.

As the vines grow and expand, train them to grow in a particular structure and snip of any unwanted ones without disturbing the roots.

Providing Necessary Care

Row Covers

Garden fabric or row covers make for a great gardener's tool. Use them to protect your plants from cold, wind, and insects. Remove row covers before flowering to allow easy pollination.

Get this 84"x72" plant cover freeze protection on Amazon.

Water

Water one inch per week, but make sure you keep the water away from foliage and fruit. They need to be kept dry to avoid rotting and other diseases.

Mulch

Add mulch around your plants to keep the dampness locked in, and repel the pests. Avoid over-cultivating or the roots may become subject to damage.

Do Not Overuse Insecticides

Pollination is an important process, and bees are essential for it to occur. Apply the insecticides when the blossoms are closed. You can also attract bees with a bee house.

Vines

Vines add up to the quality of the fruit. Try not to damage them during the process. If they seem to be going out of control, you may need to apply techniques to control them.

Read more here: How To Control Pumpkin Vines

Natural or Hand Pollination

Pollination is an essential factor in pumpkin growing to produce fruit. The female flowers appear a few days after the male ones appear.

The male flowers produce the pollen that fertilizes the female flowers, which have an expanded ovary at the time that transforms into a pumpkin after pollination.

To hand pollinate, you can use a cotton bud to move the pollen from the males to the females.

Attracting natural pollinators such as bees can also be helpful, although you usually don't want them near your home if you're growing pumpkins on pots.

About seven days after the female flowers appear, you will see that the pumpkins start forming.

Read our guide about pollination here: What Is The Difference Between Pollination And Fertilization?

Harvesting the Fruit

Once the pollination is performed successfully, the pumpkin will start to mature.

The pumpkin starts growing larger, and its color starts transforming according to the variety you have planted.

Once the pumpkins ripen, the stems die, denoting that its harvest time. Press the pumpkin rind with your fingernail and see that it does leave an imprint, that's when it's time to harvest.

Cut the stem a few inches from the pumpkin and store your fruit in a warm place where the temperature is around 25ºC for about two weeks.

This will ensure a longer life span. After this, store your fruit in a cool, dry place with temperatures between 10ºC to 12ºC.

Read more: How and when to harvest pumpkins

Pumpkin Varieties Suitable to be Grown in Pots

Although larger varieties of pumpkins can be grown in huge containers, the smaller ones are more suitable for pot gardening. Here are a few small pumpkin varieties that you can grow in pots:

Jack Be Little

Jack Be Little is a variety of miniature pumpkins used for ornamental purposes and is edible as well.

They weigh around 8 ounces, are flat and ribbed. This tasty treat lasts for about eight to twelve weeks if provided with the necessary care.

Check out this Jack Be Little pumpkin seeds on Amazon.

Baby Boo

Baby Boo is a creamy, white variety of tiny pumpkins. It is about 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and its white-colored flesh is edible.

When fully ripe, the color turns into pale yellow; therefore, it is best to harvest it before the fruit achieves complete maturity.

Check out this Baby Boo pumpkin seeds on Amazon.

Pumpkin Hooligan

These pumpkins add well to your assorted Halloween decorations. They are covered in green, orange, and white-colored spots and smears. The fruit is about 3 to 4 inches in diameter and 2 inches tall.

Mini-Jack

Mini-Jack is an easy-to-grow variety of pumpkins. The ribbed fruit is approximately 3 to 4 inches in diameter.

It can be carved and used for ornamentation. It is also edible, so you can use it to make delicious delicacies.

Lil Pump Ke Mon

Lil Pump Ke Mon is a ribbed pumpkin variety that consists of orange and green stripes. It weighs about 1 to 2 pounds.

Growing Pumpkins in Containers Indoors

If you do not have space in your garden, you can grow pumpkins in a container indoors, so long as the plant has plenty of light and the vines are controlled.

Choose a location that is warm and has full sun, and be sure to water and fertilize regularly.

Be sure to plant your seeds in a pot that is large enough to allow a trellis.

As the vine grows, train it around the trellis to keep your vine in order, or they will grow across your floor.

The bigger difference between growing outdoor and indoors is the need to hand pollinate.

Since plants grown indoors do not have pollinators available, to produce pumpkins, you will need to hand pollinate them, as explained in the section above.

In order to do this, first, you will need to be able to tell the difference between male and female flowers.

To learn more about this, read here: What Are Pumpkin Flowers Like?