Preparing The Pumpkin Patch

This year’s preparations started on Wednesday, April 21st. I received 10 cubic yards of mushroom compost and I hired a couple of young kids to help me spread it over 3 plots. We got it done in about 2 hours. I added a large bag (20 pounds) of gypsum and 15 pounds of sulfur. After a bit of rest and visit to the chiropractor, I headed back out to the garden and spread the sulfur on the entire plot and the gypsum on the right-most plot only. Tilling took about 2 hours or so and everything was ready to go.

I went out the next day (April 22nd) and transplanted the seedlings. Some of the seedlings were started indoors while two or three of them were dug up from the pumpkin that decomposed in the courtyard. All of them seem to be doing very well! Below you’ll find a few snapshots of some of the pumpkin plants and a short video that shows the plot shortly after all I finished tilling and transplanting the young pumpkin plants!

4 Comments to “Preparing The Pumpkin Patch”

Carolina Girl 27 April 2010 at 5:30 pm #

A great start…are you reaching for a prize winning pumpkin or just a lot of pumpkins to eat, carve and take pics of? If you have room….add some gourds. We use to grow those for birdhouses for the starlings that ate bugs and then we would also paint and decorate with beautiful murals or ghost face on them. There is a huge demand for them. Can’t wait to see the growth process as the weeks and months come and go. thanks for sharing!
The Pumpkin King 27 April 2010 at 6:15 pm #

Hi Cely! – I’m not anticipating a “prize winner” since my plot is right next to my mentor (Greg). He’ll keep me in check, but there is no way I’m beating him. I’m growing regular pumpkins too, all sorts. We’ll be using them in product photography and stock photography as well. You’ll see them on SVGCuts.com, PumpkinCartCrafts.com and LeoKowal.com! Thanks for the comment!
adobeteacher 28 April 2010 at 9:24 pm #

Leo
I am so jealous. You actually have plants already and we still have a little snow on the ground. Good luck with the pumpkins. Look forward to reading the journal. My son started his pumpkins from seeds inside also. The only way they can survive. Happy Gardening! mj
Steve 29 May 2010 at 10:20 am #

A great start…are you reaching for a prize winning pumpkin or just a lot of pumpkins to eat, carve and take pics of? If you have room….add some gourds. We use to grow those for birdhouses for the starlings that ate bugs and then we would also paint and decorate with beautiful murals or ghost face on them. There is a huge demand for them. Can’t wait to see the growth process as the weeks and months come and go. thanks for sharing!