How to Plant Halloween Pumpkins

Prepare the Soil

1). Use the shovel to turn over the soil in the planting location. Turn the earth in an area at least 3 feet wide by 10 feet long. If you have soil that requires composting or other soil amendments, mix them in. Every garden is different, so you may not need to add anything -- only add amendments for pumpkins if you have tried to grow them in the past and they did not perform well in unamended soil.
2). Use the shovel to mound the turned dirt into a long hill of about a foot tall. The hill doesn't have to be perfect, but the top should be at least a foot above the ground on either side.
3). Pat the hills gently to lightly compact the soil, preserve the shape and make it easier to plant the seeds.
4). Repeat the steps as needed to create additional hills. Each hill can host one or two pumpkin plants, depending on the size and type of plant. Hills should be placed from 5 to 6 feet apart for best results.

1). Use the spade to make a 1-inch groove in the center of the hill.
2). Drop pumpkin seeds in the groove, spacing them a foot apart.
3). Gently cover with dirt and tap with the back of the spade to secure. Depending on the variety, seeds should sprout in about a week.
4). When the seeds have sprouted, thin the seedlings by pulling the smallest and weakest from the ground. Leave one or two seedlings in place on each hill.

1). Water your growing pumpkins twice a week until the soil is saturated. Weed regularly to keep the beds clean.
2). Pumpkin plants flower and bear the fruit. Place newspaper under growing fruits to protect them from rot. If you want large pumpkins, trim away the fruits until there are three or four per plant.
3). Pumpkins are ready when the fruits are firm and deep orange. Leave pumpkins on the vine until early October if possible, then pick for Halloween.