Winter recipe - Pumpkin Growing Tips

Pumpkin on straw mulch

Seasonal growing tips from Le Manoir's head gardener, Jonathan Keyte

• See Raymond Blanc's Pumpkin Soup recipe here

Indoor Sowing (i.e. greenhouse)

• Sow 6 weeks before you intend to plant outside, which must be after frosts have passed.
• Sow 2-3 seeds in a 3inch pot in potting compost in a greenhouse.
• Keep the temperature a minimum 18°C (65°F) and in good light for sturdy growth.

Outdoor sowing

Sow direct outdoors in growing position in mid May.

Pumpkin seedling

Transplanting to growing position

• The plant is ready to plant out when 3-4 true leaves have grown.
• Choose a sunny position for the plants to grow in. Either plant through matting or use garden compost as a mulch around the plant.
• Ensure plants are watered generously.
• To aid growth of fruit begin liquid feeding once a week.
• You may need to mulch around the fruits or put matting down to prevent slugs and damage to the skins.

Storage of fruit

The fruit should be harvested in September and stored in nets or on a shelf in a frost free, airy place.

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