Great Pumpkins

Great Pumpkins

It’s July and by now, Powell River should be well populated with pumpkins!

Powell River Living gave out hundreds of pumpkin seeds this year with the help of our friends at Springtime Nursery, Mother Nature, the Farmer’s Market and the Townsite Heritage Society. By now, those little sprouts should be well established plants.

Pumpkins are heavy feeders and require regular treatments of manure or compost mixed with water in order to grow well. Fertilize on a regular basis using a high nitrogen formula in early plant growth, when plants are about one foot tall, just before the vines begin to take off and then switch over to a fertilizer high in phosphorous before they start to bloom. And remember, pumpkins require a lot of water but you want to keep water off the leaves. Use a garden hose with a misting nozzle to lightly water the mounds in the early morning so excess moisturewill not be left on the leaves.

Happy growing!