Planting Pumpkins - A How-to Guide
Pumpkins should be planted at least 6-8 feet apart from each other and other plants in the garden. Their vines will run a good ways. The vines will root themselves into the ground, which is needed to gather as much food as possible. This will help the plant produce lots of high quality fruit. The seeds are sowed directly in the garden, usually in mounds or hills that you create. They need to be planted in an area that drains well and gets at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day.Once you have determined where you want to plant pumpkins, make sure that the soil has been well tilled down to a depth of at least 8 inches. Using a hoe, rake or shovel, create a small mound or hill out of loose dirt. The mound needs to be 8-12 inches high and 3-4 feet across. 4-5 seeds should be planted 6-8 inches apart around the middle of the mound. Use your finger or the handle end of a hoe or trowel and create holes an inch deep. Drop the seeds in and cover them with an inch of fine soil. After planting pumpkin seeds, be sure to water them in well. The seeds will sprout in 10-14 days. The plants need to be thinned 2 weeks after they sprout to maximize fruit production and plant viability. Selectively remove all but the two healthiest seedlings per mound. 
Now you're done planting pumpkins and can watch them grow more and more each day. But before the plants get too big, you need to start thinking about caring for them to get the maximum quality and quantity out of your pumpkin patch.Click on the following links to learn about watering, fertilizing and harvesting your pumpkins.
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Pumpkin Quick Links
Planting Pumpkins
Watering and Fertilizing Pumpkins
Harvesting Pumpkins
Pumpkin Plant Problems
Pumpkin Varieties
Pumpkin Recipes
Giant Pumpkins
Growing Pumpkins Main Page