View full sizeYup, it's official: Everyone loves pumpkins.It may be hard during a heady bout of spring fever to look ahead to Halloween, but it's time to think about planting that icon of autumn, the pumpkin. Pumpkin seeds can be sown after the danger of frost has passed and the soil is thoroughly warm. Or start your seeds indoors and transplant outside when the soil warms up above 55 degrees.
Pumpkins are heavy feeders, so when you plant, mix a bushel or two of well-rotted manure or compost into some of the excavated soil and create a slightly raised hill for seeds. Once a month, till in compost near the base of the plant.
Pumpkins are space hogs, sprawling and stretching in all directions. Plan for it.
Plant corn, pole beans and nasturtiums as companions.
Deter the destructive squash vine borer with row covers until pollination time. Also, watch for powdery mildew.
The kids might enjoy growing autographed pumpkins: When young pumpkins are the size of a cantaloupe, carve names in the skin (the pumpkin stays attached to the plant) with a nail. The pumpkin will scar over the letter as it grows.
-- Homes & Gardens staff
If you want to automatically receive a daily homes and gardens tip, sign up at OregonLive.com's newsletters subscription site.