Pumpkin CULTURE: 100 to 120 days before expected fall frost date, its time to plant your pumpkin seeds. Here in Missouri, that is the first part of June. Enrich soil with plenty of compost, well aged animal manure, or fertilizer. Pumpkins are heavy feeders and need lots of nutrients. Place 2-3 seeds, 1-1.5″ deep, 2-3′ apart in a row spacing of 8 to 12′. For larger plantings, an Earthway seeder with a lima bean plate works just fine. After emerge, control cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and weeds. To grow that giant, blue ribbon winner, here is what you do: 1) Dig out a large area, up to 10′ square and 2-3′ deep 2) fill hole half way with compost or well aged animal manure [Mushroom compost would work great] 3) mix remaining soil half and half with compost or aged animal manure and fill hole heaping full 4) start pumpkins plants in a large pot, 3″ or larger and transplant pumpkin plant on top of mount. Keep moist, but not wet. Control cucumber beetles, squash bugs and weeds. Pick out the nicest one on the vine and remove the rest. After your pumpkin gets to a large size, you will need to provide it with shade. At this stage, the sun can cause your pumpkin to explode if unshaded. HARVEST: Before frost or after vines have started to die and pumpkins have a nice color, cut off pumpkin as close to vine as you can. This way you have a handle to carry it with. Please note, on large pumpkins, do not carry them by the stem or it will break off. Use for fall display or for eating. Pumpkins will store well in a cool, dry place for a long time if they have not been exposed to a frost or disease. You will need 2 oz of seed for 100′ row