Pumpkin Howden
Pumpkin Howden. The standard variety to grow for Halloween, which reliably produces a large crop of uniform and symmetrical rich orange pumpkins with a thick flesh ideal for carving. Each pumpkin reaches up to 15 to 20 pounds and features a very thick, strong vine to provide a nice handle-like stem to hold onto while carving the pumpkins. 100 days from planting out.
Cultivation Advice Pumpkin Howden
- A sunny spot protected from strong winds is essential.
- The soil must be well drained and rich in humus, the more the better.
- Many winter Squash / Pumpkins like to sprawl out and need plenty of space.
- Vining Squash / Pumpkins require a larger area to run,
- whilst semi-vining and bush varieties of winter squash / courgette can be well contained.
- For an early start (Mid / Late Apr)
- place a single seed edgeways 1/2inch deep in seed compost in a 3inch pot.
- The critical part is temperature, these need at least 65F continuous soil temperature
- (preferably more to maximise germination rates) until germinated,
- so a propagator, well heated greenhouse or airing cupboard is ideal
- Keep the soil moist – water copiously around the plants, not over them.
- Keep weed free to allow air circulation.
- Once the fruits start to swell feed every 14 days with a tomato type fertilizer,
- these are greedy plants.
- Limit larger fruiting varieties to 2-3 fruits (for giant pumpkins 1).
