Growing pumpkins is so much fun, but growing a pumpkin archway is even better! Not only is it pretty magical, it’s also a great space saver. Pumpkins plants are big and like to spread out, so training them to grow over a structure will save you valuable space in your vegetable garden.
There are so many different varieties of pumpkin and squash plant and each one has the ability to climb. Yup, even the massive jack o lanterns seen at halloween have the ability to pull themselves up. Pumpkin plants have tendrils, long spindly green branches that twist and like to grip on to things. In fact, any plant with these tendrils has the ability to grow vertically.
This doesn’t mean that you should grow every variety of pumpkin ‘up’. Some squashes do better than others when growing over the archway. So I have put together 5 mistakes to avoid when growing a pumpkin archway.
- Not selecting the right varieties
Not only are you thinking about what variety you would like to eat or use, you are also thinking about the best variety for your space. Though it’s possible to grow even the biggest of pumpkins over an archway, you do need to look at your space and the structure you have available to you.
Smaller pumpkins like baby boo and jack be little are easily grown over a smaller arch. Whereas varieties such as Uchiki Kuri and Trombonchino may require a larger structure with more support.
2. Not building a strong structure
Getting your archway ready before planting out is really important. I personally use a couple of archways I purchase from Wilko and then reinforce them with poles and chicken wire.
Chicken wire of garden mesh works well as pumpkins can either be trained to hang through it or rest comfortably on the top. Pumpkins are best tied in with twine or cable ties, both of which can be loosened if necessary.
3. Planting out too many pumpkins
The smaller varieties of pumpkin can produce 8-10 pumpkins per plant, sometimes even more! Don’t plant too many or you will be picking hundreds!
Of course there is another reason for not planting too many. Squashes are susceptible to a fungal infection called Powdery Mildew. This is caused by a lack of air flow between plants and humid conditions. So less is more and space is key to successful plants.
I grow 3 pumpkin plants either side of my double archways.
4. Not tying plants in
How do you get pumpkins to climb? Well firstly, you must plant it the correct way round. Watch your pumpkin plants closely. A pumpkin plant will grow in the opposite direction of the first true leaf. So plant it this way against the archway.
Once your plant starts to press against the archway you can start to loosely tie it in. You shouldn’t have to tie on the entire plant as it will start to grab on by itself.
5. Not feeding your plants
Pumpkin plants are hungry plants. They need water and they need a rich growing material.
If you plant your pumpkin plant in a slight dip, it will encourage water to go directly to its roots. Digging in lots of manure and then feeding with a liquid seaweed every couple of weeks should keep them happy while they grow.
I hope these tips help you to grow an incredible pumpkin archway! Let me know any questions you have in the comments and happy growing!
