Intermediate Pumpkin Varieties

Cultivars

• Pumpkins grow in small, intermediate, standard orange (large), giant and miniature cultivars, with different sizes, shapes and seasons. Intermediate pumpkins grow to 8 to 15 lbs. and require 100 to 110 days for growing. Common intermediate cultivars include Autumn Gold, Bushkin, Frosty, Funny Face, Harvest Moon, Jack-O-Lantern, Spirit and Young's Beauty.

Season

• As winter squash, pumpkins require warm, frost-free plantings. Plant the seeds when soil temperature reaches 65 degrees Fahrenheit for ideal germination or start the seeds indoors six weeks before last frost and transplant them when the weather warms. Intermediate pumpkins need at least 100 days of frost-free growing, so gardeners in cool areas of the country must start seeds indoors to lengthen the growing season.

Site and Space

• Intermediate pumpkins maintain smaller growth and fruit than larger cultivars but still need adequate space and nutrition. Plant seeds or seedlings in full sun, in sites with good air movement and drainage. Give each pumpkin plant at least 2 to 3 feet of space for growing. The plants run along the ground to produce multiple gourds and suffer in crowded or swampy plantings.

Soil, Nutrition, Maintenance

• The University of Minnesota Extension notes that pumpkins produce their best growth and harvest in heavy, rich soil and suggests organic amendments such as compost and manure for planting sites. Amend the sites to a depth of 6 inches with 3 to 4 inches of organic matter and 5-10-15 fertilizer. Water pumpkins with 2 inches of water every week and lay 2 inches of of organic mulch on the soil for warmth. The University of Minnesota Extension recommends 46-0-0 or 27-3-3 fertilizer at mid-season for best pumpkin growth and harvest.