The Lazy Gardener's Guide To No-Dig Pumpkins!
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- Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
- If you have a dream of growing your very own pumpkin patch just like Ben (and Charlie Brown) then today is the day for those dreams to come true. It's so simple! If you know how. And in this week's exciting episode Ben explains everything you need to know to turn any patch of lawn, however weedy, into a Pumpkin Paradise. Yes, you shall go to the ball (or perhaps to the garden centre).
For more on sowing squashes and pumpkins, watch our April sowing video here:
Sow These Seeds in Spring
• Don't Miss Out: Sow Th...
Or for more videos on growing trouble-free squashes watch this next:
Get Your Squash To Fruit
• Why Aren't My Squashes...
Avoid Common Squash Problems
• How to Avoid Common Sq...
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Last fall I let a few pumpkins rot in a small section of my yard. When they started to really break down I simply covered them with a little topsoil and leaf mulch. They popped up early this spring, and despite the squirrels having some feasts, are growing strong. No manure, no fertilizer, and nearly no tending other than thinning them out a little
You mustn’t do that! Pumpkin is toxic to Hedgehogs and other wildlife. It causes them to suffer a horrific & painful death.
Did the same I have soo many pumpkins just from puting a whole one under ground
I had a Halloween pumpkin get forgotten about in an early Michigan snow and the same happened in about mid-June when it was finally warm enough, I had a strange vine begin to grow in the front of my yard. Finally realized what had happened, unfortunately it did not survive the HOA.
The amount of times I have gotten carried away with sowing and simply run out of room, is astounding 😂 Love creating new garden beds. Husband rolls his eyes.
Breaking ground on new beds is soooo satisfying! :-)
Experienced Pumpkin grower here - if you’re growing pumpkins up an obelisk, once they’ve pollinated and the pumpkins begin to grow, make sure you create a ‘hammock’ to support the weight of the pumpkin otherwise they’ll either drop off from the weight, snap the vine or just not grow very big. Also, unless you have your own hive of bees, it’s worth hand pollinating but of course you have to hope you’ve got a female & male flower open on the same day. I’ve spent many early summer mornings in my dressing gown, checking for open pumpkin flowers!
Been using my wife's old bra's. Works a treat 😂
@@Matt-GuestPlease tell me you make jokes like "check out these melons"
@@JennieZ42 😆 of course I have. Best dad joke ever
@mattrek36 Awesome dad joke! :-)
@@Matt-GuestI'd be lucky if my bras could hold a tomato! 😂
I love this guy! I grow my plants in Sweden and have gotten alot of inspiration and information from this channel keep going please
Thanks so much. Will definitely keep going. Happy gardening! :-)
I literally just came on from my first ever no-dig beds in planning, feeling quite overwhelmed, and was comforted by your opening lines "Do you ever feel like you've bitten off more than you can chew?". I was nodding along with the video. Thank you so much for all your guidance and wonderful enthusiasm.
Anyway, wonderful project. Pumpkins are indeed amazing and quite magical. A whole patch is my dream too. The first year I gardened, the only thing that grew were carrots and pumpkin. But what a bumper crop of Hokkaido! We must've had 60 pumpkins for a family of 2 (my dog wouldn't take part 😂). Pumpkin curry, pumpkin stew, pumpkin lasagne...I got good at pumpkin dishes that year! This year I've planted more winter squash varieties than I have bed space, so I'm going to get creative with large pots and spare corners!
Hope you have an equally abundant squash harvest this year too! :-)
What a wonderful, wonderful garden you have! That Greenhouse alone is the greenhouse of dreams! 🤩 Nevermind that sprawling lawn. Not in my life time! You lucky thing
I do feel blessed! :-)
LOVED this video. I too have been over ambitious and have got pumpkin plants with no bed space left. I have a bit of spare lawn and this is a perfect solution. Thank you Ben!
It's just over a week on from filming this and they are really starting to take off. So looking forward to seeing progress on this. :-)
My pumpkins 🎃 will live on the parking lot this year! Lots of compost and yes, of course, cardboard put down last summer. The only way to go..The neighbors think I am insane, but my beans, celeriac, onions, cabbages and salads love the parking lot beds! Love your super British videos here in Burgundy, France! Keep up the great gardening and have a great season! Now..back to observing the bees on the red sage..😊
Thanks so much. You paint a lovely picture with the bee on the red sage - very hypnotic to watch I'm sure. Happy gardening! :-)
There is something kind of magical about a pumpkin patch!
I used cardboard to make paths in and around my “in the ground” beds. As I expanded my garden I noticed so much worm activity, the dirt under the cardboard was loaded with castings and almost felt crumbly as if it had already been tilled. I absolutely love this technique! Thank You!
Sounds like the worms are right at home there - fab! :-)
I make a hill of mostly finished compost and cover with soil. I plant in the top. The compost gives off heat as it continues to decay. Much to the delight of the heat and nutrient and water loving pumpkins and squash
I've been tempted to try this. Thanks for the spurring on!
I am happy you make your dreams come true. You are an inspiration!
You had me at the way you say, "Manuuuuu- re laiiiirrr". Goosebumps.
Hi Ben, thanks for uploading, all my courgettes squashes and pumpkins got eaten by mice in my greenhouse before germination. I'm glad I've still time to go again. Thank you
Germinate in a propagator and secure it closed with tape 😊
What a shame. Re-sow - there's still time! :-)
Your tip of nipping out a small piece of the seed casing was brilliant!! I did this about 2 weeks ago to sunflowers, put them on damp kitchen paper and into a bag, about 70% had germinated the next day!!!!
Wow - that's fast! :-)
Knock Knock gnocchi on heaven's door!! 🤣 Love it!!!
Khu vườn được thiết kế với những chiếc cổng rất xinh ,bạn chia sẻ kinh nghiệm của mình rất hữu ích với những người đã và đang làm vườn .
Ben, I'm excited for ya!😃 Can't wait to see your beautiful pumpkin patch in its full beauty!
I see Rosie, like me, likes to take. Aps in the garden.😄
Pure Pumpkin Perfection Ben - Practical and Precise advice!
Haha - thanks so much! :-)
I'm watching from Japan. Gardening is very helpful
It really is. Thank you for watching. 🇬🇧 🤝 🇯🇵
Exciting!! Winter squash family type crops are my favorite to grow.
My children and i planted 4 giant pumpkin seeds, 3 are up and looking forward to getting them in the ground 😊
Nice one! :-)
Inspiring as always 🎉//Susanne
My story with pumpkins
Back when I was a kid 6-8 years our neighborhood had an open place veg store ran by an old man, daily fresh veggies and fruits from every kind, he sits on an old wooden chair and sell his goods, but the only thing that catches my sight every day especially in Autumn - early winter was pumpkins, he displays them regularly big, stripped and dark orange and the image stuck in my imagination, especially that he was the only store to sell them in the region. Couple years later (age 9-10) and we weren't that much of a gardening experienced family, my father wanted to plant some veggies and fruits and the only crop I can sharply remmember is pumpkins, then we left our home and the garden after a couple years, to rent somewhere else. Today it's about 20-22 years since those memories, I plant everything but pumpkins are the most intersting crop for me, it's like magic, I always over sow them, I plant them every possible way and feed them like a spoiled child, checking them plant by plant inspecting every leaf and flower, my dad helps me too fortunately, I only plant the most crazy variety I have with lush dark green veiny leaves and most vigorous vines that grows a ton of secondary vines all dark green and fruiting with too many tendrils (which I like for no reason but they are catchy in a strange way), the variety is wild, each plant grows up to 14 meters main vine, and covers like 5 meters in width with side vines producing up to 14 big pumpkins of decent size (5-10kg) pear shaped. Pumpkins are just haunting in a weird way, their fruit their strong vines and tendrils everywhere, and I plant them for that fairytale affection I get watching them.
What a lovely thing to share, thank you. Pumpkins really are very special/magical! :-)
Amazing, super informative video! I will follow every step!
How lucky are you having woodpeckers in your garden! 🤩
Wonderful idea. Im going to try the same sort thing. I just took out an old apple tree and i have an open sunny area. I hope the love it.
I'm sure they will. :-)
just when i planted mine ... nice timing
Great info Thankyou
I have no problem with these they grow like weeds but I love them 😊
Hi Ben, great video on pumpkins with plenty of useful help and advice too. Thanks for sharing and take care 😊
Good work my dear
Great video, I plan on growing my own pumpkins for Halloween this year. Very informative
Good morning Ben, We just love pumpkins and yellow squash. As you say, you can roast them, soup, the use of them are endless. Not forgetting breads and other pasta dishes. It is a great idea and time saving to lay the 'pure' cardboard down and then the compost over. It is such a time saver as well as utilizing a patch that is just grassed over. Thank you for the informative garden talk, there are always so many ideas we can learn from you. Happy days, before you know it, harvest time will be ready. Do enjoy a lovely day, hopefully your weather is good. Kind regards.
Thank you so much for your lovely words. I'm delighted with the progress of the patch already - a week on and the plants have put on visible growth. I'm hopeful this will be quite an eye-catching sensation in time! Happy gardening! :-)
Pumpkins really love grass its the second year for me they all reach with their main wine straight for for the lawn, Your patch seems perfect, Im definetly trying out some of that butternut squash next season.
My dream is also to have a pumpkin patch... i'm working on it haha
Nice! 😍
I love pumpkins and just last week I planted out 35 of them, in holes in groundcloth. I just should have hardened them of better, some look really sad now, they’re burnt. But I’m confident they will survive. And if not, I have a few extra that are hardened and I can replace them with. 🤷♀️
In fall they will do their deco-time and then I’ll make soups and purées and freeze them. And roast and eat, of course. 😋
Thank you, I love your enthousiasm! 🎃
So may uses for pumpkins - got to love them! :-)
I have used your videos throughout my new gardening adventure thank you you are a great help
Thank you from southern california. Love to see an update on this pumpkins in 3 mos
Beautiful and big pumpkin
I'm in the middle of planting out my squash, all saved seeds with some three seasons removed from the bought seed. I'm having another go at planting some in the food forest/orchard too. The soil wasn't up to supporting them last time I tried this but it's improved a lot since then. Seeing a pumpkin hanging in an apple tree puts a smile on my face even if the main harvest comes from the kitchen garden! Thank you for the video.
Great to be growing from saved seed - great work! :-)
Thx for the reminder that it’s not too late! Just plopped a few seeds into the grow pot- crossing fingers they’ll grow!
Nice one! :-)
Lovely😁 I was reluctant to build another raised bed into our grassy area because the blackbirds love it, but this way I could pop a couple of plants in. I might try a long low arch so they can still get to the grass underneath. I can imagine our dog lying underneath it on sunny days. Thanks for the great inspiration!
That sounds like a lovely idea! :-)
Thanks so much for this video, I was running out of raised bed space and have a lot of ground gaps so have used some tarp and manure 🤞🏻great tip as usual 🙌
Or try pumpkin croquet...yum 😋
❤❤❤
Great way to plant pumpkins 🇳🇿❤️
Love the nail clipper idea! I planted oput my pumpkins yesterday and I have Hakaido pumpkin and Butternut. If I planted any more, I do not know what to do with them - I had so many last year I still have some left. But, as you said: pumpkins are simply delicious and look terrific in the garden. And, thank goodness, the voles don't seem to like the roots. Your gardening channel is, by far, my favorite and your weather is similar to ours in Northern Germany. I use straw to protect the soil but the downside is the slugs love to hide beneath.
Thanks for your kind words. I've avoided the slugs so far - fingers crossed! I may put down some straw later in the summer if it's dry. Hoping for a bit more sunshine to coax everything along. Happy gardening! :-)
🤞🏻🤞🏻 no slugs about!!
Hi Ben, please try get a few videos of these over the coming weeks, would love to see how they get on with this method!
Thanks - I'll definitely keep you updated. I'm curious to see how it all gets on too. So far so good!
Legend
I'm about to do a pumpkin patch myself, although I didn't know that's what it was called. I've got three butternuts and five courgettes growing away in their pots. Hope they do well.
I can tell you've been to Charles Dowding cardboard 😊😊😊
Looks great!
When you use grass clippings, does this cause more weeds in your beds? After it dies down over a few weeks, do you go back and add more grass to the beds? Do you recommend grass or straw for mulching? Thanks for the help - LOVE your videos.
If you cut and apply the grass before it's set seed, then you shouldn't get any weeds. I do get the odd weed though (as I cut my grass quite long), but it's rarely much effort to hoik them out. I don't get many. Straw is a really great choice for larger, chunkier plants like squash and tomatoes, while grass is great among smaller vegetables.
Greetings from Queensland! 🌴🌞 It's winter here, but I've grown some pumpkin seedlings for the first time. Was going to do something similar actually, but laying down newspaper. Would cardboard be better?
How big should I let the plants get before planting? Yours look massive! 😄 Mine still have only 2 leaves on them.
It's so exciting growing things!
Several layers of newspaper could work, but cardboard is so much more resilient and longer-lasting, so I'd really recommend that if you can find it. I like to leave plants to a slightly bigger size before planting simply because they are then more resistant to slugs. But if you can protect against slugs you could plant the seedlings/young plants at any stage. Just keep a close eye on them!
Running out of space here too. But more normal as I'm balcony gardening. I'm crazy enough to grow pumpkins in pots. Marina di Choggia, Futtsublack and some mini potirons mix (from Baumaux. How do you train the pumpkins up the trellises? LOL I need them to grow on trellises to save space.
Packing a lot into your space there by the sounds of it! The naturally trailing stems will just be helped onto the supports. I may tie them in initially, but then they should find their own way up.
"Gnoc- gnoc- gnoccing on heaven's door"
Dad jokes are strong in this one 😂
We try! Happy Gardening!
Sunshine is important, but is shade too if the temperature get out of control HOT. I had sunburnt fruits for the first time ever. I thought the cream colored patches were sometype of fungal disease. We had some lupines near by that spread a disease to the pumpkin leaves, which I then removed. If you have no shade, then create it. I lost 5 big beautiful winter squash last year.
Yes, great advice if you get very hot summers! :-)
@@GrowVeg the sun was a like a laser gun you'd see in a SciFi film. Happened in under a week.
Hi Ben, thankyou for this video. I want to grow my uchiki kuri vertically. How do you train them to grow upwards?
I would just loosely tie on the stems using garden twine, so they're held up. They should grow up somewhat on their own, but tying them in would give extra support/peace of mind.
We need more Rosie!!
There is something special about growing squash and pumpkins they are definitely my favourite veg to grow...had a nightmare with a new variety im wanting to try and grow but had no success on the germination of my crown prince seeds so ordered more ...Will I still have time to start again from seed?
Yes absolutely, if you get on and sow you Crown Prince asap there should still be time - they grow fast!
@@GrowVeg thankyou
is your "manure layer" fresh manure, old manure, compost that's mostly manure? Thanks. I'm hoping to plant in the next few days. 🌱
It's very well composted manure, so quite old. And it's made from manure with some of the bedding composted with it.
Another excellent video. I'd like to try the obelisk idea. How tall were they and what make were they?
The arches are about 1.7 metres tall and they're from Agrs: www.agrs.co.uk/collections/metal-garden-obelisks/products/elegance-obelisk
@@GrowVeg Thanks very much
Do you think I can grow pumpkins/squash in a tiny spot or long narrow bedding? Maybe vertically?
They love to climb but they benefit more from being on the ground. I say prune any high growing fruit unless you have some nets to support them.
You certainly can, though I’d recommend planting a smaller variety of squash like acorn squash rather than pumpkins, which can get quite big!
I grew a large variety (15 pound fruits) in a 4 x 8 bed backed by a fence. They grew up and along the fence line wrapping tendrils around my string of Edison lights. None ever fell off. It was pretty impressive. My friends were flabbergasted :-)
Pumpkins were great fun to grow! But, the squash bugs definitely prefer them to Butternut varieties. And, it’s really tough to check under all those enormous leaves once the plant gets going well. How do you manage squash bugs?
You're going to hate me, but I don't get squash bugs where I am. The only relevant pests are slugs when the plants are very young. But there are some good squash bug tips here: www.growveg.com/pests/us-and-canada/squash-bug/
@@GrowVeg :-p
What do you do about snails and slugs?
There aren't many in this area, but I've been paranoid and heading out every day to hand pick any I find. So far I've escaped an all-out attack. :-)
Are you planting them directly into manure? Doesn't that burn them?
Oh I see the grass clippings would prevent that anyway.
As long as the manure is nicely aged, it won't burn the seedlings 😊
I think it’s like 3 months for most manure and 6 months for chicken manure to cool down but if it’s diluted or aged already it’s fine.
It's pretty old manure sold specifically as a soil amendment, so all good. And pumpkins and squashes are exceptionally hungry, so shouldn't be phased by all this richness. :-)
Yes, my question also. It seems he meant aged manure which in our area we call compost.
How did they all do? I was wondering if the tree would steal most of the nutrition from your plants ?
They're doing pretty well so far - finally taking off. I will be doing a garden tour video soon to give you a bit of an update, so stay tuned for that. :-)
I just came here to say that I've won the first battle against the army of slugs and snails. It's doable, zone 8, but it's hard. We can grow vegs if we apply to it.
No wonder my pumpkins are taking forever to germinate!!! I didnt nip them. Well at least i know for next year😊
Hello I am growing pumpkin but I have some yellow water regular and fertilized I don't know what happen can you help thanks
Young pumpkins can start pale green then yellow, before maturing to a rich, orange colour, so maybe they're just still on the young side?
Hi Ben, came back from a trip away and my pumpkins are covered in white mildew. Is there anything I can do to combat this?
Mildew is pretty common from the second half of summer. Keeping plants well watered if it's dry can help, as will ensuring good air flow. I would remove the worst affected leaves then consider spraying with a dilute cow's milk solution. More on that here: www.growveg.com/guides/using-milk-to-prevent-powdery-mildew/
@@GrowVeg thank you
LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING THE PROGRESS! Do you all have squash borer beetles on your side of the pond?
We're very lucky and don't have squash bugs or borers this side of the pond.
Do youget Squash bugs or vine Borers?
I am very lucky in that I do not get these pests!
knock knock gnocchin on heavens door YES!
My pumpkins are marching off, despite me telling them that it is far too early to be out and about. I have bubble wrap at the ready. And I have the inevitable mystery dont-know-what-it-is, because they all look the same, and that is inspite of religiously labelling everything.
Cutting a long story short, I acquired somewhere in the region of a 1000 plants including beech hedging [about 350] and cherry laurel [350] from a nursery that was about to burn the lot - trees, escallonia, elder, holly and some random ones - loads of what I think might skimmia. There is only me, a spade, acres of couch grass and rocks - my go-to edging choice. I think keeping on top of the veg garden will prove difficult for the next wee while and the pumpkins are misbehaving already thanks to the unusually good weather.
Oh wow, that’s some project you’ve got there! Good to hear the pumpkins are already off to a rambunctious start!
@@GrowVeg Thank you for your reply. It was an unexpected donation but a very welcome one. I start at 5 or 6 and finish when it grows dark and should, arguably, be in charge of training the SAS because digging hedge tracks with a pinch bar to heave out rocks is certainly hard labour, but once I free up the ground, the soil is good and I am hoping the resultant shelter belt, if they survive, will give me more veg garden space. Only 200 hedgelings to go. The pumpkins and marrows are galloping ahead this year. As everyone who grows veg knows, there is no such thing as enough beds.
Do watermelons next. I planted a whole plant, and aphids came and ate the whole thing! 😢
That must have been very disappointing!
What was the point of spreading out the manure? I'd have made mounds and mulched between plants. This year, I'm covering the plants to ward off Japanese beetles. For a couple of weeks most years they're complete psychos. Then the plants dominate.
Yes, you could certainly do that. I latterly banked up more manure in a ring around each plant, to act as a reservoir and to add further nourishment. But the relatively thin layer of manure between the plants will still make it's way to the roots - and the stems are likely to root into it anyhow as they sprawl. Hope you manage to escape the Japanese beetles this season! :-)
Great Video as always! But please don't use cardboard. There are everlasting chemicals used in food Containers etc that get recycled and also show up in cardboard and through that in your soil.
Thanks for the warning. I've only used plain brown cardboard, which I understand is a lot less risky than other cardboards. Jag over at Daisy Creek offers some good guidelines on this: www.daisycreekfarms.com/blog/the-truth-about-using-cardboard-and-paper-in-your-garden#:~:text=Conclusion,the%20cardboard%20in%20your%20garden.
Pumpkins can be planted among the corn.
I had considered that. May well do this - I'll see how any corn seedlings I get.
I wish you were my uncle
I planted 2 plants 2 weeks ago, they got slaughtered by slugs.
I give up.
Second time lucky? Mine got munched too. I'm going to grow bigger seedlings and blast slugs with beer, nematodes, egg shells, coffee, spikey branches ...
Don't give up. Maybe grow them on a bit before planting out at a bigger size.
I've planted about 10 pumpkin plants this year and the bloody slugs head straight for them. I swear the slugs love pumpkins!
#butcherallslugsindiscriminately
I've got slugs doing a number on my potatoes 😭.
Awesome, love your videos. I too use lawn clippings for mulch but have found it best to dry them first before spreading because they can form "mats" and not allow oxygen thru and that kind of upsets the top soil .
Yes, best to let dry out first if you can. :-)
How do I stop the slugs getting to them our garden has so many I planted a few days it and they got eastern not even in a day now I’m scared to plant the others out. 😢
That's really frustrating - so sorry to read this. I would grow on plants until they are a bit bigger if slugs are an issue - larger plants are more resistant. And here my general advice on dealing with slugs: ua-cam.com/video/VJvUwkFZeOM/v-deo.htmlsi=4zc-5uNDH25TJWBU
Hi. I just love your videos! We just planted Musquee de Provence Squash seeds (aka large, beautiful, Cheese Pumpkins), yesterday. I was worried because we made hills 3 ft apart, but I am going to leave them and let them (hopefully) sprawl. Thanks for the great video! :)
I think they'll thrive in hills like that. :-)
love the video do you have chickens
I don't have chickens - some day maybe! :-)