How to Grow Pumpkins Vertically

Bright-orange pumpkins symbolize the arrival of the fall season for many people. Growing pumpkins in the home garden can seem quite challenging, since the extra space required for growing big pumpkins might not be available. Smaller varieties of pumpkins include Small Sugar, Baby Pam and Cotton Candy. These smaller pumpkins grow well vertically on a space-saving trellis that's sturdy enough to support their growing vines and produce an abundant crop.

Rotary tiller

Organic compost

Garden hoe

4-inch mesh fencing

Sturdy poles

Garden wire

Small- to medium-variety pumpkin seeds

Weed-free straw

Soft-spray nozzle

Garden hose

Garden twine

Slow-release vegetable fertilizer

Pantyhose

Rags

Scissors

Prepare the pumpkin planting site by working the soil with a rotary tiller. Ensure your site receives full sun. Plan to place the trellis on the north side of the site to allow maximum sun exposure; if placed on the south side, the trellis may cast a shadow over the pumpkins, resulting in poor growth.

Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic compost over the tilled ground. Mix the compost into the soil with a garden hoe.

Install your trellis on the prepared planting site. Space sturdy posts along your planting area, hammering them at least 4 inches into the ground to keep the trellis from blowing over in strong winds. Secure 4-inch mesh fencing to the posts with garden wire.

Sow small-variety pumpkin seeds into the prepared planting bed when soil temperatures are steadily above 60 degrees in the spring. Push each seed 1/2-inch into the soil with your finger.

Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch over the pumpkin seeds.

Attach a soft-spray nozzle onto the garden hose. Water the pumpkin seeds until the soil is moist.

Tie the pumpkin vine tendrils to the trellis with garden twine as they grow tall enough to touch the bottom of the trellis. The tendrils seek out something to cling onto; once you tie them to the bottom of the trellis, they will continue climbing and securing themselves to the trellis without any assistance.

Feed the pumpkin vines a slow-release vegetable fertilizer, following the product instructions.

Cut 12-inch sections from pantyhose or rags with scissors to create supporting hammocks for the emerging pumpkins. Tie one end of the pantyhose to the trellis, next to a pumpkin. Extend the pantyhose under the pumpkin, to the other side. Tie the unattached end of the pantyhose next to the pumpkin and to the trellis. These hammocks will keep the pumpkins from breaking off the vine too early.

Harvest the pumpkins when their skins have hardened.

You can purchase bagged organic bagged compost wherever potting soil is sold.

Weed-free straw or hay makes great mulch because it helps retain soil moisture and is light enough for the pumpkin seedlings to grow through after germination, usually one to two weeks.

As the pumpkin vines grow, water only the soil surrounding the plants to avoid fungal diseases.