Tempest Pumpkin Patch 2016!

So my enthusiasm for Halloween led me to start a pumpkin patch in our side garden last year. However, after the enthusiasm wore off (never mind it really didn't, just ask the TeaPot) I was obsessed with getting the best pumpkins I could from our garden. It started off amazingly, with the soil producing some amazing pumpkin plants, but as time went on, the pumpkin patch turned into a powdery mildew pod, and all of my pumpkin plants died. So this year, I've launched the patch again, and I'm taking you through a step-by-step process of the DIY process!

Step One: Clear brush, and weeds: Not a big area, went by fast:

Drake even helped a bit:

Step Two: Till soil (old school with a shovel) and apply top soil:

Step Three: Clear debris, lay irrigation hose through garden, and form mounds with the top soil. The soaker hose is ESSENTIAL. DO NOT THINK YOU CAN JUST WATER OVER THE TOP. I will show you why that is a bad idea in later blog posts. Place mounds 4-6 feet apart:

Step Four: Pick out your pumpkin seeds. I planted a variety of Sugar Pie and Jack-O-Lantern this year:

Step Five: Lay 4-6 seeds on each mound, about 4-6 inches apart: Then just push the seed into the mound about one inch into the soil. Not too far! 1 inch!

Step Six: Cover the seeds with top soil, add fertilizer: Use a fertilizer with a high phosphorous concentration. I really like this particular brand:

Step 7: With seeds under soil and fertilizer applied, turn on water to soak maybe 10 minutes this first time:

This should get you started. You can bury the remainder of the hose if you want (I did, it looks less tacky.) I will be back each week or so with updates on the progress and other pumpkin gardening tips as they grow. If you have any questions email me:

shockers1981@hotmail.com. Good Luck!