Pumpkin, Connectut Field

 Pumpkin, Connecticut Field

Heirloom. Organic. The heirloom pumpkin of the New England settlers and Indians, several hundred years old; golden fruit weigh about 20 lbs each. This is a truly old variety that can be used for pies; the traditional American pumpkin. The pumpkin is one of the oldest field pumpkins in existence. Connecticut Field produces nice yields of globe shaped deep orange yellow pumpkins.  Flesh is yellow, thick, coarse and stringy.  Connecticut Field pumpkin must have been the original pumpkin for Halloween in America.  The perfect shape and flat bottom come in hand for making a jack'o lantern.  Connecticut Field Pumpkin also makes an excellent animal feed.  Chickens love pumpkin and so do the goats. This is an easy way to store nutritious feed through the winter for our critters. Pumpkin is a warm-season vegetable that can be grown throughout much of the United States. Besides being used as jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween, pumpkins are used to make pumpkin butter, pies, custard, bread, cookies and soup.

Planting Connecticut Field Pumpkin

While starting seeds of the Connecticut Field Pumpkin is not necessarily difficult, the right conditions will make the process successful. Sow Connecticut Field Pumpkin seeds directly in the ground in the spring when the threat of frost has passed or start in containers several weeks before transplanting into soil. Keep the ground moist but not wet for the first couple of weeks. Pick a sunny, well-drained spot for planting for the best performance. Prefers a well-drained fertile soil in a sunny position.  Heirloom / Open Pollinated Connecticut Field Pumpkin are cool weather loving plants that prefer well drained loose soil and an even amount of water. Plant heirloom Connecticut Field Pumpkin in rows or hills but make sure the soil is well warmed. In cooler climates, you can start Connecticut Field Pumpkin seeds indoors 2-4 wks. before last frost to extend the growing season.

  Height: 12 inch Plants—Will spread wide and the vines will run along the ground for about 20-30 ft.   Spacing: 12-18" inches, thin if necessary

Spacing between rows—18-24”

Depth: ½-1”  inch Germination: 5-10 days

Starting from Seed Indoors. Generally, the time to start your seeds is about 2-3 weeks before the last expected spring frost date in your area, planting the seedlings outdoors about 2 weeks after that date. Another way to figure is to plan on setting out sturdy seedlings in the garden when night temperatures stay in the mid-50 degree range both day and night. Count back and sow seeds 2 to 3 weeks before that date normally arrives. Place a few seeds (3 to 5) into each pot and push them into the soil with your finger. Cover the seeds to a depth of approximately 1 inch of the potting mix. Mist each  pot with water until the soil appears moist. Place the pots in an area which will provide both light (which is required for germination) and heat, preferably about 65 to 70 degrees F and at least 8 hours of light each day. Check on the seeds every day and keep the seeds damp but not drenched by misting with your plant mister. You should see sprouting in about 5 to 10 days. Once your seedlings have reached about 4 to 6 inches in height, choose an area in your garden to transfer them. Water each seedling carefully so as not to soak the leaves or stem.

Direct-seeding into the Garden.Turn over the area you've selected to a depth of approximately 2 inches. Rake the area until it's level and smooth. Water the area until the soil is damp but not saturated. Scatter the seeds in a row. Gently rake the area to distribute the seeds further and protect them from birds. Or, press the seeds into the soil and cover with no more than 1 inch of soil. You can also place 1 to 2 seeds every  to 12-18 inches in rows approximately 18-24 inches apart, and cover seeds with 1 inch of soil. Place planting stakes around the area so you will know where to water. Check on your seeds about once a day. Make sure to mist the soil whenever it appears dry. Germination for the Pumpkin plants is approximately 5  to 10 days, depending on the warmth of the soil.   

Germination Problems

Growing plants from seeds successfully depends on a lot of factors and this makes it impossible to guarantee success on every batch of seeds planted.  Factors include, soil composition, PH, temperature, moisture levels, seed depth, soil density, seed viability, seed storage and many others.  We tested the germination of all our seeds and this seed variety is around 80%, but your results may vary based on exactly how you plant and all the environmental factors.  Good luck.