Description
Per Packet
Grow a garden filled with Fairytale Pumpkins, from freshly harvested Cucurbita moschata seeds. Fairytale is a deep ribbed, flat variety that originates from France. Each pumpkin will grow to a mature size of 12 to 18 inches in diameter and will weigh anywhere from 8 to 20 pounds. Fairytale isn’t really used for carving because of it’s short height, but can still be used for decorating. It also makes a great pie with its sweet mahogany orange flesh. Fairytale will vine outwards taking up an area of about 10 to 15 feet in length. Each vine will grow to a mature height of about 2 feet tall and will produce 2 to 4 fruits. Crops will be ready for harvesting in roughly 110 days.
Pumpkins have a number of health benefits and are fairly easy to grow from fresh Pumpkin seeds. Because of it’s high content of beta-carotene (which is converted to vitamin A) pumpkins are great for improving eye sight. Other benefits of this delicious fruit include: Healthy & younger looking skin, improved immunity and strengthened immune system and weight loss. Some studies show that Pumpkins can even lower your risk of cancer as well.
Check out our Pumpkin category for a list of all of our most popular Pumpkins. You might also be interested in purchasing our “Spooky Mixture” for a blend of all sorts of different pumpkins. Included are a favorites such as “Small Sugar” and “Atlantic Giant” as well.
Sowing The Seed
Pumpkins are best established directly outdoors in the summer. Be sure to select a large enough area for the plants to grow and vine outwards. Remove all unwanted plant life from your sowing area, turning the dirt, or replacing the dirt with a fresh soil. Create mounds of dirt or “hills” roughly 18 to 24 inches wide and at least 8 inches high. Sow 4 seeds per mound at a depth of 1 inch under topsoil. (See "Germination & Growth" for spacing and other growth habits)
Growing Conditions
Pumpkins enjoy the heat of summer and will thrive in temperatures that are above 75F. The soil should be rich in organic matter, but will also need to be well drained. To improve drainage, it is recommended to add a light compost to any hard, compacted soil in the sowing area. This will prevent the roots from rotting. Water the seeds daily with a mild setting so that the seeds and seedlings are kept moist until germination occurs.
Germination & Growth
Fairytale Pumpkin seeds will begin to sprout open in roughly 7 to 14 days after sowing. The plants will grow to a mature height of 1 to 2 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet long. These plants will need a large area to grow outwards and can be spaced by hills or mounds of dirt, rather than rows. As explained above mounds should be 18 to 24 inches wide and at least 8 inches tall. Space each mound at least 6 to 8 feet apart from one another. When sprouts become visible, direct the vines outwards towards areas that do not contain other plant life.
Harvesting
When your vines start to establish pumpkins, be sure to place straw under the fruits to prevent them from touching the bare ground beneath, as this can cause rotting. Your Fairytale Pumpkins will be ready for harvest in roughly 110 days after first sprouts appear. Cut the stems at least 2 to 3 inches from the actual fruits, otherwise the fruits will rot.
