Spring planting doesn’t start when the air feels warm, It...Read More
White Queen Pumpkin stands out as a distinctive, small to mid-sized pumpkins with a delicate ivory complexion and subtle grooves. This rare heirloom variety is harvestable at dimensions ranging from 7 to 15 inches in diameter, these pumpkins share a familiar silhouette with traditional orange pumpkin counterparts and mirror their cultivation habits and needs. Whether gracing decorative displays, serving as a canvas for carving creativity, or providing seeds for extraction and roasting, the White Queen Pumpkin proves to be an excellent choice.
NAME: Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)
VARIETY: White Queen
DAYS TO MATURITY: 90 – 120 days
POLLINATION: Open Pollinated
TYPE: Annual
HARDINESS ZONE: Zones 3 – 10
SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
SOIL: Fertile, loose soil with a pH 6.5 – 7.0
PLANT HEIGHT: 18 – 26 inches
SPACING: 36 – 48 inches apart
TEMP: 50 – 90°F
These seeds do not required stratification.
To learn more about Stratification, click here!
Seeds should be started indoors 2 weeks before your last local spring frost.
Sow 1 to 2 seeds, 1 inch deep in cell trays or medium sized pots with proper seed starting mix.
Provide a heated area or heat mats to keep the soil temps between 60 to 70°F which will encourage germination.
Supply fluorescent/LED grow lights 3 inches above the cell trays or pots, 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
Keep the soil moist until seedlings sprout which will occur within 10 days.
Remove all but 1 seedling per each cell or pot as soon as they are 2 inches tall.
Before transplanting outdoors, harden off seedlings for several days. Do this by taking them outside during the day and bringing them in at night (Outside temps should be above 50°F when you start this process).
After they have hardened off, plant them spaced 5 feet apart with 8 feet between rows in your pre-prepared bed.
Prepare a large bed, then once the soil reaches 60°F you can begin direct sowing several seeds 1 inch deep, spaced every 5 feet, with rows spaced 8 feet apart, which will allow the pumpkin vines to grow without overcrowding each other.
After the seedlings emerge, thin them so there is only one every 5 feet.
When seedlings are established, mulch with woodchips or straw around the base of the plant to prevent weeds from choking out the pumpkins.
Prep your planting beds by picking a spot that gets full sun and has loose, fertile soil with a pH of 6.5 – 7.0; remove any surrounding weeds and add ample compost.
In cool climates, Sugar Pie Pumpkins seeds should be started indoors.
Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells; plants need 1 to 2 inches of rain per week during the growing season.
Water with a drip line or trickle system that delivers water at a low pressure and at the soil level; if you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems.
Keep the soil moist but not saturated.
Do not move or step on vines as they are quite fragile.
If you are trying to grow extra-large pumpkins, allow only one fruit per plant to mature.
Harvest White Queen Pumpkins when the skin has turned fully white and is hard to the touch.
Use sharp garden shears or a knife to cut the pumpkins from the vine, leaving a few inches of stem attached.
Handle pumpkins carefully to avoid bruising or damage.
After harvesting, allow pumpkins to cure in a warm, dry location for 10-14 days to harden the skin and extend storage life.
