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3. If seeds are kept
moist, they should start sprouting within 7-14 days. Soon after
leaves should start appearing. You may want to thin your plants
to the strongest and largest if you want really top quality pumpkins.
Vines from a single plant may grow as long as 30 feet.
4. It's a good idea
to fertilize your plants with compost, aged manure or a fertilizer
product.
5. Continue watering
you plants - turn off your water when puddles start appearing and
then water again when the topsoil is dry.

6. Pumpkins are susceptible
to several common problems. One is powdery mildew - a white, powdery
mold will appear on the upper surfaces of the leaves. Another is
cucumber beetles and squash bugs. They attack seedlings, vines,
immature and mature fruits. To rid your plants of these problems
you will need to use a fungicide or an insecticide.
7. As fruit develops,
it should be handled as little as possible. However, to produce
"classic" pumpkins you many want to adjust the fruit so its bottom
is sitting squarely on the ground. This shouldn't be done until
the fruit is well-established (about a month after its appearance).
Also, slipping something such as a shingle under the pumpkin may
prevent scarring or bruising as the fruit grows.
8. Pumpkins should
be harvested after the vines have died back and the fruit is a deep
color (from yellow to red - depending on the variety). Leave a 3-4
inch stem attached. To ensure your pumpkins last as long as possible,
store them in a cool dry place and don't let them freeze.
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