Pumpkins are composed of 80 to 90% water, that is why the pumpkin needs to be watered correctly for the fruit to develop properly. In this article, we will explain how often to water pumpkins, and we will give you many more tips to get the best pumpkins.
As we said, pumpkins need water to develop properly, but you should never overwater the pumpkin because its roots may rot and diseases may appear. Throughout the article, you will learn how often to water the pumpkin plant and how to properly water the pumpkin plant.
Table of Contents
How Often to Water Pumpkins
How Often to Water Pumpkins? Pumpkins need a lot of water to develop properly, but the soil must have good drainage because it does not tolerate waterlogged soils. You must keep the soil of the pumpkins moist, but you must never have the soil waterlogged because this will bring problems of root rot and then diseases in the pumpkin.
A pumpkin plant needs 15 to 20 gallons (55 to 75 liters) of water per week, especially at the stage when pumpkins are developing. Some pumpkin varieties are more resistant to drought, but it is always better to water pumpkins properly to obtain excellent fruit.
Water the pumpkin in the afternoon or evening, and always only water the base of the pumpkin plant. Never wet the leaves to avoid fungal diseases. You can use drip hoses to water pumpkins effectively.
A soil rich in organic matter and good drainage is ideal for growing pumpkins and for them to thrive in the right environment. Before watering the pumpkins to check the condition of the soil, you can insert a stick in the soil to see if the first 2” (5 cm) of soil is wet or dry. If the stick comes out clean, your pumpkin needs to be watered.
How to Tell if Pumpkins Need Water
How to Tell if Pumpkins Need Water? To tell if pumpkins need water, look at the soil. You can check if the soil is moist by inserting a stick into the soil in the first 2″ (5 cm) of soil. If the stick comes out completely dry, your pumpkin needs to be watered, but if it comes out wet or muddy, the soil is still wet. This is a very common way to check the moisture in the soil of plants.
You can also use a garden pH meter that serves several functions, most garden pH meters measure the following:
- pH
- Moisture
- Light
These moisture meters are very economical and do not require batteries. Of course, they can be used on all types of plants to measure pH, moisture, or illumination. With these two ways, you can know if the pumpkins need water.
If you notice the leaves of the pumpkin plant a little wilted at midday, this is normal. In the afternoon, the leaves of the pumpkin should recover. If the leaves of the pumpkin plant continue to wilt, it is a sign of lack of water.
- Kindly NOTE: This soil tester can not be applied to test pH value of any other liquid. If the soil is too dry the indicator will not move, and water it before testing.
- 3 METERS IN ONE: Soil moisture level, Soil pH value and Sunlight level could be tested easily according to your need by switching the function button of this soil meter.
- NO BATTERY NEEDED: Simply insert the meter into soil, wait few minutes, accurate test results will be displayed on the readout panel. No battery is needed.
How Much Water Do Pumpkins Need
How Much Water Do Pumpkins Need? The pumpkin plant needs 15 to 20 gallons (55 to 75 liters) of water per week. While the pumpkins are developing is the time that the pumpkin plant will need the right amount of water to develop the pumpkins.
Always check the soil moisture to know how much water the pumpkins need because you may be having very hot days and the pumpkin will probably need more watering. It is also possible that you are in a rainy season and the pumpkin needs less water.
Reduce soil moisture before harvesting pumpkins, this will allow for a longer storage time for the pumpkin. Normally, stopping watering the pumpkin plant a few days before harvest will be sufficient.
Should You Water Pumpkins Every Day?
It is not recommended to water pumpkins every day. In my pumpkin crops, I had better success watering the pumpkins twice a week without exceeding the amount of water. I never overwater and water my pumpkins according to the soil moisture of my pumpkins.
How Often Should You Water Pumpkin Seedlings
How Often Should You Water Pumpkin Seedlings? Pumpkin seedlings should be watered twice a week. Before watering the pumpkin seedlings check the soil moisture, if the soil is moist do not water the pumpkin seedlings yet.
The pumpkin plant will need more water when it is bigger and is developing pumpkins. The first 2″ (5 cm) of the pumpkin seedling soil should be moist.
Can You Overwater Pumpkins?
If you are not careful with watering, you could overwater your pumpkins. Overwatering the pumpkin will cause the roots of the pumpkin to not receive enough oxygen and then root rot will start. It is essential to control the moisture in the soil of the pumpkin to water it correctly and not overwater the pumpkin.
Excessive watering of the pumpkin will also bring other problems such as fungus and some pests. Once the roots of the pumpkin begin to rot from excess water, it will be almost impossible to save the pumpkin plant.
What are the Signs of an Overwatered Pumpkins?
The first sign of overwatered pumpkins will be observed in the leaves, the leaves of the pumpkin will turn yellow and fall off. Overwatering manifests itself in the same way in many other plants.
Excessive overwatering of the pumpkin plant will cause root rot and then the leaves will begin to fall off. An overwatered pumpkin plant is very difficult to save, and the best thing to do is to plant a new pumpkin plant. The best thing to do is to water the pumpkin correctly to avoid problems due to overwatering.
Pumpkin Varieties That Need Less Water
There are some varieties of pumpkins that need less water, they are a little more resistant to drought than other varieties of pumpkins. These are the pumpkins that need less watering:
- Small Sugar Pumpkin
- Baby Boo Pumpkin
- Jack Be Little Pumpkin
The fruits of these pumpkins are smaller than other pumpkin varieties but do not need as much watering. Learn more about how to grow pumpkins from seeds.
Final Conclusions
The frequency with which pumpkins should be watered will be affected by soil moisture, always check soil moisture before watering pumpkins. You never want to overwater your pumpkins.
I recommend using the method of burying the stick in the soil to check the soil moisture in your pumpkin plants. I hope this article on how often to water pumpkins will be of great help and that you will have an excellent harvest. Learn more about how long does it take for pumpkins to grow.
