Compost and aged manure are often used to nurse the plants along. Pumpkins also require large amounts of water. Because they are made up of as much as 90-percent water, it's essential that farmers water this plant on a regular basis. Within the first month of life, two flowers appear on each vine. One is male and one, female.
Bees play matchmaker with the flowers, doing all the work of pollinating during early growth.
Those plants which are pollinated grow strong, while those that aren't, usually shrivel and die within the first two months of growth. As the pumpkin fruit reaches grapefruit size, vines are pruned to help strengthen the plant, allowing it to thrive. Some gardeners also prune the fruit at this time, selecting which pumpkins look the healthiest, and removing the others from the vine. As the seasons begin to change in late August, and temperatures dip to frost level. Pumpkins are at their peak when they are deep yellow or bright red.