Pumpkin culture requires diligent pest, weed and disease control. All varieties require well-drained soils. Vines grown on sandy soil require addition of liberal amounts of organic compost and supplemental irrigation. Most pumpkins prefer slightly acidic soil, with a pH reading between 6.0 to 6.5. Many gardeners get good results by incorporating a cup of fertilizer into the hill before sowing.
Pumpkins are a warm-season crop and are intolerant of frost.
Since pumpkins are sensitive to nematodes, successive crops should be rotated. Make sure that the seeds you purchase have been treated with a fungicide to prevent rotting. Treated seeds will be coated with a neon pink color. Gloves should be worn when handling treated seeds to prevent exposure. Plant three seeds to a hill, removing all except the strongest plant when they are 4 inches tall.