Pumpkins are water-intensive plants that need at least 1-inch of water per week. But while pumpkins need about 1-inch of water per week, you should only water them a few days out of the week. This more infrequent watering schedule still gives your pumpkins all the water they need to thrive, but it also reduces the chances of your fruit rotting. It’s also why you should try to water the soil directly, instead of watering the foliage and the plants. If it’s a warm summer day, this isn’t as big of a concern, since the sun can dry out the foliage and plants before they start to rot. However, it’s always best to stay in a practice of trying to keep the water off the foliage and plants as much as possible.