Growing Pumpkins Vertically In A Small Space [The Pumpkin Tower]

Learn how to grow pumpkins vertically in a very small space by turning rolled wire fencing into a pumpkin tower trellis.

Fall is my favorite season and I always anticipate the time of year I get to break out the pumpkins and pumpkin spice.

However, those pumpkins can be quite expensive and you can save a ton of money by growing them yourself.

Pumpkins generally take up a lot of space as their vines can reach 20+ feet. Many people with small yards (or no yards at all) may not have considered growing pumpkins. However, you can do this successfully with just a 2 X 2 square foot garden space or a very large container which makes this the most efficient pumpkin growing system around.

How to make a pumpkin tower to grow pumpkins vertically

Growing pumpkins vertically is quite easy. All you need is a structure for the pumpkin vines to grab onto, good soil, water, adequate sunlight, pumpkin seeds, and a little bit of space. That’s it!

Here’s how:

Dig a hole

Find a space in your garden that is at least 5 square feet. Dig a round hole that is about 2.5 feet in diameter and 1 foot deep.

Make the pumpkin tower trellis

Cut a section of wire fencing with wire cutters. To make a pumpkin tower trellis that is 2 feet in diameter you will need about 4 feet of wire fencing. The fencing I used was 6 feet in height. You may want to zip tie the seam but this is not required (I didn’t use zip ties).

Insert the pumpkin tower into the hole

Fill in the hole and surround the pumpkin tower with soil

Fill the hole back in loosely with soil. You don’t want to pack it in because you will be planting pumpkin seeds around the perimeter and the pumpkins will grow best with loose soil. As you water, the soil will settle firming around the pumpkin tower.

Plant pumpkin seeds

Plant the pumpkin seeds around the perimeter of the pumpkin tower. Water well.

Before you know it you will have tons of pumpkin vines emerging from the ground.

Train the pumpkin vines

Initially the pumpkin vines will need to be trained upward by weaving them through the wire fencing. Eventually they will begin to climb and cling to the pumpkin tower on their own. It is helpful to cut a couple “windows” in the fencing so you can easily reach inside to train the vines and retrieve pumpkins.

Types of pumpkins to plant

In theory you could grow any type of pumpkin vertically but I highly recommend sticking with miniature or medium varieties. Larger pumpkins will need added support as it grows so it doesn’t break off of the vine. Below are several varieties that I currently have growing on my pumpkin tower, including my favorite Baby Boo.

How to grow pumpkins successfully

Growing pumpkins successfully takes a bit of planning but is very easy to do. With just a few simple steps you will have loads of pumpkins just in time for fall.

Know how long it will take for your pumpkin variety to mature

Not all pumpkins are created equal.

There are big pumpkins, little pumpkins, and everything in between.

The average maturity date for pumpkins range from 90 days to 120 days. Miniature pumpkins take the shortest amount of time to grow and can be ready to harvest in as little as 80 days (I have had several baby pumpkins mature in even less time than this).

By knowing how long your pumpkins will take to mature, you can then decide on the best time to plant.

Note: you can always plant early and then store the pumpkins in a cool and dry location until you are ready to use them.

Plant in a sunny location

Pumpkins LOVE sunlight so make sure you plant your pumpkin seeds in an area that receives a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight.

Temperature

Though we all think of fall when we think of pumpkins, they are actually warm weather plants. Most varieties can tolerate a very light frost but it is best to wait until the threat of frost has past before planting.

Space

Pumpkins vines can be very long so it important to make sure you plan accordingly. If growing pumpkins on the ground, you will need room for the vines to spread out. The vines can exceed 20+ feet so you will need a BIG space for this…unless you make a pumpkin tower! Growing pumpkins vertically drastically reduces the space needed as the vine will grow up the pumpkin tower and then back down, maximizing your space.

Pests and disease

Gardening is very rewarding but often comes with a few challenges as well. The most common issues I have encountered are:

• squash bugs
• powdery mildew

You can check out how I treat powdery mildew organically with buttermilk here. I also discuss squash bugs and how to prevent a squash bug infestation in the same article. Those darn squash bugs are a PAIN! The key is prevention, prevention, prevention!

Growing Pumpkins Vertically in Containers

So what if you don’t have a yard at all?

No problem!

If you have a sunny patio space then you can in fact still grown pumpkins using the “pumpkin tower method”. You will need a tall and wide container for best results. Measure the circumference of your planter, cut the wire fencing to size, and place around the container.

Please send me pictures of your pumpkin towers! You can also tag @missourigirlhome on your social media.

Happy growing!