Question
Hi -

My 6-year old daughter found a ziplock bag full of seeds and planted them randomly around in my garden (unbeknownst to me).  When I noticed plants beginning to grow, I asked her what they were and she said they looked like pumpkin seeds in the bag.  Havin never grown pumpkins and wanting to try it out, I transplanted 4 of the plants to a different location in my garden.

Now, the plants have big, broad leaves; but I don't know whether the plants are pumpkin plants or squash plants.  How can I tell the difference?  Are the leaves of pumpkin plants different from those of squash plants?  

I REALLY want these plants to make it and I am a gardening amateur (and that's probably an OVER-statement).  What advice can you give me?  I just want some jack-o-lanterns in the Fall for Halloween.

Thanks!  I'm  looking forward to your response :)

Answer
Unfortunately, pumpkin and squash plants are identical in both foliage and growing habit.  Until the plants begin to produce fruit, you will not know what type of plant is growing.

Squash tend to produce small fruit much quicker than pumpkins.  If the plants have been in the soil for several weeks with no fruit, the odds are you have pumpkin plants.

One piece of advice that I can give you is to work as much organic ingredients into the soil surrounding the plants as possible.  These amendments include compost, aged manure, shredded leaves, and peat moss.  You can even use these as a mulch until fall, and then till them in.

Avoid using fertilizers with high nitrogen.  Nitrogen promotes lush foliage at the expense of producing large fruit.  Instead, use fertilizers high in phosphorus and potassium.  A good ratio is 10-20-20, with the first number representing nitrogen, and the next two phosphorus and potassium.  Phosphorus produces large numbers of fruit, potassium strong roots.

I hope this answered your question.  Good luck, and have a good weekend.

Regards,

Mike