Pumpkin 'Connecticut Field' (Cucurbita pepo)
Features
‘Connecticut Field’ is the ultimate New England heirloom pumpkin variety. It was grown for hundreds of years by Native Americans and later by the early settlers that arrived in New England. It’s said that the name ‘Connecticut Field’ is a reference to where the settlers discovered the variety growing as well as the common practice of growing pumpkins among field corn at that time.
‘Connecticut Field’ remains an enduring classic among pumpkin varieties. It features large, lightly ribbed, bright orange skin with a slightly flattened bottom that provides the pumpkin good stability when sitting. ‘Connecticut Field’ is the quintessential carving pumpkin, but it’s also good for canning, pies, and soups. To grow this variety, you’ll need plenty of space. Each vine produces two to four large pumpkins that measure around 12″ (30cm) in diameter and weigh 15-25lbs (7-11kg.). Fruits take 100-125 days to reach maturity.
Uses
Perfect for indoor and outdoor autumn decoration. Excellent for carving or painting. Superb for making delicious pies and roasted seed snacks. Wash fruits, vegetables and herbs thoroughly before eating.
Plant Feed
Use a fertilizer formulated for vegetables.
Watering
Keep well-watered.
Soil
Organic-rich, well-drained soil.
Basic Care Summary
Plant in a sunny location after the threat of frost has passed. Space 5′ (1.5m) apart, provide ample water, and fertilize regularly. Allow fruit to fully ripen before harvesting.
Planting Instructions
Select a sunny site, away from trees and close to a water source if possible.
Prepare the garden by breaking up the existing soil (use a hoe, spade, or power tiller) to a depth of 12-16? (30-40cm). Add organic matter such as manure, peat moss or garden compost until the soil is loose and easy to work. Organic ingredients improve drainage, add nutrients, and encourage earthworms and other organisms that help keep soil healthy. Give plants an extra boost by adding a granulated fertilizer formulated for vegetables or and all-purpose feed (such as a fertilizer labeled 5-10-5).
Remove the plant from the container. If plants are in a pack, gently squeeze the outside of the individual plant cell while tipping container to the side. If plant doesn’t loosen, continue pressing on the outside of the container while gently grasping the base of the plant and tugging carefully so as not to crush or break the stem until the plant is released. If the plant is in a pot, brace the base of the plant, tip it sideways and tap the outside of the pot to loosen. Rotate the container and continue to tap, loosening the soil until the plant pulls smoothly from the pot.
Dig the hole up to two times larger than the root ball and deep enough that the plant will be at the same level in the ground as the soil level in the container. Grasping the plant at the top of the root ball, use your finger to lightly rake apart the lower roots apart. This is especially important if the roots are dense and have filled up the container. Set the plant in the hole.
Check the plant label for suggested spacing and the mature height of the plant. Position plants so that taller plants are in the center or background of the garden and shorter plants in the foreground.
Plan ahead for plants that get tall and require staking or support cages. It’s best to install cages early in the spring, at planting time, before the foliage gets bushy. Vining vegetables can occupy a lot of space, so provide a trellis, fence, or other structure that allows the plant to grow vertically to maximize garden space.
Watering Instructions
Ideally water should only be applied to the root zone – an area roughly 6-12” (15-30cm) from the base of the plant, not the entire plant. A soaker hose is a great investment for keeping plants healthy and reducing water lost through evaporation. Hand watering using a watering wand with a sprinkler head attached is also a good way to control watering. If the garden area is large, and a sprinkler is necessary, try to water in the morning so that plant foliage has time to dry through the day. Moist foliage encourages disease and mold that can weaken or damage plants.
Thoroughly soaking the ground every 2-3 days is better than watering a little bit daily. Deep watering encourages roots to grow further into the ground resulting in a sturdier plant with more drought tolerance. How often to water will depend on rainfall, temperature and how quickly the soil drains.
To check for soil moisture use your finger or a small trowel to dig in and examine the soil. If the first 2-4” (5-10cm) of soil is dry, it is time to water.
Pruning Instructions
There are several reasons to prune vegetable plants: to help contain a plant’s size, to promote bushy compact growth, to remove dead or diseased stems, and to promote larger, healthier fruit yields.
Flower buds can be pinched off to force the plant energy into fewer fruits that develop faster.
Vining plants can become invasive in a confined garden space. If necessary, entire vines can be removed down to the main stem to keep plants under control.
Never prune away more than 1/3 of the plant or it may become weak and unproductive.
Remove vegetables as soon as they mature. Leaving them on the plant any longer than necessary can affect flavor and texture, and mature fruit steals energy from younger developing fruits.
Fertilizing Instuctions
A well prepared planting bed enriched with organic matter such as compost or manure and a mild general-purpose, granulated fertilizer gets plants off to a good start. Give plants a boost later in the season with a fertilizer formulated for vegetables.
Fertilizers are available in many forms: granulated, slow-release, liquid feeds, organic or synthetic. Follow the package directions to determine how much, and how often, to feed.
Be sure to keep the garden well-weeded. Weeds take vital moisture and nutrients away from the vegetable plants.
Plant Details
| Category | Vegetable |
| Height Range | 18-24″ |
| Height Metric Range | 46-61cm |
| Space Range | 4-5′ |
| Space Metric Range | 1.2-1.5m |
| Available Colors | orange |
| Companion Plants | Corn, Melon, Squash, Oregano, Marigold |
| Lowest Temperature | 40° to 50°F |
| Lowest Temperature Metric | 4° to 10°C |
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Plant Light | Full Sun |
| Hardiness Zone | 11, 12 |