Guide to Making Money Growing and Selling Pumpkins

A large portion of the American population is living paycheck to paycheck these days. Most families are looking for some way of making a bit of extra money for a special purchase or sometime just to make ends meet. A plot of land or even the backyard can be transformed into a pumpkin patch that will offer you some extra cash in the fall. Follow this guide to making money growing and selling pumpkins.

Growing Pumpkins

Location

Pumpkins are sun-loving vegetables. Choose a planting location that will offer at least 6 hours of full sunshine per day. However, don't plant your pumpkins, or another squash variety, in the same location two years in a row. Next year find another location for your pumpkins or experiment with another crop. There are so many pumpkin varieties to choose from, some very large, some very small and even some that are a creamy white in color.

Seeds

If you have enough garden space, choose several different varieties of pumpkins. The popular jack-o-lantern style pumpkins will always be popular. However, you can also find them at any grocery store during the fall season. Types of pumpkins not found readily offer the consumer an opportunity to choose something unique. The small variety will give you more individual pumpkins per plant, about 12. Regular-sized pumpkin plants will offer 3 to 4 each. Choose pumpkin types that will grow to maturity within the growing season of your location. In other words, if you have a short growing season, choose varieties that will mature in the shortest amount of time. Next year you can start the seeds indoors, while it is still cold outside. This will give you a head start making money growing and selling pumpkins.

Plant 3 or 4 seeds per mound, but choose only the strongest, healthiest seedling and pull out the rest. If you don't, the plants will compete with each other for nutrients and water. It's better to have one healthy plant that will offer a harvest of great looking pumpkins, than three mediocre plants that will give you mediocre pumpkins.

Garden Bed Preparation

Dig up the soil in the garden plot. Use your shovel to dig down about 2 feet, turning the soil as you go. Remove any unwanted items, such as weeds, stones or twigs. Use compost to amend the soil. It adds needed nutrition, as well as, making for a well drained soil. You'll need about a 2-inch layer over the top of the garden bed. Work it into the soil. Rake the area even.

Create dirt mounds for your plants. Make a moat with your hoe around the mound, for watering. Read the back of your pumpkin seed packet for instructions on how far apart to build the dirt mounds. It will also tell you how deep to plant the particular variety of seed. Different varieties will require a differing amount of space between the mounds. Planting your seeds on these mounds will allow the pumpkin plant adequate drainage. The mounds also offer the heat needed for the seeds to germinate.

Tips: Lay a flag board or piece of cardboard beneath each pumpkin while it grows. This will keep pests and predators away from the pumpkins. It will also keep it dry and you will end up with a better looking pumpkin. If you use cardboard, and it gets wet, discard it for a dry piece immediately.

Harvest

A minimum of three months is required for growing pumpkins. The only real way of knowing that your crop is ready for harvest is when they stop growing. As you check the pumpkins daily and water them, it will seem as though they are larger each time. When they seems to stop, it's time to harvest. Cut each pumpkin from the vine with a sharp knife. Be careful not to pull or damage the plant, as there will be other pumpkins still growing on the vine. Don't cut too close to the top of the pumpkin. You'll want a 3 inch stem or more. Give the pumpkin full support by carrying it from the bottom, not just from the stem.

Storage

Make sure to store your harvested pumpkins in a dry, cool location. If it is dark, all the better. Layout a large piece of plywood or flat cardboard for the pumpkins to rest on. However, you should do your best to begin selling your crop as soon as possible after harvest.

Selling Pumpkins

Locations

Don't discount local farmers and Saturday markets, especially for your first time out selling pumpkins. Purchase a canvas canopy, the type used in backyards or for camping. Use fold up tables as well as wood boxes and hay bails to decorated the inside of your space and display pumpkins. Give yourself a name and have it printed on a canvas or plastic banner. This can be done fairly inexpensively from a sign shop. Generally, these types of markets place ads in local newspapers and radio stations.

If you have access to property that runs along a busy road, you can put up your own booth. However, make sure you follow all rules and regulations for your town or county. You may be required to obtain a business license and/or other permits. Zoning may also be an issue. Make sure your booth is as interesting as you can make it. You don't want to create an eyesore, but you do still want to attract customers. If you will use this booth year-after-year, consider building a sturdy wood structure. You want to keep your pumpkins as cool and dry as possible.

Additional Items

You've drawn the customers in, now what else can you sell them. Get your creative juices flowing and make other crafts that match the theme. Make sure you have some ready made jack-o-lanterns for display and for sale. Paint brightly colored faces on some of them. Offer a flyer on how to cut, clean and cook the pumpkin for use in recipes. Offer another flyer on how to roast pumpkin seeds. Make up a recipe booklet, full of pumpkin recipes. Make home-made scarecrows and wooden Halloween and harvest signs for the yard. Make colorful trick-or-treat bags. Sell portions of roasted pumpkin seeds and freshly baked pumpkin desserts and breads, if you have access to a certified kitchen. Offer samples to the customers and watch your sales grow.