June has typically become known for the month that pumpkin planters take to the field to fill their gardens full of all varieties of pumpkins, in order to be ready for the big orange balls to be ready for sale to their customers in October.

Before the hopes can be set high and the pumpkins can grow large--time, pampering, and praying have to be given.

The process of growing requires deciding on which variety of pumpkins you want to plant.

"There are many, many, and many different names of pumpkins to choose from," explains Daren Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick is in his second year of pumpkin planting and his third year for basic gardening.

Some variety of pumpkins that Fitzpatrick grows includes; Jack O’Lantern, Howden, Magic Lantern, Big Macs, Lumina, Small Sugar, and the Standard Orange Pumpkins.

The next job in crating a good pumpkin is decide on the amount of acreage you’ll be using and the equipment that is needed.

"You’ll have to plow the field and either disk or cultivate it," says Chris Fitzpatrick, who has been helping with pumpkin farms since 1996.

"The size of the field depends on what you have in mind for you pumpkin farm. For extra income (part-time job), you would need to have about, three to four acres. For a main source of income (full-time job), it would need to be anywhere from 20 to approximately 120 acres," says Daren Fitzpatrick.

Typically seeds are planted in the middle of small hills or mounds, that are about three feet in diameter. If you have more than one hill of pumpkins, the hills should be at least ten feet apart.

Chris Fitzpatrick adds, "You don’t have to have acres. If you plan to do only a few or so, you can plant them in your backyard garden, with each roll being approximately,15 to 20 feet long and four feet wide. With this size you can have about three or four plants. You should plant them by the recommendation from the seed company."

Pumpkins come in different sizes and colors. Colors range from yellow, white, almost red (or deep orange) to bright orange. This all depends on which variety of pumpkins are used. But be sure to plant where the pumpkins can get at least 6 hours of direct sunlight everyday.

"Planting usually beings around the first to the middle of June if you want them ready to sell by October. If you plant them earlier, they’ll be ready from one to two months early," states Chris Fitzpatrick.

To grow a pumpkin, the best environment is usually, when the weather is in the low to mid 70’s and spring rains have tapered off. With your hill being surrounded with a moat (about four inches wide and four inches deep), to help contain water around the roots. Four to five seeds in a circle in the middle of the hill, and space seeds about six to eight inches apart. Regardless of how they are set in the ground, they will grow upwards. (Hints: Soaking the seed a night before planting help the outer shell sprout easier and faster, but this is not necessary).

After preparing the soil, the planter would then need to cover the seeds with an inch of soil to block out sunlight and hide them from any birds. After 7 to 14 days, the seeds begin to sprout and crack the soil. Within just a day, two baby leaves break through and unfold. Most pumpkins require to have 110-140 frost-free growing days. The amount of time for harvesting all depends on the variety, and the climate.

Good luck and good gardening.