White Queen Pumpkin

Start seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds 1 inch deep in warm soil (at least 70°F) and keep consistently moist. Transplant seedlings outdoors only after hardening off and soil temperatures reach 60°F or warmer.

Transplant hardened-off seedlings into the garden after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60°F. Space plants 36 inches apart to give vines plenty of room to spread. Handle seedlings gently, as pumpkins don't like transplant shock.

Direct sow seeds into warm soil after the last frost date and soil temperature reaches at least 60°F. Plant seeds 1 inch deep, spacing them 36 inches apart, then thin to the strongest seedling at each spot once they emerge.

Harvest White Queen pumpkins 100 to 109 days after planting, typically in late September through October depending on your location. Wait until the skin hardens and turns a solid creamy white with no soft spots, and the stem begins to brown and dry. Cut the fruit from the vine with a sharp knife, leaving 2 to 3 inches of stem attached, and handle gently to avoid bruising the delicate white skin. A mature pumpkin should feel heavy for its 7 to 10 inch size and resist light pressure from your fingernail.

White Queen's vigorous vining growth naturally sprawls across the garden floor; minimal pruning is needed. Remove any dead or diseased leaves as the season progresses to improve air circulation and reduce fungal pressure. If growing on a trellis, tie main vines loosely to supports with soft ties and remove competing secondary shoots to focus energy on fruit production.