What Do Pumpkins Look Like When They First Start Growing?

Have you ever seen what exactly the giant orange-yellow Halloween Pumpkins look like when they first start growing?

For example, Atlantic Giant varieties have pale yellow babies, and White Ghost types have smooth white round young ones.

So, follow along to know what Pumpkins look like when they start growing.

How Long Does It Take For Pumpkins to Appear On The Vine?

Pumpkin is a low-growing vining crop belonging to the family Curcurbitaceae that produces some of the largest fruit in the plant kingdom.

Like any other vegetable crop, the journey of a big Pumpkin starts from a seed, which undergoes various growing stages.

The pumpkin plant stages begin from the germination of teardrop-shaped seeds to its growth, pollination, and fruit production.

However, it is essential to understand each growing stage of Pumpkin.

Not just that, proper knowledge of the Pumpkin from seed to germination helps to enhance the desirable size, with proper care in each stage. 

• Germination stage: Germination of healthy, viable seeds without deformation usually takes 5 to 10 days. But you should maintain the temperature between 81 to 85°F around the germination tray and moisten the seed starting mix.
• Seedling Stage: For 1 to 2 weeks after germination, the young plant develops its first true leaves and establishes its root system.
• Vegetative Growth: The Pumpkin plant produces vines and leaves at this stage. It lasts roughly 3 to 6 weeks, depending on the growing conditions.
• Flowering Stage: From mid-June to early July, Pumpkins start producing male flowers followed by female flowers. Flowering and pollination in Pumpkins normally take about 10-12 days. 
• Fruit Formation Stage: The fertilized ovary develops into a fruit following pollination. The fruit matures within 30 to 50 days, depending on the environmental conditions and varieties used. 

What Do Pumpkins Look Like When They First Start Growing?

When the Pumpkins first begin to show up on the vine, they are small, oval, greenish-yellow, or pale. It would not be wrong to call them Pumpkin babies as they look like one when they start growing.

For instance, Miniature Pumpkin or Baby Boo are naturally small, 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter. So, their young ones are tiny, round, green, yellow, or white with smooth, tender skin.

Meanwhile, the Sugar Pie Pumpkins start appearing with a dark green hue that later changes into rich orange.

The Cinderella Pumpkins are famous for their unique, flattened, and deeply ribbed appearance, just like a fairy tale Pumpkin carriage. Before the Pumpkin turns orange, they appear greenish with a touch of red. So, technically, some Pumpkins are green when they start growing.

On the other hand, the famous Atlantic Giant can be quite impressive even in the early stage. They are relatively larger, with pale yellow color.

Moreover, as the Pumpkins grow, they mature in their classic shape, round and giant.

The maturity signs are their distinct ridges running from the stem to the bottom and tough skin, after which you can harvest the Pumpkin and enjoy it in your soup.

But give it a light tap if you wish to be sure about the Pumpkin’s maturity. If it sounds hollow, you are good to go.