Pumpkin seedling

Cucurbita pepo

Family: CucurbitaceaeNative: Central America and North AmericaIdentified: Nov 4, 2026

A very young seedling showing broad, rounded cotyledons and the initial emergence of true leaves with a velvety texture growing in mulch.

Light: Full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily
Water: Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base when the topsoil becomes dry.
Growth: Fast-growing herbaceous annual with a sprawling or vining habit, reaching variable lengths depending on the specific cultivar

Care instructions

Provide full sun exposure, water consistently when the top inch of soil feels dry, and plant in rich, well-draining soil.

Full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily

Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base when the topsoil becomes dry.

Rich, loamy soil with excellent drainage and a neutral pH ranging from 6.0 to 6.8

Generally grown as an annual in USDA zones 3 through 11

Fast-growing herbaceous annual with a sprawling or vining habit, reaching variable lengths depending on the specific cultivar

Summer to early autumn, producing large yellow, bell-shaped flowers

Propagated entirely from seeds sown directly into warm soil after the final frost

Susceptible to powdery mildew, aphids, and cucumber beetles; prevent with good air circulation and proper spacing

Other members of the Cucurbita genus such as squash or zucchini seedlings, which share very similar large rounded cotyledons