A half whiskey barrel size pot is good for one plant and maybe a small annual or two to fill in the bottom when the plant is vining. More than two plants per pot is definitely too many, one is ideal. Pumpkins definitely prefer direct sowing, but in your zone you might not have a long enough season to do that. I would recommend that you try miracle gro moisture control soil in the pots because if the plants wilt often you might not get fruit set. Also I know watering is probably the last thing you have time for at a school. Here is an example of a good size pot, the plant is a young mini bottle gourd, which ultimately had 11 small gourds:

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For scale towards the bottom of the picture in the pot are two nasturtium leaves of a seedling.

Also here are some small pumpkins grown in the same pot (but with no picture of the pot) I had over 6 small pumpkins from this one plant:

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*bump*

Interesting - I didn't think this was possible.

Did you have any problems with critters going after the pumpkins on the vine?

I lost about all of my 20 squash seedlings last year. They just refused to do anything once transplanted and soon died. I hear they just hate to be transplanted. You're better off direct sowing. Try that at the proper time and you shouldn't have a problem.

would a 5gal bucket be more then sufficent to grow regular pumpkins, as im limited in space in the garden?

mark

I rarely have any luck transplanting pumpkins, I always direct sow them. I have cats that keep the larger critters away, the only thing that bothers my pumpkins are squash vine borers (SVB). The pumpkins and gourds on trellises seem to be attacked less by SVB, but they are far more vulnerable because they don't have many secondary roots along the ground. I don't think a five gallon bucket could support a regular pumpkin, they would dry out very frequently by the time you get a good size vine and might not get any fruit. However, if that is your only option you should try it, you might be better suited to use a small variety of pumpkin. If you have space to let part of the vine grow on the ground, you should encourage secondary roots to grow at the base of each leaf axil by by keeping them in contact with the ground. This would help prevent frequent wilting.

5 gallons would be sufficient for a small variety of pumpkin like Jack-B-Little, but more volume would be better. If you choose a container, water and fertilize often.

Very nice. I am currently experimenting with growing mini pumpkins and ornamental guordes in a container with a makeshift trellis made of very strong plastic poles set up like a teepee. It is not more than 4 feet tall though, so not sure is that is tall enough. So far, I have quite a few blossoms, bu don't know if I will get a fruit. Will post a pic soon.

Chris

I noticed some Jack Be Little sprouts today in my garden!!