I had always wanted to try growing my own vegetables, so one day I decided to plant squash—also known as pumpkin in some places. I didn’t have much experience, but I was excited to learn. From the very first day, I took every step carefully and patiently, and watching the plant grow from a tiny seed into a fruit-bearing vine was one of the most satisfying experiences of my life.
I started by choosing a sunny spot in my backyard where I knew the plant would get plenty of sunlight. I cleared the ground, removed weeds and stones, and loosened the soil with a shovel. Then I added compost to make it rich and ready for planting. I formed small mounds of soil, leaving space between each one, and planted two to three seeds in each mound, about an inch deep. I gently covered them with soil and gave them a good watering.
After about a week, tiny green sprouts began to appear. I was so excited to see them! I made sure to water them regularly, especially in the mornings. Once the seedlings had grown a bit more, I thinned them out by removing the weaker ones, so the healthiest plant in each mound had enough space to grow properly.
As the days passed, the squash plants grew quickly. The leaves became broad and green, and the vines started spreading all around. I helped guide the vines so they wouldn’t tangle too much. To keep the soil moist and reduce weeds, I added mulch around the base of the plants. I also kept an eye out for any pests or insects. Whenever I noticed holes in the leaves or signs of damage, I used a neem oil spray to control them naturally.
About a month and a half in, I was thrilled to see yellow flowers blooming. I learned that the male flowers came first, followed by the female ones. Soon after the female flowers were pollinated—thanks to the bees that visited my garden—I noticed tiny squash starting to form. It felt amazing to see real fruit growing on the vines I had taken care of from the beginning.
I continued watering the plants regularly and made sure the growing squash fruits didn’t rest directly on the soil. I placed some straw underneath them to keep them clean and dry. Over the next few weeks, the squash grew larger and began to change color. The skin became firmer, and I knew they were almost ready.
Finally, after about 70 to 90 days from the day I planted the seeds, the fruits were mature and ready to harvest. I used a knife to cut them from the vine, leaving a bit of the stem attached.
Growing squash from seeds to harvest was a truly rewarding journey. It taught me patience, responsibility, and the joy of seeing something grow through my own care and effort.