Martha Stewart Has the Best Trick for Keeping Your Pumpkin Patch Neat and Tidy

It takes space, patience, and a bit of weed cloth.

There is so much we can learn from Martha Stewart—but we already knew that.

As colder nights and shorter days begin to transition us into fall, our gardening minds instinctively gravitate toward gourds—particularly pumpkins. And Stewart is already planting the seed (literally). The lifestyle pro recently posted a photo to her blog’s Instagram account showing off a field of bright, plentiful green foliage and vines growing and weaving throughout a pumpkin patch.

“In early summer, my gardeners and I plant lots and lots of pumpkin seeds—many from our favorite seed companies, and some from interesting and tasty fruits I’ve enjoyed over the years,” the caption reads.

Related: How to Repot Your Snake Plants Like Martha Stewart

“Pumpkins grow on vines, which means they take up a lot of space,” it continues. “This year, I decided to grow my pumpkins and winter squash in my vegetable garden. We still have a few weeks to wait, but everything is growing so nicely.”

The first photo in the carousel shows off the state of her pumpkins in July before they started to vine. That’s when she put down a 4-foot-wide strip of weed cloth around their growing space to keep everything prim and orderly.

She notes that “pumpkins and winter squashes prefer fertile, well-drained soil and a sunny location.” Of course, check with your local garden center about which type of pumpkin you should buy for your location since each plant can be very different and require varying levels of water, sun, attention, and time to harvest.

Related: How and When to Plant Pumpkins for Halloween

One thing all pumpkins definitely need? Space. And that’s exactly what Stewart achieved with her weed cloth. You’ll also want to stay away from using most insecticides because pumpkins need pollinators to set fruit, as Better Homes & Gardens has previously reported.

“I am very pleased with how well the plants are doing in these garden beds,” Stewart wrote. “I am looking forward to a great big harvest come autumn.”

Once your pumpkins are ready to harvest, which typically happens when their colors fully develop and their stem is a deep green, cut the vines on either side of the stem with pruning shears. Our experts also recommend rinsing and washing the outside of your pumpkins with 1-2% bleach solution and water to help stave off rot.

Related: The 12 Best Pruning Shears of 2024 to Keep Your Garden in Check

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Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens.