Planting Pumpkins, Watermelons & Carrots From Seed: Direct-Sow Garden Bed Tips 🌱
Spring is in full swing, and it’s time to get our hands in the soil and seeds in the ground! In this post, I’m walking you through exactly how I planted my pumpkins, watermelons, and carrots in one of my in-ground garden beds—built for abundance with a simple, practical approach.
🛠️ Garden Bed Setup: Tilled Once + Mulched for Life
This particular bed was lightly tilled one time early in the season—just enough to break up the soil surface and create structure for planting. From there, I formed hilled rows to elevate the planting zones, giving crops like pumpkins and watermelons the drainage and warmth they love.
I then:
Mulched the walkways with woodchips for weed suppression and a clean walking path.
Mulched the planting areas with shredded wood mulch to protect the soil, retain moisture, and support microbial activity around the seeds.
This combination creates a long-term, low-maintenance bed that improves over time.
🥕 Carrot Seeds: Sown in a Tight Row
Carrots are tiny, slow germinators that benefit from being sown in a shallow furrow or dense row. I space mine about 1/4” deep and thin them later as they grow. Since the seeds are so small, you don’t want to plant them individually—that’s a recipe for frustration and uneven germination.
Tip: Sprinkle the seeds evenly along a straight line, then lightly cover with fine soil and gently press to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
🎃 Pumpkins & 🍉 Watermelons: Large Seeds, Spaced Well
Larger seeds like pumpkins, watermelons, squash, and other cucurbits get a completely different treatment. I sow these individually into the hilled rows, spacing each about 2–3 feet apart, depending on variety.
These seeds go about 1 inch deep, and the hills warm up faster, helping them germinate reliably in spring soil.
Because each plant will sprawl and produce large fruit, giving them plenty of space at planting time sets them up for success—and makes maintenance easier later.
🌱 Why Seed Sowing Depth Matters
Planting seeds at the right depth is critical for strong germination:
Too shallow? Seeds may dry out or wash away.
Too deep? They may rot before they ever reach the surface.
A good rule of thumb is to plant seeds at a depth 2–3 times the seed’s diameter—so smaller seeds like carrots go shallow, and big seeds like pumpkins go deeper.
🌾 Final Thoughts
Direct sowing is such a rewarding way to start your garden—there’s something magical about seeing life emerge from the very soil you worked. With a little intention in how you prep the bed, mulch, and plant, you’ll set yourself up for a lush and abundant growing season.
Got questions about companion planting, seed spacing, or timing? Drop them in the comments or join me in the Grow With Me YouTube Membership for monthly Q&As and more in-depth tutorials.
Happy planting!