How do you grow pumpkin in a raised bed in Phoenix, Arizona?

Question

I have a raised bed that gets full sun all summer but no sun in the winter.  I supplement with grow lights.  I have tried growing pumpkin twice and neither plant took.  I grew a large variety the first year, and the tried a minature variety the second year.  Both seasons they grew very quickly and then beban to rot.  They never flowered or fruited.  What could I be doing wrong?

Answer 1

They might not do well in a raised bed.  They need full sun.  They grow well in well rotted very old horse or cow manure.  We actually grew pumpkins in a pile of old manure and they took.  The deer did them in.  Then we had to put up a high fence.  I would just put some mulch mixed with old manure and in a corner area in the spring time after the chance of frost has passed.  They will take over the area.  They need to be planted by themselves and they have giant leaves and lots of vines and they like to spread out and overtake the other plants.