Q: Can I plant pumpkin seeds in a pot and then let them spread and grow for Halloween?

A: It will have to be a BIG pot! Pumpkins have a big root system, needed to supply water to their numerous broad leaves. If you want to experiment, put a few seeds in a half whiskey half-barrel and let them grow. My bet is that by late July you’ll have to water the plants twice a day to keep the soil moist enough for pumpkin health. It’s much easier to grow pumpkins in tilled soil, where the roots can spread in any direction.