contrapositive wrote:

So, are there any problems putting pumpkins here? How steep is too steep?
(obviously not so steep that the pumpkins go rolling down the hill at some
point.)

How much sod do I have to remove? I plan on starting my seeds in containers.

If I were you, I'd just get a load of compost and dump it where you want
to plant the pumpkins.

One other potential problem: deer. Do deer typically go after pumpkins?
(I've heard it's not their first choice.) What's a good repellent?

Deer ADORE pumpkins, at least the ones here do.

Here's how I solve some of the problems. First, I have horses and I
keep a small "pre-compost" (i.e. manure) pile right along side the fence
where it gets tons of sun and not too far away from the water spigot.
Pumpkins LOVE compost/manure and they drink heavily too.

In the spring, I transplant my seedlings directly into the manure pile.
The first year I tried this I was a little worried about going
directly into the manure pile but the transplants didn't even show signs
of transplant shock. They just took off. I use electric fence for the
horses so when the plants got large enough to start having blossoms, I
added a loop of fencing around the patch. As the vines grew longer, I
extended the fence (very easy with the 1/2" electric tape that forms the
rails of the fence) to continually enclose the plants.

Most of my trouble is with the larger rodents (deer). The e-fence keeps
them out fairly well. A regular tall fence would work as well.

The easiest solution for you would be to build a raised bed and fill it
with tons of compost and plant directly in there. The sod underneath
will quickly decompose. Then fence around it. You can also get either
5' metal U-posts or T-posts and a roll of 2x4 mesh fencing to put around
the pumpkins. I doubt the deer would be tempted to jump into such a
small area and it'll help keep the smaller rodents out as well.

Good luck.

Mary