Growing Pumpkin

Cucurbita sp. : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S S                
        T              
        P              

(Best months for growing Pumpkin in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 68°F and 90°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 35 - 47 inches apart
  • Harvest in 15-20 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Sweet Corn
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

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08 Feb 19, eden ande (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i live in Eritrea and work on national agricultural research instiution. in Eritrea pumpkins grows well in the subtropics,tropics and also semi arid places. my question is about powdery mildew, all our pumpkins gets affected by this fungus so i would like to ask if their are any cultivation practices we need to practice to avoid this fungus
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10 Feb 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read up about organic or in organic sprays for it. Google. Plant in a different area each time. Go to dengarden on the net .com - go to gardening and organic ways to kill and prevent powdery mildew. A mixture of 60 water to 40 milk is quite good.
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07 Feb 19, Haydn Battye (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I plant pumpkin seeds now? I live in Mildura VIC which is quite warm at this time of year
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07 Feb 19, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Did you read the pumpkin guide here. They are the best times to plant.
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02 Feb 19, Katrina (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hi guys, our neighbours are growing pumpkins (look like crown variety with pale skin and flat bottom) and the vines came over into our place and a nice big pumpkin grew, so of course I picked it right away not knowing anything about pumpkins. The inside was a weird pale yellow rather than orange, I presume now that I have just picked it too soon and it is unripe! Is that correct? Thanks.
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04 Feb 19, Michelle (Australia - temperate climate)
Not a problem if it is unripe! can still make lovely pumpkin soup (I actually thin it is better with unripe pumpkin!)
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05 Feb 19, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Put some curry in it to give it some taste. lol
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03 Feb 19, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Check with your neighbour next time. Next time wait until the stem has become hard and woody. About 16-20 weeks after seeds germinate.
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29 Jan 19, Richard (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I'm growing grey pumpkins,do they grow bigger fruit if you cut end of runners off once plant has several pumpkins on it.
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03 Feb 19, mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Do you want a few big ones or a lot of average to good size? My cues last year - if I had cut - would have picked 18 - left to grow 49 cues.
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Showing 241 - 250 of 833 comments
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I inherited a large Kent pumpkin vine when we moved into our house a year ago on the Sunshine Coast. It came with a single substantial pumpkin. As I've learned more about the way they reproduce I've tried to hand pollinate with only one successful outcome. The vine currently has two pumpkins, one of which was made without any help from me. A couple of weeks ago (late December) the vine became full of tiny female flowers and the male flowers were in abundance too. I thought I'd have a great outcome and even saw a bee or two. But not all of the tiny females even reached the flowering stage, just withered where they grew. It has been pretty hot and humid here, with temps 30+ most days and night in the low 20s. I keep the water up to them but they really suffer during the mid day heat. Would shade cloth help? Is there anything I can add to the soil?

- Sue Bradshaw

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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