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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21 Mar 18, Cecilia (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Why are my home grown pumpkins watery? Not nice mashed.Would they make a nice soup.?
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23 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have the same - maybe they might dry out if left for a month or so. Mine are jap - very sweet and moist. I probably pick them a bit early as I wanted to dig the garden up to plant other crops.
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20 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
I am trying to grow pumpkin in raised beds without much luck. I have flowers that don't fruit. I have lots of bees in other beds but suspect there is a pollination issue. How do you tell the difference between female & male flowers, then how do I pollinate the female flower?
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23 Mar 18, Also Lisa (Australia - tropical climate)
Ditto to Lisa above. The female flowers look like they already have a small pumpkin at their base. They are very easy to pollinate by hand.
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20 Mar 18, Lisa (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
The female flowers have what looks like a small pumpkin just behind the base of the petals the male ones have only got stalk there. The centre of the flowers are different too. The male flower has a longer, thin centre (think "male" and you get the idea) and the centre of the female flower is sort of a roundish swirl. To hand pollinate, remove a male flower and tear off the petals. The "male" part has the pollen. Rub it on the "female" part, the roundish swirl in the centre of the female flower. If it has worked, the pumpkin looking bit of the female flower will start to grow.
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23 Mar 18, Shona (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have exactly the same issue. Is it worth self pollinating now that its nearly April and will the pumpkins grow?
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18 Mar 18, Margaret (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
How do you know when they are ready to harvest
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10 Jan 19, Jacob (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Wait till the plant dies before harvesting.
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14 Sep 18, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Above it says 15-20 weeks to harvest. Take notice of when to plant and how long to harvest.
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17 Mar 18, Hank Vanderwaarden (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Just picked my pumkins last week 10/3/18, after the vine died off, have them sitting on the veranda out of the sun and just want to know how long to leave them before they can be eaten.
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Showing 321 - 330 of 833 comments
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No I haven't been able to get any more Windsor Black seeds I only had a couple of seeds that were given to me, I planted them on the side of a very small hill in Heavy soil they grew and branched every where were getting male flowers And the female flowers were forming, but 10 days of solid rain the patch was absolutely saturated the rest of our property was flooded I thought they would be alright but thr female buds went yellow & dropped off. I prayed & begged for the vines not to die but 90% did.I was shattered. one vine in the row above it The McLeay Mongrel survived Another Victorian Pumpkin, was so sick I just forgot it, went down the Hill the other day the grass was 2 & 1/2 feet high and I trod on something in the grass and nearly fell over looked and found one McLeay Mongrel Pumpkin I have collected the seed from what has to be the weirdest Pumpkin ever, But probably the nicest eating Pumpkin ever, I would say it is probably the rarest as well. The McLeay Mongrel Is a very dry pumpkin with superb flavor much like Iron Bark sweeter & nuttier, I have looked at it it is more than likely a Triamble Iron Bark cross Maybe some Qld. Blue. I am offering 4 seeds up for Auction on eBay I do not have many seeds, so thought if I put a good reserve in them only the very serious growers would buy them. Be Warned it is not a pretty pumpkin but needs some serious pumpkin growers to keep it from extinction, it is a heavy solid pumpkin, looks like an Alien lava Rock. visit eBay Pumpkins just to see it. Regards. Sylvia.

- Sylvia Allan

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