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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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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01 Apr 18, Grant Onysko (Australia - temperate climate)
Just make sure the attaching stem has hardened up and gone brown, I still have pumpkins over a year old, keep them inside if you can, all you have to do is pick them when they are ripe. Cheers
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30 Mar 18, Stephen G (Australia - temperate climate)
I left Butternut pumpkins harvested March 2017 out for about ten days before storing in a cellar. We picked 98. They were still excellent for 9 months, and we have just finished off the last 12 months later. No longer 100%, but we are not complaining.
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18 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Straight away. Keep them in a cool place and they will be good to eat for a few months.
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08 Mar 18, Mick (Australia - arid climate)
Hi planted my pumpkins in mid February, very healthy vine but very few female flowers and the ones that do arrive fall off before they get the chance to open.
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10 Mar 18, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
Listening to all the gardening experts, this year has been poor for pumpkins, for whatever reason. Persevere with watering and feeding, as mine are just starting to fruit now. Regular liquid fertilizer should get them going fro you.
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14 Mar 18, ron (Australia - temperate climate)
Female flowers usually blossom the day after rain be sure to snap off a male flower and pollinate. You may have some success if you leave to later in the day but have found the morning offers the best result. We had 6 pumpkins this year off a small plant.
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09 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Planted mid Feb - that is only 3-4 weeks ago. I would give it some time to let the plant grow. Read back 20-30 comments here. Male flowers first then female. You are arid - maybe too hot. Consider when it is a bit cooler.
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08 Mar 18, Annette (Australia - temperate climate)
I thought I’d give growing Butternut Pumpkin a go but planted them in January. They’ve all grown & have big leaves. I know I planted them late but was wondering if I will I get pumpkins growing from these plants? Or have I wasted my time?
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Showing 321 - 330 of 825 comments
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I have been growing Queensland Blues & Jap Pumpkins here in Sydneys West for a while and would like to know the following : Male flowers are plentiful usually at the start of the vine & female flowers are not as many but as the vine lengthens more females appear, so how far do you let the vine grow. If cut does the right ratio of flowers continue shoot or that stops everything, what you have is all you get and do you plug the cut end to prevent disease getting into the vine (read that on the net) Also everyone says when the vine withers pick your crop, mine was going great and green but I picked them (stem still green & firm) as I felt they were large enough but several had started to rot inside, we saved them luckey as another couple of weeks would have lost the lot. So how do you know when to pick. heard about tapping it sound hollow its ripe, pick a piece of skin with fingernail the skin can give you an idea. Noticed in the fruit shop many pumpkins have fingernail pieces dug out ??? somebody know something !!!!! As the pumpkin is pollinated & starts to grow do you sit it on a tile or similar keeping it off the ground ( for air & warmth circulation) sometimes when left on the ground the under side looks soft and worms and bugs seem to love that position.

- Robert B

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