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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23 Dec 17, w watson (Australia - temperate climate)
my pumpkins are growing but reach small size then turn yellow and die
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30 Dec 17, Bob (Australia - temperate climate)
It sounds like they are not pollinating. As soon as you see a female flower (the ones with the fruit behind them), pinch off a male flower and rub them together. Insects are meant to do it, but sometimes prefer to play on other plants, depending on what is growing nearby..
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28 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
You probably have no bees. Go on the internet and read how to hand pollinate pumpkin. Also read the postings here about hand pollination under pumpkin.
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04 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When hand pollinating use a couple of male flowers - make sure they have some pollen on them.
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13 Dec 17, Damian Blake (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Why is it recommended to avoid growing pumpkin near potato plants?
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09 Dec 17, Cheryl (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We have both jap and butternut pumpkins growing but seem to only have male flowers. Do we pull them out and start again. There is plenty of male flowers
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11 Dec 17, Gary (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Cheryl, pumpkins and the like start off with plenty of male flowers, so that when the female flowers form (which should be any time now) there are plenty of male flowers to be able to pollinate them. When the pumpkin runners get to about 3 meters pinch out the tips and they will put out more runners thus giving more crop. Cheers Gary
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11 Dec 17, Michelle (Australia - arid climate)
Usually the first flowers on a plant are male - be patient! These are used to pollinate the female flowers that will form shortly.
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13 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Just a point, pumpkin female flowers only open one day - until about mid arvo. If no bees, break off a male flower and pollinate the female flower with it. I did this the other week - two different f flowers in three days. One grew one died. ????
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23 Nov 17, terry (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
hi im in nth NSW just near kyogle and lismore my pumpkin plants refuse to form pumkins there seems to be no bees anywhere and its getting to be a major worry Queensland blue pumkins are the best tasting for use in sweet pumpkin pies ill try to hand pollonatye today also is it likely i will have the same problems if i buy seedlings these ones were seed i saved out of a pumkin from last year thanks for your time Terry
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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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