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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19 Sep 15, Laurie Thompson (Australia - temperate climate)
Jane Did you have any luck with Windsor Black Pumpkin seeds . Are they still on ebay Laurie
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19 Sep 15, Laurie Thompson (Australia - temperate climate)
Syvia Allen Did you ever find any Windsor Black Pumpkin seeds . I have tried everywhere . Laurie Mount Waverley
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02 Sep 15, Mary (Australia - temperate climate)
l live in Calista WA just south of Perth. Is October the best time to sow Butternut Pumpkin seeds for best results?
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09 Aug 15, (Australia - temperate climate)
the first lot of female flowers need to be pollinated.. then the fruit grows in the next flower lot
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13 Jul 15, Colin Turner (Australia - temperate climate)
I would like to know every thing I need to know to grow Jap Nut Pumpkins,
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07 Jun 15, kierian (Australia - temperate climate)
Any tips on growing, looking after and getting turks turban pumpkins to pollenate? Any tips or help very much appreciated.
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19 May 15, Dave (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have just purchased some Mc Leay mongrel seeds but I am having issues finding information online regarding the species. Is anyone able to assist? Does it come under a different name?
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17 May 15, john Ardross WA (Australia - arid climate)
I grew Jap/ Kent pumpkins on neighbours empty block from Aug 14 till Now May18. Used wick feeding on some for a marginally better growth rate. Plantings were 5 no plants to a volcano shaped ditch which had raw kitchen waste and paper dug deep - 450mm. Used really weak liquid manure e.g. work liquor 1 to about 400 applied every third day as the watering. Encouraged bees with some colour plants lobellia etc. Fantastic result some 30 plus very large pumpkins approx 5kg plus. Recommend this method if you have room else grow in trees and spt with panty hose. John
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04 May 15, gary (Australia - temperate climate)
ref: April 4. Cut off one of 8 pumpkins and made soup. They are definitely ready. My freezer is full of soup for the winter. Thank you all who answered my email. Appreciated.
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04 May 15, gary (Australia - temperate climate)
They need hand pollination. Had same problem at the beginning but ended up with 8 after manually fertilizing them. Bit late now but keep in mind next time.
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Showing 511 - 520 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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