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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01 Dec 12, kevin (Australia - temperate climate)
my queensland blue pumpkin vine has a female flower that i cross polinated ,ive done this a few times with much sucess but with the first female pumpkin flower the baby pumpkin was a light green and growing ,but now its turned yellow is this normal?...kev
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11 Dec 12, Gerry (Australia - temperate climate)
Think its dead
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18 Nov 12, Janet (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Do you know where I can get triamble pumpkin seeds from. I haven't seen them since koanga gardens had them.
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06 Nov 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
HI My plants are also showing alot of male flowers,i have hand pollinated my Zucchinis and they are doing well,what is the go with all the male pumpkin flowers ,can anybody help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Regards Mick
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17 Nov 12, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I find that sometimes I have a lot of male flowers and few females, and sometimes the oposite happens. I guess that is why we fertilize by hand. Jane
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29 Oct 12, Dana (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Dear Adam If you spray your pumpkins or squash with milk (diluted in water anything from 1 part milk 2 parts water if you are treating to weak solution of 1 part milk 10 parts water if you are preventing) you will NOT have ANY problems with mildew. The milk works better than anything you can get commercially. Cheers Dana
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28 Oct 12, ray (Australia - temperate climate)
How do you know male from female flowers
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29 Oct 12, CJB (Australia - temperate climate)
The female has a fruit at the base of it. Also them male has 1 part inside the flower, the female has multiple receivingbits
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25 Oct 12, Adam (Australia - temperate climate)
Im just about to plant some pumpkins for teh 1st time. Read of many these comments & are quite useful. I have a great sunny spot with some shade through the day, clay soil & its an paddock that had cattle. I think im just going to scrap in this season but Im more worried about Midlew as the area I want to plant may be to wet if it rains. (I dont think it will rain much this year). Also I am interested in Iron Bark Pumpkin seeds, I wont plant this season, but would be great to trial for the next season.
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13 Sep 12, tony (New Zealand - temperate climate)
surely it is not worth saving pumpkin seeds unless you have an heirloom variety? Most supermarket ones would be hybrids so they are unlikely to be true to the parent, and pumpkins are known to cross easily with cucumbers etc. Of course you would dry the seed if you are going to store them. Hardest thing with pumpkins is keeping the water up to them, they have so much foliage, they dry out easily.
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Showing 641 - 650 of 825 comments
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Hi Cat, Yes you can transplant your pumpkin plant! There will be no way to tell what kind of pumpkin you have until your fruit are growing and it may actually end up being a hybrid mixed variety. It should still be good to eat though! Pumpkins produce both male and female flowers. If you do not have many bees or wish to be guaranteed pumpkins it doesn't hurt to hand pollinate particularly if you only have the one plant. Plenty of info online about how to do that but it is easy with pumpkins. Just google

- Katie

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