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 Mar 11, arthur stevens (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Why do the baby pumpkins keep falling off the plant the have been enokulated.
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26 Feb 11, Kath (Australia - temperate climate)
We have the same problem here in Brisbane, after hand pollinating the fruit goes yellow and dies off.
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26 Feb 11, Rob (Australia - temperate climate)
Living in Brisbane planted in November, plenty of male and female flowers have found after hand pollinating female flowers with small fruit that is turns yellow and dies. Has anyone know what the problem might be.
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22 Feb 11, Cheryl (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a jap pumpkin growing, my problem is that there is only male flowers growing on the vine, when the female flowers grow they die of, can anyone tell why this is happening, do I need to pull it out and start again?
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26 Feb 11, Pam (Australia - temperate climate)
I had the same problem. I picked the male flower and poked it in the female flower to pollinate it. It worked I ended up with lovely big pumpkins.
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20 Feb 11, tony (Australia - temperate climate)
Have a few Japanese pumpkin 300-400mm diameter. Some are developing 1mm crescent shaped cracks due to ?? Only been watering every 2 or 3 days for 15min. Any comments or advice :)?
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29 Jan 11, Kev (Australia - temperate climate)
Planted Jap pumpkin seedlings (from nursery). Have plenty of runners but no flowers. Any advice on why & what to do would be appreciated.
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17 Jan 11, julie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Ironbark seeds can be obtained from eden seeds and are very good.
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24 Nov 10, Sylvia Allan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I want to buy Windsor Black Pumpkin seeds, Brian Jarrahdale pumpkin seeds, Grey Crown, Crown Prince, Wampanura? or any crowned pumkin seeds, any one know where I can buy them, please? Sylvia.
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11 Jun 23, Rod warren (Australia - tropical climate)
I have recently retired and would like to grow some black Winsor pumkins
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Showing 701 - 710 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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