Growing Pumpkin

Cucurbita sp. : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Feb	Mar	May
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

20 Apr 16, Linda (Australia - arid climate): I would love to buy some Windsor black seeds Please contact me as my mother is wanting some Ty
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25 Sep 10, len freeman (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate): what causes the hard white growth in the ripe pumpkin
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09 Jul 10, Mike (United Kingdom - warm/temperate climate): I have plants still growing from last year and producing new growth and flowers. Will these produce good fruit or should I tear them out and replant?
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20 Aug 10, Ray (Australia - cool/mountain climate): It's getting a little for pumpkins now in the UK though you never know your luck. A lot will depend on the variety. Hand pollinate as soon as you can to have the best chance of ripe fruit before frost.
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07 Jun 10, Shane (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I just moved into a house and the weeds had over grown after clearing out the garden I found a healthy butter nut pumkin vine however I accidently ripped up the roots when clearing it out I have reburried the roots but the vine is dieing how can save it?
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16 Jun 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate): If the roots were torn then it's probably a lost cause. You could try copious watering to try and save it, but it's late in the season now for pumpkins, anyway.
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03 Jun 10, pat (Australia - temperate climate): i grew my japs by just throwing the inside of pumpkins under some dirt. got heaps of pumpkins but not sure what to do after picking to ripen them.
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20 Jun 10, johntone (Australia - temperate climate): Store the pumpkins for a few months in the shade and they should be ok to use for making chutney, jam, scones,bread etc.Mine seem to last for about 8 months after being picked.Any that get some withering,make some pumpkin soup.yum - yum!
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23 May 10, alan wylie (Australia - temperate climate): please advise on ripening after removing from vine jap pumpkins thank you
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23 May 10, Chris@Gardenate (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Alan, have a look at the comments from Pete and Jef - I think they answer this for you.
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Replying to:

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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Growing Pumpkin

Cucurbita sp. : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

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