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 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live near Bundaberg and at the gardens I work at, a lady planted sunflowers 2 months ago. We are picking the flowers now - quite stunning a bunch of five heads in a vase. I have Kent or jap pumpkin growing now but won't be ripe for another 4-6 weeks. I say so often here it is too hot to be growing crops in late Nov and Dec unless you are protecting them from the sun. Sweet potatoes would probably grow. They grow here all year round.
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14 Nov 19, Tim Dare (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi, I’m curious about the advice not to plant potatoes and pumpkin together. Some sites seem to suggest that the two won’t do well if planted too close together. Is that right? I have a large potato patch (about 40sqm) and was planning to plant pumpkin in about 2sqm at one end. Would that be a mistake? Thanks
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15 Nov 19, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A few pumpkin plants would need half your potato patch to grow in - not 2 sqm.
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14 Nov 19, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Some plants produce chemicals in the soil or extensive root systems which affect other plants. The advice is generally to avoid planting curcubits (pumpkins, courgettes etc.) and potatoes together. If you have room grow them in separate plots.
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02 Nov 19, Natalie (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi :) this is my first go at pumpkins so I planted my own seeds straight from my pumpkin I placed them in a pot that has a maple tree. When should I move these sprouts please
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04 Nov 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
After they produce their first or second set of true leaves. Protect them from the sun the first few days when planting out.
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07 Nov 19, Natalie (Australia - temperate climate)
Thank u so much :)))
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20 Jan 20, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The first set of leaves when a seed germinates provides some nutrient to start the seedling growing. The next two to three set of leaves will start to establish the plant. Transplant at this stage. The longer you leave it the higher chance of setting the plant back a lot and longer for the plant to recover. Seedlings will establish, grow quicker and be stronger when planted out into good rich soil, then confined to a small punnet cell or pot.
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20 Jan 20, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When you transplant seedlings if you disturb the soil around the roots the plants don't have the ability to take up as much water and nutrients in the first day or so. So a big leafy plant like pumpkin will dry out very quickly in the hot summer sun, not so bad in winter.
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01 Oct 19, Alisina Zahidi (Australia - temperate climate)
My mum made me put 2 seeds in the same spot, will that ruin the pumpkins?
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Showing 151 - 160 of 679 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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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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