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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29 Jan 19, Richard (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I'm growing grey pumpkins,do they grow bigger fruit if you cut end of runners off once plant has several pumpkins on it.
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03 Feb 19, mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Do you want a few big ones or a lot of average to good size? My cues last year - if I had cut - would have picked 18 - left to grow 49 cues.
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31 Jan 19, mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Don't cut unless limited by space.
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31 Jan 19, James (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Yes they do mate
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19 Jan 19, jamie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
hi guys i havetried growing butternut and have had white mildew distroy everything any tips on preventing this in such a humid climate? thanks
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21 Jan 19, Mike Logan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Grow in a different area next time.
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21 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Google it - organic or in-organic.
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23 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Organic or inorganic spray that is.
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15 Jan 19, Noel (Australia - temperate climate)
This year my pumpkins are quite robust, a good yield due to creating a beehive I reckon. But its very hot here in NE Victoria, the plants are struggling, despite 2 daily waterings and although the stems haven't dried off my instincts tell me to pick them before they get affected as well. Am I right or wrong?
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16 Jan 19, Graham Bower (Australia - temperate climate)
If the stems haven't dried off fruit will be immature and tasteless. They will not keep .Leave on the ground. Risk of rotting is slight and worth the risk. If you are unduly concerned you could always lift the fruit off the ground onto a piece of wood or similar. I rarely lift mine until May / June. Graham (berwick Vic)
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Showing 201 - 210 of 684 comments
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Most veggies are grown as an annual. To have one 12mths old is a bit unusual. The vine would be very long now before the flowers appear, maybe the plant can't sustain that. Pumpkin zucchini and probably watermelons and rock melons etc When they flower they start with male flowers to start attracting the bees, then produce female flowers. The female flower is only open for one day generally and will be shut by lunch time. So it needs a few visits from bees in that 2-4 hrs to fertilise the female flower. Or needs hand pollination on that day. I live at Bundy and I grew pumpkin through last summer and it was 3-4 degrees hotter last summer than this year so far. I think you just have an old plant that has had it's day. After you pick this years crop think about planting next year in the spring, your vines will be well establish going into summer. It will also allow you to refresh the soil with compost, manures fertiliser etc.

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