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 20°C and 32°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 90 - 120 cm 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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16 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Go by the guide here of 15-20 weeks. But a good indication is the stem holding the pumpkin to the vine is woody and hard. Pick one of the oldest ones and try it - judge from that when to pick the rest.
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07 Jan 19, Wayne Cronin (Australia - temperate climate)
My butternut pumpkins are growing well but when the pumpkin gets to a good size approx 100-150mm long it goes brown and dies off. It is about 38 deg here the last week and I water twice a day (morning and late arvo) Is it the heat or too much water or needs some fertiliser???
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14 Jan 19, Craig (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Wayne, I planted my pumpkin seedlings last September and luckily it happened to be next to a lavender bush which attracts bees. It gave me 4 pumpkins which ended up growing under the lavender bush and next to the fence. I watered it a few times and then it just took care of itself. But they do tend to prefer growing under or around other plants for shade.
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08 Jan 19, Carl (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi Wayne, A possibility is they are not being pollenated. Are there bees in your garden? I would suggest pollenating the flowers yourself with your fingers gently. Touch the male, then touch the female flower. Good fun. Carl
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10 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
Usually the un-pollinated little pumpkin only grows to about 50-70mm then shrivels up and dies. I had one grow to about 6
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08 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Try growing them early in the planting season. Start seedlings in August Sept. Mulch around the plants and give a good watering twice a week. I don't grow things in summer too many problems. You probably have some disease or grubs. Do some research on the net.
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07 Jan 19, john colee (Australia - tropical climate)
hi when do i plant kent pumpkins in townsville
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08 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
For pumpkin it says April to Jul - I would plant April May.
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26 Dec 18, (Australia - temperate climate)
I am growing qld blue and have massed if vie but no flowers? Any clues??
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22 Dec 18, Nichole Stratton (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Can you eat them unripe if they have been picked too soon?
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No I haven't been able to get any more Windsor Black seeds I only had a couple of seeds that were given to me, I planted them on the side of a very small hill in Heavy soil they grew and branched every where were getting male flowers And the female flowers were forming, but 10 days of solid rain the patch was absolutely saturated the rest of our property was flooded I thought they would be alright but thr female buds went yellow & dropped off. I prayed & begged for the vines not to die but 90% did.I was shattered. one vine in the row above it The McLeay Mongrel survived Another Victorian Pumpkin, was so sick I just forgot it, went down the Hill the other day the grass was 2 & 1/2 feet high and I trod on something in the grass and nearly fell over looked and found one McLeay Mongrel Pumpkin I have collected the seed from what has to be the weirdest Pumpkin ever, But probably the nicest eating Pumpkin ever, I would say it is probably the rarest as well. The McLeay Mongrel Is a very dry pumpkin with superb flavor much like Iron Bark sweeter & nuttier, I have looked at it it is more than likely a Triamble Iron Bark cross Maybe some Qld. Blue. I am offering 4 seeds up for Auction on eBay I do not have many seeds, so thought if I put a good reserve in them only the very serious growers would buy them. Be Warned it is not a pretty pumpkin but needs some serious pumpkin growers to keep it from extinction, it is a heavy solid pumpkin, looks like an Alien lava Rock. visit eBay Pumpkins just to see it. Regards. Sylvia.

- Sylvia Allan

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