Growing Pumpkin

Cucurbita sp. : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
S           S S S S S S
T T T         T T T T T
P P           P P P P P

(Best months for growing Pumpkin in Australia - sub-tropical 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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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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I also have seeds germinating from my compost and have at times so much produce have taken great joy in giving them away and hearing about the joyous results. I am out most mornings 2 hours after sunrise when the male stamen is all fluffy with pollen and the female has ants crawling around inside. I pollinate myself by gently picking and trimming the male flower because if I leave it to mother nature my crop is very small. I usually use 2 or 3 male flowers on one female just in case. Recent rains have not been helpful for flowers at all but 1 week later flowers are appearing and just this morning I watched a bee laden with pollen flying from flower to flower. It was so laden it had trouble flying. I love mother nature she is the best for people like me.

- Garden Gnome

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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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