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 Feb 16, Mick O'neill (Australia - arid climate)
When is the right time to pick my Jap pumpkins?
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22 Feb 16, David (Australia - temperate climate)
It is the 22nd February Can I grow start my pumpkin from seed now or is it to late
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13 Mar 16, Elizabeth (Australia - temperate climate)
To late I planted mine late November. I have quite a few pumpkins on mine.
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13 Feb 16, Val (Australia - temperate climate)
how can I tell when my jarradale pumpkins are ready to harvest?
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30 Jan 16, Helen (Australia - temperate climate)
My Kent or Jap pumpkin is rampaging thru my garden but hasn't formed any flowers yet can you please tell me when that is likely to happen. Thankyou.ps they were planted early Nov.
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09 Feb 16, Justin (Australia - arid climate)
They should be flowering after 4-6 weeks. Generally this is a sign of too much nitrogen and not enough potassium, you will need to mix it into the soil or get a water soluble type to water around the root zone. You can add Sulphate of Potash to increase the potassium which should encourage flowering and fruiting. you could also try calcium (dolomite lime) this will also make your soil more alkaline so would help to do a soil test first. If your soil is a clay type you could use gypsum instead to help break up the soil, it is also high in calcium.
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30 Jan 16, Shirlie (Australia - temperate climate)
I Planted my pumpkins on Cup Day, I still have no flowers but lots of vine trail plants. Am I doing anything wrong. 1st time pumpkin planter. Must admit I am over undated with very ripe juicy tomatoes.
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19 Jan 16, russell (Australia - temperate climate)
Very strong Queensland Blue plants but to many male flowers, not many female Any answers?
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11 Jan 16, bill (Australia - tropical climate)
I have a jap pumpkin It has produced two round pumpkins and two egg shaped pumpkins . The round ones are gray and the egg shaped are still green . They are from the same plant but different vines . Can any one tell me if this is normal .
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08 Jan 16, Glen Gilbert (Australia - arid climate)
My female fruits are turning yellow when they are about the size of a pea and flower is not even close to flowering. Can you help?
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Showing 371 - 380 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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