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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16 Jan 15, Rowan (Australia - temperate climate)
I have one QLD blue pumpkin plant & it has 8 pumpkins around 8 - 10 kg each with 4 more on the way about the size of an orange.
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15 Jan 15, steve k (Australia - arid climate)
Hi When is the best time to plant in narrabri nsw Many thanks
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09 Dec 14, Debbie Mathers (Australia - temperate climate)
How long does it usually take for the pumpkin plant to develop flowers?
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22 Nov 14, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
Do you think there is a need/requirement to cut the larger leaves from pumpkin vines. One of my pumpkin vines is quite lengthy with hugh leaves.Is there a need to prune a pumpkin ???
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02 Nov 14, Simon (Australia - temperate climate)
How many pumpkins does one vine optimally produce?
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29 Oct 14, Cheryl (Australia - temperate climate)
My mother has had diificlty getting her pumpkins to produce female flowers. She gets lots of leaves and male flowers, but no female. Any idea why, and what she can do to get pumpkins this year?
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02 Aug 14, Laurie Thompson (Australia - temperate climate)
Have there been any memos on the Windsor Black Pumpkin lately . Laurie
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29 Jul 14, Garry (Australia - temperate climate)
Hey Pete, Reckon someones pulling your leg. Pumpkins produce male and female flowers on the same vine, but only the female flowers produce fruit.
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15 Nov 14, Hank (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Pete, I am aware of that but don't you have to manually pollinate them and if so, what is the best way?
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27 Jul 14, Pete (Australia - temperate climate)
I am told by a number of people around my area that I should only plant seed from a 'female' pumpkin. I understand each plant has both male and female flowers needed to produce fruit. Am I being fed a myth? All my efforts to find out the facts lead nowhere. Question-- can you sex a pumpkin?
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Showing 421 - 430 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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