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 14, len (Australia - tropical climate)
new pumpkins go yellow & fall off they are size of 50 cent piece is the soil lacking something
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01 Mar 15, Jan (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm having the same problem. The pumpkin is growing but goes yellow and then falls off. I will try to mate them myself and see what happens.
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31 Jan 14, KEVIN ATKINS (Australia - temperate climate)
I think you will find it's a lack of bees in your garden. I had the same problem,but now the bees are more because of warmer conditions and mine now are the size of patty pan squash and haven't fallen off yet.You think you have a pumpkin growing because the bottom of that flower is fat and swollen but it still hasn't been pollanated by bees. Of course you can use a small paint brush and pollanate each flower yourself,however you need to be up early in the morning when the flowers open
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03 Mar 15, fred dag (Australia - arid climate)
You may also fine that your soil is lacking calcium, add some lime to your soil at planting time. If you are lacking bees try hand pollinating, plant lots of flowering plants, zinnias are great to attract pollinators, in the veggie garden.
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08 Jan 14, julia (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
hi im trying to grow jap pumpkins in Ipswich near Brisbane in queensland we have both male and female flowers and have even tried to hand pollinate them but the females wither and fall off the plant after a week or so, could anyone give me some suggestions on how I can get a crop of pumpkins, we have a native bee hive in the garden also
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05 Jan 14, jeff o'brien (Australia - tropical climate)
Been growing jap pumpkin from seed. This time I have some pumpkin flowers which seems to be both male and female on same flower. On the inside, there is a tiny pumpkin, then the female style, stigma and on top of that the male stamen. Is this possible?
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04 Jan 14, D JAMES (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am interested in growing a giant pumpkin in Brisbane am I too late to start and also what do the giants actually taste like
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16 Dec 13, Karen (Australia - temperate climate)
Qtn 1:- Can we eat pumpkin flowers the same as zucchini flowers? Qtn 2:- If I remove some of the male & female flowers will that encourage others to grow larger pumpkins Qtn 3:- I have powdery mildew on a few leaves! Is it best to remove those leaves & dispose of into compost.
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20 Nov 13, robert cummins (Australia - temperate climate)
what to do with onion that develop a seed head?
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15 Dec 13, elle (Australia - arid climate)
plant it!
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Showing 451 - 460 of 679 comments
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Just found this - commercial production. For efficient pollination and fruit set, there must be: both male and female flowers and bees to move pollen from male to female flowers. A number of factors can influence pollination, Cold and overcast days limit pollination activity of bees. Hot dry conditions desiccate pollen making it unviable. Rapid growth promotes earlier flowering. However, high temperatures, long days and high rates of nitrogen can result in: vigorous vegetative growth and few flowers and a higher proportion of male to female flowers. It is important to check the sex of the flowers. A ratio of 1 female to 7 male flowers is usually considered adequate. Flowers open early in the day and for one day only, and they close by mid afternoon. These periods are shorter under high temperatures. Flowers are most receptive to pollination in the morning when bee activity is usually the highest. Bees are necessary for pollination and must be active in the crop. Flowers require at least 12 bee visits for good pollination. If bees are not plentiful, introduce at least two hives per ha after female flowers appear and male flowers start producing pollen. Spread hives around the field outside the crop, preferably so that bees have to fly over the crop to get to another food source. Destroy flowering weeds around the crop.

- Mike

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