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

29 May 11, Helena Stam (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been scrolling through pumpkin comments. I am not sure if this will help, but make sure your hands are very clean when pollinating. Also, I have a query- pumpkins growing well, but on some, main stalks have been broken off accidently. Have put these under shelter where sun gets them-when are they ripe? do they sound hollow, or are they supposed to sound full?
17 Apr 11, Thalass (Australia - temperate climate)
I have orange pumpkins growing. The fruit is still mostly green, but the plants are pale and dry - more or less dead it seems. Should i harvest now, or wait until they are more orange?
18 Apr 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
You should leave pumpkins until the stalk is completely dry and hard, then they keep without rotting.
27 Mar 11, emily (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a mildew problem on my pumpkins. started on rockmelons which didn't survive, and has passed on to my pumpkins. I have tried milk watered down and sprayed, and camomile tea spray but nothing seems to kill it. want to avoid using chemicals as i have a relatively organic garden
28 Mar 11, Stuart (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi there, Problems with mildews: What type is it ?? Is it Downy Mildew or Powdery Mildew? Downy has white spores growing under the leaf and Powdery has Greyish spores on top of the leaf. The rule of thumb is Downy uses Copper based sprays and Powdery uses Sulfur based sprays. Both of these chemicals are naturally occurring elements and are not harmful to people or environment. There are other sprays out there that can be used in between these sprays and should be encouraged as mildews can become resistant if you spray the same chemicals continuously. Hope this helps. Stoo...
19 Mar 11, arthur stevens (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Why do the baby pumpkins keep falling off the plant the have been enokulated.
26 Feb 11, Kath (Australia - temperate climate)
We have the same problem here in Brisbane, after hand pollinating the fruit goes yellow and dies off.
26 Feb 11, Rob (Australia - temperate climate)
Living in Brisbane planted in November, plenty of male and female flowers have found after hand pollinating female flowers with small fruit that is turns yellow and dies. Has anyone know what the problem might be.
22 Feb 11, Cheryl (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a jap pumpkin growing, my problem is that there is only male flowers growing on the vine, when the female flowers grow they die of, can anyone tell why this is happening, do I need to pull it out and start again?
26 Feb 11, Pam (Australia - temperate climate)
I had the same problem. I picked the male flower and poked it in the female flower to pollinate it. It worked I ended up with lovely big pumpkins.
Showing 561 - 570 of 679 comments

Different pumpkin types take different times to grow but most take over a month to fully ripen and you often wont see any finished products until mid or late March. It is definitely not time to give up yet. Good things to those who wait :) The plants will die very rapidly after the temperature drops in April and May. However if your getting mildew on the leaves in mid Feb I would recommend that you prune or spray the affected leaves to reduce the spread. I have had years where the plant died in late Feb before the pumpkins fully matured and I was very sad.

- Richard

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