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
  • Pumpkin on vine

A large trailing plant with yellow, bell-shaped flowers, pumpkin is frost tender. Most varieties will take up a lot of room. Grow them at the edge of your garden patch so that they can spread away from other vegetables. Butternut produces small to medium pear-shaped fruit with deep orange flesh. Buttercup are small to medium round pumpkins with dark green skin. There are a number of large pumpkins, some round and flattish - good for storage and eating - others will produce the "Cinderella coach" type giant round fruit which are not such good eating.

Harvest when the vines die off and the pumpkins' stalks are dry. Leave a small piece of stalk attached to the fruit to prevent damp causing rot. The fruit can be stored for months in a cool airy place. In some parts of New Zealand, they are stored on shed roofs.

Pumpkins sometimes need hand pollination if the fruit are not setting well or die off after starting to grow, try picking a male flower (straight stem) and gently brushing pollen inside female flowers.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Pumpkin

Cut up, remove the skin and roast with other vegetables or meat.

Young crisp shoots with young leaves can be cooked and eaten - stewed in coconut milk they are popular in Melanesia. Remove any strings and tough parts and stew until tender, or cook as a vegetable in boiling water 3 - 5 minutes.

Your comments and tips

27 Nov 23, FOX MAN (USA - Zone 8b climate)
what is the biggest type of pumpkin in a zone 8b area?
04 Sep 22, Jen (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Hi is sept with warm temps too late to plant pumpkins?
13 Sep 22, Anonymous (USA - Zone 8b climate)
It is about 4 months too late by the guide here. It is not the temps now but what they will be in 4-5months time when the pumpkin are suppose to mature.
27 Aug 20, alexander (USA - Zone 9b climate)
I read that they can have trouble pollinating without a little help, though I haven't started growing mine yet.
20 Sep 20, Ivie Walker (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Because of the heat in zone 9a. Plants have difficulty pollinating when temperatures are 90 degrees or higher. In Southern Nevada temps got to 120 degrees. I plant seeds especially seedlings once temps are below 90 degrees. When temps are high I use Blossom Set to help the fruit to set on
28 Aug 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 6b climate)
If you don't have active bees when they flower then you can hand pollinate. A female flower is only open for a few hours one day, if not pollinated then no pumpkin grows. Google how to do it.
13 Jul 20, Marylee (USA - Zone 8b climate)
I was hoping to plant some pumpkins, but I am worried they won't grow very well since it is almost the middle of July. Can I still plant some in my garden? I live in a very warm climate too.
15 Jul 20, Colleen De Maio (USA - Zone 10b climate)
I think you should still get decent pumpkins in zone 8. Because it's so hot right now they should grow quickly, much more quickly than if you'd planted earlier. Make sure they have plenty of water, though, and mulch them so they don't fry. Good luck!
12 May 20, Caroline (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi my name is Caroline and I’m not from New Zealand, but I love pumpkins! I REALLY REALLY have the urge to carve a pumpkin but unfortunately they are all out of season in America. This might sound stupid but are pumpkins on the same schedule in New Zealand bc of the difference in climate? Like would I be able to get one shipped ?
07 Apr 20, Auther Ray (USA - Zone 7a climate)
When is the best time to plant pie pumpkins in 74883? Reply from Gardenate : First find your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone by entering your ZIP code at the USDA Plant Hardiness website then check here www.gardenate.com/zones/#zone-US
Showing 1 - 10 of 19 comments

Hi, I have a raised bed which had beetroot and tomatoes last season. Noticed a strange plant and decided to let it grow (from curiosity) but it turned out to be pumpkin and has taken over the raised bed despite constant "culling". It has produced quite a few flowers but they just close and fall off. The foliage is very healthy and the flowers numerous (being in a composted bed). My question is - if the season is over by December is it worth letting the plant(s) continue to grow and produce flowers if there is no chance of forming fruit? I have seen only a few bees and tried self-pollinating but nothing seems to be moving. Would appreciate your comments on this.

- Valerie

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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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