Growing Pumpkin

Cucurbita sp. : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S S S S            
      T T T T          
      P P P P          

(Best months for growing Pumpkin in Australia - tropical 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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29 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Will have little taste.
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12 Dec 18, Karen Cadle (New Zealand - temperate climate)
My squash is growning like a trifford do I just let it grow or would it pay to pinch it out
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13 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You could do both depending on how many squash you have. I had a couple of cuies that had 3 flushes of cuies. If I nipped the vine I would have only had 18 cuies - in the end I had 48.
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17 Oct 18, Vincenzo gattellari (Australia - temperate climate)
When the time for plants the grey pumpkin
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21 Oct 18, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)
Now
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17 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Most common is the Jarrahdale pumpkin - plant Sept to Dec and don't pick until vine starts dying - about 18-20 weeks from planting. Good fertile soil, lots of sun and plenty of water.
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28 Aug 18, Judy (Australia - temperate climate)
We live in maryborough Vic and would like to know when we should plant pumpkins. And do we need to have any other plants around for the bees to come
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30 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You found pumpkin and set your climate to temperate - check the monthly calendar planting/sowing guide. The big green capital P means when to plant. Try to notice if you have bees in your yard, if not look up on the internet - bee attracting flowers and plant some.
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25 Jul 18, LynnStinten (Australia - tropical climate)
I am just south of Townsville and planted Qld Blue pumpkin seeds in early April in good soil with correct PH levels. Plenty of space to run and good sunshine and watered daily. The plants grew well for about 6 weeks producing masses of mostly male flowers?? I had plenty of bees doing their job, but still only got two pumpkins that didn't reach maturity before the plants died off about 2-3 weeks ago. We did have a couple of 6deg nights but nothing lower. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Cheers
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29 Jul 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Temps are read 1 m above the ground. Temps can vary quite a bit in a district. I would say the plants had frost on them. Male flowers come first (to attract the bees I believe) then you will have male and female. Try again now.
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Showing 221 - 230 of 684 comments
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pumpkin trick is to deep plant the pumpkin from the start .dig a 1 foot plant in that, do not fill hole full of ground . let plant grow . when the plant is well above hole fill hole with soil .find the path u want the plant to grow and dont move . as the plant grows take out the runner branches .let grow for 3 to 4 meters then let 2 or 3 runners grow .when you have about 3 pumpkins nib any new runners ,keep pumpkin off soil use timber or tile .also as the plant grows the plant wants to grow up ,just put trowel on the growth ,this keeps it low to ground .why u grow 3 meters is because the leaves collect sun make plant strong for pumpkin to grow .also growing low to ground roots can appear at each branch that helps plant .i look at my plant at least once a week in growing time because u need to control its growth .i grew 3 big pumpkins for the first time and its worth all the attention .if u let it go wild the flowers just fall off or a pumpkin dies after a week or so and u end up with nothing

- marco

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