Growing Pumpkin

Cucurbita sp. : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

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

(Best months for growing Pumpkin in Australia - sub-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 20°C and 32°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 90 - 120 cm 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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04 Sep 16, Nina Russell (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in suburban Adelaide can I use a slow release fertilizer on my pumpkin seedlings and how often should I water them?
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06 Aug 16, Paul (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Growing pumpkins here in Gracemere CQ. Has always be a difficult crop because of the powder mildew fungi , over watering the soil seems to be the main action that is the cause of this problem .pumpkins need to be kept moist but not damp. This year I am trying to water under ground method and covering the soil around the plant so as to stop the damp rising towards to plant leaves . . I will see if this will help ?
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19 Aug 16, Rob (Australia - temperate climate)
Paul, try spraying the leaves with a mix of 1 tablespoon of full cream milk to 1ltr of water to get rid of the powdery mildew. The underground watering should help also. Cheers, Rob
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03 Aug 16, John Bushell (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi y'all, What is the reason that pumpkins should not be grown in the same plot as potatoes? How far separated do they need to be? Best wishes, John
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20 Jul 16, Lattsy (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi! I live in CRANBOURNE Melbourne Victoria! Last season I grew a huge crop of spookie pumpkins and they gave my wifey her pumpkin fix till now! We have 3 left and they have held together perfectly! I am eager to grow butternut pear shaped pumpkins here and am just wondering if you could help me out with some advice?? What to feed em? When to seed em? What position? Do they respond to compost? Thanks regards lattsy!
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15 May 16, Cathy [email protected] (Australia - temperate climate)
Please someone ,could someone tell me when to plant butternut seeds. Now in May autumn and live in Melbourne in Victoria Australia
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04 Aug 16, Suzanne (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Cathy Gerry Coleby Williams online at Gardening Australia says put your seeds in at 20C as this is temperature needed to germinate pumpkin and all 'curcubit' seeds. Gardenate for temperate Australia says Sep, Oct, Nov for planting. Seeds into some seed raising mix - you can sift your dry compost and add a bit of peat moss and use this as its equally as rich as any 'bought' seed raising mix and when you have actual leaves (as opposed to the first two green 'leaves' which are actually dicotyledons known as'dicots' and not leaves as the plant needs to grow and develop its leaves before being transplanted) plant them out. Hope this helps!
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03 May 16, Lynne (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, Because pumpkins are harvested around autumn should I dry out and save my seeds until spring for planting?
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17 Apr 16, Kevin hall (Australia - temperate climate)
During Autumn do I remove all pumpkin stems and re-compost the soil or trim the stems and cover with straw ?
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27 Apr 16, Richard (Australia - temperate climate)
Either of them
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Showing 351 - 360 of 679 comments
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Hi Dawn, Unfortunately April is not the right time to grow pumpkins in Victoria as we are heading into winter. Pumpkins require a fairly long growing period of 4-6 months (depending on the variety) of warm weather and are they are very frost sensitive, so will die once winter hits. If you are keen to grow something now, cabbages, broccoli, Asian greens, lettuces, radishes and carrots are pretty good bets. If you have your heart set on growing pumpkin, best to wait till October/November for sowing/planting for best results. Cheers & happy gardening.

- Mel

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