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 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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28 Feb 16, Linda (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi David, It's too late to plant from seed, they will grow to a point but won't mature into full grown pumpkins...plant pumkin seed in nov-dec..., Cheers, Linda
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28 Feb 16, Phill ware (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A lot of flowers , pumpkins forming then die off. Only getting a couple to eat.
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05 Mar 16, Bill Hughes (Australia - temperate climate)
How do I "hand pollinate"?
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03 Mar 16, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)
Pollination is not happening. Try hand pollination
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24 Feb 16, Christine Horsfall (Australia - temperate climate)
It is mid February. Is it too late to plant pumpkin seeds? Thank you. Christine
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23 Feb 16, Mick O'neill (Australia - arid climate)
When is the right time to pick my Jap pumpkins?
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22 Feb 16, David (Australia - temperate climate)
It is the 22nd February Can I grow start my pumpkin from seed now or is it to late
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13 Mar 16, Elizabeth (Australia - temperate climate)
To late I planted mine late November. I have quite a few pumpkins on mine.
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13 Feb 16, Val (Australia - temperate climate)
how can I tell when my jarradale pumpkins are ready to harvest?
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30 Jan 16, Helen (Australia - temperate climate)
My Kent or Jap pumpkin is rampaging thru my garden but hasn't formed any flowers yet can you please tell me when that is likely to happen. Thankyou.ps they were planted early Nov.
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I see we should avoid growing pumpkins and potatoes together. I have 2 vegie gardens, they are about 8 meters apart. I grew potatoes(sebago?), tomatoes (gross Lizze), and for the first time capsicum and lettuce in the big one, and jap pumkins in the smaller one last year. Lettuce were great until a hail storm hit, tomatoes, potatoes and capsicum all went well. But the pumkin in a virgin patch went ok, although some fruit did not develop. I had about 8 vines, and at one point there were 25 fruit starting to grow. Some of the flowers did not even open. Others got bulb end rot. I got about 10 good pumkins off the patch, which I think is ok considering it is smaller than recommended at 2 by 3.8 meters, and it was the first time anything had been grown in the soil. Did I have a lesser success with my pumkins because the potatoes were close by? I did have to hand pollinate a bit. What are the main reasons for not growing spuds and pumkins together?

- Don

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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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