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  

(Best months for growing Pumpkin in Australia - temperate regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed

September: Frost tender

  • 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

15 Dec 13, elle (Australia - arid climate)
plant it!
08 Nov 13, Ron (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am trying to grow Qld blue pumpkins in Brisbane but a fruit appears and after a while it turns yellow and dies. Do I have to pollinate myself because I can't think of any other reason.
07 Dec 13, Laura (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Ron I am near Mackay and am having the same problem. I just self-pollinated this morning to see if this helps. Laura
05 Oct 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi all can anyone tell us how to treat what appears to be downy mildew on pumpkins rockmelons & cucumbers?? Jenniffer
22 Oct 13, Andrew S (Australia - temperate climate)
Try a mix of milk and water ,,shaken and then sprayed on the mildew. Pick off and destroy some of the worse leaves. This might also help to get a little bit of air circulation around the plants.
14 Sep 13, Ian McAuslan (Australia - temperate climate)
Why aren't potatoes and pumpkin compatible?
08 Sep 13, Don (Australia - temperate climate)
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?
15 Aug 13, Shaun (Australia - temperate climate)
hi David I've had success with butternut from seed for the past two years. I start the seeds off in spring, after I'm sure that the temperature overnight won't drop too low. I start the seeds off in small covered trays, usually on a window ledge to catch the morning sun. I plant out the seedlings around the end of September.
15 Aug 13, David newdick (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks for your comment. Weather wise our nearest would be either Ringwood 3134, or Scoresby 3179. Thank you.
14 Aug 13, David (Australia - temperate climate)
We live in Croydon Vic. Would like info re Butternut pumpkin from seed. Thank you.
Showing 461 - 470 of 680 comments

Brendan, I have seen a pumpkin vine that took over a paling fence Approx 15mts. But all the fruit grew on the neighbours side. Lucky we got to share

- wayne

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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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