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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05 Jan 14, jeff o'brien (Australia - tropical climate)
Been growing jap pumpkin from seed. This time I have some pumpkin flowers which seems to be both male and female on same flower. On the inside, there is a tiny pumpkin, then the female style, stigma and on top of that the male stamen. Is this possible?
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04 Jan 14, D JAMES (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I am interested in growing a giant pumpkin in Brisbane am I too late to start and also what do the giants actually taste like
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16 Dec 13, Karen (Australia - temperate climate)
Qtn 1:- Can we eat pumpkin flowers the same as zucchini flowers? Qtn 2:- If I remove some of the male & female flowers will that encourage others to grow larger pumpkins Qtn 3:- I have powdery mildew on a few leaves! Is it best to remove those leaves & dispose of into compost.
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20 Nov 13, robert cummins (Australia - temperate climate)
what to do with onion that develop a seed head?
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15 Dec 13, elle (Australia - arid climate)
plant it!
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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14 Sep 13, Ian McAuslan (Australia - temperate climate)
Why aren't potatoes and pumpkin compatible?
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No I haven't been able to get any more Windsor Black seeds I only had a couple of seeds that were given to me, I planted them on the side of a very small hill in Heavy soil they grew and branched every where were getting male flowers And the female flowers were forming, but 10 days of solid rain the patch was absolutely saturated the rest of our property was flooded I thought they would be alright but thr female buds went yellow & dropped off. I prayed & begged for the vines not to die but 90% did.I was shattered. one vine in the row above it The McLeay Mongrel survived Another Victorian Pumpkin, was so sick I just forgot it, went down the Hill the other day the grass was 2 & 1/2 feet high and I trod on something in the grass and nearly fell over looked and found one McLeay Mongrel Pumpkin I have collected the seed from what has to be the weirdest Pumpkin ever, But probably the nicest eating Pumpkin ever, I would say it is probably the rarest as well. The McLeay Mongrel Is a very dry pumpkin with superb flavor much like Iron Bark sweeter & nuttier, I have looked at it it is more than likely a Triamble Iron Bark cross Maybe some Qld. Blue. I am offering 4 seeds up for Auction on eBay I do not have many seeds, so thought if I put a good reserve in them only the very serious growers would buy them. Be Warned it is not a pretty pumpkin but needs some serious pumpkin growers to keep it from extinction, it is a heavy solid pumpkin, looks like an Alien lava Rock. visit eBay Pumpkins just to see it. Regards. Sylvia.

- Sylvia Allan

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