Growing Pumpkin

Cucurbita sp. : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

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

(Best months for growing Pumpkin in Australia - cool/mountain 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
25 Feb 22, Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Female flowers follow the male ones and it sometimes takes a few days for them to start.
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13 Dec 21, Glen barlow (Australia - temperate climate)
What should you put under the pumpkin to stop it rotting on the bare ground
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31 Dec 21, FaithCeleste Archer (Canada - Zone 7b Mild Temperate climate)
I generally just place an old piece of wood (1" thick x 4" wide any length I have), or maybe an old small crate to lift it off the ground: it's really the soil getting onto the pumpkin that causes the decay.
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12 Feb 22, Sarah Akins (Australia - temperate climate)
I’ve been putting old seedling pots under them. Good way to reuse the plastic.
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14 Dec 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Some thing that allows water to drain away quickly,
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30 Nov 21, Robert (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi there just wont to know wot is the latest you can plant pumpkins in south Australia
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07 Dec 21, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Work out your climate zone and then set it then go to Pumpkins
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18 Aug 21, Steven Mcgonigal (Australia - temperate climate)
What season can you grow pumpkins parks New South Wales
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29 Aug 21, (Australia - temperate climate)
Spring
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27 Jun 21, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
golden nuggets late harvest as well as zucchini left to grow big for seed... BOTH fruit are so hard can barely get a knife through looks like they will have to be dumped into compost....What has happened? what next time NOT to do?> thanks Jen
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Showing 41 - 50 of 685 comments
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I have been growing Queensland Blues & Jap Pumpkins here in Sydneys West for a while and would like to know the following : Male flowers are plentiful usually at the start of the vine & female flowers are not as many but as the vine lengthens more females appear, so how far do you let the vine grow. If cut does the right ratio of flowers continue shoot or that stops everything, what you have is all you get and do you plug the cut end to prevent disease getting into the vine (read that on the net) Also everyone says when the vine withers pick your crop, mine was going great and green but I picked them (stem still green & firm) as I felt they were large enough but several had started to rot inside, we saved them luckey as another couple of weeks would have lost the lot. So how do you know when to pick. heard about tapping it sound hollow its ripe, pick a piece of skin with fingernail the skin can give you an idea. Noticed in the fruit shop many pumpkins have fingernail pieces dug out ??? somebody know something !!!!! As the pumpkin is pollinated & starts to grow do you sit it on a tile or similar keeping it off the ground ( for air & warmth circulation) sometimes when left on the ground the under side looks soft and worms and bugs seem to love that position.

- Robert B

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