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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
02 May 13, Joan Adams (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I tried growing pumpkin in composted soil and have 4 tiny pumpkins which stopped growing. How do I get larger fruits in future?
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24 Apr 13, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
They are not getting pollinated, you need to get a feather and dip it in the flowers that don't have a pumpkin on them, then gently stick the feather into the ones that do.
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21 Apr 13, JanineW (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
It's nearly end of April & we had our 1st frost last night & my jap pumpkin plants have turned up their leaves we've only got 2 pumpkins but I don't believe they are ripe yet so do I leave them or take them off?
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24 Apr 13, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
Put bricks or the like underneath them to get them off the ground, but don't pick them until the stalks turn brown, this is the sign they are ready. If the stalks are green they are still getting nutrient from the plant
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08 Apr 13, June (Australia - temperate climate)
Planted potkin & Qld Blue pumpkins. They all keep going yellow and dying when they first form. Does anybody know why this keeps happening please.
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06 Apr 13, Des Harrison (Australia - temperate climate)
My vines develop small green pumpkins and after a week they turn yellow and fall off the stem. What is the problem?
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22 May 22, Kristene (Australia - tropical climate)
They sound like they haven’t been pollinated.
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07 Apr 13, Narelle (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I've had the same problem this year so would be interested to hear from others!
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04 May 13, Brendan (Australia - tropical climate)
Lacking calcium. Soil pH is probably too low, feed it some Dolomite around the root zone. If the soil pH is ok, use Gypsum instead.
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27 Mar 13, Anne (Australia - temperate climate)
PLease can you tell me why our pumpkin vines had know flowers consequently no fruit. suspect the soil not rich enough for them.
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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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