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

03 Feb 13, LeanneMacLeod (Australia - temperate climate)
We have some Queenland Grey pumpkins growing and wonder wether we need to lift the maturing pumpkins up off the ground to avoid them rotting. We are in Emerald Victoria
02 Feb 13, ashley Kitching (Australia - temperate climate)
My Pumpkin vine is growing okay, plenty of flowers and have pumpkins forming, but, when they get to the size of a snall apple they become soft and fall from vine. This is the first time I have tried growing pumpkins and would love to have some success Thanking you in advance Ashley
14 Feb 13, Bill (Australia - temperate climate)
Ashley it sounds like your pumpkins are not being pollinated... Normally this is done by insects like bees... You can do this yourself, get out in the early hours (when the flowers are fresh and pollen is fertile) and take the pollen dust from a male flower (flower that is on a long stem) with a brush and liberally dust it onto the female flower (flower attached to a bulb which becomes the pumpkin) and the fruit should set.
30 Jan 13, John Maddocks (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I am growing Queensland Blue pumpkins fro seed packed by Yates ,sofar all I have are healthy plants with all female flowers .so even if there bees around we would still not flowers ,advise please
19 Jan 13, Judy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We have too many male flowers on our vines , how do you tell the difference between male & female seeds before planting. Is this possible?
21 Jan 13, Rache; (Australia - temperate climate)
Plants are monecious but with unisexual flowers ie. have both male & female flowers on the same plant. Generally male flowers are produced first on the vine with the female flowers coming later. A common problem that arises is too few female flowers - sometimes you just have to be patient, they'll come - or sometimes a nutrient imbalance - too much or too little.
01 Dec 12, kevin (Australia - temperate climate)
my queensland blue pumpkin vine has a female flower that i cross polinated ,ive done this a few times with much sucess but with the first female pumpkin flower the baby pumpkin was a light green and growing ,but now its turned yellow is this normal?...kev
11 Dec 12, Gerry (Australia - temperate climate)
Think its dead
06 Nov 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
HI My plants are also showing alot of male flowers,i have hand pollinated my Zucchinis and they are doing well,what is the go with all the male pumpkin flowers ,can anybody help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Regards Mick
17 Nov 12, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I find that sometimes I have a lot of male flowers and few females, and sometimes the oposite happens. I guess that is why we fertilize by hand. Jane
Showing 511 - 520 of 679 comments

Hi Dawn, Unfortunately April is not the right time to grow pumpkins in Victoria as we are heading into winter. Pumpkins require a fairly long growing period of 4-6 months (depending on the variety) of warm weather and are they are very frost sensitive, so will die once winter hits. If you are keen to grow something now, cabbages, broccoli, Asian greens, lettuces, radishes and carrots are pretty good bets. If you have your heart set on growing pumpkin, best to wait till October/November for sowing/planting for best results. Cheers & happy gardening.

- Mel

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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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