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 P          

(Best months for growing Pumpkin in Australia - 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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29 Oct 12, Dana (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Dear Adam If you spray your pumpkins or squash with milk (diluted in water anything from 1 part milk 2 parts water if you are treating to weak solution of 1 part milk 10 parts water if you are preventing) you will NOT have ANY problems with mildew. The milk works better than anything you can get commercially. Cheers Dana
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28 Oct 12, ray (Australia - temperate climate)
How do you know male from female flowers
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29 Oct 12, CJB (Australia - temperate climate)
The female has a fruit at the base of it. Also them male has 1 part inside the flower, the female has multiple receivingbits
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25 Oct 12, Adam (Australia - temperate climate)
Im just about to plant some pumpkins for teh 1st time. Read of many these comments & are quite useful. I have a great sunny spot with some shade through the day, clay soil & its an paddock that had cattle. I think im just going to scrap in this season but Im more worried about Midlew as the area I want to plant may be to wet if it rains. (I dont think it will rain much this year). Also I am interested in Iron Bark Pumpkin seeds, I wont plant this season, but would be great to trial for the next season.
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23 May 12, Louise (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi. My pumpkin vine is producing plenty of flowers - but all males! What can I do to encourage some female flowers? It's May, is this the wrong time of year? The vine just popped up out of the compost. Really appreciate any assistance. Thanks for your time.
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06 May 12, James (Australia - temperate climate)
So, I started a pumpkin plant late, the frosts are coming. If repetitive frosts do hit my pumpkin plant I'd like to know if it will still be okay (If fully developed of course) And how many frosts does it need to go through for photosynthesis to stop and leaves completely die off? It's still growing even in the cold.
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24 Aug 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi there, I'm looking for any information in regard to the famous Ballarat pumpkin and for its seeds. The seeds of this heritage variety used to be on sale in Sovereign Hill
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29 Mar 12, Tim - Tocumwal (Australia - temperate climate)
my pumpkins are ready and the vines are showing signs of dying and i want to remove them. popular opinion says if i want to store my bountiful pumpkin harvest for future use they need a frost. QUESTION: must the pumpkins be still attached to the vine, or can they be harvested and suitably stored outside until the frosts come, then transfered to shed storage. Tim.
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30 Mar 12, Kelly (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I used to live in Queensland and never got a frost ever but grow and stored pumpkins for many years. I would sun them before storing.
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01 Apr 12, Tim (Australia - temperate climate)
thanks kelly. i will harvest them today Tim.
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Showing 521 - 530 of 679 comments
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Great to hear of someone so young who wants to grow things. If this attempt fails, tell her to try next year. Plant around April/May and grow into the winter. If you have or can make a garden bed, tell her to try growing some radishes - nearly the easiest thing to grow. Go to Bunnings or a nursery and buy some punnets of lettuce or other things she likes and plant them. When starting out it is a lot easier to plant seedlings. The hard work has been done to germinate them. Also buy a little container of fertiliser (about 2kg or so) from nursery or Bunnings etc. I use a watering can (9 liters) and add a small tupperware cup of fertiliser to the water. Give it a good stir. Scale this down to say 1/2 to 3/4 of a tablespoon in 1-2 liters of water. Wait until the plants have grown to 3-4-5 inches. Little plants little fertiliser and more as they get bigger. Good luck.

- Mike

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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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