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

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21 Dec 11, Matt (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My pumpkin is growing really well, about an inch or more a day, but the leaves closest to the roots have started to turn yellow, die and drop off. This yellowing and dying is slowly moving along the plant toward the tip. The new growth is still looking really healthy. What can be causing this yellowing? Could it be a lack on N or Fe?
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07 Dec 11, owen moore (Australia - temperate climate)
answer to Q try cutting arunner of your pumkin plant and it will produce female flowers or the end of a runner
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03 Nov 11, robert cowley (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Ihad lots of male flowers growing this year and few females,now Ihave the opposite,can pollen from the male flowers be harvested for use later?
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01 Oct 11, cheryl (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
has anyone herd of banana punkins before my inlaws grew these and they are a beautiful eating punkin but how well dpo they store ?
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23 Sep 11, Mark Logan (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I've heard that planting your pumpkin seeds into fairly poor soil and then fertilising once the fruit appears ensures you get more fruit and less leaves. Has anyone else heard of this?
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12 Aug 11, judy farrelly (Australia - tropical climate)
I notice that a lot of growers say that when a pumpkin sounds hollow, it is ready to pick; I have heard that you are supposed to leave them until the vi ne is dead; is this also true?
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10 Aug 11, judy farrelly (Australia - tropical climate)
to arthur stevens: you will probably find the bees have not pollinated your pumpkin flowers, thus the young fruit fall off; you could try hand pollinating them yourself; that's what I had to do this year (in CCairns)
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29 Jul 11, Helen (Australia - temperate climate)
Why have my butternut pumpkins developed rot after harvesting? They have been stored in a dark dry place.
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31 Jul 11, Karen (Australia - temperate climate)
If your pumpkins matured late in the season (o you platnted the seed late) they do not store well, you eat these first. The pumpkins that developed first are the ones that store. The other reason for rot is not leaving the pumpkins in the sun (dry outdoors area) after harvest for the skins to fully mature. Better luck with the next crop
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20 Jul 11, Sylvia Allan - Sgallan07 (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Karen, Yes I did get a couple of Windsor Black seeds, they were given to me especially from a generous person who gave me all they had, and I am to grow them and return a 100 seeds to them as well, I am waiting for the frosts to go, and will plant them Hopefully they are fresh seeds and I will be able to sell seed later this year. They will be available through eBay when I have harvested them. I hope to be able to make available over 100 varieties of pumpkin & squash seeds along with 6 varieties of Pie or Jam melon seeds.Kindest regards Sylvia.
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Just found this - commercial production. For efficient pollination and fruit set, there must be: both male and female flowers and bees to move pollen from male to female flowers. A number of factors can influence pollination, Cold and overcast days limit pollination activity of bees. Hot dry conditions desiccate pollen making it unviable. Rapid growth promotes earlier flowering. However, high temperatures, long days and high rates of nitrogen can result in: vigorous vegetative growth and few flowers and a higher proportion of male to female flowers. It is important to check the sex of the flowers. A ratio of 1 female to 7 male flowers is usually considered adequate. Flowers open early in the day and for one day only, and they close by mid afternoon. These periods are shorter under high temperatures. Flowers are most receptive to pollination in the morning when bee activity is usually the highest. Bees are necessary for pollination and must be active in the crop. Flowers require at least 12 bee visits for good pollination. If bees are not plentiful, introduce at least two hives per ha after female flowers appear and male flowers start producing pollen. Spread hives around the field outside the crop, preferably so that bees have to fly over the crop to get to another food source. Destroy flowering weeds around the crop.

- 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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