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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
29 May 11, Helena Stam (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been scrolling through pumpkin comments. I am not sure if this will help, but make sure your hands are very clean when pollinating. Also, I have a query- pumpkins growing well, but on some, main stalks have been broken off accidently. Have put these under shelter where sun gets them-when are they ripe? do they sound hollow, or are they supposed to sound full?
Reply or Post a new comment
17 Apr 11, Thalass (Australia - temperate climate)
I have orange pumpkins growing. The fruit is still mostly green, but the plants are pale and dry - more or less dead it seems. Should i harvest now, or wait until they are more orange?
Reply or Post a new comment
18 Apr 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
You should leave pumpkins until the stalk is completely dry and hard, then they keep without rotting.
Reply or Post a new comment
27 Mar 11, emily (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a mildew problem on my pumpkins. started on rockmelons which didn't survive, and has passed on to my pumpkins. I have tried milk watered down and sprayed, and camomile tea spray but nothing seems to kill it. want to avoid using chemicals as i have a relatively organic garden
Reply or Post a new comment
28 Mar 11, Stuart (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi there, Problems with mildews: What type is it ?? Is it Downy Mildew or Powdery Mildew? Downy has white spores growing under the leaf and Powdery has Greyish spores on top of the leaf. The rule of thumb is Downy uses Copper based sprays and Powdery uses Sulfur based sprays. Both of these chemicals are naturally occurring elements and are not harmful to people or environment. There are other sprays out there that can be used in between these sprays and should be encouraged as mildews can become resistant if you spray the same chemicals continuously. Hope this helps. Stoo...
Reply or Post a new comment
19 Mar 11, arthur stevens (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Why do the baby pumpkins keep falling off the plant the have been enokulated.
Reply or Post a new comment
26 Feb 11, Kath (Australia - temperate climate)
We have the same problem here in Brisbane, after hand pollinating the fruit goes yellow and dies off.
Reply or Post a new comment
26 Feb 11, Rob (Australia - temperate climate)
Living in Brisbane planted in November, plenty of male and female flowers have found after hand pollinating female flowers with small fruit that is turns yellow and dies. Has anyone know what the problem might be.
Reply or Post a new comment
22 Feb 11, Cheryl (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have a jap pumpkin growing, my problem is that there is only male flowers growing on the vine, when the female flowers grow they die of, can anyone tell why this is happening, do I need to pull it out and start again?
Reply or Post a new comment
26 Feb 11, Pam (Australia - temperate climate)
I had the same problem. I picked the male flower and poked it in the female flower to pollinate it. It worked I ended up with lovely big pumpkins.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 561 - 570 of 679 comments
See comments for all plants

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

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.