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

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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?
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18 Apr 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
You should leave pumpkins until the stalk is completely dry and hard, then they keep without rotting.
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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
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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...
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19 Mar 11, arthur stevens (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Why do the baby pumpkins keep falling off the plant the have been enokulated.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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20 Feb 11, tony (Australia - temperate climate)
Have a few Japanese pumpkin 300-400mm diameter. Some are developing 1mm crescent shaped cracks due to ?? Only been watering every 2 or 3 days for 15min. Any comments or advice :)?
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Showing 571 - 580 of 688 comments
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pumpkin trick is to deep plant the pumpkin from the start .dig a 1 foot plant in that, do not fill hole full of ground . let plant grow . when the plant is well above hole fill hole with soil .find the path u want the plant to grow and dont move . as the plant grows take out the runner branches .let grow for 3 to 4 meters then let 2 or 3 runners grow .when you have about 3 pumpkins nib any new runners ,keep pumpkin off soil use timber or tile .also as the plant grows the plant wants to grow up ,just put trowel on the growth ,this keeps it low to ground .why u grow 3 meters is because the leaves collect sun make plant strong for pumpkin to grow .also growing low to ground roots can appear at each branch that helps plant .i look at my plant at least once a week in growing time because u need to control its growth .i grew 3 big pumpkins for the first time and its worth all the attention .if u let it go wild the flowers just fall off or a pumpkin dies after a week or so and u end up with nothing

- marco

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