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
13 Feb 10, Sarah (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, I have a very long kent pumpkin vine but no flowers. It's planted at the same time and place as Golden Nugget (which is doing great) and Butternut (doing okay). Any thoughts on why the kent isn't flowering?
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09 Feb 20, bob mccouaig (Australia - temperate climate)
same problem Is kent a slow flowerer Be grateful for any tips
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17 Jan 13, Glenda de Vidas (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Pumpkins form with flowers still attached and then the pumpkin rots. I am now removing the healthy flower before the pumpkin starts to rot to see if that will allow the pumkin to grow properly. They are the kent variety of pumpkins. Has any one have any tips to share.
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11 Feb 10, Suzanne (Australia - temperate climate)
Pumpkin seeds should be planted in spring / early summer, but I have just planted my seeds and they are doing great, bit late but I'll see how they go....
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04 Feb 10, gardening (Australia - temperate climate)
i am looking to grow pumkins when do you plant the seeds?
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02 Feb 10, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi just like to say i love this site,Great to see so many people contributing..Coraki NSW
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27 Jan 10, Evelyn (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Ben I believe that if you place some of the leaves of the vine over the pumpkin this shades the fruit and less likely to split. In the hot Canberra summer I have had great success with part-shade for growing the pumpkins. A friend advised that overfertilizing during the growth phase is not good either. Better to have the soil fertilized at the planting stage rather than topping up in between. She may have a point.
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23 Jan 10, ben parker (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
do u know why pumpkin split just before they ripen?
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19 Jan 10, Dougie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
re Marlen Traynor - pumkins like a clay or heavy loam and not really a sandy soil. Add some clay by getting a few bags of brickie's loam that brickjlayers add to their "mud"or china clay as used by potters or animal feed manufacturers to your soil. Can't cause any harm.
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18 Jan 10, Kym (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have recently planted pumpkin (approx 6-8 weeks ago) our first vegie patch. How do I know when they are ready to pick?
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Showing 611 - 620 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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