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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19 Mar 10, Ben Linke (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello, in early december 2009 i noticed a few pumpkin plants starting to appear in my chicken cage. i started watering them as soon as i noticed them growing. it took about 1 and a half months to take off and produce flowers. but the flowers kept falling of the stems and still are, what do i do to stop the falling off??. the plants are now covering about 25 to 30 square metres and climbing up the fences and on the roof. i have about 8 pumpkins on the plants, 3 which are quite large. because they grew with out my intensions i am unaware what varietys they are.. i am willing to send pictures to anyone who could please help me identify them!.. im almost certain that 1 of the few plants is a butternut... Help Me Please.... Ben
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12 Mar 10, David Pratt (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
With my Butternuts i use a half inch paint brush to pollinate my plants as i have seen very little bees about just go from flower to flower i have about 8 pumpkins per plant at the moment ( Just look to see theres a little bit of yellow on the brush and Bobs your Uncle )
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07 Mar 10, Bill Crosbie (Australia - temperate climate)
My butternut pumkins form, but die off after reaching only about 10 cm long.Out of one vine I have only managed one only fullsized pumpkin whereas I have lost about 6 to 8 . Soill is sandy with mulch, horse & sheep manure, and watered daily with plenty of sun. I need help for next season please?
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02 Mar 10, hayley (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, I'm new to this. I am growing butternut pumpkins. They have spread everywhere and are getting beautiful yellow flowers but no pumpkins. What am I meant to be doing? I have had success with my snowpeas, corn and carrots...just not pumpkin. Can someone please help?
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22 Feb 10, Leonie (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi have had great sucess planting a pumpkin in straight compost. It has loved it and one plant has given me four decent size pumpkins with some smaller ones growing. Have trailed it up on some plastic lattace over a water tank which has worked a treat!
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21 Feb 10, kylie (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have a pumpkin vine growing in my garden that must of been here b4 i moved in and it has sprouted on it own. It only has 1 decent size pumpkin on it but i am not sure how to tell when it is ripe i live in perth western australia.
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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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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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