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

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06 Jan 09, Rosie (Australia - temperate climate)
My pumpkin (organic seed) were growing great - now the middle of the vine - where the seeds were initially planted are starting to die off!!! Any ideas what is needed to remedy this?
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06 Jan 09, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)
Water pumpkins when they show signs of limp leaves, first thing in the morning. Then have a look after the heat of the day is over and if they are wilting again water them. I pollinate with a small desk duster, the static electricity one that attracts dust, and swish it into the male flowers then into the females everyday till the females show sign of swelling. Be carefull you use one duster for one variety. Dusters are as cheap as chips and last many seasons.
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05 Jan 09, Jean (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, When preparing a Queensland Blue a couple of months ago, I took a handfull of seeds and put them in a small hole in the garden, well they've come up and I appear to have a flourishing plant, beginning to get flowers on it, Have I got a chance as I just "bunged" them in from my pumpkin, or will it turn out to be "barren", thanks Jean
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05 Jan 09, Sooze (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Gina, We too have been wondering when to harvest a Pumpkin "buttercup" as is looks large, green & with yellow in a couple of places (like its picture). We cut it and then read that the stalk needs to turn brown before harvesting. So we have taken it too early it seems. Haven't cut it open yet to see it its got any yellow flesh. We will now leave the others that are growing till stalk is brown.
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03 Jan 09, Brett (Australia - temperate climate)
We are not getting any female flowers at all on our butternut pumpkin vines. Does anyone have any clues? Last year was the same - not one pumpkin! Others we spoke to in our area had the same problem last year and we put it down to excessive heat, but this year has been much cooler so that debunks that theory.
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02 Jan 09, Ray (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I am growing Butternut Pumpkins and am finding that a lot of the pumpkins are going soft and falling off when they are just starting to form , now I dont know if I am under or over watering
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30 Mar 15, colin (Australia - temperate climate)
the pumpkin has not been fertilised may be lack of bees so fertilise by stripping the male flower and dabbing it into the female flower and you get very good results with this method
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28 Dec 08, Gina Pitronaci (Australia - temperate climate)
How does one know when pumkins are ready for picking? How long will a pumpkin keep, and what is the best way of storing them?
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04 Mar 17, Sam (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi peoples i have pumpkin (& potatoes..) growing around my compost :0/ i was wondering if i transplant the pumpkin do they like living in pots... i'm in a rental at moment so anything not in a container runs the risk of being left behind if we have to move at a minutes notice.... Thanks
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02 Dec 08, Millie (Australia - temperate climate)
How many pumpkins can I expect on each plant? Thanks
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Showing 661 - 670 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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