Growing Pumpkin

Cucurbita sp. : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S S                
        T              
        P              

(Best months for growing Pumpkin in USA - Zone 5a 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 68°F and 90°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 35 - 47 inches 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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02 May 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Gramma pumpkin. When is the best time to pick? When fully orange and dusty. Is it ripe when green and dusty looking?
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05 May 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
About 20 weeks or so after planting. The vine will be dying back, the stem from the pumpkin to the vine will be hard and dry. When you think it is ready try one, if a pale colour then you picked too early.
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29 Apr 20, Nicole (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in NW NSW, possible frosty weather is coming this weekend. Can I cover the pumpkins with something to protect them till they are ready for harvest? Thanks
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30 Apr 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can only give it a try. Take it off during the day though.
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19 Apr 20, Lisa (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi I’ve got butternut pumpkins seedlings will they grow this time of year live in Inglewood region qld
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19 Apr 20, Liz at Gardenate (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Pumpkins will be killed by frost.
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18 Apr 20, Sandi (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Butternut Pumpkin seedlings have popped up in my worm farm. Removed and put some in pots. They are growing. Is it worth planting at this time of the year in Brisbane?
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20 Apr 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
Read the planting guide.
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15 Apr 20, Suzie (Australia - temperate climate)
Okay, just that it was a very sweet butternut pumpkin so I have dried out the seeds and will plant in September. Thanks for the advice everyone, it is always great to get something for next to nothing. Happy gardening!
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12 Apr 20, Annie (New Zealand - temperate climate)
When is the best time to plant pumpkin seeds please? We live on the Kapiti Coast.
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Showing 131 - 140 of 834 comments
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I see we should avoid growing pumpkins and potatoes together. I have 2 vegie gardens, they are about 8 meters apart. I grew potatoes(sebago?), tomatoes (gross Lizze), and for the first time capsicum and lettuce in the big one, and jap pumkins in the smaller one last year. Lettuce were great until a hail storm hit, tomatoes, potatoes and capsicum all went well. But the pumkin in a virgin patch went ok, although some fruit did not develop. I had about 8 vines, and at one point there were 25 fruit starting to grow. Some of the flowers did not even open. Others got bulb end rot. I got about 10 good pumkins off the patch, which I think is ok considering it is smaller than recommended at 2 by 3.8 meters, and it was the first time anything had been grown in the soil. Did I have a lesser success with my pumkins because the potatoes were close by? I did have to hand pollinate a bit. What are the main reasons for not growing spuds and pumkins together?

- Don

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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.
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