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 Jul 18, Mike L (Australia - temperate climate)
Try thelostseed.c.a - they have them but are out of stock at the moment. Ring or send an email as they may have some packets left.
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16 Jun 18, Patricia (Australia - temperate climate)
What is the best vege to plant after pumkins
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16 Jun 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A root vegetable crop. Type into google
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31 May 18, Jill Western (Australia - temperate climate)
I would like to plant some butternut pumpkin in a warm sheltered area that has rich soil. Is it possible to plant now in June. Also should I use seeds or buy plants. Thankyou.
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01 Jun 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A warm sheltered area in June July August is not warm at night. It says to plant in Sept to Dec for a reason - it is a summer growing crop.
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26 May 18, Kerri (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have 2 pet chickens and a whole front yard of pumpkins because of the chickens. Somehow in the rains in February 18 we started growing pumpkins. There’s 6 or more good sized Kent pumpkins there that we can see. I cut one the other day and it was just yellow inside, still a little soft but tasted ok. How long should I wait to harvest the rest?
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29 May 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Wait until the plant starts to die back or dies back in winter. About 20-26 weeks from planting.
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31 May 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When you cut the pumpkin from the vine make sure you have some of the stem attached to the pumpkin.
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23 May 18, Pattie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I've bought some Halloween pumpkin seeds to grow for Halloween 31/10) this year, it's late May now, when's the best time to plant these so they're ready a few weeks before Halloween?
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24 May 18, Chap (Australia - temperate climate)
Halloween in the states is when their pumpkins are ready. in australia the seasons are opposite
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Showing 301 - 310 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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