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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03 Aug 17, Bev (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Like all curcubitae, planting time is when your soil is up to 20C. Definitely after all risk of frost is over
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19 Jul 17, Terry Forster (Australia - tropical climate)
I am looking for Gramma Pumpkin seeds. I Grew some of these years ago near Beaudesert.Has any body heard of these we made dessert pumpkin pie with them.
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21 Jul 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Google "Gramma Pumpkin seeds" and you will find where to buy them. I can't put other company names on here. .
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09 Aug 17, Terry Forster (Australia - tropical climate)
I ordered them today, thanks for the advice.
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26 Jun 17, Pauline (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
From time to time I will have a pumpkin from my garden that when I cut it, it has white lumps in it that are hard and when the pumpkin is cooked it remains hard. Do you know what causes this, maybe something in the soil? something lacking in the soil? a virus? I would love to find out and see if I can avoid or cure this problem.
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23 Sep 23, Brenda Jenkins (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Did you ever find out what was causing the hard white lumps in your pumpkins
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09 Aug 17, Rana (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I heard that is has something to do with uneven watering or spurts of drought.
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16 Jun 17, Dilsie Evans (Australia - temperate climate)
I've grown pumpkin for the first time, 6 pumpkins. Just cut up the largest, the centre seems a bit soft and has lots of seeds. Is this normal??
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19 Jun 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You have the skin and then a layer of firm to hard pumpkin - then in the middle is soft tissue and seeds. You don't eat the soft tissue.
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05 Jun 17, Lynda Hagar (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My pumpkins started to form late January. I preserved with them watering Ocassionally when needed. They are now a reasonable size now after all these months and the leaves are starting to die off. When the leaves are gone I will harvest the four pumpkins and allow the stalks to dry off before use. They are in a very sunny spot so have had sun all Autumn. I grew Jap pumpkins. I think some people call them Kent pumpkins. Anyway personally I would leave them alone until the leaves die off as long as they are getting plenty of sunshine. Good luck.
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For Robert B of Sydney West,17 April, dette-19April andMichael Stapleton 4 May. Forget about growing Jap Pumpkins. They are rubbish, far too soft to make good roasting pumpkin.. About growing pumpkins - plant your seed in September/October, male flowers will appear then in second week January the females will start. If fruit does not develop and turns yellow and dies that means the female has not been pollinated by the male, due to absence of bees. You will have to do it by hand. Determine how many fruit you want and then remove any female flowers that appear. I usually leave this until March. Do NOT prune the end of your vine. Feed with potash and phosphorous (liquid manure the best organic source). Note - phosphorous helps initiate the onset of female flowers The first pumpkins will be ready to pick in mid April. Place some coarse straw under the vine in January where you find a female (to prevent rot). Happy to answer any questions and provide seed of "Ironbark", the original Aussie pumpkin and still the best for colour, flavour and texture (sweet, smooth and dry - lovely) Tony 02 62310508

- tony bray

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