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 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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29 Aug 21, (Australia - temperate climate)
Spring
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27 Jun 21, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
golden nuggets late harvest as well as zucchini left to grow big for seed... BOTH fruit are so hard can barely get a knife through looks like they will have to be dumped into compost....What has happened? what next time NOT to do?> thanks Jen
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29 Jun 21, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Cut them open and see if you have big fat seeds. If so they should be ok. Sometimes better to just go to someone like Boondie seeds and buy 4-6-8 seeds for $1.50-2.
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26 Jun 21, Phomolo Raleting (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
What's the best time to harvest pumpkin?
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29 Jun 21, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Check the planting guide here for summer rainfall.
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04 May 21, Sherry (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I want to grow GIANT pumpkins for Halloween. Does anyone have advice, I have seedlings just coming up now. Can I keep them sheltered in pots until the recommended planting time? I really would like to have BIG pumpkins FOR Oct 31st. We don't get frost as a rule, but who knows. I live in Hervey Bay. Would appreciate any and all advise .
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04 May 21, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
By the planting guide here they are a spring planting and harvest is approx 5 mths later. You are wanting to grow out of season. Frosts will probably kill them. Plants do not grow much in July August. I don't like your chances of succeeding. USA is opposite to us in seasons that is why they have them in Oct.
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18 Apr 21, Nicola (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a volunteer pumpkin plant in my garden which came up a couple of months ago. It has 3 pumpkins about the size of a small football. My concern is we are already getting into below 10 deg at night. Can I do something to keep my pumpkins alive before we get frost or should I give up on them, which I hate the thought of
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28 Apr 21, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you are going to have frosts, they will probably wipe the pumpkin out. Most times it is best to just pull these rogue germinations out when they germinate out of season. just let them grow and see what happens.
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16 Apr 21, Adeline Wharrier (Australia - tropical climate)
Can i plant pumpkins now in Mackay?
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Showing 51 - 60 of 823 comments
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Howdy, If you can afford to give them that space e.g you dont need to use it for something else I say keep them in, might as well give it a go and see if you can get another harvest. I am currently growing Golden Nugget Pumpkins, they are a bush variety so can handle a bit lower temp/less light hours. One thing you will need to watch out for is powdery mildew as the plants tend to stay wetter for longer in the morning and the evening.

- Orlene

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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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