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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04 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
The best way to water pumpkins is at the roots as overhead watering will encourage mildew development. And, yes they do send down roots from the running stems so if you can trickle water them it will definitely help. Trust this helps.
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29 Jan 17, elizabeth starrett (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
December I noticed in my garden an unusual plant growing from kitchen compost . Now at the end of January it has spread over the lawn, someone said it was a pumpkin, I can identify many fruit forming, like a glob shape with yellow flower,, and long stems with yellow flowers the fruit is a light green color.How can I know at this stage, it a pumpkin, and not a weed. thanks
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04 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
It is fairly likely to be a pumpkin from discarded kitchen scraps. It could also be a melon, cucumber or sqush if youu have eaten them. The flowers with the long stems are the male flowers which will pollinate the flowers with the round 'glob' on them. Compost grown pumpkins usuall thrive so it sounds like a bonus! Trust this helps.
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26 Jan 17, cheryl thomas (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi there,I have planted jap pumpkin seedlings.I also have butternut growing but the jap hasn't flowered like the butternut.Both lots of seedlings were planted at the same time.I have zucchini growing next to the jap.Can yiu suggest any solution.Thanks Cheryl Thomas.
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29 Jan 17, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Pinch out the ends of the vines
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21 Jan 17, Joanne (Australia - temperate climate)
My pumpkins are just forming "tenis ball size" with only 30days or less until it gets cold. I have planted late, November late but it's not made much difference to zucchini & cucumber but I'm hoping for mature pumpkins in 80days. Has anyone else had mature pumpkins by then?
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26 Jan 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Depending where you live you would normally get warm weather into Mid-March. If the pumpkins aren't ripe by then make pumpkin soup and freeze the excess or grate them into zucchini recipe quantities and freeze them in stead of zucchini. Sorry I can't help more.
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10 Jan 17, Jen (Australia - temperate climate)
When is the best time to plant pumpkins in Warrill View - near Ipswich please. Would it be too hot now?
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16 Jan 17, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Pumpkins could be planted up until February providing you don't get frosts. Plants take up to 4 months to mature so work out when you are likely to have a frost, if any. Unripe pumpkins do not keep so if you get caught make pumpkin soup or shred them into batch quantities as you would for Zucchini Muffins or Slice and freeze them for later use. Trust this helps.
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09 Jan 17, Joanne (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted pumpkins in early December & they are huge already & have long stalked male flowers not seen any female yet but am wondering if theirs still time for fruit to appear
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I have been growing Queensland Blues & Jap Pumpkins here in Sydneys West for a while and would like to know the following : Male flowers are plentiful usually at the start of the vine & female flowers are not as many but as the vine lengthens more females appear, so how far do you let the vine grow. If cut does the right ratio of flowers continue shoot or that stops everything, what you have is all you get and do you plug the cut end to prevent disease getting into the vine (read that on the net) Also everyone says when the vine withers pick your crop, mine was going great and green but I picked them (stem still green & firm) as I felt they were large enough but several had started to rot inside, we saved them luckey as another couple of weeks would have lost the lot. So how do you know when to pick. heard about tapping it sound hollow its ripe, pick a piece of skin with fingernail the skin can give you an idea. Noticed in the fruit shop many pumpkins have fingernail pieces dug out ??? somebody know something !!!!! As the pumpkin is pollinated & starts to grow do you sit it on a tile or similar keeping it off the ground ( for air & warmth circulation) sometimes when left on the ground the under side looks soft and worms and bugs seem to love that position.

- Robert B

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