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
  • Pumpkin on vine

A large trailing plant with yellow, bell-shaped flowers, pumpkin is frost tender. Most varieties will take up a lot of room. Grow them at the edge of your garden patch so that they can spread away from other vegetables. Butternut produces small to medium pear-shaped fruit with deep orange flesh. Buttercup are small to medium round pumpkins with dark green skin. There are a number of large pumpkins, some round and flattish - good for storage and eating - others will produce the "Cinderella coach" type giant round fruit which are not such good eating.

Harvest when the vines die off and the pumpkins' stalks are dry. Leave a small piece of stalk attached to the fruit to prevent damp causing rot. The fruit can be stored for months in a cool airy place. In some parts of New Zealand, they are stored on shed roofs.

Pumpkins sometimes need hand pollination if the fruit are not setting well or die off after starting to grow, try picking a male flower (straight stem) and gently brushing pollen inside female flowers.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Pumpkin

Cut up, remove the skin and roast with other vegetables or meat.

Young crisp shoots with young leaves can be cooked and eaten - stewed in coconut milk they are popular in Melanesia. Remove any strings and tough parts and stew until tender, or cook as a vegetable in boiling water 3 - 5 minutes.

Your comments and tips

11 May 14, Danielle (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Which varieties grow a large, round, and deep orange vegetable that can thrive in my area, and what's the best way to plant them?
09 May 16, Meri Ford (USA - Zone 8a climate)
IT says not to plant pumpkins in the same bed as potatoes. How far from potatoes can pumpkins be planted?
09 May 17, Beverly (USA - Zone 7b climate)
In a large garden plot how far apart should potatoes and pumpkins be planted?
10 May 17, John (Australia - tropical climate)
The only real consideration is to allow the pumpkins to spread if they are the 'running' type. Bush pumpkins can grow to about six feet across and you would need a bit of space to work around them. potatoes could be planted about a foot apart. The limit there is more on the available nutrients in the soil and management of the plants. Trust this helps.
30 Mar 18, William Mclaughlin (USA - Zone 10b climate)
My pumpkins plants get big beautiful blooms, only to fall off. Is this bloom blithe, or a pollination problem etc.? ,
13 Jan 19, Jonie (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Hi. We live in Zone 9. We were able to get beautiful pumpkin plants and florets, but never produced a pumpkin this year. We know they can grow bc there is a pumpkin farm nearby that produces plenty. I thought that I had only males, but then female plants appeared and still no flower. We started them in Late July, I think. Any advice?
26 Apr 19, skyler (USA - Zone 7b climate)
What time of year is it best to grow pumpkins at ?
28 Apr 19, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Have a look at this page https://www.gardenate.com/plant/Pumpkin
29 Oct 19, Jany Marc (USA - Zone 11a climate)
I have the same issue... but i planted in May and apparently should have in February so trying again next year! Did you ever figure it out?
07 Apr 20, Auther Ray (USA - Zone 7a climate)
When is the best time to plant pie pumpkins in 74883? Reply from Gardenate : First find your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone by entering your ZIP code at the USDA Plant Hardiness website then check here www.gardenate.com/zones/#zone-US
Showing 1 - 10 of 19 comments

Go to the top of the page and it will tell you when you can plant for your climate zone.

- Anonymous

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.