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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
15 Jan 17, Andile (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi you know what Noluthando every crop takes 4 months to be ready, the first day you plant you must write down and count the days from day of planting and you will be able to know when to harvest, even the leaves show you when its time to harvest, they get dry from 3-4 months.
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27 Dec 16, Dominic (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
For the sake of my customers, I would like to know the nutritional and/or health benefits of pumpkin and/or pumpkin seeds?
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12 Jul 17, Kerry (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Have a look at this website. www.sparkpeople.com it has a free nutrition calculator.
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10 Sep 16, MANDLENKOSI WILFRED MABIZELA (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
What fertilizers should I use when growing pumpkins?
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21 Feb 16, shirley (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
When to plant pumpkin in the western cape
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08 Aug 14, Richard (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
A question can you grow pumpkin on the same soil again
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11 Jan 14, karen (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
what can i use to stop the flies from stinging the fruit
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27 Nov 13, Jerry (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I've just got land so would like to produce pumpkins now I realized time of planting has passed so I'd to know why I can't plant January because there's still rain and winter is few months away?
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18 Jan 13, Angela (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
The watermelon split/cracked before it is ripe why?? Pumpkins form but they then rot when the size of an egg, what could be the problem Appreciate any tips,comments Thanks
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08 Jan 13, Edwarn (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Hi there I planted pumpkin about a month or 2 ago and there's 3 medium sized pumpkins on the plants but I had to removed 2 already due to rotting and I also found worms inside the rot. Can you tell me what the problem is and what can I do to get rid of it? I will really appreciate it if you can help.
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Showing 21 - 30 of 30 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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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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