Growing Pumpkin

Cucurbita sp. : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                  P P P

(Best months for growing Pumpkin in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • 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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07 Dec 21, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Work out your climate zone and then set it then go to Pumpkins
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18 Aug 21, Steven Mcgonigal (Australia - temperate climate)
What season can you grow pumpkins parks New South Wales
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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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I also have seeds germinating from my compost and have at times so much produce have taken great joy in giving them away and hearing about the joyous results. I am out most mornings 2 hours after sunrise when the male stamen is all fluffy with pollen and the female has ants crawling around inside. I pollinate myself by gently picking and trimming the male flower because if I leave it to mother nature my crop is very small. I usually use 2 or 3 male flowers on one female just in case. Recent rains have not been helpful for flowers at all but 1 week later flowers are appearing and just this morning I watched a bee laden with pollen flying from flower to flower. It was so laden it had trouble flying. I love mother nature she is the best for people like me.

- Garden Gnome

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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. GardenGrow 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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