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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11 Sep 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Take a plastic tray you buy your meat or chicken in from supermarkets - 2-3
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03 Sep 18, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Pumpkin seeds will take about 7-10 days to show any activity. Your best bet is damp paper towel or seed raising mix. As they are frost tender, pumpkin seeds need some warmth to start germinating.
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28 Aug 18, Judy (Australia - temperate climate)
We live in maryborough Vic and would like to know when we should plant pumpkins. And do we need to have any other plants around for the bees to come
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30 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You found pumpkin and set your climate to temperate - check the monthly calendar planting/sowing guide. The big green capital P means when to plant. Try to notice if you have bees in your yard, if not look up on the internet - bee attracting flowers and plant some.
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27 Aug 18, Myles (Canada - Zone 3a Temperate Short Summer climate)
Hello! I currently have an amazing crop of pumpkins but as August draws to a close the threat of frost becomes greater. I am wondering how to handle this if the vines are not dying off yet. If they have to be picked because of frost soon, how do I keep them till Halloween!
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25 Jul 18, LynnStinten (Australia - tropical climate)
I am just south of Townsville and planted Qld Blue pumpkin seeds in early April in good soil with correct PH levels. Plenty of space to run and good sunshine and watered daily. The plants grew well for about 6 weeks producing masses of mostly male flowers?? I had plenty of bees doing their job, but still only got two pumpkins that didn't reach maturity before the plants died off about 2-3 weeks ago. We did have a couple of 6deg nights but nothing lower. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Cheers
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29 Jul 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Temps are read 1 m above the ground. Temps can vary quite a bit in a district. I would say the plants had frost on them. Male flowers come first (to attract the bees I believe) then you will have male and female. Try again now.
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27 Jul 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Lyn - the first sentence in the notes - frost tender. 6 degree nights - offical temp is taken 1 meter above the ground. So ground level may have been frost. It says to plant April to July -I'd be inclined to plant July and plant out late August after frosts. Pumpkin usually have male flowers first (to start attacting bees I believe) and then the female and male after that.
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30 Jun 18, Luke (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Should I plant/treat winter squash such as Red Kuri the same as pumpkins?
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02 Jul 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Check a website called southern harvest for planting times.
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I am just south of Townsville and planted Qld Blue pumpkin seeds in early April in good soil with correct PH levels. Plenty of space to run and good sunshine and watered daily. The plants grew well for about 6 weeks producing masses of mostly male flowers?? I had plenty of bees doing their job, but still only got two pumpkins that didn't reach maturity before the plants died off about 2-3 weeks ago. We did have a couple of 6deg nights but nothing lower. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Cheers

- LynnStinten

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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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