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

24 May 18, Chap (Australia - temperate climate)
Halloween in the states is when their pumpkins are ready. in australia the seasons are opposite
15 May 18, Pat (Australia - arid climate)
I put my seeds from my bought pumpkin into a glass of warm water overnight then planted them next day into my vege patch. They were everywhere !
16 May 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I put the kitchen vegie scraps in a blender (with water) and strain it through shade cloth then add the vegie scraps to my worm farm. The pumpkin seeds aren't smashed up and the other week I had about 50 seeds germinate.
08 Apr 18, Toni (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have pumpkins that have come up in my garden .They came up in November and are white skins at the moment.I live in Rangiora North Canterbury.I don't know anything about growing them.Do I leave them in as long as possible as I don't know whether the frost or rain will affect them. Thankyou
09 Apr 18, Jim (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Toni you can stop watering your Pumpkins now. After you have a frost the leaves will die off. After the leaves die off you can harvest them any time now. Leave the stem on and store in a place with good air supply and sun to ripen. You can check the ripeness by knocking on them with your knuckles listen for a hollow sound which indicates ripe. Enjoy Jim
01 Apr 18, Grant Onysko (Australia - temperate climate)
I grow pumpkins every season. If you want your pumpkins to grow big you must make sure the entire plant gets watered and fertilised regularly as the vine sends down a root at about 1/2m intervals in search of water and food. When you start getting female flowers (with a pumpkin attached) you need to fertilise them by getting pollen from the male flower, just put your finger inside and you will see the pollen on it, gently brush it on to the middle of the female, once pollinated the new pumpkin will go into a growing frenzy, (I know they are about 90% water ) Water, water, water! And food, My best Kentia/ Jap went 12.2 kg 33cm high, save the seeds and keep them in the freezer. Veggies are the best.
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.? ,
28 Mar 18, Kara Wisniewski (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi I planted pumpkins in mid November, they are still growing and i'm getting heaps of them. Do I just let them keep growing until they decide to dry off from the stalk? I live in Launceston,Tasmania
30 Mar 18, Jen Oscroft (Australia - temperate climate)
My Pumpkins are the same. Still growing like crazy and flowering. I thought they are supposed to be finished? This is my first time growing them down here (Victoria). I guess we'll just have to leave them until the plants die off.
02 Apr 18, Kaye (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
You can buy a piece of pumpkin you enjoy and if it has seeds keep those. Let them dry before planting again.
Showing 301 - 310 of 825 comments

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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