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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15 May 18, Ben (Australia - tropical climate)
I would advise against using shop bought pumpkin for seed. Most pumpkins grown commercially these days are hybrids that are bred to look like the well known varieties. They will not however produce true to type offspring. If you are happy to take pot luck then by all means go ahead and plant them, but if you really want a good tried and true pumpkin variety you will need to get seed from a seed supplier or a friend who has grown them before. Happy gardening one and all.
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26 Mar 18, Maddie (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted my kent pumkins in September and have javested about 8 mature pumpkins...new pumkins are now starting on the same vine. Will they mature even though it is coming into winter?
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21 Mar 18, Cecilia (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Why are my home grown pumpkins watery? Not nice mashed.Would they make a nice soup.?
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23 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have the same - maybe they might dry out if left for a month or so. Mine are jap - very sweet and moist. I probably pick them a bit early as I wanted to dig the garden up to plant other crops.
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20 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
I am trying to grow pumpkin in raised beds without much luck. I have flowers that don't fruit. I have lots of bees in other beds but suspect there is a pollination issue. How do you tell the difference between female & male flowers, then how do I pollinate the female flower?
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23 Mar 18, Also Lisa (Australia - tropical climate)
Ditto to Lisa above. The female flowers look like they already have a small pumpkin at their base. They are very easy to pollinate by hand.
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20 Mar 18, Lisa (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
The female flowers have what looks like a small pumpkin just behind the base of the petals the male ones have only got stalk there. The centre of the flowers are different too. The male flower has a longer, thin centre (think "male" and you get the idea) and the centre of the female flower is sort of a roundish swirl. To hand pollinate, remove a male flower and tear off the petals. The "male" part has the pollen. Rub it on the "female" part, the roundish swirl in the centre of the female flower. If it has worked, the pumpkin looking bit of the female flower will start to grow.
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23 Mar 18, Shona (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have exactly the same issue. Is it worth self pollinating now that its nearly April and will the pumpkins grow?
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18 Mar 18, Margaret (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
How do you know when they are ready to harvest
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10 Jan 19, Jacob (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Wait till the plant dies before harvesting.
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Showing 311 - 320 of 825 comments
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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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