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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27 Mar 13, Liz (Australia - temperate climate)
The pumpkin is still attached to the vine. It was in Chris's garden at the time. The mark you can see is the flower end.
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15 Mar 13, LilChicken (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Linda. I grew some last year and harvested when the fruit had turned yellow all over. Also, the skin should be hard enough that if you press your fingernail against it, there is no mark on the fruit. Kept in a cool place, they can keep for quite a few months after harvesting. Enjoy!
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13 Mar 13, Linda (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Would anyone know about growing Vegetable Spaghetti, I am growing it for the first time and have had success, but I am not sure how you determine when they are ready to come off the vine. Thanks.
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11 Mar 13, Allan (Australia - temperate climate)
We live at Ballarat, Vic. How long do QLD Grey pumpkins take to flower after planting? We have heaps of vines but no sign of flowers.
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26 Mar 13, Blair (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Allan I am for Colac and have found that the large pumpkins (QLD Gery and Jarrahdale) need to be pollinated and set fruit before the hot summer kicks in otherwise the pumpkin doesn't ripen to it's full flavour.
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05 Mar 13, Roy Zappia (Australia - temperate climate)
when to plant seed for Halloween pumpkins THANK YOU
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28 Feb 13, denise edwards (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
you'll see the vines dry and the stalks on the pumpkins shrivel also. leave the stalk on the pumpkin, for storing and to prevent rotting. put somewhere cool
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26 Feb 13, Gail (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted pumpkin December and although it has gone mad and looks very healthy, it has not produced a single flower. Is it a soil issue or am I doing something else wrong?
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13 Feb 13, Don Phillips (Australia - temperate climate)
I have Queensland Blue pumkin, how do you tell when it is ready to pick?
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09 Feb 13, Bernie McCarthy (Australia - temperate climate)
Lots of male flowers and female flowers only show up on the vine when most male flowers are dead. Whats the go?
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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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