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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24 Apr 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You could but they may not produce a crop, stick to the planting guide here - that is what it is for.
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16 Apr 21, Joy Wallace (Australia - temperate climate)
I have two pumpkins growing wild in my garden, can I send you photos as I don't know what variety they are. They are about a basketball in size.Joy
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24 Apr 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Check a seed selling website to find ones similar to yours. Or google pumpkin varieties in Aussie.
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19 Apr 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Go to a seed selling website like Boondie or Eden Seeds and look through the different types of pumpkin.
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13 Apr 21, Dawn Knape (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I grow pumpkin s now in April in the Yarra valley
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14 Apr 21, Mel (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Dawn, Unfortunately April is not the right time to grow pumpkins in Victoria as we are heading into winter. Pumpkins require a fairly long growing period of 4-6 months (depending on the variety) of warm weather and are they are very frost sensitive, so will die once winter hits. If you are keen to grow something now, cabbages, broccoli, Asian greens, lettuces, radishes and carrots are pretty good bets. If you have your heart set on growing pumpkin, best to wait till October/November for sowing/planting for best results. Cheers & happy gardening.
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13 Mar 21, Martyn Beaver (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can I grow pumpkin all year round in Brisbane and if so can I grow Kent /jap and butternut ?
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19 Mar 21, M (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Most crops have a preferred season or two to grow during. There are reasons for that. That is why this website recommends growing at certain times of the year.
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05 Mar 21, Edith Martin (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted some butternut pumpkin seeds in January. They are only producing male flowers. How can I get some female flowers?
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08 Mar 21, (Australia - temperate climate)
Give them some time. Quite often male flowers are first to appear, attract the bees.
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Showing 71 - 80 of 833 comments
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Hi Cat, If you are happy to leave it where it is, and let it get big there, - then leave it there. Pumpkins don't like their roots being disturbed so moving it elsewhere may upset or kill it. Any move will delay it's growth for a bit anyway (transplant shock). If it is happy growing there than it is likely to stay happy and if it needs more sun will likely grow towards sunny areas. Pumpkins are hungry feeders and a compost heap is a great place for one to be planted due to all the nutrients available from the compost. With a pumpkin you will usually get both gender of flower on the same plant.They are pollinated by bees taking pollen from their male to female flowers. (you can replicate this yourself - google hand pollinating or see if you can find a you tube video of it. Pumpkins have such large flowers they are great to practice this technique on) Usually you will see a bunch of male flowers first for a few days. These are just a flower on a long skinny stalk. After a bit the female flowers will come along. Shorter stalk and with a mini fruit below the flower. If they pollinate the fruit will grow larger and the flower will drop off the end. If they don't get pollinated the fruit will shrivel as the flower dies, and both will just fall off the plant. Good luck.

- Brenda

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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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