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

04 Mar 17, Sam (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi peoples i have pumpkin (& potatoes..) growing around my compost :0/ i was wondering if i transplant the pumpkin do they like living in pots... i'm in a rental at moment so anything not in a container runs the risk of being left behind if we have to move at a minutes notice.... Thanks
02 Dec 08, Millie (Australia - temperate climate)
How many pumpkins can I expect on each plant? Thanks
20 Oct 08, Jaci (Australia - temperate climate)
Geraldine, each pumpkin plant should produce both male and female flowers. The earliest flowers that emerge will be male and all up there will be more of them produced in total than female. You may or may not have to encourage pollination. If you have bees hanging around they'll do it for you. Consider making your vegie patch more enticing to bees by companion planting some bright flowers (like calendula, nasturtiums, french marigolds, sunflowers, etc) to attract them. Anyway, the way to tell the difference between male and female flowers (in case you didn't already know) is that female flowers will generally have a bulbous base near the stalk, below the flower. Also, since they take up a lot of room, have you considered training the pumpkin vine along a fence or up the side of a garden shed? A workmate of mine had them fruiting up on his shed roof last summer.
19 Oct 08, Geraldine (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hello Pumpkin Growers I am attempting to grow pumpkin for the first time. Do I need to grow at least 2 plants? I am not sure if the plants have both male and female flowers, or are single sex? Any tips appreciated; I do realise I will have to "encourage" pollination.
03 Oct 08, Warren (Australia - tropical climate)
Liss, Pumpkins are not really heavy feeders in my experience also to seem to require little water. They really like sulphate of potash, that can be either burnt ashes or a comercial product. A few watering every 3 or four days will keep them thriving. A point to remember is that when the fruit begins to develop don't increase the water or the fruit may split. Hope this helps. Warren
03 Oct 08, Liss (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Are pumpkins heavy feeders? What do they like? In the soil I mean.
02 Oct 08, Carmen (Australia - temperate climate)
About hand pollination can you please give me some more info on the best practice on doing so??? Thanks
23 Sep 08, wayne (Australia - temperate climate)
Brendan, I have seen a pumpkin vine that took over a paling fence Approx 15mts. But all the fruit grew on the neighbours side. Lucky we got to share
05 Sep 08, dennis gibson (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
possums eating my pumpkins had to cover with fruit netting worked well
02 Sep 08, Trevor (Australia - temperate climate)
brendan - have not tried the clothes line, but have tried a pergola of sorts. Grew vine up on to shed and worked a treat, higher, more sunlight.
Showing 811 - 820 of 825 comments

Can you let myself know how well pumpkins grow in South Canterbury, NZ? Is it possible to grow pumpkins all around N.Z.? JW Connelly

- JW Connelly

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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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