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

23 Jul 17, Dennis Green (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, I have the same problem. So far I have not found a definitive answer. Lack of water? Not last summer! Deficiency? Maybe, but cannot find any help there neither. Some pumkin have maybe one lump, others go to the cattle.
30 May 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
I am getting this mould or rust on my vegetables in my garden. It is causing many of the butternuts to die and the spinach to be spoiled. What could I do to prevent this?
09 Jan 17, Gaurav (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
try charcoal ash in your garden to prevent any diseases to the plants..
18 Nov 12, Janet (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Do you know where I can get triamble pumpkin seeds from. I haven't seen them since koanga gardens had them.
13 Sep 12, tony (New Zealand - temperate climate)
surely it is not worth saving pumpkin seeds unless you have an heirloom variety? Most supermarket ones would be hybrids so they are unlikely to be true to the parent, and pumpkins are known to cross easily with cucumbers etc. Of course you would dry the seed if you are going to store them. Hardest thing with pumpkins is keeping the water up to them, they have so much foliage, they dry out easily.
27 Aug 12, Lachlan (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Do seeds need to be dried before planting?
14 Sep 18, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Seeds need drying if being kept for planting in the future.
26 Aug 12, Lachlan (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
If l were to save the seeds from a pumpkin l bought from the supermarket will they be Hybrid variety? Do l have to dry the seeds out before planting them?
07 Sep 12, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Pumpkins from a supermarket are likely to be hybrids . You do not need to dry the seeds before sowing but they will keep better until you want to use them, if you spread them out on some kitchen paper
26 Mar 11, Mark (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Have you heard of a tribumple pumpkin or a name similar.
Showing 71 - 80 of 85 comments

You do cut the runners but only once one or two pumpkins have started to bud from the flower. If you let the runners lead long they sap the goodness from the growing pumpkins making them small and even die off.

- Vinny

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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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