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

24 Jan 09, sue (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i really need some simple information please..pumpkins are doing well and getting large, but i have no idea when to take them of the vine..someone told me whenever i want depending on the size but im not so sure..can someone please tell me!! Isnt it just lovely growing these...so childlike really..but what pleasure to see them "walk" accross the garden!!
25 Jan 09, Kylie (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted saved seeds from organic butternut and jap pumpkins and they are growing well...question is, one variety (not sure which) is spreading the way I know pumpkin vines to spread, and the other is growing in a bush shape similar to zucchini with little yellow balls (which I'm presuming to be pumpkins) clustered in the middle. They get to the size of a golf ball and then start to shrivel up...mmmm...mysterious. Appreciate any help. Thank you in advance!
14 Mar 09, Ferolyn (Australia - temperate climate)
From Adelaide here. Got butternut plant flowering lots now. But the ants are always on the flower. Do i have to rub the male flowers on to the females every day? Sometimes the petals on the females have already closed by later in the afternoon... is it alright to open the petals to pollinate them...?
16 Mar 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Ferolyn: I pick the male flowers first thing in the morning, peel the petals off then rub the female flowers (pumpkins, luffa, zucchini etc)
19 Mar 09, Elle Allardice (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have been hunting for ages for the seeds of the Iron bark pumpkin, and so far have not been successful. Does anyone know where I can get them? They are a beautiful dry excellent roaster, and make great pumpkin wine! I also am growing something that lookes like a Jap, but has the shape of a butternut. They were self sown, too.
21 Mar 09, Ray Selby (Australia - tropical climate)
We have hundreds of Ironbark Pumpkins and sell them at the markets in Beenleigh, Brisbane...if that is any help Elle. Alternately we can organise seeds for you.
22 Mar 09, Martha May (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have been looking for the Ironbark Pumpkin too. I would appreciate Ray Selby pointing me to who has the seeds I would like to buy them as I don't have any seeds to swap yet as we recently moved from the tropics to Canberra and I have just made 3 large above ground beds. Not sure what pumpkins do any good here but happy to give them a try, come September?Oct. I have other pumpkins lined up to see what survives here. But would like the Ironbarks as they are a delicious pumpkin for all cooking. If you can help thanks.
25 Mar 09, Genine (Australia - temperate climate)
Just wondering if anyone has some advice, I have some butternut pumpkins which have been growing really well, but now the leaves have started to die in the middle, am I going to loose my pumpkins which are nearly ready to pick??
16 Apr 09, tony bray (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have plenty of Ironbark Pumpkin seed. They grow very well in Canberra. Also have "crosses' of Iron bark and Qld Blue which is afar superior pumpkin to both it's parents. Martha May give me a call on 62310508
26 Jan 13, Sue Richards (Australia - temperate climate)
To Tony, I tried your number because I would like to get some seeds of the cross between the Iron bark and Qld blue, can you let me know what your email or website is so I can order, thank you. Sue
Showing 31 - 40 of 823 comments

I planted some heirloom pumpkin seeds and the plants were looking great. Female flowers were looking great and opened early in the mornings but the male flowers were too immature to use to hand polinate. They simply had no polen when I opened up the flowers! any suggestions? I'm thinking i need to put some potash in the soil maybe

- kez

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