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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08 Sep 09, connor (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
my jarrahdale pumpkins have a rash or blotchy mark in the flesh what causes this please help me. its frustating grfowing a nice big pumpkin and cutting it open to find this.
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03 Oct 09, Leota Cole (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
What is the MCClay pumpkin
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13 Oct 09, Marlene Traynor (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I am from Brisbane, but I actually live in Spokane, WA, which is snow country. I manage to get one pumpkin to grow a year, which keeps me going in seeds. I also have the problem of lots of pumpkins start, but then they turn yellow and quit growing. How do you tell the difference between male and female flowers so that I can start self polinating. Also, we have sprinkler systems so I can either give them a lot of water, or a little water. What do they like. Our soil is sandy and gets very hot in the summer. By accident, I found that I have better luck if I throw the seeds in my pine needle pile. If anyone can email me any tips I would be very grateful. Pumpkins are my little bit of home that I have with me and I would hate to run out of seeds. Marlene
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30 Oct 09, Russ (Australia - temperate climate)
the female flower is the one with the small pumpkin at the base. the others are male. i usually break off bits of the center of the male flower with the pollen and drop it in the middle of the female flower. Sounds like the pine needles are acting like mulch and stopping the sandy soil from drying out as fast.
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12 Dec 09, Lisa van der Lee (Australia - temperate climate)
I have some pumpkin seedlings given to me by a friend. Prepared the soil a few days ago and I can't wait to get them into the ground. First shot at growing them. My cucumbers have been really successful so I am motivated to try pumpkin as we eat it alot and the kids love it. Fingers crossed they grow well!
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18 Dec 09, kelly from adelaide (Australia - temperate climate)
hi, i want to grow a pumpkin plant. is it too late to plant a seedling? and will i be able to grow it in a large pot?
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13 Jan 10, Troy (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I just dry the seed and then plant it?
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18 Jan 10, Kym (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have recently planted pumpkin (approx 6-8 weeks ago) our first vegie patch. How do I know when they are ready to pick?
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19 Jan 10, Dougie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
re Marlen Traynor - pumkins like a clay or heavy loam and not really a sandy soil. Add some clay by getting a few bags of brickie's loam that brickjlayers add to their "mud"or china clay as used by potters or animal feed manufacturers to your soil. Can't cause any harm.
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23 Jan 10, ben parker (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
do u know why pumpkin split just before they ripen?
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Showing 61 - 70 of 823 comments
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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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