By Garry Pumpkin: sowing, planting, growing and harvesting
Learn when to sow, plant, care for and harvest pumpkin in your garden.
🌱 Pumpkin : key growing facts
📅 Growing calendar
Indicative Northern Hemisphere temperate-climate calendar only. Adjust to local frost dates, climate, variety and growing conditions. In the Southern Hemisphere, seasons are approximately six months later.
🔎 Growing specifications
🧺 Harvest readiness & expected yield
When to pick
Harvest after the rind hardens and the stem begins to cork; cut with a short stalk and cure before storage.
What to expect
Varies by variety, climate and care
Indicative only; variety, climate and care affect harvests.🌿 How to grow successfully
🤝 Companion planting
Allow room for sprawling vines; flowers nearby may help attract pollinating insects.
↔️ What to avoid
Avoid cold wet soil, overcrowding and watering directly over foliage.
🐛 Pests and diseases
Powdery mildew, aphids, slugs and mites.
🧤 Ongoing care
Mulch well and water at soil level without wetting leaves.
🧺 Harvest and storage
Harvest at the correct stage; cure mature winter squash in a dry airy place before storage.
🧑🌾 From sowing to harvest
Prepare the soil
Work compost into a sunny bed and leave ample room for vigorous roots and vines.
Sow or transplant
Sow in warm soil after frost or start indoors shortly before transplanting; avoid disturbing roots.
What to monitor
Look for powdery mildew, aphids, poor pollination and drought stress during fruit swelling.
When and how to harvest
Harvest after the rind hardens and the stem begins to cork; cut with a short stalk and cure before storage.