Pumpkin
Cucurbita maxima
Pumpkins reward gardeners with the most dramatic vegetables in the garden — some growing to enormous sizes. Beyond their Halloween role as lanterns, they make outstanding soups, pies, and curries. Their trailing habit means they can be trained over a fence or compost heap, making clever use of otherwise wasted space.
SowingStart indoors
Sunlight☀️ Full sun
Water💧💧💧 High
Days to harvest90–120
Soil pH5.5–6.8
Spacing150cm × 200cm
Planting Calendar
🌏 Adjusted for southern hemisphere seasons.
Sow indoorsSow outdoorsTransplantHarvest
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Sowing
Soak seeds overnight before sowing on their edge (not flat) in individual pots of multipurpose compost. Keep at 18–20°C. Sow in late April or May and transplant after all risk of frost has passed.Space Requirements
Pumpkins are vigorous spreading plants — allow 1.5–2m between plants. In small gardens, train the trailing stems upwards over a trellis or grow smaller bush varieties.Feeding
Pumpkins are hungry plants. Once fruits have set, feed weekly with a high-potash organic feed (comfrey tea is ideal).Soil: Very rich, moisture-retentive soil. Ideally grown over a buried compost or manure pit.