Pumpkin
Cucurbita maxima
A quintessential autumn crop with sprawling vines. Pumpkins are fun to grow, great for decoration, and delicious in soups and pies.
medium
Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Deep watering — 2-3 times per week
90-120 days to harvest
How to Grow
Sow seeds directly after last frost in mounds of rich soil. Plant 3 seeds per mound, 2.5cm deep. Space mounds 1.5-2m apart. Thin to the strongest seedling. Water deeply at the base — avoid wetting leaves. Feed with compost tea every 2 weeks.
Growth Phases
Germination (5-10 days)
Large seeds sprout quickly in warm soil
Vine Growth (4-6 weeks)
Vines spread rapidly across the ground
Flowering (2-3 weeks)
Large yellow-orange flowers appear
Fruit Set (2 weeks)
Small green pumpkins form after pollination
Maturation (4-6 weeks)
Pumpkins grow large and turn orange
Care Tips
- •Give plenty of space — vines spread 3-5 meters
- •Place cardboard under fruit to prevent rot
- •Hand pollinate if bee activity is low
- •Harvest when stem is dry and hard
Companion Plants
Community Interest
Real-time — updates when others show interest