Best time to plant pumpkin in Australia
Cucurbita pepo
Also called Winter squash
Pumpkin is the everyday Australian name for hard-skinned squashes of the genus Cucurbita, called winter squash elsewhere. Types range from round grey or blue fruit to orange and tan ones, Queensland Blue among them. The thick shell protects sweet, dense flesh for storing, and the seeds can be eaten too.
On a shared plot: needs a lot of room
Vines can run several metres. Train them back into your plot or up a strong frame.
When to sow
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoolMatches local guides | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Sow | Sow | Sow |
| TemperateMatches local guides | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow |
| SubtropicalMatches local guides | Sow | Sow | Sow | No | No | No | No | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow |
| TropicalBroadly matches local guides, with some differences | No | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | No | No | No |
| AridMatches local guides | Sow | Sow | Sow | No | No | No | No | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow | Sow |
Good months to sow
Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.
Growing details
- How to start
- Sow directly or raise seedlings
- Sowing depth
- 2.5cm
- Plant spacing
- 90cm
- Row spacing
- 185cm
- Germination
- About 12 days
- Time to harvest
- 100 days
- Frost
- Frost tender
- Sun
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- annual
These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.