Grow: pumpkins

Story by Phil Dudman

Homegrown pumpkins are an urban commodity – you can swap them with the neighbours for fresh eggs or a handful of lemons, and with a bit of TLC, they’ll store for months.

Pumpkins are a part of our gardening and culinary DNA. You can swap with neighbours, make winter soups and with a bit of care, you’ll have a supply that will last a couple of months. Follow these tips to start growing your own.

Planting time

Sow and plant in spring with crops ready to harvest in autumn.
In tropical regions, sow in autumn for a dry season crop that’s ready in spring.

Sun and space

Choose a bright, sunny spot with room for vines to ramble.
If you’re tight for space, train vines on a trellis or try a bush variety.

Soil preparation

Ensure good drainage – create compost-enriched mounds 30cm tall and 50cm wide. Space mounds 1–1.5m apart.
Check pH – if soil is acidic, add garden lime or wood ash.

Sowing

Direct sow in warm soil; plant 2–3 seeds 3–5cm deep per spot, thinning to the strongest seedling. Water well after sowing, then let the soil dry slightly between waterings to avoid seed rot.
For a head start, sow seeds in pots indoors from late winter, then plant out after soil warms and risk of frost passes.

Watering

Water regularly in dry times to keep roots moist.

Fertilising

Feed seedlings weekly with diluted fish emulsion until established.
Apply organic fertiliser at planting and every 6 weeks onwards.

Pollination

Encourage bees for natural pollination. If fruit fail to form, try hand-pollinating flowers. See below for pollinating tips.

Pest and disease control

Prevent powdery mildew by spraying leaves weekly with a milk solution (1 part milk to 9 parts water) or apply a potassium bicarbonate spray according to product directions.
Enclose fruit in wire mesh cages if rats are a problem.

How to hand pollinate

Select an unopened female flower (you’ll spot it by the tiny fruit at its base) and cover it with a nylon stocking. When the flower opens, collect pollen from a male flower (the ones on slender stems) of the same variety and transfer it to the female flower. Re-cover the flower for a few days to prevent any unplanned pollination.

For tips on harvesting and storing pumpkins get a copy of our Autumn 2025 issue (OG 156), available here.