Pumpkins

Select Your Climate

Learn more about climate zones

Pumpkins like to spread out but if you have a small yard, you can still grow a vine over a large frame to save space.

Likes: Lots of sun; warm conditions.

Dislikes: Damp soil beneath developing fruit which may cause rot.

When to plant/sow in zone:

How to start: Sow seed direct into soil; in cooler areas start seedlings in pots in a warm spot and plant out after risk of frost has passed.

How to grow: Water deeply in dry times.

When to harvest: Fruits are ready to pick when vines start to yellow and the stalk leading to each pumpkin has started to shrink. Leave at least 5cm of stalk on fruit to prevent rot.

Pests and diseases: Powdery mildew, rats and possums.

Suppliers: The Diggers Club Garden Express

Bottles tomatoes all ready to be put aside for winter.

Preserving & fermented

Storing harvests for winter

Linda Cockburn writes about different ways to preserve your summer harvests, such as tomatoes, so you can keep on enjoying the results of all your hard work in winter.