How to grow Pumpkin in Australia
Needs full sun, rich soil and plenty of room as vines sprawl widely. Plant on a mound of compost and water deeply at the base, keeping leaves dry to limit mildew.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 15 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 150 cm
- Time to harvest: 120 days
- Time to germinate: 8 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost tender
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | August to February | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to February | Coastal follows SEQ. Inland, sow from September once the frost risk has passed. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to December | Spring planting only (Oct+); avoid winter; shorter window than tropical baseline. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Sow Oct to Nov (early Dec). Needs long warm season; autumn frost Dec to Feb cuts short. No winter sow. |
| Adelaide & SA | September to November | Sow Sep undercover or Oct to Nov direct after frost. Vines handle summer with deep weekly watering. Harvest and cure before winter. |
| Perth & WA | August and September | Mediterranean: sow Aug to Sept only. Pumpkin set fruit before Jan heat; avoid sowing Dec to Feb. |
| Tasmania | October and November | Sow Oct to Nov only. Choose fast varieties so fruit matures and cures before April frost. |
| Canberra & ACT | November | Sow in November after the last frost. Pumpkins need 80 to 120 frost free days, so later sowings will not ripen before the April frosts. |
| North Queensland | April to August | Dry season Apr to Aug. A Bowen winter crop. Mildew and fruit rot rule out wet season vines. |
| Darwin & Top End | April to July | Dry season Apr to Jul. Long crop of 15 to 20 weeks so sow early dry. Wet season mildew destroys vines. |
Varieties
- Queensland Blue
- Butternut
- Jap / Kent
- Jarrahdale
- Golden Nugget
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Ready when the skin is hard, fully coloured and the stem is dry and corky. Cut with a long stem still attached and cure in the sun to harden the skin for storage.
Storage
Whole pumpkins in a cool dry place, up to 3 months. Cut pieces fridge for 1 week.