VegLogGet the app

Pumpkin

Cucurbita pepo

In a typical UK garden, sow indoors late March to mid-April, sow outside late April to mid-May, plant out late April to mid-May, and harvest early September to late October.

When to sow, plant and harvest

Last frost around 20 April, first frost around 31 October.

Sow indoors
late March to mid-April
Sow outdoors
late April to mid-May
Plant out
late April to mid-May
Harvest
early September to late October
Spacing
120 cm apart, rows 180 cm apart
Square foot
1 per 9 squares (30 cm squares)
Sowing depth
2.5 cm
Ready in
75 to 105 days from planting out
Grows to
50 cm
Hardiness
Tender: killed by any frost
Sun
Full sun
Crops for
One harvest

Growing tip

Keep two or three fruits per plant (one for a giant), raise them off wet soil, and cure in the sun before storing.

Neighbours

Keep apart from

Squashes are one crop rotation group. Try not to grow them where any of the family grew in the last two or three years. How crop rotation works

Guides

When to plant

Pumpkins for Halloween start on a windowsill in April

Sow pumpkins indoors from late March to mid-April and plant out in May once the frosts are over, or sow outside from late April to mid-May under a cloche. Winter squash follow the same timing. Fruit is ready from September and should be cut by the end of October.

More squashes

Where these figures come from

Every crop in VegLog was checked against published growing advice. Dates are worked out from average frost dates, so they shift with your garden. For pumpkin, we used:

Grow pumpkin with VegLog

Add pumpkin to a bed and VegLog reminds you when to sow, plant out and pick, timed to your own town's frost dates.