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Pumpkin

Cucurbita maxima

Vegetables

Large sprawling vine producing iconic orange fruits. Needs plenty of space, sun, and water to develop full-sized fruits.

Overview

SunFull Sun
WaterHighCalculate watering amount
Height30–50 cm
Spread250 cm
Spacing150 cm
Row Spacing200 cm
Germination5–10 days
To Harvest90–120 days

Companion Planting

Bad Companions

Potato

Toxicity

SeverityNon-toxic

Pumpkin flesh, seeds, and skin are non-toxic to humans, dogs, and cats (ASPCA-listed as safe); plain cooked pumpkin is even used as a digestive aid for pets.

Planting Tips

LocationFull sun with plenty of space; provide 1.5-3 m between plants for vines to spread.
SoilFertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter with a pH of 6.0-6.8; amend with compost before planting.
Sowing Depth3 cm
Planting Depth5 cm
WateringWater deeply and infrequently using drip irrigation or soaker hoses; keep foliage dry to prevent fungal diseases.

1 cm of water per m² equals 10 liters. Use the Watering Calculator for exact amounts.

FertilizingWork compost into the bed before planting, then side-dress with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer once runners develop.

Care Tip: Place a board or straw under developing fruit to prevent rot; pinch off vine tips after 2-3 fruits have set to direct energy into ripening.

Common Pests

Squash Vine Borer

Symptoms: Sudden wilting of vines; sawdust-like frass (green or orange) at the base of stems; mushy, hollowed-out stems.

Treatment: Slit the affected stem lengthwise, remove the larva, and mound moist soil over the wound; inject Bt into the stem just above the soil line.

Prevention: Cover young plants with floating row covers until flowering; wrap stem bases with foil or paper collars; rotate crops annually.

Cucumber Beetle (Striped/Spotted)

Symptoms: Chewed holes in leaves, flowers, and rinds; beetles transmit bacterial wilt, causing rapid vine collapse.

Treatment: Hand-pick adults; apply neem oil or pyrethrin sprays; use yellow sticky traps to reduce populations.

Prevention: Use row covers at transplanting; remove plant debris in fall to eliminate overwintering sites; interplant with radishes or nasturtiums as trap crops.

Aphids

Symptoms: Clusters of small soft-bodied insects on leaf undersides; curled, yellowing leaves; sticky honeydew residue and sooty mold.

Treatment: Spray with a strong jet of water to dislodge; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil for heavy infestations.

Prevention: Encourage beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings; avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization that promotes soft growth.

Common Diseases

Powdery Mildew

Symptoms: White powdery coating on upper and lower leaf surfaces, eventually causing leaves to yellow and die.

Treatment: Apply sulfur-based fungicide or neem oil at first sign of infection; remove and destroy heavily affected foliage.

Prevention: Plant resistant varieties; ensure good air circulation by proper spacing; water at the base of plants in the morning.

Bacterial Wilt

Symptoms: Leaves wilt rapidly during the day and do not recover; cut stems exude sticky, stringy bacterial ooze.

Treatment: No chemical cure exists; remove and destroy infected plants immediately to prevent spread.

Prevention: Control cucumber beetles aggressively as they transmit the bacterium; use row covers; practice crop rotation.

Downy Mildew

Symptoms: Angular yellow spots on upper leaf surfaces with grayish-purple fuzzy growth on the undersides; leaves brown and collapse.

Treatment: Apply copper-based fungicides or chlorothalonil at first symptoms; remove infected plant material.

Prevention: Choose resistant cultivars; avoid overhead irrigation; ensure adequate plant spacing for airflow.