Great pumpkin
Cucurbita maxima
A vegetable, sown April to June.
In September: dry the great pumpkin off for storing and cut the crop.
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Great pumpkin, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow under cover. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none |
| Sow outdoors. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none |
| Plant out. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none |
| Dry the great pumpkin off for storing. | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual |
| Pollinate the great pumpkin by hand. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none |
| Cut the pumpkins. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Sowing and planting
Sow under cover in April, 1cm deep. Strong source: RHS.
Sow outdoors May to June, 2.5cm deep, 90cm apart, rows 90cm apart. Strong sources: RHS and Gardeners’ World.
Plant out May to June, 90cm to 1.5m apart, rows 90cm apart. Strong sources: RHS and Gardeners’ World.
Dry the great pumpkin off for storing
Gardeners call this curing and ripening off for storage.
Lay them in the sun for a week to 10 days, outdoors or under glass, to harden the skins.
Usually June to October. Strong source: RHS.
Pollinate the great pumpkin by hand
Press a male flower into the centre of the female flowers; one male flower pollinates several.
Cut the pumpkins
Usually September to November. Strong source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Great pumpkin” comes from.