Growing pumpkins

Pumpkin vines need fertile, compost-rich, well-drained soil in full sun and are most easily grown as ground-cover plants. Bushy varieties, like Golden Nugget, can be container-grown, but most are too vigorous for pots. Vines can be trained over frames provided they can support the weight of the heavy fruit.

In frost-free tropical and subtropical gardens, pumpkins can be grown all year round. In temperate Australia plant or sow outside after the last frost. In cold climates sow pumpkins indoors or in a glasshouse so they can be planted immediately after the last frost to gain the full benefit of short summers.