How to grow pumpkins: a commercial guide

Choose the pumpkin type for the market

Jack-o-lantern

Carving and decorative pumpkins come from two species, Cucurbita pepo and C. maxima, and the market calls for fruit up to 14 kg (30 pounds). Giant pumpkins use C. maxima varieties such as Atlantic Giant.¹

Pie, seed and processing

Hull-less (“naked”) seed varieties are grown for eating seed. Most “pie” pumpkins sold to consumers are used for decoration, and those processed into pie filling are grown under contract and behave more like winter squash.¹

Bush or vine

Some varieties have a bush habit rather than long vines, which changes the spacing and seed rate below.¹

Plant after frost

Temperatures

All cucurbits are frost-tender. Air below 10°C (50°F) causes chilling injury, and soil must be above 16°C (60°F) for good germination of direct-seeded crops. Planting into cold, wet soil gives poor emergence.¹

Water

Pumpkins are deep-rooted, so rainfall is often adequate and irrigation may not be cost-effective on heavier soils. Adequate early moisture builds vigorous growth, and moisture is critical during blossoming and fruit development.¹

Feed for vines and fruit

pH and magnesium

Maintain pH 6.0–6.8. Below 5.5 can cause manganese toxicity. If soil magnesium is under 70 ppm and lime is needed, use dolomitic limestone.¹

Nutrient uptake

Pumpkin, squash, melon and watermelon crops accumulate about 165–180 kg/ha (145–160 lb/acre) N, 34–50 kg/ha (30–45 lb/acre) P2O5 and 180–200 kg K2O/ha (160–180 lb K2O per acre). Adjust N for organic matter and credits and set P and K by soil test.¹

Direct-seeded sandy soils

Replace preplant N with an early sidedress of 45 kg/ha (40 lb/acre) N when plants show their first true leaves, then 50–65 kg/ha (45–60 lb/acre) N at the onset of rapid vining. On plastic without irrigation, up to 110 kg/ha (100 lb/acre) N preplant and 34–50 kg/ha (30–45 lb/acre) sidedressed later.¹

Control beetles, mildew and Phytophthora

Cucumber beetles

Beetles feed on plants and spread bacterial wilt, squash mosaic virus and cucurbit yellow vine decline. Treat at 1 beetle per plant from seedling to the 4-leaf stage and at 5 per plant from 4-leaf to harvest. Pumpkins are only hit by bacterial wilt when beetles feed at or before the 5-true-leaf stage.¹

Powdery mildew

Pumpkins are a main host. Begin systemic fungicide applications at vine touch (bush stage of pumpkin growth) and protect vines until about 21 days from the last harvest. Some varieties have partial resistance.¹

Phytophthora

It follows heavy rain and poor drainage and starts in low areas. Avoid wet fields, keep fruit from infested soil and keep harvested fruit dry.¹

Harvest, cure and store

Let the fruit mature on the vine

Keep plants green as long as possible. Pumpkins and winter squash harvested before full maturity will not keep as long and have lower eating quality. For ornamental pumpkins, if leaves are dying and the fruit is over 50% coloured, harvest; fruit taken under 50% colour turn but do not harden and rot more easily.¹

Handle carefully

Cut them from the vine and clean off soil. Stack and package carefully so stems do not break or puncture other fruit. Hold pumpkins like a ball rather than by the stem, though a long stem (handle) is left on for sale.^1,2,3

Cure, except acorn types

Cure for 5–10 days (ideally 27–29°C (80–85°F)) in a ventilated, shaded place. Curing heals wounds and extends shelf life, but acorn squash is harmed by it and butternut, Hubbard and Quality squash gain nothing.^2,3,1

Keep away from ethylene

Store pumpkins away from apples and ripening tomatoes.²

Yield and economics

US pumpkin production in 2025 was 667,000 t (14.7 million cwt) from 27,600 ha harvested (68,100 acres; 71,700 acres or about 29,000 ha planted), worth $259 million, 5% less than 2024. That averages about 24.2 t/ha (216 cwt per acre), of which 437,000 t (9.63 million cwt) was for the fresh market.

Price is seasonal

Most of the crop is sold in a few weeks around Halloween, so storage and marketing dates matter as much as yield. Use the crop ROI estimator with your own price and picking costs.⁴

Frequently asked questions

When do you plant pumpkins?

After the danger of frost, when soil is above 16°C (60°F) and nights stay above 10°C (50°F).

How far apart do you plant pumpkins?

Vining types: rows 1.8–2.4 m (6–8 feet) apart with plants 0.6–1.5 m (2–5 feet) apart. Bush types: rows 1.2–1.8 m (4–6 feet) apart with plants 46–61 cm (18–24 inches) apart.

How long do pumpkins take to grow?

Full maturity is about 55 days after fruit set, which can be more than two weeks after the rind has turned colour and hardened.

How do you cure pumpkins?

Hold them at 27–29°C (80–85°F) and 75–80% humidity for about 10 days in a ventilated, shaded place, then store.

How long do pumpkins last in storage?

About 2–3 months at 10–13°C (50–55°F) and 50–70% humidity.

How much seed do you need per hectare?

Vining pumpkins need 2.2–3.4 kg of seed/ha (2–3 lb of seed per acre) and bush types 4.5–6.7 kg/ha (4–6 lb/acre).