Warm-Season Vegetable

When to Plant Pumpkins

From jack-o-lanterns to pies, pumpkins need space and time but deliver a uniquely satisfying harvest.

Sun

Full sun (6-8 hours)

Water

1-2 inches per week

Days to Harvest

90-120

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

60"

Frost Tolerance

none

The Short Answer

Pumpkins are frost-sensitive and need warm soil and air temperatures to thrive. Start seeds indoors 3 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outside 2 weeks after your last frost when soil temperatures reach at least 65°F. You can also direct sow seeds 2 weeks after your last frost. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Pumpkins

Pumpkins are a space-hungry, long-season crop that rewards patience. Vines can spread 15-20 feet, so plan accordingly or train them along a fence. For the biggest pumpkins, allow only one fruit per vine. For Jack-o-lantern pumpkins, 2-3 fruits per vine is fine. The stem is your ripeness indicator: when it turns corky and brown, and the skin resists your thumbnail, it's ready. Cure in the sun for 7-10 days after harvest to harden the skin for storage. Never carry a pumpkin by its stem — the weight will snap it off, creating an entry point for rot.

Starting Seeds Indoors

Begin pumpkins seeds indoors 3 weeks before your average last frost date. Seeds need soil temperatures of at least 65°F to germinate, which typically takes 5-10 days. Provide 12 hours of light per day using a south-facing window or grow lights.

Transplanting

Move seedlings outside 2 weeks after your last frost date, once soil temperatures reach 65°F. Harden off seedlings for 5 days before transplanting by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions.

Direct Sowing

Pumpkins can be direct sown 2 weeks after your last frost date. Plant seeds 1" deep, spaced 60" apart.

Growing Tips

Count backwards from when you want ripe pumpkins (usually October). They need 90-120 days, so mid-June to early July is often ideal.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Corn Beans Marigolds

Keep away from:

Potatoes

Pumpkins Planting Dates by State

Click your state for pumpkins planting dates specific to your location:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026