Field pumpkin

Cucurbita pepo

annual5.3×2.5 mzone 9–11light shade🍎 Edible

Will it grow where I live?

Field pumpkin is grown as an annual in temperate climates: sow or plant out after the last frost, harvest until the first autumn frost.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Habit: annual
Height: 5.3 m
Spread: 2.5 m
Growth: medium
Lifespan: 1 year
First yield: after 1 year
Yield per plant: up to 5 kg
Hardiness: zone 9–11
Shade tolerance: light shade
Soil: Sand, Silt, Loam
Soil moisture: dry – moist
pH: 5.5 – 7.5

Flowering & harvest

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Fruit harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible7 of 10

Medicinal5 of 10

Other uses3 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Field pumpkin: how big does it get?

Field pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) grows as a annual and reaches roughly 5.3 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 2.5 m. Growth is medium.

Field pumpkin: what site does it need?

Field pumpkin tolerates light shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range dry – moist. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.5.

Field pumpkin: is it hardy?

Field pumpkin is listed as hardy in zone 9–11 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Field pumpkin: will it grow in Central Europe?

Field pumpkin is grown as an annual in temperate climates: sow or plant out after the last frost, harvest until the first autumn frost.

Field pumpkin: when is it harvested?

In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate the fruit ripens from September to October.

Field pumpkin: when does it start cropping, and how much?

Field pumpkin crops in its first year. Expect up to 5 kg per plant. Figures assume a good site; variety, soil and climate shift them considerably.

Field pumpkin: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Field pumpkin. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Field pumpkin: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 7/10, Medicinal 5/10, Other uses 3/10.

Community experience

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