When to plant
pumpkins in the UK
Limit each plant to 2-3 fruits for bigger pumpkins. Sit them on a tile or slate to stop rot from underneath.
Work out your own dates
Starts from the recommended sow date for your area. Sowed on a different day, or planted out late? Adjust below and the harvest moves with it.
Using the UK-average last frost · 15 April · add your postcode to tune it
Growing journey
22 weeks from planting out to harvest · Start indoors 6 weeks before planting out
Get pumpkins seeds
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What pumpkins need
Full sun. Very rich soil. Lots of water. Lots of space.
Spacing
120cm between plants
These plants need serious room. Plan for at least a square metre each.
Varieties worth growing
Jack O'Lantern
commonThe classic carving pumpkin that looks exactly like the emoji. Grows to a satisfying size, carves easily, and — let's be honest — the kids are going to demand one. The flesh isn't the best for eating, but the seeds roast brilliantly.
Roasted pumpkin seeds
Rinse the seeds, toss with olive oil, smoked paprika, and flaky salt. Roast at 180C until golden and crunchy. The best bit of the carving pumpkin, and the only bit most people eat.
A deeply ribbed, flat, burnt-orange French heirloom that looks like it belongs in a still life painting. The flesh is intensely sweet and musky — 'muscade' — and the flavour is in a different league from carving pumpkins. The one you grow for eating, not decorating.
Pumpkin ravioli with brown butter and sage
Roast the flesh until sweet and concentrated, blitz with ricotta and nutmeg, fill fresh pasta. Serve with brown butter, crispy sage, and a grating of parmesan. The kind of dish that makes people go very quiet.
Atlantic Giant
rareThe competition pumpkin. Feed it, water it, talk to it, and it can grow to over 100kg. Not great for eating, but absolutely thrilling to grow if you want to win a village fete or just see the look on your neighbours' faces.
Pumpkin pie (if you insist)
Roast the flesh, puree, mix with eggs, cream, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, pour into a pastry case and bake until just set. The flavour won't match a Muscade, but the bragging rights are unmatched.
Small Sugar
commonThe proper pie pumpkin. Small, sweet, dense-fleshed, and bred for eating rather than carving. A single pumpkin is enough for a pie, and the compact plant size means you can actually grow it in a normal garden.
Pumpkin pie
Roast the flesh, puree, mix with eggs, cream, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, pour into a pastry case and bake until just set. The dense, sweet flesh of Small Sugar makes this a proper pie rather than a watery disappointment.
Pumpkinsdrink heavily through summer — a good soak at the roots beats a daily sprinkle. How I water, and the lance I use →
Good companions
When to sow pumpkins
Based on UK average frost date. Enter your postcode for exact dates, or find your city.
Where to buy pumpkins seeds
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What you'll need for pumpkins
The stuff beginners wish they'd bought sooner.
Ferric phosphate — pet-safe and organic-approved. Young plants are slug magnets. One night can finish them.
Keep developing pumpkins off wet soil. Straw prevents rot and keeps the base dry.
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Get your exact dates
Enter your postcode for personalised planting dates for pumpkins.