When to Plant Pumpkins [State-by-State Guide]
Pumpkins can be grown in USDA zones 3 through 11. Determining when to plant pumpkins in your area really boils down to soil temperature and timing your growing season. Depending on the pumpkin variety, they need 80 to 150 days of growing time in soils that are 65 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
In this article, I’ll break down:
How soil temperatures affect pumpkin growth.
Why you need to add extra days to seed packet maturity days at the end of the season.
When to plant seeds indoors if you have a short growing season.
When to plant pumpkins for Halloween.
And a breakdown state by state of when to plant pumpkins.
Soil Temperature for Planting Pumpkins
Pumpkins do best in soil that is 65 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind that soil holds heat better than air does and the soil temperature can differ from air temperature by 10 to 40 degrees. The best way to check if your soil is warm enough for pumpkins is to test it with a soil thermometer.
Here’s the one I use. They don’t cost much and are worth having around.
What Happens If You Plant Pumpkins in Cold Soil
Pumpkins are cold-sensitive so depending on where you live, you may need to start seeds indoors if you have a short growing season. I’ll talk more about this later. They require 80 to 150 days of frost-free weather for pumpkins to mature.
It’s not just frost that can damage pumpkins though. If you plant seeds in cool soils (below 60 degrees) they may suffer from seed corn maggot injury or blossom end rot later.
How Cold is Too Cold for Pumpkins
While frost will kill pumpkins, they will also stop growing if the soil drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pumpkin plants will grow more slowly in temperatures between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit as well. For many places, it’s best to add an extra 20 to 25 days for pumpkins to mature because of the cooler temperatures at the end of many growing seasons. This is important to factor in when planning your pumpkin patch and harvest days.
If you are concerned about cooler temperatures, you can cover your pumpkins with a frost blanket. While I live in Southern California and we have very mild winters, I keep several frost blankets on hand in case of a random cold spell. They have saved my plants more times than I can count.
I use this one by Gardners Supply: All-Purpose Garden Fabric
Image: Shade tent on a hooop protecting my vegetable garden.
How Hot is Too Hot for Pumpkins
On the other hand, if you plant too late, it could be too hot for your pumpkins to grow. Pumpkins stop growing when the temperature rises above 100 degrees. It’s very important to plant them at the right time of year because extreme heat will affect flowers blooming and fruit growth.
I live in Southern California and heat waves are common during the summer growing season. By July of each year, I typically utilize shade cloths on extreme heat days to help prevent the soil from reaching 100 degrees.
Keep in mind that pumpkins do not like shade and shade can also inhibit their growth. Use them rarely and only in extreme circumstances.
For more detailed information about sunlight and heat, read the article How Much Sunlight Do Pumpkins Really Need.
When to Plant Pumpkins
If you live in northern locations with short growing seasons, you’ll most likely plant pumpkin seeds by the end of May each year or early June.
If you live in the South, you may wait to plant them until June or July. Some locations, such as Louisiana and Southern California can even plant them as late as September.
I like to use Weather Spark to check historical average temperatures. You can search by your city or area and it will show you average temperatures, even down to the hour by day or by month. This, in combination with a soil thermometer, helps me plan when to plant my entire vegetable garden.
Do not plant pumpkins until the threat of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. There is a great frost dates app on the National Gardening Association website. You can put in your zipcode and it will tell you the probability of multiple temperatures in your location on certain dates.
When determining when to plant pumpkins, consider more than just frost and spring soil temperature. If you live somewhere that cools down in early fall, then that may slow pumpkin maturity and will require more time to grow. Also if you live somewhere with summer storms, those can damage pumpkin roots and cause them to rot. Sometimes it’s best to plant before these storms start coming in.
You have to look at the entire growing season when determining the best time to plant pumpkin seeds in your area.
When to Plant Pumpkin Seeds Indoors
If you can, sow pumpkin seeds outside directly in hills or mounds. If you live in a place that doesn’t have four months of temperatures between 65 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, you can start your seeds indoors.
While it is ideal to sow pumpkin seeds directly in the soil outside, you can start them indoors in peat pots. Start your seeds 20 days before your last frost and transplant them in the peat pot outside after the threat of cold weather has passed.
If you start seeds earlier than 20 days the root systems could become too large for the pot or become root-bound.
When to Plant Pumpkins for Halloween
If you want to grow your own pumpkins to carve for Halloween, make sure you plant pumpkin seeds by mid-July at the latest. Otherwise, your pumpkins won’t have enough time to mature.
You can also plant pumpkins earlier in the year and cure them after you harvest them. Curing them will protect them from decay and rot. Done correctly, your pumpkins can last for months after they are harvested - all the way until Christmas!
When to Plant Pumpkins in Texas
Plant pumpkins approximately four months before the first frost which is generally mid-November in Texas. Check the pumpkin-type description for maturity length and add about 25 days for slower maturity in the fall. Most people in Texas plant pumpkins in July.
Texas is composed of USDA zones 6 through 10. In these zones, it’s recommended to plant pumpkin seeds directly in the ground. Do not start them indoors in pots.
When to Plant Pumpkins in North Carolina
Plant pumpkin seeds directly in the soil at the beginning of May up until about mid-June if you live in North Carolina. The last frost in most parts of North Carolina is sometime in April. Planting in May will ensure you have the best chance of not planting too early. It will also ensure you have enough time for your pumpkins to mature before the temperature drops below 50 degrees.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Georgia
Georgia is composed of USDA zones 6 through 9. If you live in south Georgia, plant pumpkins in early to mid-July. If you live in north Georgia, it is better to plant pumpkin seeds around late May to early June. This will ensure your pumpkins have enough time to mature.
You will want to add extra time for your pumpkins to mature because when the temperature starts to drop in the fall it will slow their maturity rate. It’s best to add 25 extra days to the seed description to account for this which is why you’ll want to plant earlier in north Georgia.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Missouri
For most people in Missouri, you can safely plant pumpkins directly in the soil outside around May 10. By this date, your danger of frost has passed. In the southern part of the state, you may be able to plant earlier, but not by much.
Zones 5 through 7 extend through Missouri with the southernmost part being in Zone 7b. Zone 7 can have an average last frost date anywhere from March 22 to April 3. If it’s the end of March and you haven’t had frost for 2 weeks, you’re probably safe to plant your pumpkin seeds in mid to late April.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Ohio
Most agricultural departments recommend planting pumpkins in late May or early June in Ohio. Ohio is in USDA zones 5 and 6 where the risk of frost can last through the end of April with an occasional surprise frost in early May sometimes.
Plant pumpkins before the fourth of July to ensure they have enough time to mature before the weather changes. Once the temperature starts to cool in early fall, pumpkins will take longer to mature. It’s best to add 25 days to whatever your seed packet suggests as the time for maturity because of this.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Alabama
Plant pumpkins in your Alabama garden from mid-June to early July. The threat of frost is well passed at this point and your soil should be warmed up to the optimal temperature that pumpkins thrive in.
Alabama rests in USDA zones 7 through 9 and by June most soil temperatures are well into the upper 70’s if not 80’s. This is optimal for pumpkins to germinate and grow.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Florida
Florida has a great climate for growing pumpkins. It’s best to plant pumpkins in late March or early April. If you’re growing pumpkins for Halloween, they may ripen around the end of August or the beginning of September, but if you cure them, they’ll last well past Halloween.
You can plant pumpkins all the way up to early July; however, pumpkins planted later in the season tend to be smaller and are more prone to viruses and fundal diseases (University of Florida).
When to Plant Pumpkins in Michigan
For Michigan gardens, it’s best to wait until late May or early June to plant your pumpkins. By this time the soil will be 65 degrees or above (the optimal temperature for pumpkin seeds to germinate and grow).
You should see flowers in July, ahead of some of the extreme heat and humidity that this area experiences in the summer, allowing your fruit to set better.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Pennsylvania
Plant pumpkins in mid-June through early July in Pennsylvania. By June 10, the soil should be warm enough for pumpkin seeds to germinate. Do not plant too early or your seeds may suffer from seed corn maggot injury.
At the latest, you will want to sow seeds directly outside in the soil by July 14 to ensure your pumpkins can develop and bloom before any extreme heat.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Tennessee
Most people plant pumpkins between the middle of June and early July in Tennessee. This time frame will ensure the soil is warm enough for germination and that your plant can bloom before any extreme heat hits.
At the latest, plant pumpkin seeds directly in the ground by July 15 to avoid problems with heat and ensure they have a long enough growing season with temperatures between 65 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
When to Plant Pumpkin in Virginia
Most of Virginia is in USDA zones 6 and 7, with a tiny portion in the north being in zone 5. The last frost in these zones is typically in April. By the end of May, the soil will be warm enough to plant and germinate pumpkin seeds.
If you’re trying to time out the fall market for pumpkins, you can plant as late as July 10 and still have time for your pumpkins to mature before the fall season.
When to Plant Pumpkin in Indiana
You can plant pumpkin seeds as early as May in Indiana, but many people wait until early June to plant them so they can harvest them in early October. Keep in mind that if you plant in early May, your soil may not yet be above 65 degrees (the optimal temperature for pumpkins to grow) and it may take longer for your plant to grow.
You can plant pumpkins as late as mid-July, but keep in mind that they may grow slower toward the end of the growing season if temperatures fall below 65 degrees. If you plant pumpkins later in the year, expect to add 20 to 25 days more for them to reach maturity due to slower growth in colder weather.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Oklahoma
Plant pumpkins approximately four months before the first frost which is usually the end of October in Oklahoma. Check the pumpkin-type description for maturity length and add about 25 days for slower maturity in the fall. It’s recommended to plant pumpkins no later than early June to ensure they have enough time to mature.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Arkansas
Arkansas is in USDA zones 6 through 8. There are hot summers and mild winters. Plant pumpkin seeds as early as the last week of May around Memorial Day and through June. You can sow seeds up until the second week of July, but planting after mid-July runs the risk of too much heat which can impact your plant’s ability to bloom and produce fruit.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Kentucky
In Kentucky, the ideal time to plant pumpkins is between late May and mid-June. This timeframe allows the soil to warm up sufficiently and the danger of frost to pass, ensuring optimal growing conditions for pumpkins.
It is important to note that the planting date can vary slightly depending on the specific location in Kentucky. If you are growing larger pumpkins that take over 100 days to mature, plant during the last week of May or the first week of June. If you are growing smaller varieties, you can plant as late as mid-June and still harvest your pumpkins by late September.
When to Plant Pumpkins in California
California is a big and diverse state spanning agricultural zones 5 through 11. In warmer parts of Southern California you can sow seeds outside as early as March if you want to. With the help of frost blankets in case of a freak cold spell, I even sow a second round of pumpkins at the end of summer around late August and early September for a second harvest.
In the northern part of the state and at higher elevations it’s best to wait until the last week of May or early June to sow your pumpkin seeds outdoors. Pumpkins will not grow in soil temperatures below 50 degrees and will grow very slowly in soil temperatures below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Kansas
When it comes to planting pumpkins in Kansas, timing is key. Ideally, the best time to plant pumpkins in this state is between late May and mid-June. By this time, the soil has warmed up, reducing the risk of frost and providing optimal conditions for germination.
At the latest, plant your pumpkins before early July or you’ll risk not having enough time for them to mature before the cooler weather sets in.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Oregon
Oregon spans USDA zones 4 through 9 which means depending on where you live, you may plant pumpkins at different times of the year. In western Oregon, plant pumpkins within the first 2 weeks of May.
In east Oregon, wait until the first of June to plant pumpkins outside. You can start them in peat pots indoors in early May and transplant them as well.
When to Plant Pumpkins in South Carolina
If you live in a coastal region, plant pumpkins within the first 2 weeks of July. If you live in the central part or inland, plant your pumpkin seeds earlier around the last two weeks of June to ensure they will ripen before fall.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Wisconsin
In southern and eastern Winsconsin up past Green Bay and the Apostle Islands, you can plant pumpkins as early as May 15. If you live in central or northern Wisconsin it’s best to wait until after May 20 to plant seeds.
The northern part of the state can see frost up until early June some years, so make sure you wait until the threat of frost has passed. If it’s been two weeks without frost in late May, you’re usually safe to plant.
Because Wisconsin has a short growing season with some parts of the state seeing their last Spring frost in early June and first fall frost as early as mid-September, you may wish to start seedlings indoors in peat pots.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Colorado
Colorado has a short growing season for pumpkins. Plant pumpkins within the last two weeks of May or the first two weeks of June to ensure your crop is harvested before the weather gets too cold.
It's crucial to consider the specific region of Colorado when determining the exact timing, as the state experiences a variety of microclimates due to its diverse topography. When in doubt consult with your local agricultural extension.
When to Plant Pumpkins in Louisiana
Louisiana has a great climate for pumpkins to thrive. You can plant seeds as early as mid-March through mid-September. You can almost grow pumpkins year-round in most parts of the state because of the mild weather.
Can You Grow Pumpkins Year Round
Pumpkins are a warm-weather crop and even in the Deep South and Southwest, we have low temperatures that will kill pumpkin plants in the winter. You can however grow pumpkins in pots, indoors which will enable you to grow them year-round. This can only be done with smaller varieties.
When to Plant Pumpkins Conclusion
Plant pumpkins only when the soil is between 65 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you have a short growing season, start seeds indoors a few weeks before your last frost date and transplant them.
If the end of your growing season is cooler, add 20 to 25 more days to the seed packet maturity timeline to account for slower growth.
For northern regions, most places plant pumpkins in late May or early June.
For southern regions, some people can plant pumpkins all the way up until September.