When to plant pumpkins
Short answer
Plant pumpkins about 2 weeks after your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Apr 29, starting seeds indoors about Apr 1. Enter your ZIP for your exact dates.
| Climate zone | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Jan 1 | Jan 29 | May 19 |
| Zone 2 | Feb 1 | Mar 1 | Jun 19 |
| Zone 3 | Feb 24 | Mar 24 | Jul 12 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 16 | Apr 13 | Aug 1 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 1 | Apr 29 | Aug 17 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 16 | May 14 | Sep 1 |
| Zone 7 | May 1 | May 29 | Sep 16 |
| Zone 8 | May 18 | Jun 15 | Oct 3 |
Higher climate-zone numbers are colder, so planting shifts later. Pumpkins is a tender crop. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for your exact zone and dates.
What sets the timing for pumpkins
When to plant pumpkins comes down to one date: your last spring frost. Pumpkins is a tender crop, so it goes in about 2 weeks after your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Apr 29.
Give it a head start: sow seeds indoors about 2 weeks before your last spring frost (around Apr 1 in zone 5), then move seedlings out once conditions are right. From there it's roughly 110 days to harvest.
Because that anchor date moves with climate, plant-out for pumpkins ranges from about Mar 24 in warm zone 3 to May 29 in cold zone 7. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for the exact dates in your zone.
What sets the timing
| Factor | Effect on timing |
|---|---|
| Frost anchor | Timing counts from your last spring frost |
| Hardiness | Pumpkins is tender — it waits until the soil warms after frost |
| Indoor start | Start seeds 2 weeks before your last spring frost |
| Days to harvest | About 110 days from planting to harvest |
| Climate zone | Higher (colder) zones push plant-out later; warmer zones let you start sooner |
| Soil & weather | Needs warm soil — cold, wet ground stunts or rots it |
How pumpkins compares
Plant-out date in a mid climate (zone 5), against an early hardy crop and a late tender one.
| Crop | Plant outside (zone 5) |
|---|---|
| Peas (hardy · plants early) | Mar 11 |
| Pumpkins | Apr 29 |
| Tomatoes (tender · plants late) | Apr 29 |
Tips for growing pumpkins
- Don't rush pumpkins outside — cold soil stalls it. Wait until after your last spring frost and, ideally, until nights stay mild.
- Give pumpkins a 2 weeks indoor head start under a bright light before transplanting.
- Count roughly 110 days from planting to harvest, and stagger sowings a few weeks apart for a longer picking window.
- Enter your ZIP in the calculator for pumpkins dates tuned to your exact climate zone.
Your exact dates
Open the planting calendarOther crops
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant pumpkins?
Plant pumpkins about 2 weeks after your last spring frost. That's around Apr 13 in zone 4 and May 14 in zone 6.
When do I start pumpkins seeds indoors?
Start pumpkins seeds indoors about 2 weeks before your last frost, then transplant after the frost passes. That's roughly Apr 16 in zone 6.
How long until pumpkins is ready to harvest?
About 110 days from planting until first harvest. In zone 6, pumpkins planted around May 14 is typically ready near Sep 1.