The best time to plant pumpkin seeds depends on your location and climate, but here are the general guidelines:
- Sow pumpkin seeds indoors in a warm place in April to give them a head start. Then transplant them outdoors once the soil has warmed and all risk of frost has passed, typically late May to early June in many regions.
- If planting directly outdoors, wait until at least two weeks after the last frost date when the soil temperature is around 70°F (21°C) or higher.
- Pumpkins need a long growing season of about 60 to 100 frost-free days to mature, depending on the variety.
- For planting timing relative to harvest, consider the date you want pumpkins ready, then count back the days to maturity plus about 10-14 days for curing.
- In warmer climates or reverse seasons, some gardeners plant pumpkin seeds in November for a different growing cycle.
In summary, planting pumpkin seeds outdoors usually happens from late May to early June after frost danger is over and soil is warm. Starting seeds indoors in April and transplanting later is also common to get an earlier start.
