Pumpkin
Cucurbita maxima
Also called Winter squash and Squash
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitNeeds a long season and more room than anyone plans for. Let it ripen hard before cutting.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Hard
- Water
- Every 3 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Once a fortnight
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Tender — no frost at all RHS H2, to 1°C
- Size
- 0.3 m tall · 3.25 m across
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Origin
- South America
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsSafe for pets
PeopleNothing recorded against it
Safe to eat: fruit.
Checked against ASPCA, RHS, Johnny's Selected Seeds and Clemson HGIC on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- White dusty patches on the upper side of the oldest leaves at the crown, while the running tips are still clean.Powdery mildew · disease
- Ragged holes chewed through a young leaf overnight and a silver trail across the leaf and the soil beneath it.Slugs and snails · pest
- A soft brown patch on the underside of a swelling fruit where it sits on damp ground, later furred over grey — slide a tile or board under each fruit before it happens.Grey mould on the fruit · disease