Pumpkins planting calendar
When to plant pumpkins — pick your state
Pumpkins timing swings hard by climate — choose your state for sow, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to its USDA zone and frost window.
Northeast
Southeast
Midwest
Southwest
West
Pacific
Common questions
When should I plant pumpkins?
Pumpkins need a long frost-free window — count back from your first fall frost date to confirm 90-120 days are available before sowing. Soil must be at least 18 °C (65 °F) at planting depth; seeds germinate fastest at 21-32 °C. In zone 3-4 where seasons are tight, starting indoors 2-3 weeks early in large pots avoids root disturbance. Zones 9-11 can direct-sow in late July for a fall crop. Because the right window depends on your local frost dates, pick your US state above for a calendar with exact sow, transplant, and harvest dates.
Does the best time to plant pumpkins vary by state?
Yes — planting dates swing by several weeks across the US because each state sits in a different USDA zone with its own frost window. Every state page here gives pumpkins dates calibrated to that state's climate.
How are these pumpkins planting dates calculated?
Each state's dates come from that state's dominant USDA hardiness zone and NOAA average frost dates, then adjusted for pumpkins's cold tolerance and days to maturity.