Pumpkin in Zone 10a & 10b
Cucurbita pepo
When to plant pumpkin in zone 10b
Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. In your zone, Pumpkin needs a head start on the heat that direct-sowing elsewhere doesn't require.
| Window | Spring window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Feb |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 19–Jul 19 (~110 days after transplanting) |
| Window | Monsoon window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Jun–Jul |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jul–Aug |
| Estimated harvest | Oct 19–Dec 19 (~110 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: about 10 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-1.5 ft.
Zone 10b dates sourced from growinginthegarden.com.
Pumpkins ask for more room and more patience than almost anything else in the garden: around 110 days from seed to harvest, and vines that sprawl far enough that planning calls for a mere tenth of a plant per square foot, in practice, that means giving one plant several square feet to itself.
How pumpkin fits zone 10's season
Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Pumpkin needs about 110 days from sowing to first harvest.
Good companions
- Sweet Corn: The same 'three sisters' mechanism as winter squash: WSU Extension confirms pumpkin's broad leaves shade the soil, suppressing weeds and reducing evaporation around corn.
Where to buy pumpkin seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing pumpkin" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 10b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Pumpkin in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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