Pumpkin Growth Stages Explained | Growth Stages of Kaddu

Our Pumpkin Growth Stages with Pictures will help you learn about its growing details to understand it better.

If you know the growth stages of a pumpkin (कद्दू), you can easily care for the plant and enjoy a fruitful harvest. Lucky for you, we’ve got everything you need.

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Pumpkin Growth Stages

There are 4 main stages of pumpkin growth, from seed to harvest. Here’s what happens in each one and what you have to do.

Stage 1: Early Stage Pumpkin Growth (15 – 20 days)

This is just the crop establishment phase and starts with the seed. You need to choose varieties that are suitable to your region. We recommend going with Pusa Bold (heat-resistant), Arka Anmol (early maturing), and Phule Hybrid 7 (high-yielding).

Once you prepare the soil and sow the seeds, they germinate in 7-12 days, after which the cotyledons emerge – and they are followed by the true leaves.

Stage 2: Vegetative State (30 – 40 days)

The next stage is the vegetative pumpkin stage, where the vines will spread, and you’ll need to provide a trellis, stakes, or netting for support.

The leaves will develop properly, and you’ll need to care for your plant by fertilizing it with well-aged cow dung (गोबर खाद, once in 3-4 weeks) and watering it so the soil is moist (once every 2-3 days, but don’t overwater).

Stage 3: Flower Initiation to First Picking (30 – 35 days)

As your pumpkin grows you’ll see beautiful yellow flowers emerge. The male flowers come first, and then the female ones. They’re pollinated by bees and butterflies, but you can do it by hand or a toothbrush, too.

The female flowers will transform into cute green baby pumpkins. Just continue to care for your pumpkin at this stage. Same fertilizer and watering needs.

Stage 4: Harvesting Stage (45 – 50 days)

You’ll see the baby pumpkins change color from green to a soft orange/yellow hue. The rind of the pumpkins will harden, and the stem will dry up a bit. This is a sign that your pumpkins are ready to harvest.

Just take a sharp knife and cut the stem 2-3 inches above the pumpkin’s stalk. You can store these in a cool, dry place for many months and savor them whenever you want.

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Tips for Growing Pumpkins in India

• Plant pumpkins in cooler months, like October-February in North India. But for South India, do it in June-August.
• Beetles and aphids might attack your pumpkin harvest, so use neem oil. Your pumpkins may also get powdery mildew, so keep an eye on the watering.
• Plant them in full sunlight so they can grow properly and give you healthy fruits. 6-8 hours a day is best.