Rainline Garden
When to plant pumpkins in Long Beach and Ilwaco, WA
Plant pumpkins in the garden in Long Beach and Ilwaco May 20 – Jun 10, either as seeds or as young plants started indoors Apr 22–29.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 4 to 6 feet apart in hills; giant types need 15 feet or more
- Planting depth
- 1 inch deep
- Frost
- Killed by frost
- First harvest
- About 105 days after planting
Why these dates
Long Beach and Ilwaco's typical last spring frost is April 6. Frost kills pumpkins, and warm-season crops also need warm soil. Soil here stays cold for weeks after the last frost, so planting waits until about May 20.
Coast. Mild winters but cool, foggy summers. Frost is rarely the problem; warmth is. Pick early, cool-tolerant varieties of tomatoes and squash.
How to grow pumpkins in Long Beach and Ilwaco
- Start seeds indoors Apr 22–29 in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
- Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
- Plant them in the garden May 20 – Jun 10, 4 to 6 feet apart in hills; giant types need 15 feet or more. If you plant seeds instead, sow them 1 inch deep.
- Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
- Harvest: Cut pumpkins when the rind is fully colored and too hard to dent with a fingernail, leaving 3 to 4 inches of stem. Bring them in before a hard frost.
Key numbers
- 70–90°FSoil to sprout
- 90–120Days to harvest
- 25–50 sq ftSpace per plant
- Powdery mildewBiggest risk
Growing notes
What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.
Timing for Halloween
Most carving pumpkins need 90 to 110 days from planting to ripe. Count back from early October: in most of the Northwest that means plants should be in the ground by late May or early June. Starting them indoors three to four weeks early gives you a head start in cool springs. Pumpkins that ripen in September keep fine in a cool, dry spot until Halloween.
Space, feeding and pollination
Pumpkin vines run 10 to 20 feet. Give each plant a hill of soil mixed with plenty of compost, and let the vines sprawl, or grow small pie types on a sturdy fence. They're heavy feeders and need deep watering once or twice a week, especially once fruit starts to swell.
Each plant has separate male and female flowers. Bees move the pollen; if young fruits shrivel, pollination failed. You can help by brushing pollen from a male flower onto the center of a female one (the one with a tiny pumpkin behind it) in the morning.
Ripening and curing
A ripe pumpkin is fully colored, has a hard rind and sounds hollow when tapped. Cut it with a few inches of stem, never carry it by the stem, and cure it somewhere warm for about a week to harden the skin. Bring them in before a hard frost, which damages the rind and shortens storage.
Common questions
When is the last frost in Long Beach and Ilwaco, WA?
Typically April 6. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by April 28. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Long Beach.
Is it too late to plant pumpkins in Long Beach and Ilwaco?
The spring planting window runs through June 10. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around October 26.
When should I start pumpkins from seed indoors in Long Beach and Ilwaco?
April 22 to April 29, which is 4 to 3 weeks before the May 20 planting date. Or buy young plants at a garden center instead.
When should I plant pumpkins for Halloween?
Late May to early June for most varieties. Check the days to maturity on the seed packet and count back from early October.
Why are my baby pumpkins turning yellow and falling off?
They weren't pollinated. It's common early in the season or in cool, rainy weather when bees are scarce. Later fruits usually set fine, or hand-pollinate in the morning.
Can I grow a giant pumpkin here?
Yes, but it needs a long season, a sunny spot of several hundred square feet, rich soil and lots of water. Start indoors and plant out as soon as it's warm.
Also plant in Long Beach and Ilwaco around the same time
Radishes
Lettuce
Carrots
Beets
Swiss chard
Bush beans
Sweet corn
CucumbersPlanting dates for pumpkins in nearby areas
- Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WA May 20 – Jun 10
- Forks, WA May 20 – Jun 10
- Port Angeles, WA May 15 – Jun 5
- Sequim, WA May 15 – Jun 5
- Port Townsend, WA May 15 – Jun 5
- Astoria, OR May 20 – Jun 10
Full planting calendar for Long Beach and Ilwaco · Pumpkins in every city