Bield:Farm
State × crop calendar

Pumpkins planting in Idaho.

Primary cropZone 5b130-day seasonLast frost May 15VegetableFrost Sensitive

Pumpkins planting in Idaho is shaped by the state's 5b dominant hardiness zone, last frost date around May 15, and a 130-day growing season. Pumpkins is widely grown in Idaho — commercially significant or common in home gardens and food plots.

Planting dates on this page are climatological estimates from USDA frost-date norms and zone-typical planting offsets. Verify against University of Idaho Extension for variety- and county-specific guidance.

Planting calendar — 2026

Pumpkins · Idaho · planting calendar
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeclast frostfirst frostSPRING PLANTING
Ideal windowEarliest / latest tailsFrost zone

Planting windows shift earlier in southern parts of the state and later in northern parts. Use last frost date in your specific county as the reference.

Planting windows

Spring planting

Pumpkins
Earliest
May 29
Ideal start
June 5
Ideal end
July 3
Latest
July 17
Soil-temp triggerDirect seed when soil reaches 60°F. Plan harvest date first — count back 90-110 days from desired harvest.

Harvest window

Typical start
September 3
Typical end
October 3

Harvest timing varies with planting date and seasonal weather — these dates are typical for the ideal planting window.

Growing notes

Pumpkins grows well in Idaho's typical climate. Idaho's 130-day growing season and 5b hardiness zone support reliable production with appropriate variety selection.

Pumpkins is widely grown in Idaho — commercially significant or common in home gardens and food plots.

Agronomy reference

Soil-temp minimum
60°F
Soil-temp optimum
65–85°F
Days to maturity
90–120
Water (in/wk)
1–2"
Soil pH
6–7
Nitrogen demand
moderate

Plan from intended harvest date — most pumpkin growers count back 90-110 days from desired late-September or October harvest.

Common pests to watch

  • Squash vine borer
  • Squash bugs
  • Cucumber beetles

Pest pressure varies by region and year. Confirm current outbreaks with University of Idaho Extension.

Common diseases

  • Powdery mildew
  • Bacterial wilt
  • Phytophthora

Resistance varieties shift each year. Check the current variety trial report for your state.

Variety selection

Variety selection

Pumpkins varieties for Idaho live with your extension service.

Variety performance is micro-regional and changes with each year’s trial cycle. We don’t republish variety lists — instead, we point directly at the source.

Search the extension site for “pumpkinsvariety trial” or “recommended pumpkins varieties” to find the current report.

Yield varies significantly by variety, soil, fertility, and management. Consult your state extension service for variety performance trials in your region.

Pumpkins timing. Live alerts.

Bield: Farm ties weather and soil-temperature stations in your county to crop planting thresholds — get notified the day soil temp clears your target window.