Pumpkin is one of the most popular garden crops. It is hardy and has a wide growing area. Pumpkin is extremely in demand in cooking, as well as traditional medicine and even cosmetology. How to grow this plant when planting seeds in open ground, our article will tell you.
How and when to plant
Growing pumpkins most often occurs in this way. Seeds (also properly processed) are introduced into the previously prepared soil. After that, it is necessary to provide the plant with proper care, as well as harvest on time. All this is described in detail below.
Soil preparation before planting
Planting seeds
Before planting in open ground, it is advisable to properly prepare the planting material. Various methods are used for this, as a rule, each gardener prefers his own. Someone freezes the seeds for this, and someone pierces to accelerate growth. Our article offers a more gentle method that is effective and time-tested.
How to prepare seeds before planting:
It is very important to make sure that the seeds are not old. To do this, the manufacturer must indicate the shelf life and suitability. When self-harvesting planting material, it also makes sense to determine the possible period of use. In this case, it should be remembered that seeds no older than two to three years will give maximum germination.
Correct fit
Many gardeners successfully grow pumpkin without following the described algorithm, but still the best result will be given by the correct technique. It uses the method of planting at different depths and plucking unnecessary sprouts. More details about the main secrets of this method are described below.
Important points for planting a pumpkin:
On the video - how to plant a pumpkin in open ground with seeds:
Pumpkin is often planted to darken the beds from the sun's rays. This will help save plantings, but it should be borne in mind that this plant requires a lot of nutrients for its growth and such a neighborhood can harm cucumbers and other crops. Often also used is a method in which gourd shoots darken the compost pit on the site. This is a simple and effective method, which also has an indisputable plus - the ability to give the plant all the necessary substances without additional feeding.
As a rule, you can harvest the maximum yield in a compost pit without any extra effort.
How to care
Further care of the kha pumpkin usually does not present any particular difficulties. The plant must be regularly watered, weeded and loosened the soil near the roots. Like any other culture, there are secrets here, which will be discussed later.
Secrets of a good harvest:
- If you focus on folk signs, pumpkin planting must be carried out during the flowering period of viburnum and peonies. The average air temperature during the day should reach 20 degrees Celsius.
- It is advisable to choose a landing site on the south side, protected from drafts and waterlogged soil. If this cannot be avoided, it makes sense to build high beds.
- Potatoes, peppers, onions, beets are considered the best predecessors for pumpkin. If other cultures of the gourd family grew in this area, the risk of infection with characteristic diseases is high. Partially, this situation can be corrected by planting green manure plants after harvesting.
- For the first time after planting, it is advisable to protect the seedlings from birds and frost.. To do this, you can cover the seedlings with half a plastic bottle. After the sprouts are strong enough, the shelter can be removed.
- The organization of "warm" beds when growing pumpkins is extremely justified. To do this, a sufficiently thick layer of compost or humus must be installed at the bottom of the hole. Sprinkle the hole with earth on top, and plant seeds on a layer of soil. With a natural decomposition process, this compost provides a lot of heat, which will stimulate the growth of the pumpkin.
- Harvesting is carried out at the technical ripeness of the fruit. The pumpkin must be cut along with the stalk, leaving 5 - 6 centimeters - so the crop will last longer.
On the video - growing pumpkins in the open field:
Pumpkin has a pleasant taste and contains many useful substances. The plant is not whimsical, but extremely sensitive to top dressing and loosening. To learn the basic secrets of growing this crop, our article will provide the necessary information on this issue.
Every land owner has the opportunity to grow a pumpkin and take care of it, but not everyone succeeds in getting a good harvest. How to grow a pumpkin in the country in the open field, so that you can stock up on a healthy and energy-giving vegetable for the whole winter?
What is the best landing time for her? In what cases is it better to grow a pumpkin from seeds, and when - from seedlings? When can it be planted in the ground? "Calm, only calm" ... We will find answers to all questions.
What is useful
Pumpkin is an annual herbaceous plant that has been successfully grown throughout Russia for more than six hundred years. The extremely popular melon culture is eaten in the form of cereals, soups, sweet dishes and desserts. And how delicious pumpkin baked in slices in the oven!
In addition, the pumpkin is perfectly stored and during the winter serves as a source of vitamins for the whole family.
It is grown in many regions of our country with a temperate climate, reaching an average weight of one specimen up to 5-8 kg. There are also record-breaking pumpkins over 10 kg.
Note!
Pumpkin has not only excellent culinary properties, but is also a source of a rare vitamin "T" (carnitine), which is responsible for the energy state of a person.
The increased content of carotene in pumpkin strengthens eyesight. Pumpkin dishes help with stomach problems. Fiber ensures regular bowel movements (eliminates constipation).
Site selection
A properly selected site for growing pumpkins can be considered one that meets the following requirements:
- has sufficient solar illumination necessary for plant photosynthesis and the passage of developmental phases;
- provides daylight hours (12 hours) for optimal crop ripening;
the slope of the earth's surface prevents the accumulation of excess rain moisture and possible waterlogging; - the location allows you to choose the direction of the ridges and rows in such a way that the heat accumulated during the day does not have time to be completely consumed during the night cooling.
If possible, pumpkin gardeners use compost heaps. They retain soil heat well, they contain the necessary supply of nutrients for plants in the initial period of growth.
The introduction of additional superphosphate 50 g and wood ash with a volume of 200 ml before planting is necessary to increase their fertility.
Growing pumpkin seeds
In order for the grown seedlings to be strong and healthy, it is necessary to properly prepare the seeds:
- for each pumpkin seed, you need to use individual pots: peat or paper, in which they are grown;
- plant pre-selected seeds. Not damaged by frost, mold, infections, without chips and cracks.
Before sowing in pots, the seeds are subjected to heat treatment (heating). Maintain a temperature of plus 60 degrees in a 2.5 hour period.
As well as the effect of stimulants dissolved in water to increase survival.
Compound:
- potassium humate - 4 ml per ½ l;
- krezacin - one tablet per 100 g;
- epin - 4-5 drops.
In the absence of such funds, ordinary wood ash helps - two tablespoons of it are enough in a liter of water.
Or you can soak in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for seed germination, or ordinary warm water. Seeds should be soaked for at least a day, preferably every 4 hours to change the solution.
At the end of these procedures, the seed material is dried, or, bypassing it, is immediately planted in pots.
But still the most rational way is germination.
The seeds treated in the solution, wrapped with a damp cloth, are placed:
- on a flat surface - a large dish, baking sheet or in a wooden container. If the latter, then it is advisable to use sawdust spilled with boiling water;
- in boxes with sawdust, bundles with seeds are laid out in layers, in two or three rows;
- between the rows, for additional moistening of the seeds, wet wipes are laid.
Boxes with seed material for seedlings are placed in a warm place, the appearance of the first strong sprouts is noted on average after three days. Then they are placed one by one in a pot.
Other ways to grow pumpkin seeds:
- seeds wrapped in bandages or gauze are soaked for half an hour in a manganese solution;
- after thorough washing, they are placed in an aqueous solution with the addition of two drops of a growth stimulator or one tablespoon of wood ash. Procedure time - 12 hours;
- upon completion of processing, the seeds are hardened, for which they are laid out on saucers with a thin layer of boiled water and left in the refrigerator overnight.
Planting pumpkin seeds in open ground
The main rule for planting seeds in open ground is to maintain the required soil temperature in the upper 10 cm layer - 12-13 degrees Celsius. If this condition is met, then proceed to further work.
- Before sowing, the selected seeds are heat treated in the form of 9-10 hours of heating at a 40-degree air temperature in an oven or drying oven.
- Then they are soaked overnight in a liter of water brought to a boil with two tablespoons of wood ash. This makes it easier for the pumpkin sprouts to break through the dense skin of the seeds.
- Rows with planting holes with a diameter of 0.3 m are laid out on the ridges.
- Each is shed with two liters of water heated to 50 degrees, then two or three seeds are planted, planting up to 5 cm in loamy soil.
- On light soils - it is increased by 3 cm, placing the seeds in a triangle with sides equidistant from the center of the hole.
- Sprinkle with an arable layer, and the rows are mulched using compost or humus.
The distances between the rows can withstand up to 2 m, the holes in the garden are placed one meter apart, on the ridge - according to a chess pattern.
Crops are carefully covered to preserve soil heat from night cooling. With the advent of pumpkin seedlings in a week, the covering material is removed.
When 2 true leaves appear, the crops are thinned out - two copies remain in the hole.
Attention!
When thinning, pulling out an unnecessary seedling is not worth it - the root system of neighboring ones may be disturbed, so it is simply cut off at the level of the ground surface.
How to plant a pumpkin for seedlings
In many regions with a temperate climate in Russia (Non-Chernozem zone, Urals, Siberia, Far East) and others, growing pumpkins using seedlings guarantees that they will fully ripen before the onset of frost.
For the proper cultivation of pumpkin seedlings, the following steps must be taken.
- Calculate the approximate date of sowing seeds as follows: from the scheduled date of planting seedlings in unprotected soil - subtract 20-21 days.
- Using peat pots or paper cups with a 10 cm bottom, prepare the following substrate individually for each seedling: humus (two parts) + turf (one part) + peat (one part).
- Pour the resulting mixture into a cup half its volume and plant the hatched seeds 1 cm deep, one copy each.
- Then, pour the same substrate to the top level of the cup, but with the addition of 5% mullein in liquid form, along with wood ash (up to 15 grams).
After moistening, the seedling container is covered and placed in a warm place. Seedling care is as follows:
As the substrate dries out, it is watered, avoiding excess moisture;
Feed twice with complex fertilizers (in grams) in liquid form per 10 liters of water:
- nitrogen - 17,
- phosphorus - 15,
- potassium - 20.
The total consumption for the seedling period is 0.5 liters per plant.
A week and a half before planting in a field or garden, seedlings are hardened, gradually taking them out into the fresh air each time for a longer time.
When is the best time to plant pumpkin seedlings?
Sowing seeds depends on:
- local climatic conditions (dates of positive temperatures);
- biological properties of varieties (early, medium and late ripening) - the timing of the beginning of the growing season and their duration.
It is possible to sow pumpkin seeds for seedlings in a long period of time - from 20.04 to 20.05, i.e. for almost four weeks, and it grows in 26-28 days.
Some gardeners avoid April planting dates, sow pumpkins for seedlings only in early May. This is explained by the degree of heating of the earth to the required temperature: if by planting seedlings it does not reach 16-18 degrees Celsius, then the time shifts accordingly.
Having determined the optimal period for planting sprouts for our climatic conditions, we determine on which days pumpkin seeds should be sown for seedlings.
It should be noted that pumpkin seedlings planted in May, when planted in open ground, fall into a well-heated arable soil layer. When frosts are practically absent, and the number of sunny days increases. This means that the pumpkin grows faster and begins to yield earlier.
It should be taken into account that:
- A four week growing period for seedlings is sufficient. Its longer cultivation can adversely affect survival;
- in areas with a cool climate and probable night cooling, it makes no sense to rush to plant seedlings with the onset of summer heat. You should listen to the forecasts of weather forecasters;
- before planting, seedlings (seedlings) must have a sufficiently developed root system that allows them to adapt in the hole at a 10-centimeter embedment depth.
planting seedlings
Pumpkin seedlings are planted in open ground under the following conditions: the temperature of the arable layer must reach a stable value - 12 degrees Celsius.
Any household thermometer placed in the ground for a 10-minute period will help determine this value.
To preserve soil heat and accelerate the growth of seedlings, black film coatings are arranged on the seedling plot or each hole is poured with boiling water before planting in the amount of 3-4 liters.
Seedlings are planted in containers (pots, cups, etc.), without taking out the seedling, in the center of the planting nest to a depth of 2 cm from the level of the surface of the hole, slightly digging the soil around the perimeter.
What crops are best for planting pumpkins
Despite the fact that the pumpkin is planted in any free places in the garden or in the field, not all cultures tolerate its neighborhood well. Which one pairs best with pumpkin?
Good compatibility is noted with beans, beans and peas. Although many gardeners with enough land practice separate cultivation of pumpkins. We have already noted that it grows well on compost heaps.
Neighborhood with tomatoes, potatoes, pepper beds, eggplants does not bring any benefit to the pumpkin. In these crops, during the formation of fruits and root crops, nutrients are actively drawn from the soil, which takes them away from the pumpkin.
Black radish gets along well with representatives of the pumpkin family. The phytoncides secreted by it prevent the appearance of dangerous pests, such as spider mites.
The formation and growth of pumpkin lashes (stems) in July-August makes it possible to place wheatgrass onions, beans, beds with spinach nearby. These crops have time to complete the growing season by mid-summer and successfully create their crop.
Is it possible to plant a pumpkin next to zucchini?
Wholesale gardeners say: - No way. These cultures will be pollinated and as a result you will treat something in between, which does not suit you at all. Space the pumpkin and zucchini away from each other.
Pumpkin, like melons, does not tolerate the effects of wind. It dries out the soil, causing a moisture deficit. Leaves are damaged, impairing the photosynthetic activity of plants.
To protect pumpkin sprouts, corn is planted along the perimeter, which, acting as a rock culture, creates a favorable microclimate, increasing early maturity and yield.
A properly planted pumpkin, no matter if you planted it with seeds or seedlings in open ground, is guaranteed to please with a harvest. You will not only be able to eat it often in the fall, replenishing the body with vitamins and energizing, but also store it for future use and a lot for winter storage.
Pumpkins keep well almost until the next harvest. All winter long you can enjoy pumpkin porridge in a pot, or pumpkin puree soup, which are full of vitamins, deliciousness and usefulness. And it is impossible to imagine how many dishes you can come up with with pumpkin. Good luck and health, dear readers. Let the pumpkins grown with your own hands be huge and bright.
It contains a large amount of vitamins, micro-, macroelements, protein and useful vegetable fiber. Due to its properties, it is one of the components of a balanced diet for various diseases. In almost any garden you can see a growing pumpkin. If you plant seeds in open ground, provide proper care, you can collect a really rich harvest. The choice of a suitable place and adherence to planting dates are important factors in growing a heat-loving vegetable.
Soil selection and preparation
The homeland of the pumpkin is Mexico, which is why it loves heat so much and tolerates exposure to sunlight well. The leaves have a huge number of special hairs that protect the plant from burns. Seasonally warm, unshaded soil is perfect for planting. Poor lighting will lead to slow growth, thin shoots brighten, fewer flowers are formed, and therefore fruits. Most of all, the pumpkin is afraid of frost, in which the seeds simply rot, so it is better to start land work from the second half of May, when the average daily temperature is kept at 20 ° C.
Attention! In colder weather, germination is also possible, but it will not be possible to achieve proper development.
It is useful for an experienced vegetable grower to understand the important properties of the soil; pumpkin grows best:
- in a nutrient substrate containing a large amount of organic compounds, minerals;
- with neutral or weak acidity pH about 6.5-7;
- in loose, well-ventilated soil without the threat of water retention, rotting of the root system.
If the land of the existing site does not meet the stated requirements, you can try to bring its characteristics as close as possible to the recommended ones. With increased acidity, chalk or lime is used, heavy clay soils require fertilizer with humus or compost. It is best to do this in the fall, but if time is lost and sowing is just around the corner, leafy humus can be added in the spring. For each square meter, you need about 6-8 kg of humus, 3 kg of sawdust, 200-300 g of nitrophoros containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
After top dressing, the bed should be dug to a depth of about 50 cm, poured with hot water. Thanks to such preparatory work, soil aeration is significantly increased. Good predecessors of pumpkins in the area are: peppers, garlic, onions, lettuce, cabbage, beets, radishes, legumes. It is undesirable to plant after tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, corn, sunflowers, any representatives of the Pumpkin family.
Seed preparation and planting
The appearance of sprouts can be accelerated if the seeds are soaked in liquid organomineral fertilizers "Potassium Humate" or "Sodium Humate" for about a day, covered with a damp cloth and left in a room with a temperature of at least 20-25 ° C. In order not to lose time and avoid planting low-quality seeds, which may give too few sprouts or develop poorly, they check their germination in a month: moisten with water, lay out on a wet cloth until they hatch.
Fungal infection can be prevented by etching 1 g of manganese in a solution of half a glass of water for 30 minutes.
The optimal planting dates are the second week of May, depending on the established warm weather according to the 1 × 1.5 m scheme. will give sprouts.
Attention! If the planting is too superficial, the pumpkin sprouts in a “shirt”, seeds are visible from the ground, which the birds will definitely pull out.
Under favorable conditions, germination occurs within 6-7 days. After the appearance of real 2-3 leaves, thinning is performed, weak small plants are removed. In the hole with large-fruited pumpkin, one is left, and with nutmeg and hard-bark no more than two sprouts. When the last varieties have 5 leaves, re-thinning is performed, the extra shoots are carefully cut off so as not to damage the main root system.
If you do not know how to plant a pumpkin from seeds, heed the advice of experienced farmers who recommend using a film to protect against frost and keep moisture in the ground. A small incision is made above each plant that appears, and after excluding the possibility of a cold snap, it is increased to 15 cm. The shoots are positioned so that they spread from above along the film. This reduces the evaporation of water, slightly increases the temperature of the soil.
Secrets of Proper Growing
Pumpkin is a moisture-loving plant, so watering should be carried out in a timely manner, especially in drought, to be quite plentiful. A developed root system that feeds shoots and fruits requires a large amount of water. Do not delay watering during the period of active growth, flowering, pumpkin formation. During a period of extreme heat, it is recommended to use water with a temperature of at least 20 ° C, preferably from clean wells, otherwise the plant may die. Weeds should not be allowed to grow, the soil must be periodically loosened, and then watered.
The grown vegetable should not only be beautiful and large in size, but also useful. To do this, the pumpkin is fed with various organic fertilizers, which are applied before sowing, as well as during growth. Most suitable:
- compost;
- humus;
- humus;
- chicken manure;
- rotted manure.
To supply the soil with mineral components, complex fertilizers with nitrogen, potassium, phosphate are used, in the absence of such, ash is suitable as a replacement. In the spring, before sowing, green manure plants are planted in the place of future beds, which can improve the structure of the soil, enrich it with nitrogen, and suppress the growth of wild crops. During the active growing season, it will not be superfluous to water with organic raw materials. Start top dressing after the formation of the first 3-5 leaves. In damp rainy weather, dry fertilizers are more suitable. A good option is to prepare a mixture, which is subsequently diluted in a ratio of 1:10 with water:
- 1 liter of mullein;
- 2-3 tbsp. spoons of nitrophoska;
- a bucket of water.
It is very important for the correct formation of the plant to remove excess shoots and ovaries. The main stem is pinched to a length of up to 1.5 m, leaving several side shoots about 70 cm with a fruit set on each of them. As a result, three pumpkins will be obtained from each hole, which will be accelerated by pressing the shoots to the ground, covering with a layer of earth 7-8 cm to form roots. When germination occurs, these places will also need to be watered.
What can you face
Like many other crops, pumpkin is susceptible to some diseases. Most common:
- Powdery mildew - whitish specks on the upper and lower sides of the leaves, the plant gradually turns yellow and disappears, the fruits deteriorate when inactive.
- Olive spotting affects the entire plant, oily marks on the leaves turn into brownish sores, affected pumpkins become deformed and lose their useful qualities. The appearance of the disease is facilitated by strong differences in day and night temperatures.
- Brown spotting - with a sharp change in weather, cold snaps, brown spots with a lighter center are noticeable on the affected areas, there is a loose black coating, a fungus develops.
- White rot can affect leaves, stems, root neck. Tissue softening occurs. High humidity, dense sowing provoke the appearance of a light gray coating, followed by dark dense formations.
- Root rot can overtake the plant due to excessive watering, poor soil aeration, due to plant residues of a diseased crop.
Of the pests, slugs are the most annoying, spoiling almost ripe fruits. It will be possible to reduce the likelihood of their occurrence if the ground near the shoots is sprinkled with tooth powder, wood ash, superphosphate. Some gardeners lay wet rags around the stems and collect them daily. In the fight against diseases and harmful insects, special preparations available on the market are often used. Compliance with the instructions for use makes their use quite effective.
The long-awaited harvest is collected in the first half of September. A drying stalk is a sign of pumpkin ripening. When cutting the fruit, about 7-10 cm of coarsened tail are left to extend the shelf life of the vegetable and prevent premature decay. The optimum temperature at which the pumpkin does not lose its properties is considered to be 7-10 ° C, it can lie until spring. If you follow the recommendations for soil preparation, observe planting dates, and provide proper care, in the fall you will find a rich harvest with high nutritional value.
How to grow a pumpkin: video
Growing pumpkins: photo
In central Russia and in other territories with a similar climate, pumpkin varieties grow: large-fruited and hard-skinned. Muscat pumpkin grows in the southern regions. Sometimes there is a gourd. Growing pumpkins outdoors is not as difficult as inexperienced gardeners make it out to be.
Pumpkin is a well-known annual plant with a powerful root system, wide leaves, long strong stems. The tap root can penetrate up to three meters deep into the soil, and the lateral roots spread over an area up to four meters in search of moisture and nutrition.
The stem of the plant "creeps away" from the base by more than seven meters. Pumpkin has large yellow or yellow-orange flowers, which are arranged singly (the plant is dioecious). On the main stem, from the tenth leaf onwards, fruits are formed.
Varieties of pumpkin and their features
| Variety | Peculiarities |
|---|---|
| This pumpkin is fast-growing and has a high yield. It has coarser fibers than the pulp of the large-fruited variety, and it does not keep very long (up to four months) without changing taste and nutritional characteristics. |
| This pumpkin is a real giantess, record-breaking fruits reach 60 kg. The yield is also high. And the shelf life of the fetus is up to nine months. |
| This pumpkin can lie absolutely unchanged in a cellar or other cool and dry room for up to two years. Late ripe variety. |
What does pumpkin love?
Pumpkin loves warmth, does not tolerate cold combined with dampness.
Important! The temperature that pumpkin seeds need for germination is up to + 30 ° C. At lower temperatures, they will germinate very slowly and for a long time. And at less than + 10 ° C they will not sprout at all.
The entire growing season for pumpkin passes at an optimum temperature of +25 ° C. In this case, it grows orange saturated flesh, fragrant, dense but juicy, and a wide leaf apparatus (up to 40 m² per plant).
Pumpkin loves moisture, without a sufficient amount of which the largest fruits are not formed. If at the beginning of flowering the pumpkin suffered a drought, the flowers may fall off, and the ovary does not form.
Pumpkin is a light-loving culture. It must be grown in sunny and calm areas (ideally - melon).
How to grow a pumpkin from seeds
For growing pumpkins, the easiest way is to use the traditional seed method of sowing. Only the seeds for sowing must be prepared.
It all starts with the selection of seeds. It is necessary to take for sowing only the largest seeds of perfect quality. Thin, feeble, dryish, not full must be discarded. Calibrated seeds begin to prepare for sowing.
Seed preparation
The best way to prepare pumpkin seeds for sowing is to germinate them. This process is continued until the seeds hatch. For germination, pumpkin seeds are dipped in water with a stable temperature of + 40 ° C (permissible up to + 50 ° C, below forty is impossible). In this state, the seeds should spend at least three hours.
Advice! How to achieve such a temperature? put a bowl with germinating seeds on a battery or other heating device, place in a yogurt maker or a slow cooker in the “Yogurt” mode.
Then the swollen seeds are wrapped in a well-moistened cotton cloth and left at the temperature of the living room until pecking. The fabric needs to be checked all the time and moistened again so that the seeds do not dry out.
Since pumpkin is a heat-loving plant, it is recommended, especially in the middle climatic zone, to increase the cold resistance of seeds before sowing. To do this, after pecking, they must continue to be kept in a damp cloth, but already in the lower drawer of the refrigerator, from three to five days.
Due to the thermophilicity, it is not worth sowing seeds in open ground; first, it is better to grow pumpkin seedlings.
Growing pumpkin seedlings
Seedlings are needed in order to get a plentiful and early harvest. And also, so that the hatched seeds do not die from the cold, if the sowing is carried out at a time when cooling is still possible. Seedlings do not have to be grown at home - you can do this in a special nursery or mini-greenhouse. But it is best, "under supervision", to grow pumpkin seedlings on the southern windowsill of the apartment. At room temperature, which is still closer to +30 ° C expected by a pumpkin than the temperature in a spring greenhouse, the process will go faster and better.
Important! Despite their powerful and strong appearance, pumpkin seedlings do not tolerate transplanting well. Therefore, seedlings are best grown in peat pots.
To grow seedlings, you will need peat or ordinary pots no less than 10x10 cm in size in an amount half as much as the number of seeds. No need to try to grow a "pumpkin forest", remember the 40 m² feeding area that a pumpkin can cover. Two plants, with a sufficiently spacious placement, a large amount of heat of light and moisture, with regular top dressing, will yield a larger crop of fruits in number and size than ten located in the same space.
Important! Pumpkin seedlings should spend at least three weeks at home or in a greenhouse before planting in the ground. Therefore, seeds are sown based on this calendar indicator.
Soil for seedlings
Pumpkin seeds are sown in the usual fertile seedling soil, consisting of peat and sand. No special additives are required. There is also no need to add fertilizer to the soil. If you are growing seeds in peat pots, simply fill them with soil. When growing in a plastic container, sprinkle 3 cm of sawdust on the bottom.
Sowing seeds
Germinated in the above way and hardened seeds are sown in pots in pairs. Later, a weak seedling can be removed by simply pinching off the stem. Sowing depth - 2 cm. Seeds are covered with peat. Irrigate before and after sowing.
During the first three days after sowing, the temperature should be + 25 ° С ... + 30 ° С.
Seedling Care
Shoots should appear on the fourth day. After that, the temperature must be reduced and maintained within + 18 ° C ... + 25 ° C for a week, then again reduced to + 15 ° C ... + 18 ° C. This is necessary so that the pumpkin seedlings do not stretch out, grow strong and squat .
Watering seedlings is carried out regularly, but it should not be excessive. Water stagnation is prohibited. Ideal soil moisture and air humidity will contribute to the formation of hardy and abundantly fruiting pumpkin plants in the future.
Feeding is carried out two weeks after germination. To do this, the mullein must be diluted in a ratio of 1:10 with water and poured into each pot, or under each plant in the greenhouse, 100 ml of nutrient solution after watering. If there is no mullein, top dressing is carried out with nitrophoska according to the instructions.
Video - Growth of pumpkin seedlings
Readiness and disembarkation
Properly grown seedlings look like this:
- low stem, thick and strong;
- short internodes;
- three well-developed true leaves with a rich green color.
In this state, pumpkin seedlings can be planted on the 22nd day after sowing with germinated seeds in pots in open ground under a temporary film cover.
Before planting, the wells are watered with hot water. If the seedlings are in a peat container, it does not need to be removed, just slightly destroy the walls and bottom of the pot.
After planting, the plants are watered with warm water and protected with a film shelter until consistently warm weather sets in.
Soils suitable for growing pumpkins
This plant is most suitable fertile soil, which has a fairly loose structure, well warmed up. It is on such land that pumpkin fruits will reach record sizes.
Important! Worst of all, the pumpkin will grow on damp and clay soil. Acidic soils are not categorically suitable for the plant - they must be treated with lime (liming under the predecessor) or wood ash should be added.
When growing pumpkins in a summer cottage, try to comply with the following requirements.
- Landing from the south side of the house along the wall or fence. The building and the fence will protect from the wind during the day and give the plants the heat accumulated during the day at night.
- Pumpkin whips may well be directed to the wall of the house, the fence, the roof of the barn. Closer to the sun, the fruits ripen better.
- If there is a compost heap on the site on the south side, it is ideal to plant a pumpkin near it, directing the whips there.
Soil preparation
In order to successfully grow a pumpkin, in the fall, after removing the predecessors, it is necessary to start preparing the soil.
- Apply organic matter and mineral fertilizer (5 kg of humus, 15 g of potassium chloride and twice as much superphosphate per m²) to a clean, free from plants and weeds area. If there is no humus, manure can be applied from autumn - 7 kg per m².
- Dig the area 20 cm deep.
- To lighten the structure of the soil, if necessary, add river sand (coarse grain) and peat.
- Deacidify the soil with wood ash.
- Loosen, if possible, mix, pour hot water.
In the spring, it is not necessary to dig up the upper soil layer, it is enough to remove the weeds that have appeared and level the area with a rake. In this state, the soil should be from March to May - the time of planting pumpkin seedlings.
Two days before planting the grown seedlings, the soil in the garden bed must be dug up by 12 cm (half a shovel bayonet), ammonium nitrate - 20 g per m² should be added and holes should be made.
On light-textured soil, the holes can be shallow - up to 25 cm. If the soil is heavy, the depth of the hole should reach 40 cm. A little compost and a layer of dry leaves are placed on the bottom.
The distance between plants in a regular garden is about a meter. If possible, it can be doubled.
Pumpkin predecessors
This issue is relevant, since culture is demanding of predecessors.
pumpkin care
Pumpkin does not need reverent and specialized care, but there are some activities that should not be neglected if you want to get a big crop of large fruits.
Watering
The main care measure is the adjustment of watering. Pumpkin, like a pump, pumps out all the moisture from the ground, and then evaporates it through the leaves. Thus, the roots and stems get a little. Therefore, the level of moisture in the soil must be constantly replenished.
Advice! It is especially plentiful to water the pumpkin when it has mass flowering and fruit formation. The water temperature should not be lower than +20°C (warmed up in the sun). In no case should you water the pumpkin with cold water in the heat - the plants may die.
After watering, every other time you need to loosen the soil near the base of the stem. Weed the weeds as they grow.
top dressing
You need to feed the pumpkin often, otherwise you will not be able to get large fruits. The first dressing in open ground - after the formation of the fifth leaf. The second is when lashes begin to form. Then every two weeks.
You can feed with nitrophoska, starting with 10 g per plant and increasing the dose by 5 g with each top dressing. You can apply dry granules or prepare a solution.
During the fruiting period, a glass of ash is added to each top dressing.
You can feed the pumpkin throughout the growing season with a solution of mullein.
The plant is formed in one stem, in extreme cases, in two - this contributes to high yields. To do this, after the appearance of extra shoots from the sides, they are all removed, and extra ovaries are also plucked, leaving no more than three on each lash.
By the way! On shoots of the second order, a pumpkin can bear fruit after the second leaf, but they will grow small and tasteless, so it’s worth doing pinching the shoots of the plant.
Video - Pumpkin: growing and pinching
Powder
Another agricultural technique that contributes to productivity is the powdering of lashes. As soon as the lashes have reached a meter length, they must be carefully untangled, laid in a given direction and sprinkled with earth in two to three places. This is done so that the wind does not break the lashes and leaves, breaking off the ovary. But the main thing is that in the internodes pressed to the ground, additional roots are formed that will nourish the plants and help increase the fruit.
A few more tricks
- Scourge climbing a fence or roof must be controlled. When pumpkins begin to ripen on them, secure them by placing them in ordinary string bags and securing them with additional fasteners. Otherwise, heavy fruits will roll down, breaking off the stems.
- It is undesirable, especially in wet weather, for the fruits to lie on bare ground. When they reach medium size, place planks or other breathable material under them.
Video - How to grow and care for pumpkin
As a rule, pumpkins, like cucumbers, are immediately planted in the ground. However, if you want to get an earlier harvest and / or decide to play it safe, because. If you live in a rather cool region with a short summer, then you can initially sow the seeds for seedlings.
About when and how to properly plant a pumpkin for seedlings and grow at home - read further in the article.
When choosing pumpkin seeds, do not pay attention to the picture on the package. An orange and smooth-looking fruit is not in fact the best and necessarily sweet.
Advice! Do not choose the largest varieties.
This is due to the fact that it is difficult to use the whole fruit at once, and after you cut it, a problem will arise. In addition, small pumpkin varieties store better and tend to have a sweeter taste.
In general, pumpkins exist in the following types and varieties:
The most delicious are Muscat varieties, but they are the most thermophilic and late-ripening.
Hard-bark varieties also have excellent taste. They have the earliest maturity.
Large-fruited varieties are also very sweet and cold-resistant.
Pumpkin planting dates: when to plant seeds for seedlings and in open ground
Pumpkins should be planted for seedlings 20-30 days before the expected date of planting in open ground.
The optimal age of pumpkin seedlings for planting in the ground is 20-25 days from the moment of germination (5-10 days is a margin for seed germination).
Accordingly, the optimal time for sowing pumpkin seedlings is mid-late April or even early May, depending on the region of residence and its climatic zone.
Naturally, in the Middle lane (Moscow region) this can be done earlier than in the Urals or Siberia, as well as in the North-West (in the Leningrad region).
In the South of Russia, they are usually planted immediately in the ground, but if you decide to grow seedlings first, then you can sow as early as the end of March.
According to the lunar calendar in 2019
If you are used to planting according to the phases of the moon, then, according to the lunar calendar, in 2019 the favorable days for sowing pumpkins for seedlings are:
- in March - 15-19, 23-25, 27-30;
- in April - 6-9, 11-13, 20, 21, 24-26, 29-30;
- in May - 3, 4, 8-10, 17-18, 21-23, 26-28, 31;
- in June - 5, 6, 13-15, 18-20.
The unfavorable days (periods of the new moon and full moon), on which you definitely should not plant a pumpkin (and any other crops) for seedlings in 2019, are:
- in March - 6, 7, 21;
- in April - 5, 19;
- in May - 5, 19;
- in June - 3, 4, 17.
According to the lunar calendar, from the magazine "1000 Tips for a Summer Resident".
Preparing Pumpkin Seeds for Planting
"From a bad seed do not expect a good tribe."
Before planting, pumpkin seeds should be carefully selected (calibrated), throwing out all damaged and bent specimens, leaving only the most big and plump.
Next, the seeds should be checked for their suitability for sowing (viability): pour into a container with water for 3-4 hours. Seeds that sink can be planted, but those that remain floating on the surface should be thrown away (they are light and empty).
Video: checking pumpkin seeds for suitability for planting
You can directly prepare and process pumpkin seeds in different ways:
- Soak in a damp cloth in ordinary hot water (50-55 degrees) for 1-2 hours.
And even better in one of the growth stimulants such as Epin or Zircon. You can also grow in them.
- Disinfect by holding for about 20-30 minutes in a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate (1%, i.e. 1 mg per 1 liter of water), and even better in a solution. At the end of the time, rinse under clean water and dry until the desired flowability appears.
Advice! In addition to soaking, you can also carry out the hardening procedure. To do this, you need to wrap the seeds in damp cheesecloth and refrigerate for 10-12 hours. Then take out and put in heat for 10-12 hours. So repeat for 3-4 times (3-4 days), in other words, subject the seeds to temperature changes (stress), and then germinate.
- Just sprout! To do this, pre-disinfect, then wrap in a damp cloth (or put between cotton pads, napkins), put in a plastic bag (create a greenhouse effect) and remove for germination in a warm place where the temperature is +24..28 degrees. As a rule, after 2-4 days the seedlings hatch.
Another way to germinate pumpkin seeds is to sprouting in sawdust. To do this, you need to pour sawdust into a jar, pour boiling water over them and cover with a lid. Then wait a little (so that the temperature drops to room temperature) and add the seeds to the jar of sawdust. After that, place this jar in a plastic bag and put it in a warm and dark place until germination.
Video: germination of pumpkin, watermelon and melon seeds
In order to awaken old pumpkin seeds, you can apply the method of temperature buildup. To do this, the seeds should be tied in gauze and alternately lowered into hot water (40-50 degrees), then into cold water (directly from the tap, although it is better to use melted water if you still have snow outside the window). So you need to do 4-5 times, keeping in water for 5-6 seconds. After the procedure, dry and immediately sow on seedlings or in open ground.
Many summer residents successfully plant a pumpkin and dry seeds, but in this case, the planting time should be shifted by 5-7 days, in other words, it is necessary to plant earlier.
Important! If you have purchased coated (treated) seeds, then they do not need any pre-sowing preparation, they should be sown dry.
How to plant a pumpkin for seedlings
So, you have decided on the timing, prepared and processed the seeds. Well, it's time to plant a pumpkin for seedlings! However, first you need to select suitable planting containers, soil to fill them and actually plant them at the desired depth.
Planting containers and soil
Containers for planting and growing pumpkin seedlings should be individual: pumpkin ones do not tolerate picks, so special peat cups, ordinary disposable plastic (0.5 liter volume), plastic pots or any other containers convenient for you, from which there will be easy to get seedlings when planting in the garden. At the same time, their diameter should be at least 8-10 cm.
Alternative opinion! Many gardeners grow pumpkin seedlings well in small, 0.2 liter cups. Naturally, it is recommended to plant earlier, when the seedlings only form the 1st, and the 2nd true leaf begins to appear.
Pumpkin loves nutritious soil. You can prepare the soil mixture yourself or buy ready-made soil for pumpkin crops (cucumbers, melons, watermelons).
If you decide to make it yourself, then you can mix peat, humus and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1, or take equal parts peat, humus and rotted sawdust.
Direct planting for seedlings
Step-by-step instructions for sowing pumpkin seeds for seedlings:
Video: planting pumpkin seedlings with germinated seeds
Video: sowing dry seeds for seedlings
How to care for pumpkin seedlings at home
When the first shoots appear (after 3-7 days), the shelter must be removed promptly.
And before that, it is worth at least once a day to open the containers for ventilation for 10-15 minutes and at the same time check them for shoots.
After germination, it would be good to put the container with plantings in a cooler place (where the temperature is 2-5 degrees lower, i.e. about + 15-18 during the day and + 13-15 at night), and then (after 5-7 days) return to the previous temperature conditions (+20-25 during the day, not lower than +15 at night).
Such a procedure (lowering the temperature) will help young seedlings not stretch out.
Lighting
For normal growth, pumpkin seedlings definitely need good lighting, so the containers should be placed on a brightly lit windowsill, ideally in the south (southeast or southwest).
Full 12 hour daylight hours- your reliable protection against pulling seedlings.
Advice! If suddenly the seedlings begin to stretch, then be sure to pour some earth into the cups.
Watering and feeding
Pumpkin loves moisture, so it needs regular watering. However, it should be done in moderation, without overwatering the plant. At the same time, excessive drying of the soil should also not be allowed.
Water should be warm (at least at room temperature), settled or filtered.
After 1-1.5 weeks, as shoots appear, pumpkin seedlings can be fed for better growth (however, if you initially used fertile soil, then no top dressing is needed). Alternatively, you can use a nitrogen fertilizer (for example, mullein or similar), or even better, a complete complex type of nitroammophoska or some kind of special one for pumpkin (the same Agricola).
Video: pumpkin seedling growth in a week
When and how to plant pumpkin seedlings in open ground
The signal for planting pumpkin seedlings in open ground is the appearance of sufficiently developed 2-3 true leaves in it and the achievement of a height of seedlings of 15-20 centimeters.
As for the timing of the landing, by this time the earth should warm up enough (up to + 8-12 degrees), and the weather should be stable warm (above +10 degrees).
Like all pumpkin, pumpkin does not tolerate frost, but it can endure short frosts (unlike other melons).
Depending on climatic conditions, as a rule, a favorable period begins in the second half of April in the Southern regions, in mid-May - in the Middle lane (Moscow region), at the end of May - in the Urals and Siberia.
Advice! It will be very prudent if, 5-7 days before planting the seedlings in the garden, you harden your plants, namely, you begin to take them out to the balcony (or loggia) or to the greenhouse, gradually increasing the residence time from 1-2 hours to a whole day.
It is optimal to plant a pumpkin in the garden in the evening or in the afternoon, in cloudy weather, when the sun has gone or hidden behind the clouds.
Pumpkin seedlings are planted according to a certain pattern, as a rule, it is indicated on the seed packaging (most often at a distance of 80 to 150 cm from each other).
The place for growing pumpkins should be the sunniest.
Transplanting into the ground should be done carefully, slowly taking out the seedlings along with the lump, and in no case damaging the root system of the plant. It is better to make the hole large enough: pour a mixture of humus and ash on the bottom, spill it with warm water, put a seedling, and then cover it with garden soil. As soon as the landing is carried out, the plantings can be mulched with humus.
Video: planting pumpkin seedlings in open ground
Thus, even a novice gardener can grow pumpkin seedlings at home. The main thing is to initially choose a good variety, decide on the timing, prepare the seeds and plant them correctly.
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