Pumpkin planting and care in the open field in the Leningrad region

The chemical composition of pumpkin is rich in vitamins and minerals that are useful for the normal functioning of human organs. This explains the popularity of growing vegetables in the garden beds. Culture enjoys success among farmers for industrial cultivation... In this review, we will talk about the features of planting pumpkin seeds and seedlings in open ground and further care.

Terms for planting pumpkin in Belarus, Ukraine, Leningrad region and other regions

A crop is planted after the soil is completely warmed up, and the average daily temperature does not fall below + 10 ° C. If, when sowing in spring, the temperature is below + 13 ° C, then the germination process slows down, which threatens seed rot. In the middle lane, the best dates for planting seeds fall in the second decade of May. According to folk traditions, the sowing day coincides with the church holiday - St. George's Day, but you should not rely on the landmark date without taking into account the weather conditions.

The pumpkin is planted in open ground in late spring

In the southern regions, as well as in Belarus, Ukraine, Donbass, where weather conditions permit, pumpkin can be planted at the end of April. According to the lunar calendar, this period coincides with the growing moon, which is favorable for the development of fruit-tops.

Most popular varieties

For Moscow region

Premiere

Table pumpkin Premiere

Cold-hardy crop with a sprawling long lash and sweet-tasting large fruits hanging over mature up to 6 kg. The culture is unpretentious to the type of soil, its fertility.

Dachnaya

Pumpkin grade Dachnaya

Culture with an early ripening period (75-85 days). The vegetable is characterized by a sweetish taste with hints of vanilla. Ripe pumpkin weighs 3-4 kg. Duration of storage of fruits is more than 4 months.

For the Urals

Russian woman

Pumpkin Russian woman

The plant is resistant to garden diseases and frost. The pulp is juicy and sugar, for which it is appreciated by culinary experts. The mass of the Russian pumpkin exceeds 2.7 kg. The ripening period of the crop is 110-130 days. The ripe fruit is orange.

Pearl nutmeg

Pumpkin nutmeg pearl

Butternut squash ripens in 100 days the weight of the pumpkins is about 5-7 kg. The taste is full-bodied with a nutmeg note. The plant is cold-resistant, tolerates drought and heavy rainfall, has a strong immunity.

The best varieties of Siberia

Freckle

Pumpkin variety Freckle

Plant with vegetation days. The pulp is very juicy and sweet, tastes like a melon. Even after heat treatment, it retains a crispy structure. Pumpkin weight does not exceed 3 kg.

Smile

Pumpkin Smile

Shrub variety. The culture easily tolerates temperature extremes and withstands frost, shows resistance to a humid environment. The variety has excellent taste and long shelf life (up to the next season). The duration of the growing season is 90-110 days, fruit weight - 2.1-3 kg.

Correct planting of a plant in open ground

The key to yield is correct planting, which includes the preparation of seeds and soil, as well as the process of laying planting material in the hole.

Seed preparation: check for germination and germination

Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds

Seed material must first be checked for germination and sorted, leaving only healthy specimens. 3 days before the start of sowing, the grains must be germinated in wet gauze or sawdust. To speed up the germination of seeds at home, they are placed in a solution of sodium or potassium humate for 2 days. The container should be kept in a room all this time, where the temperature regime is 20 ° C.

The soil

The soil must be prepared before planting. To do this, they dig it up, apply fertilizers: potash, phosphorus, compost or manure. It is better to use complex ones, they enrich the soil with various nutrients. For example, 2 buckets of humus, ½ buckets of sawdust, 1 kg of ash, 1 glass of nitrophoska are introduced per 1 m2.

The depth of digging the soil should be at least 35-50 cm. To disinfect the site, it is necessary to pour it with hot water.

Where to plant a pumpkin in the country? A sunny, well-ventilated place is chosen for landing. Precursors such as potatoes, sunflowers, melons, and watermelon will not work. But after legumes, tomatoes and beets, the plant will feel great. The same site should also not be used for disembarkation, the break should be 4-5 years.

Planting seeds and seedlings in the country

The distance between the holes should be at least 60 cm, because the lash of the plant is actively developing and spreading over a large space. When determining the scheme, it is better to be guided by the characteristics of the variety. More often, gardeners use this planting option:

• embedment depth seeds - 8-10 cm (on light soils), 5-6 cm (on loams) with the sharp side down;
• interval between holes in a row - 60-80 cm;
• distance between rows - 1 m.

Pumpkin is not recommended to be planted next to potatoes

For spreading lashes, the scheme is used: 1x1.5 m. To protect the planting from spring frosts, it is recommended to cover the bed with a film.

Experienced gardeners use the lunar calendar when planning planting work in the garden. The terms indicated in it affect the speed of plant development. It is recommended to plant a pumpkin on the growing moon:

• in March begin to plant seeds for seedlings (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 numbers);
• in April sowing is permissible in open ground (17-22, 24-29);
• in May (16 - 21, 23 - 28 numbers).

In addition to 3-4 seeds, organic fertilizers are introduced into each hole: manure, humus or peat. To moisturize, use warm water (2 liters per hole).

In the Leningrad region, the Moscow region, in the Urals, in Siberia, pumpkin is grown in seedlings. The technology of planting young plants in the ground does not differ from planting seeds.

And what to do if the pumpkin seedlings are strongly elongated?In cases of excessive activity of seedling growth, when the stem becomes thin and unnecessarily long, the first thing to do is to transplant the plants into larger pots, providing the necessary space.

Growing at home and further care

At home, pumpkin can be grown on almost any soil. The culture shows tolerance to adverse weather conditions, even when it has begun to germinate. But these facts do not mean that the culture does not need to be cared for.

How long will the seeds germinate?

The timing of seed germination depends solely on the temperature regime. If the night indicator does not fall below 12-14 °, the seeds will begin to sprout in a week. Even if the weather is cool, after a month, 2-3 leaves are already developing on the shoot.

Pre-planting soaking of seeds in growth stimulants will help speed up the germination process. In addition to special means, aloe juice, infusion of wood ash, potato juice, honey solution are used.

Watering rules

Watering the pumpkin during flowering is especially important: moisture is necessary for the formation of female inflorescences

The pumpkin needs watering, but in moderation. Excessive moisture will provoke the pulling of the seedlings. It is better to water the soil after loosening and weeding. The culture tolerates drought well, but the reaction to cold water from the main line can be negative. Therefore, experts recommend using the settled liquid from the well.

Top dressing

The plant is very fond of feeding. Already a week after germination of seedlings, the first complementary food is introduced. The plant gets ideal nutrition from the mullein solution. Nitrophoska is considered no less effective (15 grams per bucket of water). She and carry out subsequent feeding with an interval of 10-14 days.

The correct formation of the seedling is expressed in a low but strong stem, short internodes, the presence of 3 leaves after a month.

Forming pumpkins

Scheme of the formation of pumpkin lashes

As soon as 2-3 true leaves appear on the seedlings, you need to thin out the garden bed. When growing large-fruited pumpkin, only one sprout is left, nutmeg and hard-bark - 2 seedlings each.

The developing lash should also be shaped by removing excess ovaries and lateral shoots. This is done in two ways: in one stem and in two. In the first case, it is recommended to leave only 2-3 ovaries, on which there are 3-4 leaves. In the second method, 2 fruits are left on the main stem, and one on the side shoot. Without such a procedure, the fruits will be small and not very tasty.

Pests and prevention

Pumpkin is considered an unpretentious plant, however, this culture is also threatened by pests. Reducing productivity, and sometimes destroying young shoots can:

• slugs;
• melon aphid.

When signs of an invasion of pests are detected, special preparations are used (Actellik, Fufanon, Tsitkor, etc.). Products made from biological components are safer. In efficiency, sometimes folk methods are not inferior, among which deserve attention:

• decoctions and infusions from pharmacy chamomile;
• infusions of potato and tomato tops;
• decoctions of wormwood and other aromatic herbs;
• wood ash;
• tobacco dust;
• slaked lime, etc.

Working solutions are used for spraying plants, and powders are used for dusting. The procedures are repeated 2-3 times at intervals of 7-10 days.

For an instant reaction to an invasion of pests, it is necessary to make it a rule to inspect the beds with a regularity of 1 every 3 days. Then you can localize the problem and save the harvest.

Harvesting

You can determine the maturity of a pumpkin by the following criteria:

• the peduncle becomes more rigid, the surface is corked, its woodiness occurs simultaneously with the stem supplying food;
• the leaves on the whip dry up, change color to yellow;
• whatever the original peel color, after ripening, reflects the texture pattern more vividly;
• if you run your fingernail over the crust, no trace is formed;
• when you press your fingers on the fetus, feel hard;
• ripe product is covered matte bloom;
• when tapped, audible ringing knock;
• when harvesting the peduncle is easy to remove.

It is necessary to harvest the pumpkin before stable frosts.

To ensure the crop has a long shelf life, it is necessary to pluck the fruits carefully, taking care not to damage the rind. Scratches should be sealed with a bactericidal plaster so that microbes do not penetrate into the vegetable.

The fruits removed from the garden are placed in a dry room, where they ripen for about a month.

The main guarantee of a good harvest is correct selection of seeds and timely care. Self-grown pumpkin diversifies the menu for households, enriches the body with nutrients.

Pumpkin is a popular and demanded vegetable, the composition of which is rich in various vitamins. It is necessary to understand that pumpkin is rich in vitamins from seeds to pulp. It is very easy to grow this vegetable crop at home, and it is not at all necessary to build a greenhouse for this. Pumpkin grows under any conditions and gives a high yield. But if you just do nothing, then you will hardly get the desired result.

What are the best pumpkin varieties used by gardeners most often, indicated in the article.

How and when to plant

Taking into account the biological characteristics of the selected pumpkin variety and climatic conditions, the time for sowing may vary. For planting a hard-bore and large-fruited pumpkin, it is necessary that the soil warms up to a temperature of 10 degrees, but the temperature regime of the air is up to 15 degrees.

For early sowing, it is important that the crop receives heat from biofuels, as well as frost protection in the form of a film.

Land preparation

To obtain a high result, it is necessary to plant the planting material in loose fertile soil. In this case, the selected area should be well lit and located on a hill. The use of swampy soil and lowlands is not recommended.

To create greenhouse conditions for the plant, it is worth planting seeds along the fence and walls located on the south side. Thanks to this, it is possible to form a barrier from cold winds and allow the sun's rays to penetrate into the ground as much as possible.

On the video - pumpkin, growing and care in the open field:

It is possible to get a high yield, provided that the pumpkin is planted in the garden where the following crops used to grow:

• peas,
• beans,
• tomatoes,
• cabbage,
• potato.

The soil must be neutral, it must contain organic fertilizers. Preparing the soil should start in the fall. For this, manure, humus, superphosphate and potassium chloride are introduced. In the spring, it is worth introducing only ammonium nitrate into the soil.

Preparation of planting material

Each summer resident uses his own method of seed preparation. If you want to get 100% viable sprouts, then first soak the seeds in a sodium humate solution. Keep them there for a day, and then cover with a damp cloth for 2 days. During this time periodically moisten the matter with water. The temperature regime in the room should be 22-23 degrees.

Sometimes inexperienced gardeners begin to plant unprepared planting material, and then wonder why they have so few shoots. If you use several varieties of pumpkin at once, then in order to save time, it is worth soaking several types of seeds at once and waiting for them to grow.

Raising seedlings

There are two ways to grow seedlings: in a greenhouse or on a windowsill. The second option is in great demand, so we will consider it in more detail.

First you need to prepare a container for planting seeds. An excellent option would be pots with a diameter of 15 cm. Fill them with a mixture of turf, humus and peat, taken in a 1: 2: 1 ratio.

Do not fill the entire pot, but only 2/3 of it. 20 days before the intended planting, it is necessary to place the germinated seeds in a container and sprinkle a mixture of ash and mullein on top. When sprouts are formed, the seedlings are brought into the room, where the temperature regime is 13-14 degrees.

The sprouts must be constantly irrigated and fed. To obtain a solution, it is worth mixing the following components:

• water - 8-10 liters;
• double superphosphate - 20 g;
• potassium sulfate and saltpeter - 15 g each;
• garden mixture - 50 g.

For full nutrition of each culture, it is necessary to use 0.5 liters of solution. When 3 true leaves appear on the plant, you can plant it in open soil.

This article explains how to properly soak tomato seeds before planting.

How tomato seedlings are grown at home is indicated in the article.

How tomatoes are grown in a polycarbonate greenhouse is indicated here: Planting seeds

If you decide to plant a pumpkin in an open area with seeds right away, then you need to wait until the soil warms up to a temperature of 11-12 degrees. The selected land plot should be prepared as follows:

1. Run holes, place them at a distance of 50 cm from each other. A distance of 1.5-2 m must be observed between the rows.Place ½ a bucket of humus, 500 g of ash, 20 g of nitrophosphate in each cavity.
2. Mix the entire contents, pour with a warm solution of potassium permanganate.
3. Place 2-3 germinated seeds in each groove to a depth of 5 cm.
4. When there are entrances, no more than 1-2 shoots should be present in one hole. If there is a danger of frost, then the crops should be protected by covering them with plastic wrap.

Planting seedlings

For each emergence, it is necessary to prepare a hole, its depth will be 10 cm. Between the grooves, a distance of 1 m from each other must be observed. The distance between the rows should be 2 m.

Before planting the seedlings, add 2 kg of compost to each groove and pour warm water over everything. After planting the seedlings, grind the holes with dry soil to avoid crusting. During the first week, you need to monitor the plants very carefully. If there is a danger of bad weather conditions, then it is worth covering the plant using paper caps.

Very often, gardeners use plastic cups to grow pumpkin seedlings. If you will be planting a crop in an open area, then it must be removed very carefully so as not to harm the root system. Otherwise, you will not be able to get a high yield.

How tomato seeds look and are used for a polycarbonate greenhouse can be found in the article.

What self-pollinated high-yielding varieties of tomatoes for open ground are most often used is indicated in the article.

How low-growing large-fruited tomatoes look for open ground can be seen from the article here:

Which of the earliest tomatoes for open ground are best used is indicated in the article.

Raising a plant

Only proper care of the planted crop is a guarantee of a high yield.

Watering

Since pumpkin is a moisture-loving plant, it must be watered abundantly. This culture is characterized by a developed root system. Through it, the shoots draw a lot of liquid from the soil. Water the pumpkin abundantly during flowering and fruit formation.

As soon as a drought sets in, it is worth irrigating the plant with water, the temperature of which will be 20 degrees. It is not recommended to use water from the well, otherwise the culture will die. It is worth watering the pumpkin after loosening the soil and removing weeds.

Food

To obtain a large harvest, it is necessary to periodically feed the plant.The first feeding is carried out after the formation of 3-5 true leaves. When the loops begin to form, it will be necessary to introduce a nitrophosphate. With frequent rains, fertilizers are applied dry, and with drought, an aqueous solution is prepared.

Formation

In order to guarantee a high yield, it is necessary to produce a culture formation.

This can be done in two ways:

1. Formation into 1 stem... It is necessary to remove all unnecessary ovaries and shoots located on the side. There should be 2-3 ovaries on the loop. And after them - 3-4 leaves. The growth point is plucked. If this moment is left unattended, then the number of leaves will increase, and the size of the fruits will be small.
2. Forming into 2 stems... It is necessary to leave 2 fruits on the main loop, and 1 on the side loop. There should be 3 leaves after the fruits. The top is also pinched.

Fighting enemies

Most often, pumpkin is affected by such pests:

1. Powdery mildew... Small white blotches can be found on the leaves. If you do not take measures to combat the disease, then the damaged leaves will turn yellow and fall off. In case of failure to provide help to the plant, damage is inflicted even on the fruits.
2. Olive spot... Small ulcers appear on the stems, and brown blotches on the leaves. After that, the spots move to the fruit. The result of this process will be the death of the ovary and the loss of the taste of the product itself.
3. Slugs... They spoil ripening foods. To eliminate such a misfortune, it is necessary to knock ash, tooth powder or superphosphate to the ground located near the pumpkin.

The video tells how to plant a pumpkin in open ground with seeds:

To protect your plants from insects and ailments, you need to use effective drugs. You can use them yourself at home. The main thing is to strictly follow the basic processing rules.

Landing scheme

If a crop with a hard peel and large fruits is being planted, then the seeds should be placed in the ground to a depth of 5-8 cm.

When planting seeds of long-growing varieties, it is necessary to do this in a row. Observe a distance of 1.5-2 m between the holes, and 1.4-2 m between the rows. Shrub plants should be planted according to the scheme 80x80 cm or 1.2x1.2 m.The distance between seeds should be 3-4 cm.

Growing in different areas

When growing pumpkin, it is very important to take into account the climatic region. The most optimal place for it is the Crimea. There, gardeners set aside a large plot for growing crops. If we consider the northern or temperate regions, then this crop should be planted between other plants.

Since pumpkin is a heat-loving plant, it is worth organizing real steam pits for cultivation in the northern regions. Horse manure and compost are placed there.

In the suburbs and the Leningrad region

Since there are short and colder summers in this zone, the pumpkin is grown by seedlings. In mid-April, it is worth soaking the planting material. When the frosts are behind, the seedlings can be sent to the ground.

Ural and Siberia

For areas with cold climates, frosts last until mid-June. It is necessary to grow seedlings in early May. Already in June, plant seedlings on a compost heap. You should definitely irrigate and fertilize the plant. Also, do not forget about pinching the whip.

Growing pumpkin outdoors is a complex and demanding process. For a good result, it is very important to carefully prepare the seeds and soil. But this is not the end of the gardener's work. It is necessary to properly organize the care of the crop so that it develops and bears fruit correctly.

Among melons and gourds, there are real champions, whose yield exceeds the wildest expectations, often puzzling the gardener with the question of what to do with the ripened wealth. The cultivation of pumpkin will help to verify this.Along with the high fertility of her bushes, gardeners are attracted by the ease of caring for them. But to show everything that they are capable of, numerous varieties of crops will be able only if the rules of agricultural technology are observed.

Site requirements

Pumpkin is not capricious, but it loves warmth and light and does not tolerate waterlogging. Therefore, it is better to place the beds with it on a dry and well-warmed area by the sun, where the ground does not cool much even at night. The ideal option for a pumpkin is to plant it on a compost heap. Here, her bushes will be warm and "satisfying", especially if you put superphosphate and wood ash (in small quantities) in each hole. For early and abundant fruiting, the plant needs a short daylight hours - less than 12 hours.

Areas suitable for pumpkins where green manures grew last season or beds with the following crops were located:

• onions;
• cabbage;
• carrots;
• beets;
• soy;
• beans;
• beans;
• peas;
• peanuts;
• lentils.

On the soil freed after harvesting cucumbers, zucchini, squash, sunflowers and melons, its bushes will be less comfortable. In the same place, the pumpkin can be planted only after 5 years.

The quality of the soil determines the size and taste of the future harvest. Pumpkin is capable of growing and bearing fruit even in poor land, but it will not work sweet and large in such conditions. Her bushes require a lot of nutrients to form vegetables of impressive size. It is correct to plant plants in loose soil with a neutral reaction, well filled with fertilizers.

The preparation of the site for the pumpkin begins in the fall. Before digging low-fertile soil, compost or manure is introduced into it (3-5 kg ​​per 1 m²). If the land in the country is heavy, add ash (200-300 g). You can replace it with lime without changing the dosage of the substance. Sour soil is also treated. A mandatory procedure is filling the soil with phosphorus-potassium compounds. The deeper you dig the soil, the better the pumpkin will develop in it.

In the spring, the site is harrowed. They do this early, when the snow has just melted from it. It is important to comply with the recommended deadlines, otherwise the earth may dry out. In the future, light loosening of the soil is carried out, choosing the roots of the weeds from it. Before placing seeds or pumpkin seedlings into it, it is dug up again, deepening by 12-18 cm.

Advice

If the site was not fertilized in the fall, nutrient compositions - humus (compost), superphosphate, wood ash - are introduced during planting, adding them to each hole and thoroughly mixing with the soil.

Pre-sowing treatment

In order for pumpkin seeds to sprout quickly and amicably, they are processed before planting. This is especially important if they were collected a long time ago. Such seeds are correctly checked for germination. To do this, you need a solution of table salt (at a concentration of 25-30%). Having poured the seed into it, they observe it. Quality seeds are heavy, they will drown. Empty and unripe - will remain on the surface.

There are several effective ways to pre-plant pumpkin seeds. The easiest way is to soak them and leave them to germinate in a humid environment: sawdust, a piece of cloth or moss, gauze. They will need a little time to hatch - only 3 days. You can carry out heating or bubbling pumpkin seeds. To reduce the risk of damage to plants by pests and diseases, planting material is etched in a strong solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes.

Another option is to put pumpkin seeds in a nutrient solution made from ash or liquid fertilizer from a series of humates for a day. You can use a growth stimulant drug. Then they need to germinate. Having wrapped the pumpkin seeds in a damp cloth, they are allowed to lie down for 1-2 days in a room where the air is warmed up to 22-23˚C. The cocoon is not allowed to dry out by regularly sprinkling it with water.

Getting seedlings

There are 2 ways to grow pumpkin:

1. through seedlings;
2. sowing seeds directly to the beds.

Which one to choose depends on the type of culture and the characteristics of the climate of the area. In a seedless way, pumpkin is planted mainly in the south. In the middle lane and in regions where the summer is even shorter and colder (in the Leningrad region, in the Urals, in Siberia), when sown in open ground, its fruits often do not have time to ripen.

The gymnospermous variety of pumpkin requires a special approach. If the spring is cold and rainy, its seeds in the beds will rot without germinating. Through seedlings, nutmeg pumpkin is also grown, which is loved by summer residents for its sweet taste and impressive size of fruits. Especially popular with them are the Pearl Muscat and Muscat de Provence varieties.

Pumpkin seedlings are grown in separate containers: plastic cups, peat pots. They should be wide - 10-15 cm in diameter. A fertile mixture of three components is poured at the bottom of the container:

• humus;
• turf land;
• peat.

They are taken in a 2: 1: 1 ratio. The container is only half filled. Put on top the hatched pumpkin seed, sprinkling it with the same substrate, but with a spilled mullein solution (5%) and supplemented with wood ash (10-15 g). Having well moistened the soil mixture, the container is covered with a film. This pumpkin planting is carried out in April-May. The exact dates are determined by the planned date of placing the plants on the beds: seeds are sown in containers 20-25 days before it.

Seedling care and planting in the ground

For germination, pumpkin seeds need two conditions:

• a lot of light (excluding direct rays of the sun);
• heat (the air temperature in the room with seedlings should be within 25-27˚C).

When shoots appear, it is reduced to 15-20˚C in the daytime and to 12-13˚C at night. Otherwise, the pumpkin seedlings will stretch out. But even this can be combated. When their age is 7-10 days, the section of the stem located under the cotyledons is twisted into a ring, and moist soil is poured on top. If done correctly, the seedling will be underground to the cotyledon leaves.

Pumpkin seedlings need moderate watering. It is impossible to allow waterlogging of the soil in containers. Young pumpkins are fed twice before planting in the beds. The nutritional composition is prepared on the basis of mullein, ammonium sulfate and phosphorus-potassium preparations.

By the time they are placed in open ground, seedlings should release at least 3 true leaves. Before planting the pumpkin in the garden beds, it is hardened for 5-10 days. After placing containers with plants on the balcony or veranda, open the window. At first, the airing is done for a short time (1-1.5 hours), but every day this time is increased. At the end of hardening, the window is kept open constantly.

Seedlings are planted in the same way as pumpkin seeds, but the depth of the hole is increased. The root system of plants should completely enter it and be 8-10 cm below ground level. Having poured 1.5-2 liters of hot water into the hole, they wait until it is absorbed, and then the seedling is transferred without disturbing the soil coma. The voids are covered with soil and compacted well. The surface of the garden bed is mulched. Even dry soil can be used for this. Its task is to prevent the formation of soil crust and retain moisture.

Sowing in the beds

Planting the pumpkin in open ground will be possible when the ground warms up to 12-13˚C to a depth of 7-8 cm. This usually happens in mid-May. Having made a wide (70 cm) bed for the pumpkin, they mark holes on it. That's right, if they are at a distance of 1 m from each other.Their diameter is made equal to 30 cm, and the row spacing is 2 m.

Advice

It will be more convenient to care for the landings if you arrange the holes in a checkerboard pattern.

After abundantly moistening each well with hot (about 50˚C) water and waiting for it to be completely absorbed, lay out 2-3 pumpkin seeds, leaving more free space between them. The planting depth is determined by the soil structure. On medium loam, pumpkin seeds are covered with a fertile substrate by 5-6 cm.If the soil is light, the thickness of its layer is increased to 8-10 cm.

After mulching the holes with humus or peat, they are covered with a film. To fix it, earth is poured around the edges. So pumpkin shoots will appear faster. They will have to wait about a week. When the shoots appear from the soil, the shelter is removed.

At the stage of 2 true leaves, the seedlings are thinned, leaving a maximum of 2 of them if the pumpkin is nutmeg or hard-barked. Having chosen large-fruited varieties of culture (Zorka, Smile, Sweetie) for breeding on the site, you will have to limit yourself to one plant per well. It is not recommended to pull out extra seedlings - there is a high risk of injuring the root system of those remaining in the garden. It is better to cut them flush with the soil. If the threat of frost persists, the seedlings are placed under the film, pulling it over a wire frame or arcs.

Alternative cultivation

If the size of the site does not allow to allocate a plantation for spreading pumpkin lashes, this is not a reason to abandon the cultivation of a crop. You can plant seedlings in a barrel. Old containers without a bottom are ideal for these purposes. New drums will need to be drilled at the sides and bottom to avoid moisture stagnation. Hanging lashes of pumpkin under the weight of the crop can be injured by sharp edges and even break. An ordinary rubber hose will save them from this. It is cut in half and put on the edge of the barrel.

The walls of the container are painted on the outside in a dark color. This will keep them hotter and prevent them from rusting. Having installed the barrel in a sunny place, it is filled with biomass, creating a kind of warm bed. Thin branches, paper, weeds with powerful roots, thick grass stems - any organic matter that reheat slowly are placed on the bottom. Put on top what will quickly turn into compost: leaves, grass, vegetable tops. So a barrel for planting pumpkins is prepared in the fall.

If this is done in the spring, half-rotted organic matter from a compost heap, humus, sod or fresh grass is poured into it. All this is carefully compacted. When there is no more space in the barrel, its contents are poured abundantly, first with water, and then with a solution of a special preparation, which contains effective microorganisms. Within a month, they will decompose organic residues into nutrients, making it easier for the pumpkin to absorb them. This explains the timing of the procedure - the end of April and the first days of May. While the bacteria are working, the pumpkin seedlings will grow to the correct size.

Advice

Instead of a barrel, you can use car tires by placing them on top of each other.

Fundamentals of agricultural technology

Pumpkin seedlings placed in the garden need frequent watering. They spend it every day until they finally take root in a new place. After that, watering is reduced to a minimum. In a rainy summer, you can do without it at all.

When the ovaries begin to resemble a fist in size, the pumpkin bushes will again need a lot of moisture. Water the plantings during this period once a week, spending 1 bucket of water per bush. Ample hydration is especially important for the pumpkin on hot days. Before harvesting, watering the plantings is stopped. If this recommendation is neglected, the fruits will be stored worse. Their taste will also suffer: they will become less sweet.

Pumpkin responds well to soil loosening. It is advisable to carry out them after each moistening, while removing weeds. They begin to loosen the soil from the moment of emergence, going deep into it under the bushes by 6-8 cm. The soil in the aisles is treated more intensively - by 12-18 cm. It is better to do this before moistening, then the water will reach the plant roots faster. When loosening, it is recommended to huddle pumpkin bushes a little. This technique will make them more stable.

Plantings are fed often - at intervals of 1-1.5 weeks. The nutritional composition is prepared from mullein (1 l) and nitrophoska (2 tbsp. L). They are stirred in 10 liters of water. 1.5 buckets of solution are poured under an adult bush. The first feeding is started when a week has passed from the moment the seedlings are placed on the beds.If the pumpkin seeds were planted immediately in the ground, you need to count 3 weeks from the date of the procedure. During this period, it is better to water the plants with 4 times diluted water with manure or chicken droppings. Another fertilizer option is wood ash (1 glass of substance per 10 liters of water).

Before the first feeding, shallow (6-8 cm) grooves are made around the pumpkin seedlings, stepping back 10-12 cm from the plants. The nutrient composition is poured into them. In the future, the depth of the grooves is increased by 4 cm, digging them at a distance of 40 cm from the bushes. Having introduced fertilizers, the grooves are sprinkled with earth.

Bush formation

The most important thing in pumpkin care is to form the bush correctly. When the length of its main stem is 1.3-1.5 m, it will need to be pinched. Of the numerous side shoots, only 2 are left, removing the extra ones. In length, they should reach 60-70 cm. In order for the pumpkin to mature large, the ovaries are normalized: one for each shoot.

The fruit will flow faster if you press the whips to the ground. This is done with a small wooden spear or wire. Soil is poured on top of the shoot. The optimum thickness of its layer is 6-7 cm. Under the ground, additional roots are formed on the shoots. So that ripening pumpkins do not get dirty in the ground and they are not affected by rot, glass or a piece of plywood is placed under the fruit.

If the pumpkin is decorative, its shoots will need support. Growing quickly, they can easily disguise old buildings, pillars, sheds, fences on the site, twine a gazebo or trellis, creating a secluded green corner. But the whips of such plants are heavy, so a reliable support must be found for them. Organic compounds are more suitable for feeding them. Otherwise, the decorative variety of the crop is grown in the same way as the usual one.

A pumpkin, planting and caring for which will require minimal skills from a summer resident, is a very grateful plant. With competent agricultural technology, it is able to feed more than one family with its tasty and healthy fruits. Despite the heat-loving culture, it is grown almost everywhere. Even in unsuitable conditions for pumpkin in Siberia and the Leningrad region, its bushes will be able to bring a harvest. You just need to equip warm beds and prepare high-quality seedlings.

The chemical composition of pumpkin is rich in vitamins and minerals that are useful for the normal functioning of human organs. This explains the popularity of growing vegetables in the garden beds. Culture enjoys success among farmers for industrial cultivation... In this review, we will talk about the features of planting pumpkin seeds and seedlings in open ground and further care.

Terms for planting pumpkin in Belarus, Ukraine, Leningrad region and other regions

A crop is planted after the soil is completely warmed up, and the average daily temperature does not fall below + 10 ° C. If, when sowing in spring, the temperature is below + 13 ° C, then the germination process slows down, which threatens seed rot. In the middle lane, the best dates for planting seeds fall in the second decade of May. According to folk traditions, the sowing day coincides with the church holiday - St. George's Day, but you should not rely on the landmark date without taking into account the weather conditions.

The pumpkin is planted in open ground in late spring

In the southern regions, as well as in Belarus, Ukraine, Donbass, where weather conditions permit, pumpkin can be planted at the end of April. According to the lunar calendar, this period coincides with the growing moon, which is favorable for the development of fruit-tops.

Most popular varieties

For Moscow region

Premiere

Table pumpkin Premiere

Cold-hardy crop with a sprawling long lash and sweet-tasting large fruits hanging over mature up to 6 kg. The culture is unpretentious to the type of soil, its fertility.

Dachnaya

Pumpkin grade Dachnaya

Culture with an early ripening period (75-85 days). The vegetable is characterized by a sweetish taste with hints of vanilla. Ripe pumpkin weighs 3-4 kg. Duration of storage of fruits is more than 4 months.

For the Urals

Russian woman

Pumpkin Russian woman

The plant is resistant to garden diseases and frost. The pulp is juicy and sugar, for which it is appreciated by culinary experts. The mass of the Russian pumpkin exceeds 2.7 kg. The ripening period of the crop is 110-130 days. The ripe fruit is orange.

Pearl nutmeg

Pumpkin nutmeg pearl

Butternut squash ripens in 100 days the weight of the pumpkins is about 5-7 kg. The taste is full-bodied with a nutmeg note. The plant is cold-resistant, tolerates drought and heavy rainfall, has a strong immunity.

The best varieties of Siberia

Freckle

Pumpkin variety Freckle

Plant with vegetation days. The pulp is very juicy and sweet, tastes like a melon. Even after heat treatment, it retains a crispy structure. Pumpkin weight does not exceed 3 kg.

Smile

Pumpkin Smile

Shrub variety. The culture easily tolerates temperature extremes and withstands frost, shows resistance to a humid environment. The variety has excellent taste and long shelf life (up to the next season). The duration of the growing season is 90-110 days, fruit weight - 2.1-3 kg.

Correct planting of a plant in open ground

The key to yield is correct planting, which includes the preparation of seeds and soil, as well as the process of laying planting material in the hole.

Seed preparation: check for germination and germination

Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds

Seed material must first be checked for germination and sorted, leaving only healthy specimens. 3 days before the start of sowing, the grains must be germinated in wet gauze or sawdust. To speed up the germination of seeds at home, they are placed in a solution of sodium or potassium humate for 2 days. The container should be kept in a room all this time, where the temperature regime is 20 ° C.

The soil

The soil must be prepared before planting. To do this, they dig it up, apply fertilizers: potash, phosphorus, compost or manure. It is better to use complex ones, they enrich the soil with various nutrients. For example, 2 buckets of humus, ½ buckets of sawdust, 1 kg of ash, 1 glass of nitrophoska are introduced per 1 m2.

The depth of digging the soil should be at least 35-50 cm. To disinfect the site, it is necessary to pour it with hot water.

Where to plant a pumpkin in the country? A sunny, well-ventilated place is chosen for landing. Precursors such as potatoes, sunflowers, melons, and watermelon will not work. But after legumes, tomatoes and beets, the plant will feel great. The same site should also not be used for disembarkation, the break should be 4-5 years.

Planting seeds and seedlings in the country

The distance between the holes should be at least 60 cm, because the lash of the plant is actively developing and spreading over a large space. When determining the scheme, it is better to be guided by the characteristics of the variety. More often, gardeners use this planting option:

• embedment depth seeds - 8-10 cm (on light soils), 5-6 cm (on loams) with the sharp side down;
• interval between holes in a row - 60-80 cm;
• distance between rows - 1 m.

Pumpkin is not recommended to be planted next to potatoes

For spreading lashes, the scheme is used: 1x1.5 m. To protect the planting from spring frosts, it is recommended to cover the bed with a film.

Experienced gardeners use the lunar calendar when planning planting work in the garden. The terms indicated in it affect the speed of plant development. It is recommended to plant a pumpkin on the growing moon:

• in March start planting seeds for seedlings (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23);
• in April sowing is permissible in open ground (17-22, 24-29);
• in May (16 - 21, 23 - 28 numbers).

In addition to 3-4 seeds, organic fertilizers are introduced into each hole: manure, humus or peat. To moisturize, use warm water (2 liters per hole).

In the Leningrad region, the Moscow region, in the Urals, in Siberia, pumpkin is grown in seedlings. The technology of planting young plants in the ground does not differ from planting seeds.

And what to do if the pumpkin seedlings are strongly elongated?In cases of excessive activity of seedling growth, when the stem becomes thin and unnecessarily long, the first thing to do is to transplant the plants into larger pots, providing the necessary space.

Growing at home and further care

At home, pumpkin can be grown on almost any soil. The culture shows tolerance to adverse weather conditions, even when it has begun to germinate. But these facts do not mean that the culture does not need to be cared for.

How long will the seeds germinate?

The timing of seed germination depends solely on the temperature regime. If the night indicator does not fall below 12-14 °, the seeds will begin to sprout in a week. Even if the weather is cool, after a month, 2-3 leaves are already developing on the shoot.

Pre-planting soaking of seeds in growth stimulants will help speed up the germination process. In addition to special means, aloe juice, infusion of wood ash, potato juice, honey solution are used.

Watering rules

Watering the pumpkin during flowering is especially important: moisture is necessary for the formation of female inflorescences

The pumpkin needs watering, but in moderation. Excessive moisture will provoke the pulling of the seedlings. It is better to water the soil after loosening and weeding. The culture tolerates drought well, but the reaction to cold water from the main line can be negative. Therefore, experts recommend using the settled liquid from the well.

Top dressing

The plant is very fond of feeding. Already a week after germination of seedlings, the first complementary food is introduced. The plant gets ideal nutrition from the mullein solution. Nitrophoska is considered no less effective (15 grams per bucket of water). She and carry out subsequent feeding with an interval of 10-14 days.

The correct formation of the seedling is expressed in a low but strong stem, short internodes, the presence of 3 leaves after a month.

Forming pumpkins

Scheme of the formation of pumpkin lashes

As soon as 2-3 true leaves appear on the seedlings, you need to thin out the bed. When growing large-fruited pumpkin, only one sprout is left, nutmeg and hard bark - 2 seedlings each.

The developing lash should also be shaped by removing excess ovaries and lateral shoots. This is done in two ways: in one stem and in two. In the first case, it is recommended to leave only 2-3 ovaries, on which there are 3-4 leaves. In the second method, 2 fruits are left on the main stem, and one on the side shoot. Without such a procedure, the fruits will be small and not very tasty.

Pests and prevention

Pumpkin is considered an unpretentious plant, however, this culture is also threatened by pests. Reducing productivity, and sometimes destroying young shoots can:

• slugs;
• melon aphid.

When signs of an invasion of pests are detected, special preparations are used (Actellik, Fufanon, Tsitkor, etc.). Products made from biological components are safer. In efficiency, sometimes folk methods are not inferior, among which deserve attention:

• decoctions and infusions from pharmacy chamomile;
• infusions of potato and tomato tops;
• decoctions of wormwood and other aromatic herbs;
• wood ash;
• tobacco dust;
• slaked lime, etc.

Working solutions are used for spraying plants, and powders are used for dusting. The procedures are repeated 2-3 times at intervals of 7-10 days.

For an instant reaction to an invasion of pests, it is necessary to make it a rule to inspect the beds with a regularity of 1 every 3 days. Then you can localize the problem and save the harvest.

Harvesting

You can determine the maturity of a pumpkin by the following criteria:

• the peduncle becomes more rigid, the surface is corked, its woodiness occurs simultaneously with the stem supplying food;
• the leaves on the whip dry up, change color to yellow;
• whatever the original peel color, after ripening, reflects the texture pattern more vividly;
• if you run your fingernail over the crust, no trace is formed;
• when you press your fingers on the fetus, feel hard;
• ripe product is covered matte bloom;
• when tapped, audible ringing knock;
• when harvesting the peduncle is easy to remove.

It is necessary to harvest the pumpkin before stable frosts.

To ensure the crop has a long shelf life, it is necessary to pluck the fruits carefully, taking care not to damage the rind. Scratches should be sealed with a bactericidal plaster so that microbes do not penetrate into the vegetable.

The fruits removed from the garden are placed in a dry room, where they ripen for about a month.

The main guarantee of a good harvest is correct selection of seeds and timely care. Self-grown pumpkin diversifies the menu for households, enriches the body with nutrients.

Beloved by all, the golden fruit, whose homeland is Mexico, has long taken root in our country and is part of our culinary traditions. By the way, pumpkin sowing is also popular in China and India. What vegetable grower will miss the opportunity to grow such a beauty in his garden? But in order to do this, you need to know how to plant a pumpkin correctly, what factors should be taken into account if you are going to plant a pumpkin in open ground. How to plant a pumpkin in open ground, and how to take care of the plant in the future, read below.

Landing dates

The first question you need to figure out is when to plant a pumpkin in open ground? The planting dates for pumpkins, like all melons and gourds, are at the end of spring (at the same time sowing of all related crops begins). Therefore, it is necessary to place seedlings in the ground at the end of May - beginning of June. At a temperature of 25 degrees, the plant will actively develop, and at 14 it will stop growing and sowing will be in vain. Do not forget that if you want to get an early harvest, plant seeds for seedlings for a period of 25 days.

Seat selection

It is clear that the pumpkin will grow well in the South. But in any case, place the seedlings in a sunny place. Better to plant pumpkin instead of onions, cabbage, carrots, beets, legumes. Avoid places where potatoes, sunflowers, cucumbers, zucchini, melons used to grow. The neighborhood plays a very important role. Some plants can harm the pumpkin, while others can be harmed by the pumpkin itself. Therefore, the question will not be strange: what can be planted next to pumpkins?

You can plant leeks, beans, peas, or spinach nearby. Not recommended to be planted next to potatoes and radishes. It is better not to place beets, carrots, garlic nearby.

What is the reason for this? All melons and gourds abundantly absorb nutrients from the ground, as a result of which they do not allow their neighbors to fully develop. Can pumpkin be planted next to corn? Necessary!

It is better to place pumpkins not in windy places, but if you do not have any, then you can plant corn nearby - create a kind of fence from the wind.

Interestingly, the pumpkin itself cannot be planted after the pumpkin. This is due to soil diseases, the pathogens of which can persist and harm new related plants.

Soil preparation

In relation to the earth, this plant is not picky. But even good soil still needs to be cultivated in the fall. Dig up the site and mix the soil with organic fertilizers - potash and phosphorus. Already in the spring, after the snow melts, loosen the soil and clear the area of ​​weeds. Before sowing the pumpkin, dig everything up well again and apply nitrogen fertilizers.

Make the beds high. Standard sizes: in width - up to 1.5 m, in height - not less than 20 cm, and a distance - half a meter. Sowing can be carried out in different ways, but the most popular is wide row.The scheme for planting pumpkins in the open field differs depending on the variety. For example, a bush pumpkin is usually planted 70 by 70 cm, and a long-leaved pumpkin - 210 by 180 cm. The question "at what distance to plant a pumpkin" now will not baffle you.

How to choose a planting method

If the rate of fruiting is important to you, then you will have to think about choosing a method for planting a pumpkin and further care. Planting usually takes place either by seeds in open ground, or by seeds for seedlings. The second method is relevant for those who are concerned about how to grow a pumpkin in order to get fruits faster.

Features of planting seeds

How to plant pumpkin seeds correctly? First of all, you need to get good seeds. But it is worth considering that not all varieties are sown in open ground. For this, for example, the nutmeg variety, which includes all honey varieties, is not suitable. Planted seeds of this type may simply not sprout. Be sure to pay attention to the freshness and germination of seeds. To do this, you can carry out a test seeding on wet gauze.

When the seeds are checked, you need to start preparing them. Warm them up at 60 degrees for about 2 hours, and then dip them in a solution of potassium permanganate. After these events, the seeds can be planted in the ground.

Features of planting seedlings

If you will grow seeds for seedlings, then all the above rules for preparing seeds are relevant in this case. Prepare a deep tray with sawdust: fill the wood with boiling water and cover with gauze. Place the seeds there. Then fill it with sawdust again and cover with foil. Thus, you have a home greenhouse. The sprouts will begin to be seen already on the 3rd day. Seedlings grown in 25 days must then be moved to open ground.

Further care

Planting a pumpkin in open ground provides for further plant care. Caring for her, like other melons and gourds, includes a number of activities:

• weed cleaning;
• step-by-step feeding: the first - with the appearance of the first leaves, the second - after the formation of ovaries;
• regular watering (especially during the flowering stage);
• pinching of long-growing varieties (there should be no more than 3 fruits on the shoot).

Now the question of how to properly plant a pumpkin in open ground will not bother young vegetable growers. After all, as it turned out, this is not a difficult and time-consuming business. Planting a pumpkin and caring for it in the open field can become not only a common household business, but also a favorite hobby.

Pumpkin is famous not only for its exquisite taste, but also for the content of a rare, but necessary for the human body, vitamin T. Any housewife who planted this vegetable knows that you can feed a huge family with a couple of such fruits, because not only pumpkin porridge is prepared from them, but and preserves, marmalades, mashed potatoes, pies, side dishes.

Video "Planting pumpkins in open ground"

In this video, you will hear helpful tips for planting pumpkins outdoors.

Pumpkin is used fresh, stewed, in the form of mashed potatoes, porridge, soup. It goes well with cereals and vegetables. You can make pancakes from it, stuff and bake in the oven, steam.

In addition to pumpkin pulp, seeds are also used - they contain a lot of protein and vegetable oil. In folk medicine, pumpkin seeds are used as a medicine against intestinal parasites.

Planting a pumpkin

Three types of pumpkins are common in global agricultural production:

• large-fruited;
• firm-mouthed;
• nutmeg.

Numerous varieties of large-fruited pumpkin are used for livestock feed. The fruits of hard-bore pumpkin are gray-skinned, sweet, well stored in apartment conditions. Their flesh is edible raw.

In summer cottages, nutmeg pumpkin is often grown. The sweet and flavorful vegetable is eaten raw. Of the varieties zoned for most regions for planting pumpkins, Almond 35 and Volzhskaya gray should be noted.

Pumpkins grow in any climate, because of this they give the impression of unpretentious plants growing in any vegetable garden.But getting large and high-quality fruits by planting pumpkins in open ground is not easy. In our climate, pumpkins, like any southern plants, lack sunlight and the length of the growing season.

Pumpkin in a short time builds up a gigantic vegetative mass, so the soil must contain many nutrients. Do not plant pumpkin in shade. She needs a lot of light to grow quickly.

Do not plant the pumpkin next to raspberries - aggressive bush will leave the pumpkin without sunlight and it will not set fruit.

The pumpkin can be planted with seeds in the garden bed. The best precursors for pumpkin are nightshade and cabbage vegetables. Planting the pumpkin in the ground near the south side of the buildings will protect you from the cold northeast.

Large pumpkin leaves are easily damaged by the wind. When the leaves are turned over, the plants slow down growth and development. To avoid this, summer residents plant tall crops around the perimeter of the pumpkin area, for example, beans, bell peppers or standard tomatoes. If the size of the plot allows, crops can be sown between the rows of the pumpkin.

The soil will have to be prepared in the fall - to make holes and cover them with fallen leaves. In the spring, the soil under the leaves will quickly warm up. It remains to pour a bucket of fertile soil into the hole and plant 3 seeds each. After the cotyledon leaves open, you need to leave one seedling (the strongest in appearance), and remove the rest. One month after sowing, each plant should have at least three leaves.

Processing the seeds before sowing with aloe juice helps to speed up the development of pumpkin. You need to squeeze out a few drops of juice, dilute with water 1: 5 and soak the seeds in the solution for one hour.

Aloe juice will help young plants grow faster. To do this, cut 3 large leaves from home aloe, squeeze the juice into a five-liter bottle, fill it with rainwater and leave to infuse for several hours. It is enough just once at the beginning of the growing season to pour a 100-gram glass of solution under each bush, and then water the plants with water. The pumpkin will bear large fruits and will ripen earlier.

The pumpkin will only thrive in fertile soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5. An indicator of a suitable ground for a pumpkin will be ordinary nettle - if a weed grows well on the site, then the pumpkin will feel great.

The acidic soils under the pumpkin have to be alkalized. For this, ordinary wood ash or fluff lime is suitable. They are brought into each well in 3 glasses and dug up.

When growing oil pumpkin, boron must be added to the soil - it increases the density of seeds and forms large kernels.

Pumpkin responds well to humic acids contained in manure. However, nitrogen is present in excess in manure, which leads to excessive growth of lashes to the detriment of fruit formation. Therefore, not fresh manure is brought under the pumpkin, but lying in a heap for at least one winter, that is, humus - from this livestock product, nitrogen has partially disappeared.

To increase the yield, add phosphorus to the hole, which is not in the humus.

Strictly observe the pumpkin planting dates. Plant the seeds when the soil warms up above 15 degrees. There are studies showing that planting pumpkin seedlings allows you to get a high yield, but the seedlings should be grown in separate cups, since the roots of the pumpkin do not like damage during transplantation.

Culture loves warmth. At a temperature of 0 degrees, it dies, even if it is a short-term morning frost. Among melons, pumpkin is the most moisture-loving. It tolerates well the close location of soil waters. In dry years, an excellent harvest can be obtained in such areas.

Cultivating the land in autumn and spring for pumpkin is similar to cultivating the beds before planting other vegetables in the family. Anyone who has ever grown cucumbers, zucchini, watermelons or melons will be able to prepare the soil for pumpkins. Like cucumbers, pumpkin can be grown not only on the ground, but also on a pile of old humus.

In southern Russia, seeds are sown in April, in the middle lane - at the end of May. In Siberia, pumpkin is sown at the end of May, but it is taken into account that, if necessary, the seedlings will have to be sheltered from frost, which is possible in the region until mid-June.

In the middle lane, and even more so in the south, there is no need to plant pumpkin seedlings. Seeds are sown in holes of 2-3 pieces. After emergence, the weak are removed, leaving one plant per meter. Seeds of large-fruited varieties are buried 10-12 centimeters, nutmeg seeds are planted to a depth of 8 centimeters.

Before planting, superphosphate and half a bucket of compost are added to the hole, stirring with the soil. After leaving, it will only consist of weeding and watering. In cold climates, gardeners will have to pinch and normalize the fruit so that the set pumpkins have time to ripen.

Pumpkin care

Mistaking the pumpkin as a minor crop and allocating its place in the backyard without watering or fertilizing, you will get a marginal harvest. Growing and caring for pumpkin in the open field, subject to the rules, makes it possible to get from large-fruited varieties, such as Volzhskaya gray, from 4 kg of fruits per square meter. Moreover, each plant can occupy an area of ​​up to 20 square meters.

For novice gardeners, shaping causes difficulties in growing pumpkin. If you do not form the pumpkin correctly, you will not be able to get large fruits. Plants can be formed into one or two lashes. In the first case, a single whip is left and all the side ones are removed at once as they appear. The first 3 ovaries are left on the lash. After the third, three sheets are left, and the rest is removed.

Some gardeners form their pumpkins in 2 lashes - the harvest has time to ripen. Forming a bush into two lianas, two fruits are left on the main whip, and one or, less often, two on the side. Three more leaves are left behind the last ovary and the tops are pinched.

Productivity increases with the use of filling the lashes with earth. Scourges that have reached a length of a meter or more are untangled, laid, directing growth in the right direction, and sprinkled with soil in two or three places. The technique makes it possible to fix the lashes on the surface of the soil, which protects the plant from the wind and helps to form additional roots.

The pumpkins are harvested when the fruit acquires its characteristic color and pattern. Unripe butternut squash can be ripened at home.

Seeds are removed from oilseed varieties immediately, poured into a glass container and poured with cold water for a day. If the fruits are overripe, the seeds should not be soaked to avoid germination. After soaking, the seeds are washed, separated from the pulp and dried in the oven until a thin transparent film covering the surface of the seed falls off.

Vertical Pumpkin Care

It is believed that creepers spread to the south, but this is not the case. The pumpkin grows in all four directions, capturing the adjacent territories. In favorable conditions, stubborn plants can climb vertical surfaces and braid a gazebo, shed or bush.

This can be used by summer residents who do not have enough space for pumpkins on the site. They need to plant not ordinary varieties, but curly ones, since the seeds have appeared on sale. To make the whips climb better, you can pull the twines for them, as for cucumbers. For a "vertical garden" varieties with large fruits are suitable - Spaghetti, Pearl, Russian pumpkin.

The new wax pumpkin is well suited for vertical culture. It has elongated fruits with a dark green, dense crust that feels like wax to the touch. Initially, pumpkins were grown in China and southeastern countries, but now they are gaining popularity in our country. The first variety of wax pumpkin that has become famous in our country is called Chardzhou.

The fruits of the wax gourd are ready for harvesting 125-130 days after sowing, so in the northern regions it is necessary to grow through seedlings.Plants form powerful long stems, fruits are elongated, up to 50 centimeters in length, the weight of each fruit is from six kilograms.

Wax gourd cannot match the taste of butternut squash, but it is a storage champion. The fruits, without drying out or decaying, can lie in the cellar for up to 3 years.

Another still rare pumpkin in our country is figurative. At home in Peru, it is a perennial crop, in our country it is grown as an annual. The pumpkin got its name for the unusual shape of the leaves. She has oval-shaped fruits of green color with a white pattern on the bark. The pulp is white or yellowish, sweet and tasty. Outwardly, the plant and fruits are similar to watermelons.

The length of the shoots of the fig-leaved pumpkin reaches 10 meters, and it is suitable for vertical gardening. Although the plant comes from the tropics, it grows in any region of the country where there is a pumpkin cultivation culture.

Growing pumpkin

Pumpkin loves feeding with ash. This natural fertilizer supplies the plant with potassium, which will be abundant in a properly grown pumpkin (see below for the chemical composition of pumpkin and its value for those who want to lose weight).

According to the technology of growing pumpkin, a month before the harvest, you need to stop watering, then the fruits will acquire firmness and will be well stored. If the fall is rainy, it is better to cover the plants with foil or put an awning over them. The fruits ripen three and a half months after planting the seedlings in the ground. If they did not have time to acquire the characteristic golden or gray color of the variety, they will acquire it later, after lying in the room for several weeks.

Seeds of the unusual Butternut pumpkin have recently appeared on the shelves of seed shops. The plant was bred in Israel, but they learned to grow it in our country too. The fruits of Butternut pumpkin are medium-sized (weighing up to 3 kilograms) and have a pear-shaped shape. The peel is of an even dull color. If you cut the pumpkin fruit lengthwise, then the shape of the cut resembles a mandolin.

The seed chamber is located only in the expanded part of the fruit, because of this, the pulp of the Butternut pumpkin gives more than ordinary hollow pumpkins and zucchini. The flesh of this pumpkin variety is sweet, firm with a fresh fruity aroma. The variety is southern and in the middle lane, when sown with seeds in open ground, it may not pick up the sweetness that is characteristic of it. It is better to grow pumpkin seedlings, and the seeds can be taken from a purchased vegetable.

Pinch the Butternut pumpkin when the whips grow 1 meter. You need to leave no more than 3 lashes on each plant and direct in different directions. Pinching will help you get ripe, large and heavy fruits.

Pumpkins of all varieties are harvested when the stalks are corky and dry. By this time, a characteristic pattern for the variety should have time to form on the peel. Before the first freezing, fruits are harvested, even immature ones, and transferred to ripening in a warmer place, for example, in a greenhouse. Frozen pumpkins will not be stored and will quickly rot.

Pumpkins can be stored permanently in the cellar, hanging by the stalk, or in an apartment on the floor in a dark corner, but you need to keep in mind that mice love the pumpkin. Rodents gnaw through the flesh to get to the delicious pumpkin seeds.

When growing pumpkin seeds, special oilseed varieties are chosen. The fruits of the varieties contain 1-2% of seeds by weight of the pumpkin. Oilseed varieties include Bulgarian, Ladies' marigold, Kherson watermelon, Ukrainian polycarpous, Muscat, Novinka, Polevichka, Valok. Oil varieties have a lower yield than ordinary varieties - no more than 800 kilograms are harvested per hectare.

There are bare-grain varieties that produce husk-free seeds. These are Styrian holozernaya, Holozernaya round and Golosemyannaya. Hull-free seeds are especially appreciated. In retail, they are 40% more expensive than ordinary ones, but it is more difficult to grow naked varieties than ordinary ones, since the seed quickly decays in the soil and has an extremely low germination capacity. Otherwise, caring for gymnosperms is no different from caring for conventional varieties.

Styrian Butter Gourd is an old variety used for pumpkin seed oil production. Pumpkin oil is used in cooking and cosmetology. The variety is prized for its high content of linoleic acid in the seeds, which gives the oil a nutty flavor and aroma. When growing pumpkin in the open field, the yield of the variety is 500-1500 kg per hectare, the weight of the fruit is up to 6 kilograms. The flesh of Styrian Butter Gourd is coarse fiber and is only suitable for livestock feed.

The planting scheme depends on the variety. When growing oil pumpkins, no more than one plant is left per square meter. A denser planting results in lower yields.

What is great about pumpkin is that it drowns out any weed that grows in the garden. This can be used during the introduction of fallow lands into the crop rotation. It is enough to plant a pumpkin in an abandoned area in the first year and it will clear the soil of weeds, blocking the light with powerful leaves. Without access to sunlight, many weeds will wither and die.

It is necessary to weed the garden with pumpkins at the first stage, when the plants sprout. When grown in the field, it is enough to pass the field lengthwise and across the field with a walk-behind tractor twice, while the plants form whips. The pumpkins will then overtake and smother the weeds.

When growing pumpkin without manure and humus, you can use green manure, the best of which is the vetch-oat mixture. It is sown as soon as the soil warms up slightly. After the emergence of pumpkin shoots, vetch and oats are trimmed with a weeder or Fokin's flat cutter.

As a result, the soil is enriched with nutrients, especially nitrogen, and the garden bed remains covered with a layer of green mulch, which helps to retain moisture. The mixture of oats and oats also prevents the establishment of annual weeds.

Pumpkins should not be sown in the same area more than once every 4 years. If the crop rotation is observed, the plants do not suffer from diseases and pests. Of the pests, the gourd aphid annoys the pumpkin more.

There is an interesting way to protect plants from insects. Aphids are afraid of shiny surfaces, so strips of aluminum foil are laid out between the plants to scare off plantings - this avoids spraying with insecticides. Of the diseases, pumpkin is most often affected by powdery mildew.

If you doubt whether it is worth growing pumpkin, then remember that the fruits of a healthy vegetable contain up to 6% carbohydrates (of which 5% are in the form of sugar), there are no organic acids and little fiber (less than 1%). The chemical composition allows the use of pumpkin fruits in dietary and therapeutic nutrition for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including pancreatitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) and hepatitis.

Pumpkin contains more pectin than apples and beets, so it removes a lot of toxic substances and harmful cholesterol from the body. It is also low in sodium salts and high in potassium, so it can be used to feed people with vascular, heart and kidney diseases.

Growing pumpkin outdoors

Pumpkin (Latin Cucurbita) is a vitamin-rich vegetable with a pleasant mild flavor and is used in many dietary dishes. Cultivation of a culture requires compliance with certain conditions and rules, which we will consider in more detail.

Preparing and planting pumpkin in open ground

Growing pumpkin is possible in two ways:

• Planting non-dived seedlings;
• Sowing prepared seeds.

Presowing seed treatment

Growing pumpkin in the open field begins with the preparation of seeds, which are soaked in water, preferably in sodium humate or potassium humate, for a day. Taking the seeds out of the water, they are covered with a damp cloth or gauze for two days, leaving in a shaded place at temperatures up to plus 23 grams. Celsius. The fabric is constantly moisturized. It is not recommended to take seeds from the harvest of the year before last - there may be poor germination.

Pumpkin seeds after germination

For the treatment of diseases, the seeds are immersed in a 30% sodium chloride solution (2 tablespoons of salt per 100 ml of water).Healthy and strong specimens will sink to the bottom, and weak ones will float up and are subject to rejection.

After germination, the sprouts are placed in plastic cups or pots up to 10 cm in diameter, with prepared soil: a peat mixture mixed with sand and garden soil (1: 1: 1).

Growing and caring for pumpkin seedlings

Transplanting and growing pumpkin in the open field in the Moscow region occurs after the appearance of three full-fledged leaves. On average, the seedlings should be about a month old.

Site selection and soil preparation

The plot allocated for the cultivation of pumpkin is chosen far from upright crops, with a flat surface and good access to sunlight. The land is pre-fertilized: per 1 sq.m. take 2 buckets of humus, 0.5 buckets of wood chips, 1 liter of wood ash and 200 g of nitrophoska. The soil is dug 50 cm deep and beds are formed up to 70 cm wide.

Preparing the beds for planting pumpkin

Pumpkin seeds or seedlings are planted in warm soil from mid-May, while the air temperature should exceed the average daily plus 10 grams. Celsius. If the seeds are planted earlier, then they will not be able to develop properly and will rot.

Growing pumpkin outdoors in an area where potatoes, melon, sunflower or watermelon were previously grown is not recommended. In one place, the pumpkin is planted with a break of five years. Sandy loamy, light and medium loamy soils with a neutral Ph 4.5-5 are most suitable for growing pumpkin.

Pumpkin planting technology

Holes for seeds or seedlings are made along the entire bed at a distance of 0.9-1 m from each other and to a depth of 5-7 cm.At least 2 liters of water are poured into each hole, the temperature of which should not be lower than plus 50 grams. Celsius, after which they start sowing.

Sowing pumpkin in open ground

Top mulch with sawdust, straw or peat. Growing pumpkin outdoors in Siberia is slightly different: it is recommended to sow 2 seeds per hole. After their germination, a weaker plant is selected and removed.

Seedling pumpkin after planting in open ground

Agricultural technology for growing pumpkins in the open field includes additional cover for the planted seeds with a film, which is carefully fixed along the perimeter of the garden bed. The covering material creates greenhouse conditions and helps protect seedlings from possible frost.

After the sprouts have reached 50 cm in height, the film is lifted by pulling it over a wire frame. In mid-June, the material is filmed.

A film without a frame left in the garden can be used in place of mulch, which will help facilitate caring for the pumpkin as it grows. In the covering material, with this use, cross-shaped incisions are made for the sprouts.

Pumpkin cultivation and care - film mulching

Planting and growing pumpkins in the open field video

Pumpkin care rules

Caring for pumpkin in the open field does not cause difficulties, as it consists in timely watering and feeding.

Fertilization

Top dressing should be applied no more than once every 2 weeks. Feeding pumpkin in the open field with minerals is performed twice: when five leaves appear (10 g of nitrophoska per plant in dry form); when lashes appear (15 g of nitrophoska per 10 liters of water for each bush).

Feeding the pumpkin with wood ash (1 cup per 1 plant) and mullein (1 liter of mullein per 10 liters of water) is also effective. Mullein is introduced at the beginning of the growing season (1 bucket for 6 plants) and during fruiting (1 bucket for 3 bushes).

Top dressing of pumpkins in the open field

All dressings are introduced into a ring-shaped ditch, increasing the depth from 8 to 15 cm as the pumpkin grows.At the seedling stage, a deepening is dug at a distance of 15 cm, after 2 weeks it is increased to 40 cm.

Watering the pumpkin

Before watering, the soil is loosened 10 cm deep, trying not to catch the root, and cleaned of weeds. Watering pumpkins in the open field is carried out only with warm water, 50 gr. Celsius, do not use cold artesian or well water.

Timely abundant irrigation during flowering is especially important: moisture is necessary for the formation of female inflorescences. Water consumption during this period is about 30 liters per plant.

During the ripening of the fruits, the amount of water when watering is reduced, since excess moisture reduces the shelf life and reduces the sugar content of the fruits.

Growing pumpkin video

Forming pumpkin lashes

The formation of a pumpkin during cultivation allows you not to waste energy on extra ovaries and shoots, due to which larger fruits grow with better taste characteristics. While the main stem has reached a length of 1.5 m, it is pinched. Leave only 2 lateral shoots up to 70 cm long. On each of them, a fruit ripens.

Scheme of the formation of pumpkin lashes

To speed up the filling of fruits, the shoots are pressed to the ground, sprinkled with a small layer of soil at a distance of up to half a meter from the main shoot for rooting. A piece of plywood or glass is placed under each forming pumpkin to protect against fungal diseases that begin to develop on the fruits from damp soil.

Pinching and caring for a pumpkin in the open field video

Protecting pumpkin from diseases and pests

The most common pumpkin diseases are fruit rot, powdery mildew and mosaic. Most often they appear due to increased dampness - a favorable environment for the development of bacteria and fungi. Of the pests, the spider mite most often affects the pumpkin, as well as the melon aphid.

Powdery mildew

When the first symptoms of a fungal disease are detected on the leaves of the pumpkin, they are fought by spraying with a solution of 3 g of potassium permanganate or 2 g of copper sulfate, dissolved in 10 liters of water. They are treated with 1% Bordeaux liquid during the formation of ovaries and leaves. For prevention, regular watering is carried out, crop rotation is observed and the remains of diseased plants are destroyed.

Powdery mildew on pumpkin leaves

Pumpkin mosaic

A dangerous viral disease, infected plants are removed and burned away from the site. Preventive measures: destruction of weeds, disinfection of garden tools, destruction of parasites, timely removal of affected areas.

Pumpkin mosaic in the initial stage

Fruit rot

The decayed areas are carefully removed with a knife and the wound is wiped with fresh aloe juice. The rubbed area dries up, and the pumpkin continues to develop.

Pumpkin Fruit Rot

Insect protection methods

Aphids are fought by removing weeds, spraying with soapy water (200 g of grated soap per 10 liters of water) or 10% karbofos in a proportion of 60 g per 10 liters of water.

Spraying spider mites is helped by spraying with onion infusion of 200 g of husk per 10 liters of water or 20% chloroethanol solution (20 g per 10 liters of water).

Harvesting and storage conditions for pumpkin

To prevent the pumpkin from spoiling in the garden, you need to harvest on time. The moment of ripening can be recognized by the following signs:

• The peduncle becomes rough and rough;
• Foliage and whips turn yellow and dry;
• The skin coarsens and takes on the typical pattern of the variety.

It is necessary to harvest before stable frosts. Pumpkin pruning occurs with a stalk up to 6 cm. The cut fruits are placed in a dry, warm room. For a week, the pumpkins ripen, and the stalk dries up.

Storing pumpkin in a heated room

With the onset of frost, unripe, unpicked pumpkins are mulched with straw or agrofibre.

Outcome

Compliance with all the conditions and rules for caring for a pumpkin will allow you to grow a rich harvest. Delicious and healthy vegetables can be stored well until the New Year without any processing. Pumpkin can be used for main dishes, desserts, soups, canned, or used as a Halloween lantern.