How to properly grow pumpkin outdoors?

In central Russia and in other territories with a similar climate, pumpkin varieties grow: large-fruited and hard-bore. In the southern regions, butternut squash grows. Sometimes gourd is found. Growing pumpkin outdoors is not as difficult as inexperienced gardeners imagine it to be.

Growing pumpkin outdoors

Meet the pumpkin!

Pumpkin is a well-known annual plant with a powerful root system, wide leaves, and long sturdy stems. The taproot can penetrate three meters deep into the soil, and the lateral roots spread over an area of ​​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. The pumpkin has large flowers of yellow or yellow-orange color, which are located alone (the plant is dioecious). On the main stem, from the tenth leaf onwards, fruits are formed.

Pumpkin Russian woman

Table pumpkin Sweetie

Hokkaido pumpkin

Almond pumpkin

Pumpkin varieties and their features

Hardcore	This pumpkin is fast-growing and has a high yield. It has coarser fiber than the pulp of a large-fruited variety, and it does not last very long (up to four months) without changing the taste and nutritional characteristics.
Large-fruited	This pumpkin is a real giantess, record-holding fruits reach 60 kg. The yield is also high. And the shelf life of the fetus is up to nine months.
Nutmeg	This pumpkin can lie absolutely unchanged in a cellar or other cool and dry place for up to two years. Late-ripening variety.

What a pumpkin loves

Pumpkin loves warmth, does not tolerate cold combined with dampness.

The place to grow the pumpkin must be sunny.

Important! The temperature that pumpkin seeds need for germination is up to + 30 ° C. At lower temperatures, they will germinate for a very long time and slowly. And at less than + 10 ° С they will not rise at all.

The entire growing season for pumpkin takes place at an optimal temperature of + 25 ° C. In this case, it builds up a rich orange pulp, fragrant, dense but juicy, and a wide leaf apparatus (up to 40 m² per plant).

Pumpkin in the garden

The pumpkin loves moisture, without a sufficient amount of which the largest fruits are not formed. If at the beginning of flowering the pumpkin suffers a drought, the flowers may fall off, and the ovary will not form.

Pumpkin is a light-loving culture.It must be grown in sunny and calm areas (ideally melon).

Melon

How to grow a pumpkin from seeds

The easiest way to grow pumpkins is to use the traditional seed sowing method. Only seeds for sowing must be prepared.

Choosing pumpkin seeds

It all starts with the selection of seed materials. Only the largest seeds of selected quality should be taken for sowing. Thin, frail, dryish, not full should be discarded. The calibrated seeds begin to prepare for sowing.

We take only the best seeds

Seed preparation

The best way to prepare pumpkin seeds for sowing is to germinate them. This process continues until the seeds hatch. For germination, pumpkin seeds are immersed 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.

How to germinate pumpkin seeds

Advice! How do you get that temperature? put a bowl with germinated seeds on a radiator or other heating device, place in a yogurt maker or multicooker 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 they are pecked. The fabric needs to be checked and re-moistened all the time to keep the seeds from drying out.

Since pumpkin is a heat-loving plant, it is recommended, especially in the middle climatic zone, to increase the cold resistance of the 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, for three to five days.

Due to the heat-loving nature, 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 bountiful and early harvest. And also so that the seeds that have hatched do not die from the cold, if the sowing is carried out at a time when cold snaps are still possible. Seedlings do not have to be grown at home - you can do this in a special nursery or mini-greenhouse. But best of all, "under supervision", to grow pumpkin seedlings on the southern windowsill of the apartment. At room temperature, which is nevertheless closer to the expected pumpkin + 30 ° C than the temperature in a spring greenhouse, the process will go faster and better.

Important! Despite the powerful and sturdy appearance, pumpkin seedlings do not tolerate transplanting well. Therefore, it is better to grow seedlings in peat pots.

To grow seedlings, you will need peat-peat or ordinary pots with a size of at least 10x10 cm in an amount half as much as the number of seeds. There is no need to try to grow a "pumpkin forest", remember about a feeding area of ​​40 m² that a pumpkin can cover. Two plants, with a sufficiently spacious placement, a large amount of heat, light and moisture, with regular feeding, will give a larger yield of fruits in terms of number and size than ten located in the same space.

Planting pumpkin seedlings

Important! Pumpkin seedlings should be at home or in a greenhouse before planting in the ground for at least three weeks. Therefore, seeds are sown based on this calendar indicator.

Seedling soil

Pumpkin seeds are sown in normal fertile seedling soil, consisting of peat and sand. No special additives are required. Fertilizers do not need to be applied to the soil either. If growing seeds in peat pots, simply fill them with soil. If grown in plastic containers, add 3 cm of sawdust to the bottom.

Sowing seeds

Sprouted in the above way and hardened seeds are sown in pots in pairs. Later, the weak seedling can be removed by simply pinching off the stem. Sowing depth - 2 cm. Seeds are covered with peat. Watering is carried out before and after sowing.

During the first three days after sowing, the temperature should be + 25 ° C ... + 30 ° C.

Seedling care

Seedlings of pumpkin seedlings

Seedlings should appear on the fourth day.After that, the temperature must be lowered and maintained within + 18 ° C ... + 25 ° C for a week, then reduced again to + 15 ° C ... + 18 ° C. This is necessary so that the pumpkin seedlings do not stretch out, grow strong and squat ...

Pumpkin seedlings

Watering the seedlings is carried out regularly, but it should not be excessive. Stagnant water is prohibited. Ideal soil moisture and air humidity will contribute to the formation of hardy and abundantly fruiting pumpkin plants in the future.

Water the pumpkin shoots regularly

Two weeks after germination, top dressing is carried out. 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, feeding is carried out with nitrophos according to the instructions.

Video - Growth of pumpkin seedlings

Readiness and disembarkation

A properly grown seedling looks 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 in open ground under a temporary film shelter on the 22nd day after sowing with germinated seeds in pots.

Planting seedlings

Before planting, the holes are watered with hot water. If the seedlings are in a peat-baked container, they do 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 cover until stable warm weather sets in.

Growing pumpkin in a greenhouse

Soils suitable for growing pumpkin

This plant is most suitable for fertile soil, which has a fairly loose structure, well warmed up. It is on such a land that the fruits of the pumpkin will reach record sizes.

Important! Pumpkin will grow worst of all on moist and clayey soil. Acidic soils are not suitable for the plant categorically - they must be treated with lime (liming under the predecessor) or add wood ash.

When growing pumpkins in a summer cottage, try to comply with the following requirements.

1. Disembarkation from the south side of the house along a 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.
2. Pumpkin whips may well be directed at a house wall, fence, barn roof. Closer to the sun, the fruits will ripen better.
3. If there is a compost heap on the south side, it is ideal to plant the pumpkin next to it, directing the whips there.

Growing pumpkin on a compost heap

Soil preparation

To successfully grow a pumpkin, in the fall, having removed the predecessors, it is necessary to start preparing the soil.

1. Apply organic and mineral fertilizing to a clean, free from plants and weeds area (5 kg of humus, 15 g of potassium chloride and twice as much superphosphate per m²). If there is no humus, manure can be applied in the fall - 7 kg per m².
2. Dig the area 20 cm deep.
3. To lighten the soil structure, if necessary, add river sand (coarse grain) and peat.
4. Deacidify the soil with wood ash.
5. Loosen, stir if possible, pour over with hot water.

In the spring, there is no need 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 for planting pumpkin seedlings.

Prepare the soil for pumpkin planting

Two days before planting the grown seedlings, the soil on the garden bed must be dug up to 12 cm (half a shovel bayonet), ammonium nitrate must be added - 20 g per m² and holes must 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 scheme of the formation of beds for planting pumpkin

The distance between plants in a regular garden is about a meter. If possible, it can be doubled.

Pumpkin predecessors

This question is relevant because the culture is demanding of its predecessors.

Potatoes, cabbage, onions, legumes, root vegetables.	Cucumbers and zucchini, squash, as well as melons and watermelons.

Pumpkin care

The pumpkin does not need anxious and specialized care, but there are some activities that should not be neglected if you want to get a large harvest of large fruits.

Pumpkin, flower

Watering

The main care measure is the adjustment of irrigation. The 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 moisture level in the soil must be constantly replenished.

Advice! It is especially necessary to water the pumpkin abundantly when it begins mass flowering and fruit formation. The water temperature should not be lower than + 20 ° С (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 as it grows.

If the summer turned out to be dry, then before flowering the pumpkin can be watered more often.

Top dressing

You need to feed the pumpkin often, otherwise you will not be able to get large fruits. The first top dressing in the open field is after the formation of the fifth leaf. The second is when the whips begin to form. Then every two weeks.

You can feed with nitrophos, starting from 10 g per plant and increasing the dose by 5 g with each feeding. You can add dry granules or prepare a solution.

During the fruiting period, a glass of ash is added to each feeding.

You can feed the pumpkin throughout the growing season with mullein solution.

How to shape a pumpkin

How to shape a pumpkin

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 out, leaving no more than three on each lash.

By the way! On the shoots of the second order, the pumpkin can bear fruit after the second leaf, but they will grow small and tasteless, so it is worthwhile to pinch the shoots of the plant.

Video - Pumpkin: growing and pinching

Powder

Another agrotechnical technique that contributes to crop yields is the powdering of the 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 or three places. This is done so that the wind does not break the whips and leaves, breaking the ovary. But the main thing is that in the internodes pressed to the ground, additional roots are formed, which will nourish the plants and contribute to the increase in fruit.

Garden care

A few more tricks

1. Scourges that have climbed onto a fence or roof must be controlled. When pumpkins begin to ripen on them, secure them by placing them in ordinary shopping bags and securing them to additional fasteners. Otherwise, heavy fruits will slide down, breaking off the stems.
2. It is undesirable, especially in wet weather, for the fruits to lie on bare ground. When they are medium sized, place planks or other breathable material underneath them.

Pumpkin pest control

Video - How to properly grow and care for a pumpkin

Harvesting pumpkin

Pumpkin is one of the most "capricious" vegetables in our gardens. It does not require greenhouse conditions or any special tweaks when leaving. Growing pumpkin in the open field is not only exciting, but also profitable: pumpkin seeds are always in price. But in order for pumpkins to grow the size of a cart wheel, you need to know a few secrets of growing it.

Biological features of pumpkin

Pumpkin is an annual plant with a strong root system and a long, flexible stem that grows up to 7 m in length or more. The central root, in search of moisture and nutrients, "drills" the ground to a depth of 7 m, and its lateral branches grow up to 4 m.

Wide five-toed leaves and large yellow or yellow-orange pumpkin flowers in the garden are visible from afar. After 10-12 leaves, fruits are tied on the main stem.

The size, taste and keeping quality of pumpkin depends on the variety. For most varieties, the shelf life does not exceed 3-4 months, but there are also champions. For example, pumpkin fruits of the Large-fruited variety can be stored for up to 9 months, and the Muscat variety - up to 2 years, without losing their taste and useful qualities.

Pumpkin loves heat and does not tolerate cold. At a temperature of 30 ° and sufficient moisture reserves in the soil, pumpkin seeds germinate in 2-3 days. At a soil temperature below 20 °, they germinate for a very long time, and at a soil temperature of 10 ° and below, they "strike" and do not germinate at all.

The optimum temperature for the growth and development of pumpkin is 25 ° C. In such conditions, it also grows leaf mass quickly (and the total surface area of ​​the leaves of one pumpkin can reach up to 40 m²), and the fruit forms large and juicy.

Pumpkin is not only a heat-loving plant, but also a moisture-loving one. It is especially important that the pumpkin has enough moisture when it starts flowering. During this period, the root system in plants is not yet sufficiently developed, and a lack of moisture can lead to the fall of the ovary.

In addition to heat and moisture, a pumpkin needs a lot of sunlight to grow. Therefore, it is better to grow it in areas open to the sun and protected from cold winds.

Site preparation for growing

Loose, fertile soils are best suited for pumpkins. On heavy clay soils, and even with a high level of subsoil water, you will not wait for a good pumpkin harvest. The plant does not tolerate acidic soils.

It is better to plant a pumpkin, if possible, in such a way that on the north side the site is protected by a wall of a house, an outbuilding, or at least a fence. In this case, it will be at least partially protected from cold northerly winds, and the stems of plants can be directed to trail against a wall or fence - the higher to the sun, the better the fruits will grow and ripen.

The area for growing pumpkin should be started in the fall. Under plowing in the chilly season, organic fertilizers should be applied at the rate of 5 kg of humus or 7 kg of manure per 1 m². Also, you need to enrich the soil on the site with mineral fertilizers: 30 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium chloride per m².

Some enthusiasts, in order to keep the soil looser, prefer not to plow the area for the pumpkin, but to dig it up by hand. There is no particular sense in such hard work: it is better to add peat or coarse sand together with fertilizers for plowing to ensure the looseness of the soil on the site.

Wood ash introduced simultaneously with them will not interfere, especially if a weakly acidic soil reaction is observed on the site.

How and when is it better to grow a pumpkin?

Pumpkin can be grown both by planting seeds in open ground, and through seedlings. It is preferable, if the climatic conditions of your area allow, to sow seeds directly into open ground, since the pumpkin does not tolerate transplanting well.

If the climatic conditions allow growing it only through seedlings, then it is better to do this in special peat pots - in this case, you simply plant the plant along with the pot on the garden bed, without damaging its root system during transplantation.

The timing of sowing seeds depends on climatic conditions. In most regions where it is possible to grow pumpkin in the open field directly from seeds, it is sown after May 15, when the soil warms up to 12-15 cm at the planting depth.In the southern regions, where at this time there is practically no threat of night frosts, there are no additional tweaks are not required for this.

In more northern latitudes, where night frosts are possible after May 20, it is better to build an impromptu greenhouse at the landing site.For this I use 3 or 5 liter plastic bottles: I cut off the bottom of them and set them over the planted seeds, deepening their walls into the ground by 1.5-2 cm.

For a decade and a half of using such shelters, pumpkin seedlings have never died, although there were years when at night the air temperature dropped to 7-8 ° C for a day or two.

When growing pumpkin through seedlings, you need to carry out simple calculations. Seedlings are planted at the age of 22-23 days. Therefore, when planting it in open ground, for example, on May 25, it is necessary to plant seeds for seedlings on May 2-3. With the date of planting in the ground on June 5, seeds are planted for seedlings on May 14-15, etc.

Selection and preparation of seeds

Regardless of the cultivation method, the selection and preparation for planting pumpkin seed is carried out in the same way. Only large full seeds are selected for planting.

Pumpkin seeds are large, so their selection does not take much time and effort. If you don't like the pumpkin seed for something (too thin, insufficiently filled, has mechanical damage), it must be discarded.

To sprout faster, pumpkin seeds are germinated. To do this, they are immersed in warm water and kept there for 3-4 hours. All this time, the water temperature must be maintained in the range of 40-50 ° - it cannot be lowered or raised higher.

Then the swollen seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth, placed in a shallow container and left in it at room temperature until pecking, periodically moistening the cloth to prevent it from drying out.

After pecking, it is better not to plant the seeds immediately, but keep them for 3-5 days in the same damp cloth, but already in the refrigerator at a temperature of + 3-4 °. This pre-planting hardening greatly increases the cold resistance of the pumpkin.

Growing seedlings

Seedling photos:

Growing pumpkin through seedlings makes it possible to grow it even in the northern regions, where planting pumpkin seeds in open ground is impossible.

For growing seedlings, it is better to use peat cups, but if necessary, you can do this in plastic ones. The only condition is that the cups must be large enough, at least 10x10 cm. It should also be borne in mind that pumpkin seedlings can be small - for a planting area of ​​2 acres, only 5-6 pieces will be needed. seedlings.

Therefore, the ideal option is to plant it on the windowsill of your own house or apartment. It is possible to do this in a greenhouse or a greenhouse, but economically it is not entirely justified: for the sake of a small amount of seedlings, it is unprofitable to build a greenhouse or a greenhouse, and it is quite difficult to choose garden crops that are similar to the temperature requirements.

Pumpkin soil is needed light, with good water and air permeability. It is best suited for its cultivation a substrate of mixed in equal proportions of high-moor peat and sand.

The peat pots are filled with a prepared soil substrate and sludge seeds are planted in it. Since the seeds have already been planted, they are planted as follows: initially, the soil substrate is poured 2-3 cm below the upper edge of the pot.

Then the poured substrate is moistened, the germinated seeds are carefully placed on it, the substrate is poured on top, it is slightly moistened again and left to germinate in a place where the temperature is maintained at 25-30 ° for the first 3 days.

If the seeds are well glued, then you can plant one seed in a pot, but it is better to plant it in pairs for safety reasons: one of the two will probably germinate. If both germinate, then the second must be removed by pinching off the sprout at the very surface of the soil.

Usually, in such conditions, seeds germinate in 3-4 days. In the first week after germination, the temperature is maintained at 18-25 °, and then lowered to 15-18 °. If this temperature regime is not observed, the seedlings will quickly stretch out and are likely to disappear.

To grow well-developed, sturdy pumpkin seedlings, plants need to be watered regularly. But here, too, it is important to observe the measure: for the fragile roots of seedlings, both a lack of moisture and its excess are destructive.

The only feeding of pumpkin seedlings is carried out 2 weeks after germination. It is better to do this with diluted water in a ratio of 1:10 with mullein, or with nitrophosphate dissolved in water.

3 weeks after planting the seeds, with proper care, the seedlings can already be planted in open ground. The readiness of seedlings for transplantation is evidenced by 3 well-developed true leaves of a rich green color.

Planting seeds and planting seedlings in open ground

Outwardly, both planting seeds and planting pumpkin seedlings in open ground look almost the same. But still, there are certain differences between them. It is better to plant both seeds and seedlings on a high bed 70 cm wide. The length of the bed is determined by the size of the plot.

But tall beds are not a prerequisite for growing pumpkin - they just make it much easier to care for the plants. If the cultivation of pumpkins is carried out in the usual way, then they are usually planted in rows. The distance between adjacent rows is left at 2-2.5 m.

The pumpkin is planted in the holes. To do this, a number of pits 40 cm wide and 30 cm deep are dug on the square. A tablespoon of superphosphate and potassium sulfate is poured onto the bottom of these holes.

Then the holes are filled by a third with humus or rotted compost, then another third with soil substrate: mixed in equal proportions with peat and turf soil with the addition of half a glass of wood ash. The remaining third of the hole is filled with ordinary earth and poured with 2 liters of water at room temperature.

This algorithm is the same for sowing seeds and planting seedlings. The differences are that 2-3 seeds are placed in each such hole, sprinkling them with soil on top by 2-5 cm, and for seedlings they make a shallow hole in the ground so that the container with seedlings will completely enter into it.

Further, when planting seedlings, the bottom and walls of the peat cup are slightly cut. In plastic, the walls are carefully cut on both sides and the plant is transferred into the hole along with the ground.

How to care for a planted pumpkin?

The pumpkin is good because it does not need anxious care. The main agricultural activity is regular watering. Due to the extensive leaf mass, the pumpkin quickly "pumps out" almost all moisture from the ground, therefore, without replenishing it, it will not give a good harvest.

It is especially important to have a sufficient amount of moisture during flowering and fruit setting. At this time, plants need to be watered only with warm - not lower than 20 ° - water, otherwise the pumpkin can "throw off" the ovary.

After watering and heavy rains, gently loosen the soil at the base of the roots. Also, until the pumpkin grows and covers the entire area with its foliage, you need to regularly remove weeds.

It is also important to properly organize the feeding system. The first is carried out during the formation of 5 of this sheet, the second - at the beginning of weaving, the subsequent ones - every 2 weeks. They are fed with nitroammophos, starting with 10 grams of fertilizer per bucket of water, and then with each new feeding, this dose is increased by 5 grams. During the formation and further development of the fruits, in addition to the nitroammofosk, another glass of wood ash per 10 liters of water is added.

A feature of the pumpkin is that as it grows, it forms many side shoots. They should be pinched at the beginning of development: the fruits are tied to them small and tasteless, and they take a lot of moisture and nutrients.

Growing pumpkins in your garden will not take much of your time and effort. And the benefits of such cultivation are enormous: if you do everything right, you will not only receive large tasty and healthy pumpkin fruits as a reward, but also clear your area of ​​unwanted "neighborhood".

The thick, wide foliage of pumpkin is better than any herbicide destroying weeds, not giving them access to heat and sunlight, so most of them simply die.

Among the inhabitants of garden beds, pumpkins do not occupy the last place in popularity, but in terms of ease of care and ability to be stored for a long time, they have no equal at all. Perhaps that is why gardeners often do not pay due attention to culture, letting the growth and development of powerful plants take their course.

As a result, due to poor pollination or mistakes in grooming, the harvest is not as plentiful as desired. The fruits are not pleasing in taste, they rot at the stage of the ovary and are poorly stored.

How do you grow a pumpkin that is truly delicious? What activities does culture care include? And what are the signs to look out for when watching a pumpkin grow?

Pre-sowing activities

How sweet and juicy the pumpkin grown on its site will be, also depends on the seeds chosen for sowing and the preparation they undergo before sowing.

Seeds obtained from fruits grown in their own garden are necessarily pickled before planting, disinfecting them from diseases and pests with the help of a solution of potassium permanganate. The seeds are in the liquid for up to 30 minutes. After that, a viable seed is selected by immersing a 25% saline solution:

• Empty, insufficiently ripe seeds will give themselves away when they float to the surface.
• Submerged - ready to give healthy large shoots.

Selected healthy seeds are washed in clean water for about 3 hours, dried at 55–60 ° C and bubbled for 18–24 hours.

How a pumpkin grows: necessary conditions and features

In order to grow a sweet juicy pumpkin on your site, you must adhere to the rules of crop rotation and crop requirements for the conditions in the beds. As a rule, plants from the pumpkin family can return to their previous growing time only after 4–5 years. And the best yield can be obtained by planting seeds after legumes or crucifers.

How to grow a pumpkin in a summer cottage, what conditions does this culture need? Pumpkins of all varieties, whether they are zucchini plucked in the green phase, or late-ripening nutmeg varieties, are very demanding on lighting conditions.

With a lack of sun, the number of ovaries decreases, the plants stretch, the risk of fungal diseases, rot and pest attacks increases.

At the stage of active growth, that is, from the moment the first shoots appear to a few true leaves, plants should be exposed to light for 9 to 10 hours. This mode will bring the formation of female flowers closer. The optimal daylight hours for an already fruiting pumpkin is 10-12 hours.

A video about growing pumpkin in the open field tells in detail about agricultural technology and the tricks of growing this valuable vegetable crop. In household plots, where it is often assumed to water the pumpkin in the open field, the culture is cultivated in wide beds, up to 3 meters.

Arrangement of high ridges will help to get an early harvest even in adverse weather conditions and protect the fruits from rotting in a rainy, cold summer.

For climbing pumpkin varieties, rather large gaps between plants from 150 to 300 cm are required.

Bush forms are more compact and do not require large areas to feed the fruits, so the distance between pumpkins in this case is reduced to 70-100 cm.

One of the most effective ways to grow sweet, juicy pumpkins on your site can be considered the use of seedlings for planting in open ground. If the seeds are sown in peat pots or large tablets, when they get into the ground, the root system is not injured, which means that you can wait for the harvest 3-4 weeks earlier:

• Planting in open ground is carried out when the soil is sufficiently warmed up. Zucchini and most common hard-bore gourds are grown in soil temperatures of 12-14 ° C.
• And for the most thermophilic nutmeg gourd, the soil should be warmed up to 15-16 ° C.

Outdoor pumpkin care

Even short-term frosts are destructive for seedlings, when the temperature on the soil drops to minus marks. For normal growth and fruit formation, pumpkins need a temperature in the range of 22-28 ° C. If the air is cooler, the development of the plant slows down, the rate of appearance of flowers and ovary decreases.

A film or covering material will help protect young seedlings from the manifestations of changeable weather at the beginning of summer.

Sowing seeds or planting seedlings is carried out on a covering spread on the ground, in which cross-shaped cuts are made. They are expanded as they grow. As a result, due to less moisture evaporation and 4–5 ° C higher soil heating, pumpkin develops faster and bears fruit more readily. Labor costs for pumpkin care are also reduced.

As long as the plants are small, it is imperative to keep the soil loose and prevent moisture and oxygen from disturbing the crust. As a measure of pumpkin care, it is useful to mulch the space between plants on the ridges with sawdust, sand, if the soil is clay, or straw. During the second loosening, carried out 30 days after germination, weeds are removed and the growing lashes are laid out.

Loosening and weeding is convenient to carry out simultaneously with watering, while cultivating the soil should not be deeper than 5–7 cm, so as not to damage the surface roots.

How often to water the pumpkin outdoors?

The pumpkin root system is designed in such a way that even in dry periods it is able to provide the plant with the required amount of moisture. A well-visible hard pile covering young stems, cuttings, leaf plates and even partly corollas of flowers helps to avoid drying out of the green part.

And yet, the crop needs a lot of moisture, and the schedule of rare but abundant watering should be consistent with the development of the plant and the care of pumpkin plantings. Before the first loosening and hilling, depending on the weather, pumpkins are abundantly watered once or twice. And then they take a break for 2-3 weeks to stimulate active formation and growth of roots.

As soon as female flowers appear on the plants and the formation of fruits begins, the pumpkin should be watered more often, for example, after 7-10 days.

This mode is maintained while the pumpkins are poured and added in size. In August, pumpkin watering becomes less frequent. Such a measure is intended to force the fruits to accumulate sugar and form a strong bark, which will have to withstand winter storage. Watching how the pumpkin grows, 20-25 days before harvesting, watering is stopped altogether.

As a result, pumpkins are watered 5 to 10 times during the growing season. Top dressing, combined with watering, is carried out at the time of the first hilling, during the flowering of plants and at the beginning of the mass formation of the ovary.

Mineral fertilizers are used to a limited extent, alternating with organic matter. Plants show a good reaction, especially in areas with poor soils, to feeding with ash, herbal infusions and regular pumpkin care.

Why does pumpkin rot in the garden?

The flowering of the pumpkin begins 50–55 days after germination. The first to open on plants are male flowers, which in climbing varieties account for up to 90% of the total, and in bush pumpkins about 50-60%. If you observe how pumpkins grow, female flowers, after pollination of which an ovary is formed, can be seen only 7-10 days later than male ones.

Since pumpkins are pollinated by various groups of insects, in unfavorable conditions, for example, in cold, rainy or windy weather, the probability of transferring pollen from a flower that lives only one day to another flower drops sharply. As a result, pollination does not occur at all, or the weakened ovary dies off along with the corolla of the flower.

In some cases, this is the reason why pumpkins rot in the garden and yield drops. The situation can be corrected by conducting artificial pollination.To do this, the petals are carefully removed from the plucked male flower and the pollen is transferred to the female flower with gentle movements. It is better to carry out this procedure in the early morning, protecting the pollen from moisture.

Experienced gardeners note that the timely removal of wilted flowers and unformed ovary helps to protect plants from attack by pests and the development of putrefactive bacteria that can affect already ripening fruits.

Pumpkins do not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. Therefore, the health of plants and fruits also depends on how often you water the pumpkin in the open field. It is especially dangerous if fruits that have already gained weight lie on rainy days on cold, moisture-saturated soil. Sturdy, moisture-resistant supports should be placed under such pumpkins in advance, which will not injure the bark.

Pinching pumpkin outdoors

The reason why pumpkins rot on the beds may be excessive planting density, and on bush varieties - an abundance of ovary that interferes with each other's development.

In order to thin the pumpkins, ensure better penetration of air and light to all parts of the plants, and also stimulate the ripening of already formed fruits, the culture must be shaped. It is not required to form bush varieties. In this case, only remove the excess ovary, leaving 3-4 fruits per plant, and make sure that wilted flowers do not cause rotting of cuttings, stems and fruits.

In the open field, pinching of climbing pumpkins is carried out in July, when there are 1-2 ovaries of 10 cm in diameter on the lashes. The lash is shortened after 4–6 leaves behind the last of the fruits. The maximum load per bush is calculated based on the characteristics of the variety and the weight of the mature pumpkin. Usually, the larger the fruits, the less they should remain after the plant is pinched in the open field.

All blank, empty shoots are cut out, and only a couple of the strongest ones are left from the side ones, shortening them to 50 cm.

In order for the pumpkins to grow in size to receive additional support, together with the pinching, several internodes of the decomposed lashes are sprinkled with soil and moistened. Within 8–10 days, strong roots are formed under the soil, feeding the lash. This measure in an open place will protect the plant from the wind, and the whips and fruits from damage.

Growing and pinching a pumpkin - video

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 growing 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 is not difficult, as it consists in timely watering and feeding.

Fertilization

Top dressing should be applied no more than once every 2 weeks. Fertilizing 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 pumpkin 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 a spider mite 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 starting to deteriorate 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.