Pumpkin is annual plant, which has a long root and powerful rough leaves. The crop gives a good harvest in open ground, suitable for most regions of Russia. The place for growing pumpkins should be open and sunny, protected from the winds. Caring for it is easy and interesting, the main thing is to choose the right variety.
Choosing a variety
The best varieties of pumpkin are famous for their pleasant taste, resistance to garden diseases and are stored for a long time. In addition, their pulp is saturated with carotene and other beneficial substances. In the table below you can find popular varieties of vegetables to grow in suburban area.
| Name | Description | Ripening period |
| "Russian" | The variety is resistant to cold weather and most diseases. Small fruits orange color have sweet pulp with a melon aroma | August |
| "Gribovskaya winter" | Medium sized pumpkin gray, disease resistant. IN middle lane Russia is recommended to grow it seedling method. The fruits retain their benefits for a long time | September |
| "Muscatnaya" | The variety is resistant to diseases and retains its benefits for a long time. The fruits are used for dietary nutrition and contain a lot of carotene. | September |
| "Vitamin" | Pumpkin intended for preparing many dishes. The flesh is crispy and sweet. Suitable for growing in southern Russia | September and early October |
| "Volga gray" | The fruits are gray and smooth. The weight of pumpkins reaches 9 kg. It has a high yield and lasts a long time at home. | September |
| "Amazon" | Small pumpkin is ideal for baby and diet food. The pulp is orange, sweet | |
| "Gymnosperm" | The pulp of this pumpkin is suitable for baby food and making purees. Fruit weight reaches 7 kg | Late August and early September |
Planting with seeds
Most often, gardeners prefer to plant seeds directly in the garden bed, but before that they must be carefully sorted and prepared for planting. Discard specimens that are too dry or thin.
The best seeds are placed in warm water for 3 hours so that they are filled with moisture. After this, wrap them in a wet cloth and leave them close to heating device. Check the seed from time to time and monitor the moisture level, do not allow the tissue to dry out. Soaking seeds reduces the risk of damage by pests and also speeds up germination. Swollen seeds should be kept at room temperature, waiting for sprouts to appear.
In the Moscow region, the timing of planting seeds is usually extended; gardeners begin sowing during the May holidays or postpone it until the middle of the month, until the threat of night frosts has passed.
It is known that pumpkin loves fertile soil that warms up well. That is why the fruits reach enormous sizes and accumulate a lot of sugars. The culture that grows worst is on clay soil, and acidic soil is absolutely not suitable for it.
On summer cottage Plant the pumpkin along a fence or wall, where it will be protected from the wind during the day and will not lose heat at night, and the vines of the plant will be directed towards a support. Gardeners usually plant vegetables directly on the compost heap, where she will receive maximum sun and nutrients.
The selected plot of land for the pumpkin is carefully dug up in the fall, then the following components are added:
- humus (5 kg);
- potassium chloride (15 g);
- river sand (2 kg);
- wood ash (1 kg).
In the spring, shortly before planting sprouted seeds, the bed should be leveled with a rake and watered hot water.
Make holes in the ground, the depth of which should be from 5 to 8 cm, depending on the degree of looseness of the soil. The planting pattern is such that the distance between future plants is about 1 meter. After the seeds are in the garden bed, they are carefully covered with soil and moderately watered with warm, settled water. In a few days, young plants will appear; at first they should be protected from the scorching sun and heavy rains by installing a film shelter over the bed.
How to plant a pumpkin (video)
It is worth noting that good predecessors of pumpkin are potatoes, beans, onions, cabbage, and unfavorable ones are zucchini, melons and watermelons.
Watering and feeding pumpkins
This crop draws all the moisture from the deep layers of the soil, after which it evaporates through wide leaves. The water level in the soil must be regularly replenished by irrigation.
The plant is irrigated especially abundantly during the period of mass flowering and fruit formation. using water heated in the sun. Then the ground around the bush is loosened and the weeds are removed. In general, pumpkin is watered at least 2 times a week; in case of drought, the norm is increased to 4 times.
For the first time, young plants in open ground are fed shortly after the formation of 5 leaves. They are then fertilized during the period of vine formation, after which food can be added every 2 weeks. The following substances are suitable as additives:
- nitrophoska;
- wood ash;
- cow dung.
Dry nitrophoska granules should be added at the rate of 10 g per bush, if necessary increasing the dosage to 15 g. The ash is scattered around the plants after watering and loosening the soil. Mullein solution saturates pumpkin roots with microelements such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, nitrogen. They have a beneficial effect on the process of formation of inflorescences and ovaries.
Outdoor care and harvesting
Caring for a pumpkin is an entertaining process, especially if you form the plant correctly. The agricultural technology for growing pumpkin is quite simple and is aimed at increasing the mass and improving the taste of the fruit.
Sprinkling canes is also an important technique that helps increase yield. As soon as they reach a length of 1 meter, the shoots need to be untangled, placed on a bed and sprinkled with earth in 2 places. So, they will not be damaged by the wind, which means the ovaries will remain intact. In addition, lying vines form additional roots that nourish the pumpkin.
Whips that have climbed onto a fence or roof of a building must be controlled. Protect ripening pumpkins by placing them in mesh string bags and securing them, otherwise they will fall down and break the stems. Ripening fruits may be damaged if left lying on the ground. Place planks or a layer of dry straw underneath them to help the pumpkins survive wet weather.
Proper care of the crop guarantees obtaining good harvest at the end of summer or autumn. Regardless of the variety, you can guess the ripeness of a pumpkin by the appearance of the stalk. It becomes hard and dried, and its structure resembles wood. The rind of a ripened pumpkin is hard; pressing on it does not leave dents or damage. The harvest must be harvested before frost sets in., otherwise the low temperature will negatively affect the taste of the pulp. The fruits are carefully cut from the shoot, leaving the stalk.
How to feed a pumpkin (video)
Growing an orange vegetable in your suburban area is not so difficult. It takes a little effort to water, feed, and shape the bushes to increase yield. Pumpkin is resistant to cold weather and grows even in the northern regions of Russia.
Only for an experienced gardener, growing pumpkins does not take much effort and time, but in order to please yourself with a good harvest in the fall, you will have to put in a lot of effort.
When to plant pumpkin?
Pumpkin is a plant that prefers to grow in the sun, so there is no need to plant seeds in cold, unheated soil. The appropriate time is mid-May, when the soil is warmed by the sun and spring frosts have passed.
Also, the time of landing is determined by the climate of the region. For example, to plant seeds in northern latitudes Lucky days will be the beginning of June. To plant a plant in southern regions the beginning of May will do. For residents of central Russia, the plant will take root well after the May holidays.
How to plant pumpkin?
Pumpkins are planted using 2 methods: seedlings and open ground. Growing pumpkin seedlings implies the harvesting of plant seeds in the fall. Around the beginning of April, the seeds should be inspected for diseases and should be of a natural color.
For rapid germination, they need to be soaked in warm water for several days. Swollen seeds more actively form roots and begin to grow. Soaked grains are planted in small plastic containers, the bottom of which must have a hole, otherwise moisture will remain in the soil, which leads to rotting of the seeds and the development of many diseases.
The soil should be soft, loose, without the roots of other plants. Grounding is made in the center of the container and filled with water. In order to slightly disinfect the soil, it is good to treat it with a weak infusion of potassium permanganate a couple of hours before planting.
Next, a seed is placed in the middle, lightly sprinkled with soil and watered generously. It is better to place the pots further away from drafts, in a place where there will be a lot of sun, but we must not forget about air humidity and stable watering. If growing pumpkin from seed If done correctly, the first shoots will begin to appear within a week after planting.
Growing pumpkin outdoors even simpler. To do this, you need to choose the right area for planting: where there are few drafts and a lot of light. In this case, it is important to maintain a distance of up to half a meter between seeds. The pumpkin is growing and needs a lot of space.
The bed is formed with a shovel, stones and weeds are removed from the soil. If the land is fertile, then you can do without fertilizing, but if you want to get a bountiful harvest, it would be good to add humus, peat, sawdust and ash to the soil.
Next, the soil must be watered. The seeds of the plant are placed in separate holes, lightly sprinkled with soft soil and also sprinkled with water. Next, the pumpkin needs watering once every 2 days, warm water. The first shoots will begin to appear after a week.
What varieties of pumpkin are best to grow?
Gardeners have established several basic types of pumpkins:
Butternut squash is the most delicious type of pumpkin, containing a lot of useful substances for humans. This species requires warmth and fertilized soil and does not always have time to ripen in northern latitudes, therefore experienced gardeners give advice on growing nutmeg varieties in seedlings. Pumpkins have yellow-brown fruits with voluminous seeds inside. Among the nutmeg varieties, the “Golden Pear” variety stands out - the fruits look more like a huge drop of an orange hue. The pulp is sweetish in taste, fleshy, and has a lot of nutrients. Pumpkin weighing no more than 2 kg is a variety that ripens 3 months after planting. Among muscat varieties, gardeners prefer to grow varieties such as “Arabian” pumpkin, “Vitaminnaya”, “Pearl” and “Gilea”.
Large-fruited type of pumpkin - huge size pumpkins, with a sweet core and soft light seeds inside. Due to their size, many gardeners prefer to grow alternative subspecies of pumpkins, because... for their safety it is necessary large space. Pumpkin variety“Titan” - the name speaks for itself; gardeners grow specimens up to 150 kg! A medium-ripening variety, the pumpkin has a rich orange hue. Sweetish in taste, with fleshy pulp. Ripening occurs 120 days after planting. One of its varieties, “Rossiyanka,” brings a regular harvest, the finished fruits are perfectly preserved until cold weather, and have a pleasant taste. Pumpkin weighing 2-6 kg, dark yellow in color with soft and sweet flesh. Among the large-fruited varieties of pumpkins, the following types stand out: “Stofuntovaya”, “Marble”, “Ulybka”, “Kroshka” and “Tsentner”.
Hard-bark types of pumpkins - these varieties are ready for consumption in late summer - early autumn. They are distinguished by creamy shades of fruit, with small seeds, and sweet taste. Just grow Gymnosperm pumpkin varieties. Although its pulp does not have a sweet taste, its seeds grow without a shell, only a transparent thin film is present. “Bulgarka” is a round-shaped variety with light gray or yellowish skin tones. The weight of the fruit is from 3 kg, has a pleasant aftertaste. Of all the tough ones pumpkin varieties especially famous are: “Gribovo bush” pumpkin, “Spaghetti or vermicelli”, “Almond”, “Dachnaya” and “Vesnushka”.
How to care for a pumpkin?
Pumpkin care does not require much effort and does not take much time. Throughout the summer, after the seedlings have sprouted, the pumpkin requires a lot of moisture.
It is better to water it at night, so the water does not evaporate under the rays of the sun, but is absorbed into the ground and nourishes the roots. To retain moisture longer, it is worth covering the pumpkin bushes with mulch or dry grass.
Also, while the bushes are young, the ground around them needs to be loosened - this saturates the soil with oxygen and gives the root system air. In addition, when loosening, weeds are removed near the plant, which can obscure sunlight and take away moisture.
Pumpkin needs additional feeding when the soil on the site is infertile. Humus, barnyard solution, mineral and potash fertilizers are perfect here.
If fertilizers were applied to the hole before planting, then in the summer it is better to forget about them. The plant is unpretentious to feeding and can please a bountiful harvest without additional fertilizers.
Features of growing in a greenhouse and open ground
Grow pumpkin convenient right away open ground, this method does not take much time, and in terms of the amount of harvest it is not inferior to similar planting methods.
What is worth remembering when growing pumpkins in open ground is to regularly irrigate the plant with water. In addition, after the pumpkin has formed the first 5-6 leaves, the bush needs the formation of the main lashes.
Side shoots and established inflorescences are cut off. 3-4 flowers and 5-7 leaves remain on the stem. This way the pumpkin will not waste energy on the growth of the vine, but will begin to form fruits. You can save 2 main shoots, but no more than 4-6 leaves and 3-4 ovaries on each lash.
However, gardeners plant the plant in greenhouses. Pumpkin growing technology Not much different from planting in open ground; plant care is carried out identically.
When the pumpkin forms 5-7 leaves, it must be replanted in open ground, or simply direct the vine to an open space and leave the root part in the greenhouse.
Growing pumpkin a closed greenhouse allows you to increase the amount of harvest and speed up its maturation. This method is used mainly in northern latitudes.
In the photo, sprouted pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin is a favorite crop of gardeners, special conditions for growing pumpkins no need . In addition, its fruits not only have a lot of useful properties, but are also perfectly preserved in cold weather.
Knowing how a pumpkin grows and what conditions it needs, you can get excellent fruiting from the crop without any problems. An important point here is illumination. We grow this vegetable in well-lit areas. The duration of illumination should be 10–12 hours. Otherwise, the plant will form few ovaries and will suffer from various diseases. Also, when choosing a location for pumpkin bushes, you need to avoid strong winds and drafts.
Planting seedlings or seeds is done in wide beds (up to 3 m). It is best to arrange raised beds to protect bushes from excessive moisture. Many experienced gardeners (for example, Oktyabrina Ganichkina) advise maintaining gaps of 150–300 cm between plants. For varieties that produce small fruits, this figure decreases to 70–100 cm.
How to plant a pumpkin
How to grow pumpkin in open ground? There are two ways here:
- using seeds;
- using seedlings.
Both methods have their secrets. However, they also have a lot general points. It must be remembered that pumpkin, which is grown and cared for in different regions, has special requirements for agricultural technology. Here you need to take into account climatic features places of growth (in Siberia, etc.), as well as requirements in terms of further care after planting.
Predecessors of culture
How to grow a big pumpkin? First of all, you need to select the right predecessors for it. The best predecessors for pumpkin are:
- cruciferous;
- legumes;
- corn;
- beet;
- eggplant;
- carrot;
- potato;
- tomatoes;
- pepper;
- sunflower;
This crop can only be grown in the same place after 4–5 years.
Soil selection
It is important to know that how a pumpkin grows directly depends on the type of soil. It is best to grow pumpkin in light to medium loamy soils. The more fertile the soil, the larger the pumpkins you will get. To increase fertility, the soil is prepared in the fall. It is dug up, after which manure or compost is added (5–8 kg per 1 sq. m.). If the soil is heavy, urea and sawdust are added to it. In case of high acidity, slaked lime is used.
Planting with seeds
To understand how to grow a pumpkin from a seed, you need to read the relevant literature. You can also watch training videos created by experienced gardeners(Oktyabrina Ganichkina and others).
Sowing of planting material in open ground is carried out after May 15. By this time the soil should warm up to +12 degrees.
Planting seeds is carried out as follows:
- a bed is made 70 cm wide;
- without a bed, the distance between the rows is 2 m, and between the recesses – 1 m;
- the holes have a diameter of 30-40 cm;
- a spoonful of potassium or phosphorus fertilizer. Manure or humus is poured on top. Ash, peat, and so on can also be added;
- then the fertilizers are poured with warm water;
- 2-3 seeds are placed in one hole. Depth – 3–7 cm;
- then the soil is mulched with humus/peat;
- The top of the bed is covered with film.
Pumpkins from seeds are grown in many regions of our country (for example, in the southern regions), as well as in Belarus, Ukraine, etc.
Planting seedlings
To obtain seedlings, seeds are germinated and treated with a growth stimulant. They should be grown in separate containers - peat tablets or plastic cups. You need to grow seedlings at home, creating optimal conditions humidity, temperature and light (different from indoor plants).
Planting of seedlings occurs at the end of May. At this time, the age of the sprouts will be about 30 days. Planting young plants in the ground is carried out according to the same scheme as seeds.
This method of landing is practiced in many regions (in the Leningrad region, the Urals, etc.). To understand how to grow a good pumpkin, you need to familiarize yourself with what agricultural technology is required for each individual variety. Pumpkin has simple cultivation techniques that even a novice gardener can handle. Therefore, growing this crop can be considered as a business idea.
Watering
Pumpkin is a moisture-loving crop. She needs water to form female flowers. Therefore, caring for pumpkins in open ground always includes watering. It is carried out frequently and involves the introduction of large quantities warm water. Loosening must be done before watering. During the flowering period, watering is reduced.
Top dressing
Caring for this crop includes weekly fertilization. It is best to use them in liquid form. Bushes should be fed alternately with organic and mineral fertilizers. Throughout their growth, pumpkin beds are fed with ash (1 cup per 1 bush).
Formation
Also, caring for pumpkin plantings involves the formation of bushes. The plant should have no more than 3 shoots. Pinching is carried out when the shoot grows to 1.5 m. There are several ways to form a pumpkin. They involve stimulating the formation of a pair of lateral stems with a small amount of ovary. remember, that proper care in open ground behind a pumpkin will allow you to get large fruits from it.
Powder
Pumpkin agricultural technology involves performing the powdering procedure. This procedure is carried out when the lashes grow 1 m in length. First, they are unraveled, and then sprinkled with soil in 2-3 places. As a result, the lashes will not break off and will form a sufficient number of ovaries. Such care is the key to a tasty and abundant harvest.
By following all the instructions listed above, you can grow pumpkins as your own business. Once you understand how to care for a pumpkin, you can grow pumpkins of enormous size. After all, if the care was correct, then a giant berry can be obtained from almost any large-fruited variety.
Diseases and pests
By understanding how to grow this crop in the garden correctly, you can protect it from diseases and pests. If you do not take care of your pumpkin patch, the plants may suffer from the following ailments:
- black mold;
- ascochyta;
- powdery mildew;
- anthracnose;
- white rot.
In the fall, when the pumpkin is grown, the harvest takes place. A sign of maturity is a shriveled stalk. Assembly is carried out in dry weather. Properly prepared pumpkins can be stored for a long time after drying well (6 months or more). Fruits should be stored in a warm, well-ventilated room.
Air humidity should be 60–70%, and temperature – 15–20 degrees. Knowing how to properly care for pumpkin, you can grow almost all of its varieties in your garden, getting tasty and large fruits from the beds.
Video “Planting pumpkins in open ground”
From this video you will learn how to plant a pumpkin in open ground.
Among the melon crops there are real champions, the yield of which exceeds the wildest expectations, often puzzling the gardener with the question of what to do with the ripened wealth. Growing pumpkins will help you verify this. Along with the high fertility of its bushes, gardeners are attracted by the ease of caring for them. But numerous crop varieties will be able to show everything they are capable of 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 in a dry and well-warmed area by the sun, where the ground does not cool down much even at night. Perfect option for pumpkins - planting on a compost heap. Here its bushes will be warm and “nice”, especially if you put superphosphate and wood ash (in small quantities) in each hole. For early and abundant fruiting, the plant needs short daylight hours - less than 12 hours.
Suitable areas for pumpkins are those where beds with the following crops grew or were located last season:
- onions;
- cabbage;
- carrots;
- beets;
- soy;
- beans;
- beans;
- peas;
- peanuts;
- lentils
On the soil freed up after harvesting cucumbers, zucchini, squash, sunflowers and melons, the bushes will be less comfortable. It will be possible to plant a pumpkin in the same place only after 5 years.
The quality of the soil determines the size and taste properties future harvest. Pumpkin is capable of growing and bearing fruit even in poor soil, but it will not turn out sweet and large in such conditions. To produce vegetables of impressive size, her bushes will require a lot of nutrients. It is correct to plant plants in loose soil with a neutral reaction, well seasoned with fertilizers.
Preparation of the pumpkin plot begins in the fall. Before digging infertile soil, add compost or manure (3-5 kg per 1 m²). If the soil at the dacha is heavy, add ash (200-300 g). You can replace it with lime without changing the dosage of the substance. Acidic 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 spring the area is harrowed. They do this early, when the snow has just melted off. It is important to follow the recommended timing, otherwise the soil may dry out. Subsequently, the soil is lightly loosened, removing weed roots from it. Before placing seeds or pumpkin seedlings in it, it is dug up again, going deeper by 12-18 cm.
If the site was not fertilized in the fall, nutrient compositions - humus (compost), superphosphate, wood ash - are added during planting, adding them to each hole and thoroughly mixing with the soil.
Pre-sowing treatment
To ensure that pumpkin seeds sprout quickly and quickly, they are treated before planting. This is especially important if they were collected a long time ago. Such seeds should be properly checked for germination. For this you will need a solution table salt(at a concentration of 25-30%). Having poured the seed into it, observe it. Quality seeds are heavy and will sink. Empty and unripe - will remain on the surface.
There are a few effective ways pre-sowing preparation pumpkin seeds. The simplest is to soak them and leave them to germinate in a damp environment: sawdust, a piece of cloth or moss, gauze. It will take them a little time to peck - only 3 days. You can warm up or bubble pumpkin seeds. To reduce the risk of plant damage by pests and diseases, planting material pickled for 30 minutes in a strong solution of potassium permanganate.
Another option is to put pumpkin seeds in nutrient solution, prepared from ash or liquid fertilizer from the humate series. You can use a growth stimulant drug. Then they need to be germinated. Having wrapped pumpkin seeds in a damp cloth, they are allowed to lie for 1-2 days in a room where the air is heated to 22-23˚C. The cocoon is not allowed to dry out by regularly sprinkling it with water.
Obtaining seedlings
There are 2 methods of growing pumpkins:
- through seedlings;
- sowing seeds directly into the beds.
Which one to choose depends on the type of crop and the climate of the area. In a seedless way Pumpkins are planted mainly in the south. In the middle zone and in regions where summers are even shorter and colder (in the Leningrad region, the Urals, 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 sprouting. Through seedlings it is grown and butternut squash, loved by summer residents for its sweet taste and impressive size of fruits. Particularly popular among them are the Pearl Muscat and Muscat de Provence varieties.
In separate containers: plastic cups, peat pots. They should be wide - 10-15 cm in diameter. A fertile mixture of three components is poured onto the bottom of the container:
- humus;
- turf land;
- peat
Take them in a ratio of 2:1:1. The container is only half filled. A hatched pumpkin seed is placed on top, sprinkled with the same substrate, but with spilled mullein solution (5%) and supplemented with wood ash (10-15 g). Having moistened the soil mixture well, cover the container with film. This pumpkin planting is carried out in April-May. The exact timing is determined by the planned date of placing the plants in the beds: seeds are sown in containers 20-25 days before it.
Caring for seedlings and planting in the ground
Pumpkin seeds need two conditions to germinate:
- plenty of light (excluding direct rays of the sun);
- warmth (the air temperature in the room with seedlings should be within 25-27˚C).
When shoots appear, it is reduced to 15-20˚C during the daytime and to 12-13˚C at night. Otherwise, the pumpkin seedlings will stretch out. But you can fight this too. When they are 7-10 days old, the section of the stem located under the cotyledons is twisted into a ring, and moist soil is poured on top. If everything is done correctly, the seedling will be underground up to the cotyledon leaves.
Pumpkin seedlings require moderate watering. The soil in containers must not be allowed to become waterlogged. Feed young pumpkins twice before planting them 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, the seedlings should produce at least 3 true leaves. Before planting the pumpkin in the beds, it is hardened off for 5-10 days. After placing the containers with plants on the balcony or veranda, open the window. At first, ventilation is short-lived (1-1.5 hours), but this time is increased every day. 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 the plants should completely enter it and be 8-10 cm below the ground level. Pour 1.5-2 liters into the hole hot water, wait until it is absorbed, and then transfer the seedling without disturbing the soil coma. The voids are filled with soil and compacted well. The surface of the bed is mulched. You can even use dry soil for this. Its task is to prevent the formation of soil crust and retain moisture.
Sowing in the beds
Planting pumpkins in open ground will become 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, mark holes on it. Correctly, if they are located at a distance of 1 m from each other. Their diameter is made equal to 30 cm, and the row spacing is 2 m.
It will be more convenient to care for the plantings if you arrange the holes in a checkerboard pattern.
Having generously moistened each hole with hot (about 50˚C) water and waited 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 structure of the soil. On medium loams, pumpkin seeds are covered with fertile substrate to a depth of 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 film. To fix it, earth is poured along the edges. This will make pumpkin shoots appear faster. They will have to wait about a week. When the sprouts emerge from the soil, the cover 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. Choosing for breeding on the site large-fruited varieties crops (Zorka, Smile, Sweetie), you will have to limit yourself to one plant per hole. It is not recommended to pull out excess seedlings - there is a high risk of injury root system 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, stretching it over a wire frame or arches.
Alternative cultivation
If the size of the plot does not allow you to allocate a plantation for spreading pumpkin vines, this is not a reason to refuse to grow the crop. You can plant seedlings in a barrel. Old containers without a bottom are ideal for these purposes. In new barrels, you will need to make holes on the sides and bottom to avoid moisture stagnation. Hanging pumpkin vines under the weight of the harvest can be injured by sharp edges and even break. A regular rubber hose will protect them from this. It is cut in half and placed on the edge of the barrel.
The outside walls of the container are painted dark color. This way they will heat up more and will not rust. Having placed 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 rots slowly - are placed at the bottom. Place on top what will quickly turn into compost: leaves, grass, tops vegetable crops. This is how a barrel for planting pumpkins is prepared in the fall.
If this is done in the spring, half-rotted organic matter from the compost heap, humus, sod or fresh grass are placed in it. All this is carefully compacted. When there is no more space left in the barrel, its contents are watered generously, first with water, and then with a solution of a special preparation that 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. As long as the bacteria work, the pumpkin seedlings will grow to the desired size.
Instead of a barrel, you can use car tires by placing them on top of each other.
Basics of agricultural technology
Pumpkin seedlings placed in beds require frequent watering. They carry it out every day until they finally take root in the new place. After this, watering is reduced to a minimum. In rainy summers you can do without it completely.
When the ovaries begin to resemble a fist in size, the pumpkin bushes will again need a lot of moisture. During this period, water the plantings once a week, spending 1 bucket of water per bush. Abundant moisture is especially important for pumpkin on hot days. Before harvesting, stop watering the plantings. If you neglect this recommendation, the fruits will be stored worse. Their taste will also suffer: they will become less sweet.
Pumpkin responds well to loosening the soil. It is advisable to carry them out after each moistening, while simultaneously removing weeds. They begin to loosen the soil from the moment the seedlings appear, going 6-8 cm deep into it under the bushes. The soil between the rows is cultivated more intensively - 12-18 cm. It is better to do this before it is moistened, then the water will flow to the roots of the plants faster. When loosening, it is recommended to hill up the pumpkin bushes a little. This technique will make them more stable.
Plantings are fed frequently - every 1-1.5 weeks. The nutritional composition is prepared from mullein (1 l) and nitrophoska (2 tbsp. l). They are mixed in 10 liters of water. 1.5 buckets of solution are poured under an adult bush. The first feeding begins when a week has passed since the seedlings were placed in the beds. If the pumpkin seeds were planted directly into 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 manure or chicken droppings diluted 4 times with water. Another fertilizer option is wood ash (1 cup of substance per 10 liters of water).
Before the first feeding, shallow (6-8 cm) grooves are made around the pumpkin seedlings, 10-12 cm away from the plants. nutritional composition. Subsequently, the depth of the furrows is increased by 4 cm, digging them at a distance of 40 cm from the bushes. After applying fertilizer, the grooves are covered with earth.
Bush formation
The most important thing in caring for a pumpkin 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 excess ones. They should reach 60-70 cm in length. In order for the pumpkin to ripen large, the ovaries are rationed: one for each shoot.
The fruits will fill faster if you press the vines to the ground. This is done using a small wooden spear or wire. Soil is poured on top of the shoot. Optimal thickness its layer is 6-7 cm. Additional roots form underground on the shoots. To prevent ripening pumpkins from getting dirty in the ground and being 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 camouflage old buildings, poles, sheds, fences on the site, entwining a gazebo or trellis, creating a secluded green corner. But the lashes of such plants are heavy, so you need to choose a reliable support for them. More suitable for feeding them organic compounds. Otherwise, the decorative variety of the crop is grown in the same way as a regular one.
Pumpkin, planting and caring for which will require minimal skills from the summer resident, is a very rewarding plant. With proper agricultural technology, it can feed more than one family with its tasty and healthy fruits. Despite the heat-loving culture, it is grown almost everywhere. Even in conditions unsuitable for pumpkin in Siberia and the Leningrad region, its bushes will be able to bear fruit. You just need to arrange warm beds and prepare high-quality seedlings.
Pumpkin seeds and pulp have many beneficial properties, and the plant itself is unpretentious and grows well on any soil. Growing it with your own hands is not difficult at first glance, but some features still exist. We have prepared this article especially for those who are interested in unusual varieties of pumpkin and the peculiarities of their cultivation. Detailed Descriptions varieties with photos and videos will help you decide on the choice of seeds.
Below you will find many useful information about the features of sowing and caring for pumpkins, as well as practical advice for storing vegetables in winter.
Growing pumpkins in open ground and caring for them
Pumpkin is an extremely useful, but at the same time unpretentious crop. It is thanks to the latter feature of the plant that it is often planted in areas that, due to the characteristics of the soil, are not suitable for the cultivation of other, more demanding plants.
Of course, when growing pumpkins in open ground, the plant will still need some care. To get a truly rich harvest, after the first shoots appear, the pumpkin bed must be regularly loosened to remove weeds and saturate the soil with moisture and air. It is also recommended to fertilize the vegetable several times a season, but even without adding additional fertilizers, the vegetable quickly gains weight. Next, we will look at the main nuances of growing pumpkin in more detail, so that even novice summer residents can cope with the cultivation of this vegetable.
Pumpkin varieties with photos and descriptions
There are many types of pumpkins, but the most common are the hard-skinned ones (Figure 1):
- Acorn, or acorn, got its name because of the characteristic fruits, which are shaped like acorns. The pulp is orange-yellow, the peel is dark green or orange.
- Aport- round, mid-season with orange-yellow flesh, weighing up to 7 kg. The peel is orange.
- Smile- ripens in 85 days. The fruits are bright orange with light stripes, weighing up to one and a half kilograms.
- Freckle- early ripening appearance. The pulp is yellow-orange, fruits up to 3 kg. The peel is light green with light spots. Well kept.
Figure 1. Hard-barked varieties: 1 - Acorn, 2 - Aport, 3 - Smile, 4 - Freckle There are also large-fruited and cold-resistant species (Figure 2):
- Russian- early ripe, climbing with orange flesh. Fruit weight is 3-4 kg. It is cold resistant.
- Ordinary- fruits reach a weight of up to 25 kg. The smaller the fruit, the tastier.
- Gribovskaya winter- late-ripening, with bright yellow or red flesh. Fruits weighing more than 3 kg, flattened, gray in color.
- Merchant's wife- fruits are light orange, flattened, weighing more than 15 kg. This species is mid-season and can be stored for a long time.
- Volga gray- round, light gray fruits, weighing up to 8 kg, with yellow or orange flesh. Mid-season species, drought-resistant.
Figure 2. Large-fruited and cold-resistant varieties: 1 - Rossiyanka, 2 - Ordinary, 3 - Gribovskaya winter, 4 - Kupchikha, 6 - Volzhskaya gray When choosing a variety, you need to focus not only on the characteristics of the soil, but also on the climatic conditions in which the crop will be grown.
Muscat
These pumpkins have an excellent taste and can even be eaten raw. In harsh climates it can only be grown from seedlings.
Most Popular muscat varieties such(Figure 3):
- Butternut- fruits weighing up to 1 kg with orange pulp, pear-shaped. Contains many useful vitamins and minerals.
- Bylinka- fruits with bright orange pulp and gray skin.
- Vitamin- the fruits are green, oval, weighing up to 6 kg with bright orange pulp. Contains a large number of beta-carotene, very good for baby food and juicing.
Figure 3. Muscat varieties: 1 - Butternut, 2 - Bylinka, 3 - Vitaminnaya Varieties for the Moscow region
The variety is also selected depending on the climate of the region. This is the only way to get a good harvest.
These types are best suited for the Moscow region(Figure 4):
- Medical- fruits are flattened, weighing 3-5 kg with a thin peel. The harvest is harvested 90 days after the formation of the first shoots. The variety is early ripening and stores well.
- Candied fruit- fruits weighing 5 kg, flat-round in shape with yellow-orange pulp, which contains a lot of sugar and carotene.
- Gribovskaya winter- a fruit with a gray color, flattened shape, weighing 3-4 kg. The core is bright orange. This is a late-ripening species that is well stored until the next harvest. Grown through seedlings.
Figure 4. Varieties for the Moscow region: 1 - Medicinal, 2 - Candied fruit, 3 - Winter mushroom Varieties for Siberia
When choosing a variety for the Urals and Siberia, you need to take into account that frosts there continue until mid-June. Therefore, the culture resists cold and frost. The following species are considered suitable for harsh climates (Figure 2):
- Smile- grows in the form of a bush, gives a high yield. Fruits weighing 3 kg with a thick orange peel. Can be stored for a long time at room temperature.
- Freckle- fruits weighing no more than 3 kg with a hard rind, tastes like melon. This variety tolerates temperature changes and is most suitable for growing in Siberia.
- Russian- dark orange in color, and tastes like melon. At proper cultivation gives a high yield. Resistant to all diseases and pests, and suitable for planting in the Urals and Siberia.
Pumpkin seeds are gaining more and more popularity, as they have a number of healing and valuable taste qualities.
Here are several varieties that, when grown, produce tasty seeds and juicy pulp(Figure 5):
- Miranda- rounded-flattened fruits of light green color, with yellow-orange pulp and olive-green seeds. Intended for direct consumption and processing. Sow in open ground at the end of April.
- Sweet pie- fruits weighing 2-3 kg, round in shape with an orange-round peel. The variety is high-yielding and early ripening.
- Premiere- fruits of a flattened shape with a dark green color and a coarse mesh. Weight 5-6 kg, flesh bright orange. The species is mid-season, tolerates cold well and lasts a long time.
- Spaghetti- the shape and color of the fruits resemble a melon. Unripe fruits are green in color.
- Melon- yellow, round, large, slightly flattened, weighing 25-30 kg, with dark orange flesh. The variety is mid-season, productive. Recommended for baby and diet food, as well as for making juices.
- Gymnosemyanka- does not have a hard shell on the seeds. The yield is low and the fruits are small, but the variety is valued precisely for its unusual seeds. Gymnosperm pumpkin, like other species, loves warmth.
Figure 5. Varieties for seeds: 1 - Miranda, 2 - Sweet Pie, 3 - Premiere, 4 - Spaghetti, 5 - Melon, 6 - Golosemyanka Seed preparation and planting
The area designated for the crop is well fertilized. Add at least 2 buckets of humus, half a bucket of sawdust, 1 liter jar wood ash and 1 glass of nitroammophoska. The bed is made 70 centimeters wide, dug deep and watered with hot water (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Sowing seeds To achieve rapid germination of seeds, they are immersed in a solution of liquid for a day. complex fertilizer, then cover with a damp cloth for 1-2 days, constantly moistening it with water.
To plant old seeds, they are checked for germination a month in advance. For this purpose, take several seeds of each type and soak them in a damp cloth until germination.
Holes for sowing are made along the bed at a distance of 90 centimeters. Seeds are sown germinated, 2 seeds in each hole, in warm, moist soil.
The author of the video will tell you how to properly plant in open ground.
Features of pumpkin care
The best time for planting is when the soil is well warmed up, at an air temperature of at least +13 degrees, since at lower temperatures the seeds rot.
Pumpkins are grown in two ways. Seedlings grown at home using paper cups or in a greenhouse. The seedlings are not picked. Seeds that are sown in the ground no later than the end of May.
To speed up seed germination, cover the bed with film, securing it at the edges. When shoots appear, the film is cut, a wire frame is installed and stretched for uniform ventilation.
Landing
Depending on the composition of the soil, the depth of planting the seeds will be different. To prevent night frosts from damaging the seedlings, the seeds are sown quite densely and at different depths.
When sowing seeds in the ground, pour 1.5-2 liters of warm water into each hole, place the seeds and cover with the nutrient mixture. After which the holes are mulched with humus or peat chips.
The first shoots appear about a week after sowing. When one or two leaves appear, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving only the strongest plants.
Watering
The culture loves moisture, especially during the period of mass flowering and fruit formation. Therefore, during the blooming of female flowers and the filling of fruits, when there is a prolonged drought and hot weather, the plants need to be watered abundantly with warm water. Water from wells and boreholes is not used for irrigation, because cold water destroys plants (Figure 7).
Figure 7. Pumpkin care: watering, pinching shoots and fertilizing Also, do not forget to remove weeds and loosen the soil, especially before watering.
Top dressing
To get a good harvest, it is necessary to fertilize periodically. It is carried out in two stages:
- First. Fertilizers are applied when three to five leaves are formed. As a rule, nitroammophoska is used in dry form.
- Second. A solution of nitroammophoska is added when the first lashes appear.
In order to obtain a good harvest, plants are formed into one or two stems.
When forming into one stem, the side shoots and ovaries are removed after their formation. Two or three ovaries are left on the lash; after the last ovary, 3-4 leaves are left and the top is pinched. After this, all the flowers that appear are cut off.
When forming into two stems, two fruits are left on the main vine, and one on the side. Also leave 3-4 leaves and pinch the top.
In turn, do not forget about sprinkling the lashes. When they become more than a meter, they are unraveled, folded in the required direction and covered with earth.
From the video you will learn everything necessary information about growing and caring for pumpkins.
Collection time and storage features of pumpkin
Ripe fruits are cut off with the stalk, so they are stored for a long time and well. They can be stored in rooms at room temperature.
Basic signs of a ripe pumpkin:
- The stalk is woody (dried out and very hard);
- Leaves are yellowed or dried out.
- The color becomes more saturated and bright, depending on the variety.
- The shell becomes denser.
Fruits with mechanical damage or unripe fruits are eaten or processed. Only ripe fruits are suitable for long-term storage. They are dried and left to ripen in a dry room for 2 weeks.
They can also be stored on a balcony, loggia or in a barn, covering it at night. When constant frost sets in, they are moved to a warm place (Figure 8).
Figure 8. Harvesting and storing crops The storage area should be dry and warm for the first two weeks. Then they are moved to a room with a humidity of 60-70% and a temperature of 3-8 degrees. In more warm rooms the fruits may spoil.
Storing pumpkins at home in winter
For storage, choose the fruits of mature varieties. Store in dry, ventilated areas with a humidity of 75-80%. Sun protection is a mandatory requirement. It is good to store pumpkins in the attic in the hay, as well as on verandas, garages, sheds, and storage rooms. They are placed on shelves in one row, with the stalks facing up.
Periodically, the fruits are checked and spoiled ones are removed.
