Helpful tips on how to grow pumpkin
The genus Pumpkin (Cucurbita) is part of the pumpkin family (Cucurbitaceae). The most common pumpkin among farmers is the common pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), which belongs to the melon crops.
To obtain larger pumpkin fruits and a good harvest in general, the top layer of soil must be rich in nutrients. Since the root system is formed by a long main root, from which many small adventitious roots depart.
The stem is creeping, branches into lateral shoots with large leaves.
Pumpkin seeds germinate at a temperature of +12 °C, and the favorable temperature is from +25 °C to +30 °C. Fruits are formed at night, when the temperature drops to +14 °C, it negatively affects growth, and small frosts lead to the death of the plant. Therefore, pumpkin is considered a heat-loving plant.
For the plant to grow and for the fruits to ripen, the pumpkin needs good lighting, as it is a light-loving plant. If there is a lack of light, the growth of the fruit slows down, which subsequently leads to a decrease in the harvest.
Pumpkin can be grown both by seedlings and seeds. If the soil is fertile enough, pumpkin seeds can be planted immediately. Before sowing, they must be prepared in advance.
To do this, the seeds need to be placed in water for several hours, the temperature of which should be about +50 °C, and then placed in a damp cloth until germination. Pumpkin seeds are sown at the end of May.
To obtain seedlings, seeds are planted in pots with fertile soil in early May. The soil mixture is prepared in the ratio 5:3:1:1 (peat, humus, turf layer and mullein).
The pots should be placed in well-lit places. And you also need to observe the temperature regime. Until the first shoots appear, the temperature during the day should be about +25 °C, and at night +18 °C. After the sprouts appear, then during the day +20 °C, and at night +15 °C. Seedlings are planted in early June.
The place for pumpkin is chosen on the southern side, as it likes good lighting. After sowing seeds or seedlings, the beds are covered with polyethylene film for some time to avoid night frosts.
During the growth process, pumpkin needs to be looked after. Periodically loosen the soil and weed it. After the formation of dense foliage, stop loosening the soil.
At the stage of fruit growth, it is necessary to monitor the soil moisture and water it if it is insufficient. After the fruit ripens, stop watering and leave it to accumulate nutrients.
