Inedible gourds have been used for centuries as ornaments and to make tools and utensils. Whether you want to grow them for artistic purposes or because you like to see the colorful touch they give your garden, you can do it very easily.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Preparing to Plant
Step 1. Choose the inedible pumpkin variety
There are dozens of species, each with its own unique shape, color and size. Inedible pumpkins can be divided into three broad categories: ornamental (of the genus cucurbita), functional (of the genus lagenaria) and those from which the vegetable sponge is obtained (of the genus luffa).
- Ornaments have extravagant shapes and bright colors and are usually used to make decorations. They have yellow and orange flowers.
- Functional pumpkins are green during growth, while when they dry they take on shades of brown. They are usually used to make tools and utensils thanks to the very resistant skin.
- The pumpkins from which the vegetable sponge is obtained can be easily peeled and reveal a spongy interior. During growth they have yellow flowers.
- While some are not edible, there are many that you can eat yellow squash, butternut squash, golden acorn squash and many more. Other types of edible squash include young loofah and Chinese okra.
Step 2. Determine when to plant
Pumpkins grow in virtually all climates although best in warm climates. If temperatures are cold in your area for most of the winter, it is best to start germinating the seeds indoors before moving them outside. It takes about 180 days from when the seeds are planted to get the ripe fruit, due to the long germination process. Remember that if you live in a cold area you need to start germinating seeds 6-8 weeks before the last frost of the season.
- Pumpkins grow at an optimal temperature between 24 ° and 30 ° Celsius.
- Sprouting seeds indoors is nothing more than planting them in individual containers and watering them every day.
Step 3. Decide whether or not to use a trellis
The trellises are wooden or wire structures that serve to support climbing plants and, in the case of pumpkins, mainly to favor the composition of particular shapes. They are not necessary to grow pumpkins because they also grow very well on the ground. However, pumpkins that grow on the ground will be flat on the side where they rest, while growing on racks they will retain their rounded shape. If you decide to use a trellis, prepare it before planting the pumpkins and then pin it over the plant as it grows.
- Large, heavy types of pumpkins (such as bottle gourds) need a trellis made of wood and wire to support their weight.
- For smaller ones, a rather large tomato cage will do.
- Pumpkins of the genus luffa (the ones from which the vegetable sponge is obtained) usually need a trellis.
- Using trellis can help prevent plant diseases.
Step 4. Choose the place to plant
Pumpkins need to be planted outside in full sun and so they have plenty of room to expand. Alternatively, they can be planted in pots, which will greatly reduce their size and production. If you plant pumpkins without a trellis, make sure they have enough room to grow. Otherwise, fix the trellis outside in a fairly large area, with lots of light and little shade.
Plant the seeds at a distance of about 2, 5/3 meters from each other in order to prevent the formation and propagation of diseases
Step 5. Prepare the ground
It is not very complicated to have a suitable soil for growing pumpkins, which is why they can be grown almost anywhere. They need very moist soil, more clay than sandy (meaning they won't grow well in sandy soil). Check the pH of your garden soil to see if it is optimal for growing pumpkins; they prefer an acidic soil with pH values between 5, 8 and 6, 4.
- If the pH of the soil is too high, add peat moss to increase its acidity.
- If the air is warm, but the soil remains cold, the plants will not develop properly.
Part 2 of 4: Prepare the Seeds
Step 1. Scrape the seeds
Pumpkins are known for the tough, tough skin that covers their seeds, which is partly responsible for their long germination period. To prevent the seeds from rotting due to it, you can scrape them to speed up the process. Use a cardboard nail file or fine sandpaper to scrape the outer surface of the seeds. It won't take long - the sanding paper will just have to sand the outer coating of the seeds from both sides.
Step 2. Wet the seeds
After scraping them, soak the seeds in a bowl of warm water. You should let them soak for 24 hours to speed up the germination process.
Step 3. Let the seeds dry
After soaking them for 24 hours, remove the seeds from the water and put them to dry on a piece of wax paper. Let them dry completely to prevent them from rotting before they even sprout.
Step 4. Sprout the seeds
Even if you live in a warmer area, it is beneficial to germinate the seeds by planting them in seed sets made up of small individual pots. Fill the containers with the soil you have prepared, insert a small trellis and plant a seed in each jar. Water every day until you are ready to transplant the seedlings outside, usually after the last frost of winter.
Make sure the seeds get plenty of light to prevent them from getting too long and sturdy later on
Part 3 of 4: Plant the Pumpkins
Step 1. Dig the holes
In the place you have chosen to plant the pumpkins, prepare holes to plant the pumpkins using a garden shovel or spade. If you are planting many pumpkins together, make sure that between two rows there are about 1.5 m apart and that between two pumpkins in the same row there are about 60 cm.
Arrange the rows near the racks if you are using them
Step 2. Plant the pumpkins
Put only one seedling or one seed in each hole. Cover the seeds with just over an inch of soil, while the seedlings up to the growth base.
Step 3. Take care of the newly sown pumpkins
After planting them, water the pumpkins abundantly so they don't suffer the shock of transplanting. Pumpkins love very wet soils, so be sure to water them every day as needed. Weed out because they take away valuable nutrients and room to grow. If you use racks, as the pumpkins grow you can attach them to the stakes with a bit of string so they have just the right space to grow.
- Cover the field with a layer of mulch to retain moisture and prevent weeds from growing.
- Consider adding a balanced complex fertilizer (type 10-10-10) to the soil once every 2-3 months.
- Water pumpkins more when the weather is particularly dry and hot to maintain a good level of moisture in the soil.
Step 4. Shape the ornamental pumpkins
Those who grow ornamental gourds usually guide their growth in order to obtain particular shapes and structures. This is mainly done in two ways: periodically folding them as they grow and using containers. You can gently fold one part of the pumpkin to have a curvy, meandering shape. You can also create a particular shape by placing the fruit that is still small in a fragile container (such as a vase). When the pumpkin grows, it will fill the container and take its shape; you will simply have to break the container.
Part 4 of 4: Collect the Pumpkins
Step 1. Let the pumpkins harden on the plant
When the pumpkins have reached maturity, the plant they grew on begins to die. At this point they are ready to be harvested, but it will be much easier if you let the pumpkins dry and harden directly on the plant. The process will take a few weeks to a month to complete. As you will notice that the pumpkins become lighter and lighter. They will not rot or spoil, unless there are animals or insects eating them.
- If you have to harvest edible pumpkins, you need to remove them while they are still young.
- If you have to harvest the pumpkins before the process is complete, wait until the part of the plant next to the fruit turns brown and dry.
- Turn and move the pumpkins periodically so they don't touch each other.
Step 2. Collect the pumpkins
The drying time varies from pumpkin to pumpkin depending on the size (and therefore the water content). Check the pumpkins every week to see if they are ready. Feel the peel and check its compactness: if they are soft or sticky they are rotten and must be thrown away. When the peel is hard and slightly waxy, they are ready to be cut. As a final test, shake the pumpkins to see if they have dried completely: if they are ready, you will hear the sound of maracas with the seeds moving inside. Use a pair of scissors or shears to cut the fruit off the plant.
Step 3. Treat the pumpkin skin
While not mandatory, you can treat the skin of the pumpkin to change its appearance and increase its shelf life. Wash the squash with dish soap and warm water to kill the bacteria. You can use sandpaper or steel wool to polish the outside of the gourd and add a layer of wax or shellac to finish the polish. You can also decorate the pumpkin by painting it.
Step 4. Consider storing the seeds
Pumpkins will last for many years with the seeds inside, but if you want to keep the seeds for future crops, you will need to cut them to extract them. Therefore, follow the process of preparing the seeds described above to make them grow. You can keep the shells of old pumpkins and at the same time have the seeds to plant new ones.
