Pumpkins are used for both sweets and tantalizing dishes. The seeds of this vegetable are good for your health and it is fun to toast them and then use them as beautiful autumn decorations. Growing squash is easy and inexpensive because it is a plant that thrives in many areas. Read on to learn how to choose the right variety to plant and to find the right environment for growing and producing pumpkins.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Preparing for Planting
Step 1. Find out when is the right time to plant pumpkins in your area
The seeds do not germinate in cold soil, so they must be planted when there is no longer the risk of frost, that is, in late spring or early summer to have an autumn harvest.
If you want to have pumpkins in time for Halloween, plant the seeds in late summer; if you do this in the spring, you may be forced to harvest pumpkins too early
Step 2. Choose where to plant the seeds and prepare the soil
Pumpkins produce tendrils that need a lot of space to grow. Choose an area that has the following characteristics:
- 6 or 9 meters of open space. Cultivation doesn't have to take up the whole garden. You can plant pumpkins along the side wall of the house, or along the fence.
- Area in full sun. Do not choose a shady spot, under a tree or in the shade of a building. Pumpkins need to stay in full sun all day.
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Soil with good drainage. Clayey earth does not absorb water quickly and does not promote plant development. Choose a spot where water doesn't accumulate during heavy rains.
To make sure the pumpkins thrive, prepare the soil with compost. Dig large holes and fill them with a compost mixture a few days before planting
Step 3. Choose the pumpkin seeds to plant
You can buy them at the nursery or order them from an online catalog. There are several varieties of pumpkin, but the most common types for home cultivation are:
- Pumpkins for sweets, grown to be consumed.
- The large pumpkins, used for decorations to display on Halloween. The seeds of this variety are edible, while the pulp is not very tasty.
- Small pumpkins, used as ornaments, which are often called "mini-pumpkins".
Part 2 of 4: Plant the Pumpkins
Step 1. Plant the seeds to a depth of 2, 5 or 5 centimeters
Arrange them in a row, in the center of the chosen piece of soil, so that the tendrils have enough space to develop. Leave several tens of centimeters between the seeds.
- Plant the seeds in groups of 2 or 3, leaving a few inches apart, in case some of them do not germinate.
- It doesn't matter which side of the suit points up. If it is in good condition, it will sprout anyway.
Step 2. On some seed packs it is recommended to plant the pumpkins in piles of soil spaced apart and arranged in precise rows
It is a useful system if the soil does not have good natural drainage, but in optimal conditions it is not a necessary measure.
Step 3. Cover the planted seeds with compost
If you have already added compost to the soil before planting, you can skip this step. If not, spread a thin layer of compost or mulch in the areas where you have sown. It will serve to keep weeds away and feed the seeds.
With the right precautions, pumpkin seeds should germinate within a week
Part 3 of 4: Care for Plants
Step 1. Water the plants when the soil is not very wet
Pumpkins need a lot of water, but remember not to overdo it. Get in the habit of watering these plants when the soil seems a little dry, rather than adding more water to the still wet soil.
- When watering your plants, use plenty of water and let it sink deep into the soil. Depending on the growth phase, the roots are located at different depths, reaching even tens of centimeters into the ground, so it is essential that the water reaches them.
- Try not to get the pumpkin leaves wet. Humidity favors the development of powdery mildew, a fungus also called white sickness that makes the leaves dry and leads the plant to death. Water in the morning instead of in the evening so the leaves have time to dry in the sun.
- As pumpkins start to grow and turn orange, limit the amount of water used when watering. Stop watering altogether one week before your scheduled harvest.
Step 2. Fertilize the pumpkin plants
When you notice the first sprouts, add some fertilizer to help them grow and become lush plants. Ask at the nursery what type of fertilizer should you use for pumpkins.
Step 3. Keep an eye out for weeds and pests
To make sure your plants produce healthy pumpkins, you need to monitor them as they grow.
- Weeds often. Don't let them grow until the pumpkins are suffocating and stealing the nutrients needed for their development. Remember to eliminate them several times a week.
- Check that there are no beetles on the leaves and flowers, as they feed on the plant itself until it kills it. Remove them from the plant by checking it several times a week.
- Mulch the area around the pumpkins to keep plant pressure low and to preserve soil moisture.
- Aphids are pests that threaten a large number of garden plants. They are found under the leaves and if you don't get rid of them asap they quickly kill the plant. Sprinkle them with some water in the morning so the leaves have time to dry.
- If necessary, use an organic insecticide to get rid of pests from the plant. Ask for advice in the nursery to choose the most suitable products.
Part 4 of 4: Collecting
Step 1. Collect pumpkins at the right time
The outside should look like a hard, bright orange shell. The stalk should begin to dry out; in some cases, even the tendril will begin to wither.
Step 2. Don't pick pumpkins that are still soft to the touch
They wouldn't last more than a few days before they rot.
Step 3. Cut off the stalks of the pumpkins
Use a pair of shears to cut it, leaving only a few inches attached to the vegetable. Don't break it, or the pumpkin will eventually rot.
Step 4. Store the pumpkins in a dry, sunny spot
Keep them away from moisture. There is no need to refrigerate them, they will be good for several months after harvest.
Washing them with chlorine before storing them can discourage the growth of mold and mildew. Dilute 240 ml of bleach in 19 liters of cold water
Advice
- Water generously, but don't overdo it as the stem can rot easily.
- Pumpkins don't suffer much from insects; generally, it is a very resistant plant.
- When harvesting pumpkins (the plant is very prolific), you can store them outside for a long time or, in case of snow, in the basement. If the weather is temperate, leave them in a shed, on the shed roof, under sacks, and so on. In any case, you will have an abundant supply all winter.
Warnings
- The pumpkin plant climbs the surrounding trees and walls if given the opportunity. It may happen that it reaches the roof!
- Pumpkins are very prolific plants, in fact they tend to extend well beyond the area dedicated to their growth. Keep them away from other plants so they have enough space to develop. As the squash begins to thrive, any other plants underneath will be crushed, so keep an eye on it as it grows and move the stem if it starts to spoil other plants. It can happen that two pumpkin plants crush each other!
