The chemical composition of pumpkin is rich in vitamins and trace elements useful for the normal functioning of human organs. This explains the popularity of growing vegetables in the garden plots of household plots. Culture enjoyed success among farmers for industrial cultivation. In this review we will talk about the features of planting pumpkin seeds and seedlings in open ground and further care.
Table of contents
Terms for planting pumpkins in Belarus, Ukraine, Leningrad region and other regions
A crop is planted after the soil is fully heated, and the average daily temperature does not fall below + 10 ° C. If during the sowing work in spring the temperature is below + 13 ° C, then the process of germination slows down, which threatens to rot the seeds. In the middle lane, the best time for planting seeds fall on the second decade of May. According to folk traditions, the day of sowing coincides with the church holiday - St. George's Day, but you should not rely on a significant date without taking weather conditions into account.
In the southern regions, as well as in Belarus, Ukraine, in the Donbas, where weather conditions allow, you can plant a pumpkin at the end of April. According to the lunar calendar, this period coincides with the growing moon, which is favorable for the development of fruit-tops.
Most popular varieties
For Moscow region
Premiere
Cold-resistant culture with a spreading long lash and sweet-tasting large fruits, curtains mature to 6 kg Culture unpretentious to the type of soil, its fertility.
Country house
Early maturity culture (75-85 days). Vegetable is characterized by a sweet taste with hints of vanilla. Pumpkin in mature form hangs on 3-4 kg Duration of storage of fruits for more than 4 months.
For the Urals
Russian woman
The plant is resistant to garden diseases and frost. The flesh is juicy and sugar, for which it is valued by the chefs. The mass of pumpkin Russian woman exceeds 2,7 kg The term of ripening harvest is 110-130 days. The color of ripe fruit is orange.
Pearl nutmeg
Harvest butternut squash matures in 100 days, weight pumpkin about 5-7 kg Taste - full of nutmeg. The plant is cold-resistant, tolerates drought and heavy rainfall, has strong immunity.
The best sorts of Siberia
Freckle
Plant with vegetation days. The flesh is very juicy and sweet, taste like melon.Even after heat treatment retains a crunchy texture. Pumpkin weight does not exceed 3 kg
Smile
Bush variety. Culture easily tolerates changes in temperature and withstands freezing, shows resistance to wet environments. The variety has excellent taste and long shelf life (until the next season). Vegetation duration - 90-110 days, fruit weight - 2,1-3 kg
Proper planting of plants in open ground
The yield is the correct landing, which includes the preparation of seeds and soil, as well as the process of laying in the hole of planting material.
Seed preparation: germination and germination test
Seed material, you must first check for germination and sort, leaving only healthy specimens. Behind 3 the day before the start of sowing, grains must be germinated in wet gauze or sawdust. In order to speed up seed germination at home, they are placed for 2 days in a solution of sodium or potassium humate. The container should be in the room all this time, where the temperature is 20 ° C.
The soil
The soil before planting should be prepared.To do this, they dig it up, make fertilizer: potash, phosphorus, compost or manure. It is better to use complex, they enrich the soil with various nutrients. For example, 2 buckets of humus, ½ buckets of sawdust, 1 kg of ash, 1 cup of nitrophoska are introduced per 1 m2.
Where to plant a pumpkin in the country? A place for landing is chosen sunny, well ventilated. Such predecessors as potatoes, sunflower, melons, and watermelon will not work. But after legumes, tomatoes and beets, the plant will feel great. The same area should not be used for disembarkation either, the break should be 4-5 years.
Planting seeds and seedlings in the country
The distance between the holes should be at least 60 cm, because the lash of the plant is actively developing and spreading over a large space. In determining the scheme is better guided by the characteristics of the variety. Most gardeners use this planting option:
- embedment depth sunflower seeds - 8-10 cm (on light soils), 5-6 cm (on loams) with the sharp side down;
- interval between the holes in the row - 60-80 cm;
- distance between the rows - 1 m.
For spreading lashes apply the scheme: 1x1.5 m To protect the landing from spring frosts, it is recommended to cover the garden bed with a film.
Experienced gardeners use the lunar calendar when planning planting works in the garden. The terms indicated in it affect the speed of plant development. Pumpkin is recommended to land on the growing moon:
- in March begin to plant seeds on seedlings (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 numbers);
- in April seeding is permissible in open ground (17–22, 24–29 numbers);
- in May (16-21, 23-28 numbers).
In the Leningrad region, near Moscow, in the Urals, in Siberia, pumpkins are grown seedling. The technology of planting young plants in the ground does not differ from planting seeds.
What to do if the pumpkin seedlings are very long?In cases of excessive seedling growth activity, when the stem becomes thin and unnecessarily long, the first thing to do is to transplant the plants into larger pots, providing the right space.
Growing at home and further care
Houses pumpkin can be grown on almost any soil.Culture shows endurance to adverse weather conditions, even when it began to germinate. But these facts do not mean that the culture does not need to care for.
How many seeds germinate?
The timing of seed germination depends solely on temperature. If the night figure does not fall below 12-14°, the seeds will start sprouting in a week. Even if the weather is cool a month later, 2-3 leaves are already developing on the sprout.
To accelerate the germination process will help pre-planting soaking seeds in growth promoters. In addition to special tools used aloe juice, infusion of wood ash, potato juice, honey solution.
Watering rules
Pumpkin needs watering, but in moderation. Excessive moisture will provoke stretching of seedlings. It is better to water the soil after loosening and weeding. The culture tolerates drought well, but the reaction to cold water from the central main can be negative. Therefore, experts recommend the use of distilled fluid from the well.
Top dressing
The plant is very fond of feeding.Within a week after the germination of seedlings, the first complementary feed is introduced. The plant receives ideal food from a solution of a mullein. Nitrophoska is considered to be no less effective (15 g. Per bucket of water). She and conduct subsequent feeding with an interval of 10-14 days.
Formation of pumpkins
As soon as 2-3 leaflets appear on the seedlings, it is necessary to thin the bed. When growing large pumpkin, only one sprout is left; nutmeg and a douche, 2 seedlings each.
A developing whip should also be shaped, removing excess ovaries and side shoots. This is done in two ways: in one stem and in two. In the first case, it is recommended to leave only 2-3 ovaries, on which there are 3-4 leaves. With the second method, 2 fruits are left on the main stem, on the side shoot - one. Without such a procedure, the fruits will be small and not very tasty.
Pests and Prevention
Pumpkin is considered an unpretentious plant, however, this crop is also threatened by pests. To reduce the yield, and sometimes destroy the young shoots can:
- slugs;
- melon aphid.
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- Big slug on pumpkin
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- Gourd Aphid
When detecting signs of pest invasion, special preparations are used (Aktellik, Fufanon, Citkor, etc.). Safer are products made from biological components. At times, folk methods are not inferior in efficiency, among which attention deserves attention:
- decoctions and infusions of pharmaceutical chamomile;
- infusions on potato and tomato tops;
- decoctions of wormwood and other fragrant herbs;
- wood ash;
- tobacco dust;
- hydrated lime and others
Working solutions are sprayed plants, and powders are used for dusting. The procedures are repeated. 2-3 times at intervals 7-10 days
Harvesting
You can determine the maturity of the pumpkin by the following features:
- the stalk becomes stiffer the surface is bogged down, its stiffening occurs simultaneously with the stem feeding the stem;
- the leaves on the whip dry up, change color to yellow;
- whatever the source skin color, after aging, reflects texture pattern more brightly;
- if you hold your fingernail on the peel, no trace is formed;
- when you press your fingers on the fruit, hardness is felt;
- ripe product is covered matte finish;
- when tapping heard ringing knock;
- at harvest the stem is easily removed.
The removed fruits from the garden are placed in a dry room, where they mature for about a month.
The main guarantee of a good harvest are correct seed selection and timely care. A pumpkin grown on his own will diversify the menu for households, enrich the body with nutrients.