When to plant pumpkin seedlings in open ground. Pumpkin: care and cultivation in the open ground. Growing seedlings at home

Outdoor pumpkin cultivation

Pumpkin (lat. Cucurbita) is a vitamin-rich vegetable with a pleasant mild flavor and used in many dietary dishes. Cultivation requires compliance with certain conditions and rules, which we will consider in more detail.

Preparation and planting of pumpkins in open ground

Pumpkin cultivation is possible in two ways:

Planting not dive seedlings;
Sowing prepared seeds.

Presowing seed treatment

Growing pumpkin in the open ground begins with the preparation of seeds that are soaked in water, preferably in sodium humate or potassium humate, for a day. Having taken the seeds out of the water, they are covered with a damp cloth or gauze for two days, leaving them in a shaded place at a temperature of up to plus 23 g. Celsius. The fabric is constantly moisturized. It is not recommended to take seeds from the crop the year before last - there may be poor germination.

For treatment from diseases, the seeds are immersed in a 30% solution of sodium chloride (2 tbsp.spoons of salt per 100 ml of water). Healthy and strong specimens will sink to the bottom, while weak ones will float and should be discarded.

After germination, the sprouts are placed in plastic cups or pots in diameter up to 10 cm, with prepared soil: a peat mixture mixed with sand and garden soil (1: 1: 1).

Transplanting and growing pumpkins in open ground in the suburbs occurs after the appearance of three full leaves. On average, the age of seedlings should be about a month.

Site selection and soil preparation

The plot allocated for growing pumpkins is chosen away from the growing crops, with a flat surface and good access to sunlight. The land is pre-fertilized: per 1 sq.m. take 2 buckets of humus, 0.5 buckets of wood shavings, 1 liter of wood ash and 200 g of nitrofoska. The soil is dug in depth of 50 cm and form beds up to 70 cm wide.

Planted pumpkin seeds or seedlings in warm soil since mid-May, while the air temperature should exceed the average daily plus 10 g. Celsius. If the seeds are planted earlier, then they will not be able to develop properly and rot.

Growing pumpkins in open ground in the area where potatoes, melons, sunflowers or watermelons were previously grown is not recommended. In one place, a pumpkin is planted with an interval of five years. Sandy, light and medium loamy soils with neutral Ph 4,5-5 are most suitable for pumpkin cultivation.

Pumpkin planting technology

Wells for seeds or seedlings are made along the entire bed at a distance of 0.9-1 m from each other and to a depth of 5-7 cm. At least 2 liters of water are poured into each well, the temperature of which should not be lower than plus 50 g. Celsius, after which they begin to sow.

Top mulch sawdust, straw or peat. Growing pumpkins in open ground in Siberia is slightly different: it is recommended to sow 2 seeds per hole. After germination, a weaker plant is selected and removed.

Agrotechnics for growing pumpkins in open ground includes an additional shelter of planted seeds with a film, which is carefully fixed along the perimeter of the bed. The covering material creates greenhouse conditions and helps protect seedlings from possible frost.

After the sprouts have reached 50 cm in height, the film is lifted by pulling it on a wire frame. In mid-June, the material is removed.

A film without a frame left on the bed can be used instead of mulch, which will help facilitate pumpkin care during growth. In this covering material, cross-shaped incisions are made for sprouts in this use.

Planting and growing pumpkins in the open ground video

Pumpkin Care Rules

Caring for a pumpkin in the open field does not cause difficulties, as it consists in timely watering and top dressing.

Fertilizer application

Feeding should be done no more than once every 2 weeks. Topping up pumpkin in the open ground with minerals is done twice: when five leaves appear (10 g of nitrophoska per 1 plant in dry form); when lashes appear (15 g of nitrophoska per 10 l of water under each bush).

Feeding pumpkin with wood ash (1 glass per 1 plant) and mullein (1 liter of mullein per 10 liters of water) is also effective. Mullein is introduced at the beginning of the growing season (1 bucket for 6 plants) and during fruiting (1 bucket for 3 bushes).

All top dressing is applied to the ring-shaped ditch, increasing the depth from 8 to 15 cm as the pumpkin grows. At the seedling stage, the recess is dug at a distance of 15 cm, after 2 weeks it is increased to 40 cm.

Watering pumpkin

Before irrigation, the soil is loosened 10 cm deep, trying not to hook the root, and cleaned of weeds. Watering pumpkins in the open ground is carried out only with warm water, 50 gr. Celsius, do not use cold artesian or water from wells.

Especially important is timely plentiful irrigation during flowering: moisture is necessary for the formation of female inflorescences. Water consumption during this period is about 30 liters per 1 plant.

During fruit ripening, the amount of water during irrigation is reduced, since excess moisture reduces the shelf life and reduces the sugar content of the fruit.

Pumpkin cultivation video

Pumpkin lash formation

The formation of pumpkins during cultivation allows you not to waste energy on extra ovaries and shoots, due to which larger fruits with better taste characteristics grow. While the main stem has reached a length of 1.5 m, it is pinched. Only 2 lateral shoots are left up to 70 cm long. On each of them the fruit ripens.

To accelerate the loading of fruits, the shoots are pressed to the ground, sprinkled with a small layer of soil at a distance of half a meter from the main shoot for rooting. A piece of plywood or glass is placed under each pumpkin that is being formed to protect against fungal diseases that begin to develop on the fruit from damp soil.

Pinching and caring for an outdoor pumpkin video

Protecting Pumpkins from Diseases and Pests

The most common pumpkin diseases are fruit rot, powdery mildew and mosaic. Most often manifested due to increased dampness - a favorable environment for the development of bacteria and fungi. Of the pests, the spider mite, as well as the aphid aphid, most often affects the pumpkin.

Powdery mildew

If the first symptoms of a fungal disease are detected on the leaves of a pumpkin, they are fought against by spraying with a solution of 3 g of potassium permanganate or 2 g of copper sulfate dissolved in 10 l of water. They will be treated with 1% Bordeaux liquid during the formation of ovaries and leaves. For prevention - carry out regular watering, observe crop rotation and destroy the remnants of diseased plants.

Mosaic pumpkin

Fruit rot

The rotten areas are carefully removed with a knife and wiped with freshly squeezed aloe juice. The rubbing place dries up, and the pumpkin continues to develop.

Ways to protect against insects

They fight aphids by removing weeds, spraying with soapy water (200 g of grated soap per 10 liters of water) or 10% malathion in a proportion of 60 g per 10 liters of water.

From a spider mite, spraying with onion infusion from 200 g of husk per 10 l of water or 20% chloroethanol solution (20 g per 10 l of water) helps.

Harvesting and storage conditions for pumpkins

So that the pumpkin does not start to deteriorate in the garden, you need to harvest in time. The ripening moment can be recognized by the following signs:

The peduncle becomes rough and rough;
Foliage and lashes turn yellow and dry;
The skin coarsens and acquires a typical sort of pattern.

It is necessary to harvest until stable frosts. Pruning of pumpkins occurs with a stalk up to 6 cm. Cut fruits are stacked in a dry, warm room. Pumpkins ripen in a week, and the stalk dries.

With the onset of frost, unripened not picked pumpkins are mulched with straw or agrofibre.

Total

Observance of all conditions and rules for pumpkin care will allow you to grow a rich harvest. Delicious and healthy vegetables are well stored until the New Year without any processing. Pumpkin can be used for cooking main dishes, desserts, soups, canned, or made from it

The chemical composition of pumpkin is rich in vitamins and minerals useful for the normal functioning of human organs. This explains the popularity of growing vegetables on garden plots. Culture enjoys success among agrarians for industrial cultivation. In this review, we will talk about the features of planting pumpkin seeds and seedlings in open ground and further care.

Dates for planting pumpkins in Belarus, Ukraine, the Leningrad region and other regions

A crop is planted after the soil is fully warmed up, and the average daily temperature does not fall below + 10 ° С. If during sowing in spring the temperature is below + 13 ° C, the germination process slows down, which threatens to rot the seeds. In the middle lane, the best seed planting dates fall in the second decade of May. According to folk traditions, the sowing day coincides with the church holiday - St. George's Day, but you should not rely on a significant date without taking into account weather conditions.

In the southern regions, as well as in Belarus, Ukraine, in the Donbass, where weather conditions permit, pumpkin can be planted at the end of April. According to the lunar calendar, this period coincides with the growing moon, which is favorable for the development of the top fruits.

The most popular varieties

For Moscow region

Premiere

Cold-resistant culture with a spreading long lash and sweet-tasting large fruits, hanging in a mature form to 6 kg. The culture is unpretentious to the type of soil, its fertility.

Country

Culture with early ripening (75-85 days). The vegetable is characterized by a sweet taste with hints of vanilla. Pumpkin in mature form weighs 3-4 kg. Duration of fruit storage for more than 4 months.

For the Urals

Russian woman

The plant is resistant to garden diseases and frost. The pulp is juicy and sugar, which is appreciated by the chefs. The weight of the Russian pumpkin exceeds 2.7 kg. The ripening period of the crop is 110-130 days. The color of the ripened fruit is orange.

Nutmeg Pearl

Harvest ripens in 100 days the weight of pumpkins is about 5-7 kg. The taste is saturated with a musky note. The plant is cold-resistant, tolerates drought and heavy rainfall, has strong immunity.

The best varieties of Siberia

Freckle

A plant with vegetation days. The pulp is very juicy and sweet, tasting like a melon. Even after heat treatment, it retains a crispy structure. Pumpkin weight does not exceed 3 kg.

Smile

Bush grade. The culture easily tolerates temperature changes and can withstand frosts, is resistant to humid environments. The variety is distinguished by excellent taste and a long shelf life (until the next season). The duration of the growing season is 90-110 days, fetal mass - 2.1-3 kg.

Proper planting in open ground

The key to productivity is the correct planting, 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 Testing

Seeds must first be checked for germination and sorted, leaving only healthy specimens. 3 days before the start of sowing, grains must be germinated in wet gauze or sawdust. To accelerate the germination of seeds at home, they are placed for 2 days in a solution of sodium or potassium humate. The tank should be in the room all this time, where the temperature regime is 20 ° C.

The soil

The soil must be prepared before planting. To do this, they dig it up, make fertilizers: potash, phosphorus, compost or manure. It is better to use complex ones, they enrich the soil with various nutrients.For example, 2 buckets of humus, ½ buckets of sawdust, 1 kg of ash, 1 glass of nitrophoska are introduced per 1 m2.

The digging depth of the soil should be at least 35-50 cm. To disinfect the area, pour it with hot water.

Where to plant a pumpkin in the country? The landing place is selected sunny, well-ventilated. Such predecessors as potatoes, sunflowers, melons, watermelon will not work. But after legumes, tomatoes and beets, the plant will feel great. The same site should not be used for disembarkation either; a 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 actively develops and spreads over a large space. In determining the scheme, it is better to be guided by the characteristics of the variety. More often gardeners use this option of planting:

embedment depth sunflower seeds - 8-10 cm (on light soils), 5-6 cm (on loams) with the acute side down;
interval between holes in a row - 60-80 cm;
distance between rows - 1 m.

For spreading lashes, the following scheme is used: 1x1.5 m. To protect the planting from spring frosts, it is recommended to cover the garden with a film.

Experienced gardeners use the lunar calendar when planning planting work in the garden. The dates indicated in it affect the rate of development of plants. It is recommended to plant a pumpkin on the growing moon:

in March begin to plant seeds on seedlings (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23);
in April seeding is permissible in open ground (17 - 22, 24 - 29 numbers);
in May (16-21, 23-28).

In addition to 3-4 seeds, organic fertilizers are added to each well: manure, humus or peat. To moisturize, use warm water (2 liters per hole).

In the Leningrad region, Moscow region, in the Urals, in Siberia, pumpkin is grown in seedlings. The technology of planting young plants in the soil does not differ from planting seeds.

But what if pumpkin seedlings are very long? In cases of excessive activity of seedling growth, when the stem becomes thin and excessively long, the first thing to do is to transplant the plants into more spacious pots, providing the necessary space.

Cultivation at home and further care

At home, pumpkin can be grown on virtually any soil. The culture shows endurance to adverse weather conditions, even when it began to germinate. But these facts do not mean that culture does not need to be looked after.

How many seeds germinate?

The timing of seed germination depends solely on temperature conditions. If the night indicator does not fall below 12-14 °, the seeds will begin to germinate in a week. Even if the weather is cool a month later, 2-3 leaves are already developing on the shoot.

Preplant seed soaking in growth stimulants will help speed up the germination process. In addition to special tools, aloe juice, infusion of wood ash, potato juice, honey solution are used.

Watering Rules

Pumpkin needs watering, but in moderation. Excess moisture will provoke stretching of the 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 highway can be negative. Therefore, experts recommend using the settled fluid from the well.

Top dressing

The plant loves top dressing. A week after germination, the first lure is introduced. The plant receives ideal nutrition from a mullein solution. Nitrofoska is considered equally effective (15 grams per bucket of water). It is followed by subsequent feeding with an interval of 10-14 days.

The correct formation of the seedling is expressed in a low but strong stalk, short internodes, the presence of 3 leaves after a month.

Pumpkin Formation

As soon as 2-3 real leaves appear on the shoots, you need to thin out the bed. When growing large-fruited pumpkins, they leave only one sprout, nutmeg and durum bark - 2 seedlings each.

A developing lash should also be formed, and side shoots. They do this 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. In the second method, 2 fruits are left on the main stem, one on the side shoot. Without such a procedure, the fruits will be small and not very tasty.

Pests and Prevention

Pumpkin is considered an unpretentious plant, however, this culture is also at risk from pests. Reduce productivity, and sometimes destroy young shoots can:

slugs;
gourd aphids.

When signs of an invasion of pests are detected, special preparations are used (Actellik, Fufanon, Citkor, etc.). Safer are products made from biological components. Folk methods are sometimes not inferior in effectiveness, among which deserve attention:

decoctions and infusions from pharmaceutical chamomile;
infusions on potato and tomato tops;
decoctions of wormwood and other aromatic herbs;
wood ash;
tobacco dust;
slaked lime, etc.

Working solutions are used to spray plants, and powders are used for dusting. The procedures are repeated 2-3 times at intervals of 7-10 days.

For an instant reaction to an invasion of pests, one should make it a rule to conduct inspection of the beds with a regularity of 1 time in 3 days. Then you can localize the problem and save the crop.

Harvesting

The maturity of a pumpkin can be determined by the following criteria:

the stalk becomes stiffer the surface gets stuck, its stiffness occurs simultaneously with the stem supplying power;
leaves on the whip drychange color to yellow;
whatever the original skin color, after maturing, reflects the texture pattern brighter;
if you run a fingernail over the crust no trace;
when you press your fingers on the fetus, hardness is felt;
ripe product is covered matte coating;
when tapping is heard sonorous knock;
when harvesting the stalk is easy to remove.

To ensure a long shelf life, it is necessary to pick the fruit carefully, being careful not to damage the peel. Scratches should be sealed with a bactericidal plaster so that microbes do not penetrate into the vegetable.

Harvested fruits from the beds are placed in a dry room, where they ripen for about another month.

The main guarantee of a good harvest are proper seed selection and timely care. Hand-grown pumpkin diversifies the menu for households, enriches the body with nutrients.

Pumpkin is valued for its healing and palatability. It is used to make cereals, soups, juices, salads, muffins, casseroles and even jam. You can use the pulp for culinary purposes, and solid bordering as an attribute for Halloween. Then you need to plant varieties of round shape with a yellow or orange color. If you want to surprise people who come to the house, plant a pear-shaped variety. Like many others, it lasts until spring at room temperature, if you store an intact fruit. With such instances you can decorate your home.

If you want to get an early crop, plant the seeds on seedlings, and subsequently it in the open ground. Pumpkin should grow at home no more than 25 days, otherwise the seedlings will stretch, so start pre-sowing seed treatment a month before the end of spring frosts. In the middle lane they begin to be etched in potassium permanganate on April 20-25. Make the solution weak. After pouring 3-4 crystals in 100 water, stir it. Then put the pumpkin seeds there for 20 minutes.

After that, rinse them and put them on a rich diet. To do this, you need a bandage and a bowl. Wrap the seeds in a double layer of bandage, put it in a container, pour in a growth stimulator. After 10 hours, drain it, put the bowl for a day in the refrigerator. After this time, hold the wet seeds in a bandage for a day at room temperature. Then plant each seed in a separate pot with a nutritious mixture, it is better to use peat.

Do not water the earth, grow seedlings on a light windowsill or balcony at a temperature of + 15 + 20 ° C, then it will not stretch. At the end of May, pumpkin seedlings are planted in open ground.

Planting seeds in the soil

If you do not have the opportunity to grow seedlings, you will have time to get large fruits by planting the seeds immediately in open ground. The best time for this is May 15-20. Start to germinate the seeds as described above two days before planting.

This culture, like all representatives of the pumpkin family, loves to grow on light soil rich in organic matter. Moreover, the latter may be decomposed. It’s easy to prepare the pumpkin area to avoid unnecessary efforts; start digging from the middle of the ridge. At the same time, take a little land, put it to the left and right side. You will get a trench 60 cm wide. Put grass, dry leaves, semi-decomposed compost, manure in it. Pour 2 tablespoons of nitrofoska per square meter. Shuffle it all with a shovel. Cover from above with earth, which lies on both sides of the trench.

Spill the bed with warm water. Plant the pumpkin seeds in a square-nested manner in 2 rows after 50 cm. Cover with a non-woven material on top. If the weather is warm, the first sprouts will appear in 5 days. If it's cool, you have to wait 7-9. After that, remove the non-woven material, water it occasionally, loosen the top layer superficially, water it as needed. On each bush, leave no more than 1-2 ovaries, then the fruits will grow large.

Buy pumpkin seeds and grow this healthy, tasty and beautiful fruit today is possible not only in the southern regions, but also in temperate latitudes. Many varieties are zoned and can be cultivated in different climatic zones according to years of proven technology.

There are about 30 varieties of pumpkins. None of them was used to produce numerous hybrids that differ in shoot length, shape, size and color of the fruit, the structure and taste of the pulp, and the timing of vegetation and storage.

On Russian sites, varieties of hard-bark, or ordinary, pumpkin are cultivated more often than others.

Representatives of this group are very diverse. Among them are climbing and bush forms, medium and early ripe varieties, fruits of various degrees of keeping quality and application.

The best hard-growing hybrids for growing in the temperate zone are:

Variety "Plyushka" with medium-sized (1.5 kg) fruits of orange tones, divided by white stripes into segments, and sugary juicy pulp.
"Gribovskaya Bush" is a hybrid with medium-sized fruits of light orange color, outlined in black and green stripes.
"Mozolevskaya 49" - a variety with short climbing branches and yellow, in green scalloped stripes, ovoid fruits with a delicious flesh.

Muscat varieties are characterized by medium-sized (6 kg) rounded flattened fruits of various shades of green, yellow and orange, covered with a thin, easy-to-peel skin. Most nutmeg varieties are characterized by low cold tolerance and a long (up to 130 days) growing season.

The best muscat hybrids are:

“Marble Pumpkin” - a variety with greenish-gray fruits, covered with specks, composing a marble pattern, and filled with dense pulp, rich in sugars.
Variety "Golden Pear" with medium-sized (1.5 - 2 kg) pear-shaped fruits of orange shades with pulp of a pleasant nutty shade.
Candied pumpkin is distinguished by a dark green color of the fruit. When ripe, they change their color to light brown, and the flesh acquires a reddish hue.

Gymnosperm pumpkin is considered one of the most popular varieties of nutmeg, known for its large tasty white seeds.
Large-fruited varieties, and there are about a hundred of them, stand out by record-high sizes of fruits with a thick layer of sweet pulp and resistance to low temperatures.

Popular hybrids of this group are:

Variety "Lantern" with round smooth slightly ribbed fruits of orange-pink tones and delicate juicy pulp. The fruits are transported and stored for a long time.
“Russian Porridge” is a bush variety, forming on one plant 3 to 4 round-shaped fruits, filled with medium-density pulp of high palatability.

Some varieties are zoned for cultivation in open ground in certain areas of the Russian Federation. For example, the best hybrids recommended for cultivation in the central part of Russia are considered to be “Baby”, “Sweet Cake”, “Melon”, “Zorka”, “Almond” and “Russian Woman”.

What to look for when choosing seeds

Pumpkin seeds are purchased in stores or harvested on their own.

When choosing seeds, it is important:

Determine the grade. It is made on the basis of an analysis of the climatic conditions of the area, the timing of the growing season of hybrids and plans for the use of fruits.
Select the highest quality seeds. They should be large, dense, of regular shape and uniform color and not have damage on the surface.

Selected seeds are checked for germination.

There are several ways to do this:

A small amount of seeds is placed for 15 to 20 minutes. in a small container of water. The specimens remaining after this time on the surface of the water are empty and will not rise.
A few seeds are wrapped in moist porous material (gauze, cotton pad, cloth) and put in a warm place for 2 to 3 days. By the number of sprouted seeds, a conclusion is made about their germination.

When buying seed, it is worth asking about its shelf life. Pumpkin seeds retain their germination for 8 to 9 months.

Growing seedlings at home

In temperate latitudes, pumpkin is obtained from seedlings, which are grown indoors.

Pumpkin seeds for seedlings are subjected to treatment designed to accelerate their germination:

for 2 hours place them in hot (45 ° C) water;
germinate in a warm (22 - 25 ° C) place, wrapped in moist porous material.

Having prepared the seeds, they begin to sow. To carry it out, containers and substrate will be required.

As containers, boxes or containers are used, on the bottom of which a 3-4 cm layer of sawdust is poured. An alternative is the use of peat cups with a diameter of at least 6 cm. This will avoid the transplant, which pumpkin seedlings carry quite hard.
The containers are filled with a substrate - purchased universal vegetable soil, recommended for growing cucumbers or a self-prepared mixture of peat, rotted sawdust and humus, taken in a ratio of 2: 1: 1.
For each kilogram of the mixture add 1 teaspoon of nitrophoska.
Before sowing, the soil is moistened.

Seeds are planted to a depth of 4-5 cm and covered with an airtight transparent material. Capacities with crops are placed in a bright place with daytime temperatures from 18 to 25 ° C, at night 15 - 18 ° C.

Seedlings are looked after:

regularly and moderately watered, preventing waterlogging and drying out of the soil;
7-10 days after the appearance of the sprouts, the seedlings are fed with a solution of nitrophoska (15 g per 10 liters of water) or a mullein infused for 3-4 hours (1 part per 10 liters of water), diluted in 5 parts of water.

Young plants 15 to 20 cm high with 2 to 3 true leaves are planted on beds.

How to plant pumpkin seeds in open ground

Planting pumpkin seeds can be carried out immediately in the open ground. This is true for regions with a warm climate. Understanding how to plant a pumpkin in open ground seeds, you should familiarize yourself with some rules.

Landing time frame

More reliable criteria for selecting the sowing time are temperature conditions. Planting a pumpkin in open ground is possible only after the threat of frost disappears completely, when the average daily air temperature exceeds 20 ° C and the soil warms up sufficiently (at least 10 - 13 ° C).

In the southern regions, this happens around the middle of May, in the middle lane - by the end of this month.

Soil and seed preparation

Before sowing, pumpkin seeds are sorted, checked for germination and soaked.

Some vegetable growers practice seed hardening, which is important for growing heat-loving varieties. For this purpose, after swelling and “pecking,” the seed for 2 to 3 days is placed on the lower shelves of the refrigerator.

With the place of sowing pumpkins are determined in the fall. It is desirable that this is a quickly heated and protected from the wind section, on which perennial grasses or cereals had previously grown.
In the autumn, the soil in the selected area is dug up (up to 40 cm) and fertilized, introducing for each square meter a manure bucket or nutrient mixture prepared from 200 g of nitrophosphate and 500 g of wood ash mixed with 4 kg of sawdust and 15 kg of humus.
In the spring, the soil is once again dug, harrowed and beds 60 to 70 cm wide are formed.

How to plant a pumpkin

Sowing begins with the marking of beds and the formation of holes with a depth of 40 - 45 cm. For climbing forms, the holes are made in 1.5 - 2 m, and the seeds of bush forms are planted in a nesting manner at a distance of 0.8 to 1.2 m.

If for some reason fertilizers were not applied in the fall, this is done before sowing, pouring ½ buckets of manure into the hole, over which 5 cm of soil is distributed.

Several seeds are placed in each well:

when sowing large-fruited varieties - from 2 to 5 pieces;
nutmeg - from 5 to 8.

Seeds are placed at a distance of 3-4 cm, “beaks” down.

The depth of their incorporation depends on the type of soil:

for the lungs - 5 - 8 cm;
heavy - 4 - 5 cm.

A plot with crops is mulched with peat or humus. Some gardeners cover the crops with a film, after making small cuts in it for air intake. This speeds up the emergence of seedlings.

Aftercare

With proper sowing and the use of quality seeds, the first pumpkin sprouts will appear in a week. They need care, which consists of watering, cultivating and feeding. With prolonged cloudy weather, additional measures are taken to prevent pests and diseases, as well as artificial pollination.

Watering. Pumpkins are often and plentifully (10 liters under 1 plant) watered using water heated in the sun. The amount of moisture is increased as the leaves grow, promoting moisture evaporation, until flowering begins. This measure promotes better fruit setting.
Loosening. After emergence, regular soil loosening is practiced. Directly under the plant - to a depth of 6 - 8 cm, in row-spacings - 12 - 18 cm. After loosening, to give the plants more stability, the plants are slightly spud.
Thinning. Pumpkin seedlings thin out twice. The first time is after the growth of the 2nd true leaf, leaving 2 plants each in the cultivation of nutmeg and durum honeycombs in one well, and in large-fruited varieties - one each. The next thinning is carried out after the appearance of the next pair of leaves. "Extra" plants are cut at soil level.
Top dressing. To replenish the supply of nutrients spent on the formation of large leaves and fruits, pumpkin is regularly fed using organic fertilizers: infusions from manure or chicken manure (1: 4) or wood ash (1 glass per bucket of water). The first top dressing is carried out approximately a month after sowing. The infusion is poured into the grooves with a depth of 6 - 8 cm, previously dug in a circle at a distance of 10 - 12 cm. Similar procedures are repeated weekly, gradually deepening the grooves to 10 - 12 cm and placing them at a distance of 40 cm from the plant. After top dressing, the grooves are covered with earth.
Prevention of pests and diseases. During periods of prolonged coolness and frequent rains, the pumpkin weakens and can become ill or be attacked by pests. To strengthen immunity in such periods, pumpkin is sprayed with a urea solution: 10 g in 10 liters of water.
Pollination. If pumpkin flowering occurred during the period of cloudy weather, then it is pollinated artificially. They tear off a male flower (it is easy to distinguish it from a female by an elongated leg), break off the petals and touch the anthers on the pistils of the female flowers.

A little knowledge, attention, labor - and the pumpkin will delight you with its beautiful and healthy fruits. It will reign not only on the garden bed, but also on the table, supplementing and enriching the diet with useful substances that help to survive the winter without loss of health.

Every landowner has the opportunity to grow a pumpkin and take care of it, but not everyone can get a good harvest. How to grow a pumpkin in a summer house in the open ground so that you can stock up on a health and energy-giving vegetable for the whole winter?

What is the optimal landing time for her? In what cases is it better to grow pumpkin seeds, and when - seedlings? When can it be planted in the ground? "Calm, only calm" ... We will find answers to all questions.

Than useful

Pumpkin An annual herb, more than six hundred years successfully grown throughout Russia. Extremely popular gourds are eaten in the form of cereals, soups, sweet dishes and desserts. And how delicious a pumpkin baked in slices in the oven!

In addition, pumpkin is perfectly stored and during the winter serves as a source of vitamins for the whole family.

Grown in many regions of our country with a temperate climate, reaching an average weight of one instance up to 5-8 kg. There are record-breaking pumpkins over 10 kg.

Note!

Pumpkin possesses not only excellent culinary properties, but also is a source of the rare vitamin “T” (carnitine), which is responsible for the human energy condition.

The increased content of carotene in the pumpkin strengthens eyesight. Pumpkin dishes help with stomach ailments. Fiber provides regular bowel movement (eliminates constipation).

Site selection

A properly selected site for growing pumpkins can be considered one that satisfies the following requirements:

has sufficient sunlight necessary for photosynthesis of plants and the passage of phases of development;
provides daylight hours (12 hours) for optimal crop ripening;
the slope of the earth's surface prevents the accumulation of excess rain moisture and possible waterlogging;
the location allows you to choose the direction of the ridges and rows in such a way that the heat accumulated during the day does not have time to completely be consumed during night cooling.

If possible, gardeners for pumpkins use compost heaps. They retain soil heat well, they contain the necessary supply of nutrients for plants in the initial period of growth.

The introduction of additional superphosphate 50 g and wood ash with a volume of 200 ml before planting is necessary to increase their fertility.

Growing Pumpkin Seeds

In order for the grown seedlings to be strong and healthy, it is necessary to properly prepare the seeds:

for each pumpkin seed you need to use individual pots: peat or paper, in which they are grown;
plant seeds selected in advance. Not damaged by frost, mold, infections, without chips and cracks.

Before sowing in pots, the seeds are subjected to heat treatment (heating). Maintain temperature plus 60 degrees in 2.5 hours.

As well as the effects of stimulants dissolved in water to increase survival.
Composition:

potassium humate - 4 ml per ½ liter;
crezacin - one tablet per 100 g .;
epina - 4-5 drops.

In the absence of such remedies, ordinary wood ash helps - in a liter of water, two tablespoons of it are enough.

Or you can soak in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for germination of seeds, or ordinary warm water. Seeds should be soaked for at least a day, preferably every 4 hours to change the solution.

At the end of these procedures, the seed material is dried or, bypassing it, immediately planted in pots.

But still the most rational way is sprouting.

The seeds treated in the solution, wrapped with a damp cloth, are placed:

on a flat surface - a large dish, a baking sheet or in a wooden container. If the latter, then it is advisable to use sawdust spilled with boiling water;
bundles with seeds are laid out in boxes with sawdust in layers, in two or three rows;
between the rows, to further moisten the seeds, lay wet wipes.

Boxes with seed material for seedlings are placed in a warm place, the appearance of the first sturdy sprouts is observed on average after three days. Then they are placed one in a pot.

Other ways to grow pumpkin seeds:

wrapped in bandages or gauze, the seeds are soaked for half an hour in a manganese solution;
after thorough washing, they are placed in an aqueous solution with two drops of a growth stimulant or one tablespoon of wood ash added. The treatment time is 12 hours;
after processing, the seeds are hardened, for which they are laid out on saucers with a thin layer of boiled water and left in the refrigerator for the night.

We plant pumpkin seeds in open ground

The main rule for planting seeds in open ground is to observe the required soil temperature in the upper 10 cm layer - 12-13 degrees of heat. If this condition is met, then proceed to further work.

Before sowing for selected seeds, heat treatment is carried out in the form of a 9-10 hour warm-up at 40-degree air temperature in the oven or drying oven.
Then they are soaked overnight in a liter of water brought to a boil with two tablespoons of wood ash. This makes it easier for pumpkin sprouts to break through the dense skin of seeds.
Mark rows on the ridges with landing holes with a diameter of 0.3 m.
Each is shed with two liters of water heated to 50 degrees, then two or three seeds are planted, planting up to 5 cm in loamy soil.
On light soils - it is increased by 3 cm, placing the seeds in a triangle with equidistant sides from the center of the hole.
Sprinkle with an arable layer, and rows - mulch, using compost or humus.

The distances between the rows can withstand up to 2 m, the holes on the bed are located one meter from the other, and on the ridge - according to the chessboard pattern.

Crops are carefully sheltered to preserve soil heat from night cooling. With the emergence of pumpkin shoots in a week, the covering material is removed.

When 2 true leaves appear, thinning of crops is performed - two copies remain in the hole.

Attention!

When thinning, it is not worth pulling out an unnecessary seedling - the root system of neighboring ones may be violated, so it is simply cut off at the level of the earth's surface.

How to plant a pumpkin for seedlings

In many regions with a temperate climate in Russia (Non-chernozem zone, the Urals, Siberia, the Far East) and others, growing pumpkins with seedlings ensures that it ripens completely before the onset of frost.

For proper cultivation of pumpkin seedlings, the following steps must be taken.

Calculate the approximate date of sowing seeds as follows: from the intended date of planting seedlings in unprotected soil - take 20-21 days.
Using peat pots or paper cups with 10 cm bottom, individually prepare for each seedling the following substrate: humus (two parts) + turf (one part) + peat (one part).
Pour the resulting mixture into a cup half of its volume and plant the seeds hatching inward by 1 cm, one copy each.
Then, pour the same substrate to the top level of the glass, but with the addition of 5 percent mullein in liquid form together with wood ash (up to 15 grams).

After wetting, seedlings are covered and placed in a warm place. Seedling care is as follows:

As the substrate withers, it is watered, avoiding excess moisture;

They are fed twice with complex fertilizers (in grams) in liquid form per 10 liters of water:

nitrogen - 17,
phosphoric - 15,
potash - 20.

The total consumption for the seedling period is 0.5 liters per plant.

One and a half weeks before planting in a field or garden, seedlings are hardened, gradually bringing it to fresh air each time for a longer time.

When is it better to plant a pumpkin for seedlings

Sowing seeds depends on:

local climatic conditions (date of occurrence of positive temperatures);
biological properties of varieties (early ripening, middle and late ripening) - the timing of the onset of vegetation and their duration.

You can sow pumpkin seeds for seedlings in a long period of time - from 20.04 to 20.05, i.e. for almost four weeks, and it grows in 26-28 days.

Some gardeners in April planting dates are avoided, they sow pumpkins for seedlings only in early May. This is explained by the degree of warming up of the earth to the required temperature: if it does not reach 16-18 degrees of heat by planting seedlings, then time also shifts.

Having determined the optimal period for planting sprouts for their climatic conditions, we determine on what days it is necessary to sow pumpkin seeds for seedlings.

It should be noted that pumpkin seedlings, laid in May, when planted in open ground, fall into a well-heated arable layer of soil. When frosts are practically absent, and the number of sunny days increases. This means that the pumpkin grows faster and begins to yield earlier.

Please note that:

a four-week growing period for seedlings is sufficient. Longer cultivation may adversely affect survival;
in areas with a cool climate and probable nighttime cooling, it makes no sense to rush to plant seedlings with the onset of summer heat. It is necessary to listen to weather forecasts;
for planting, seedlings (seedlings) must have a sufficiently developed root system that allows them to adapt to the hole at a 10-cm depth of embedment.

Planting seedlings

Pumpkin seedlings are planted in open ground under the following conditions: the temperature of the arable layer must reach a stable value - 12 degrees Celsius.

Any household thermometer placed in the ground for 10 minutes will help to determine this value.

To preserve soil heat and accelerate the growth of seedlings, black film coatings are arranged on the seedlings or each well is poured with boiling water before planting in an amount of 3-4 liters.

Seedlings are planted in containers (pots, cups, etc.), without removing the seedling, in the center of the planting nest to a depth of 2 cm from the level of the surface of the hole, slightly digging the soil around the perimeter.

What crops are best for planting pumpkin with?

Despite the fact that the pumpkin is planted in any free places in the garden or in the field, not all cultures tolerate its proximity well. Which of them does pumpkin get along with better?

Good compatibility is noted with beans, with beans and peas. Although many gardeners with enough land practice pumpkin growing separately. We have already noted that it grows well on compost heaps.

Neighborhood with tomatoes, potatoes, pepper beds, eggplants does not bring any benefit to pumpkin. In these crops, the formation of fruits and root crops leads to the active drawing of nutrients from the soil, which robs them of pumpkins.

Black radish gets along well with representatives of the pumpkin family. The phytoncides secreted by it prevent the emergence of dangerous pests, such as spider mites.

The formation and growth of pumpkin lashes (stems) in July-August allows you to place wheatgrass onions, beans, and beds with spinach next to them. These crops have already managed to finish the vegetation by mid-summer and safely create their crops.

Is it possible to plant a pumpkin next to zucchini?

Wholesale gardeners say: - No way. These cultures will cross-pollinate and as a result you will heal something in between that does not suit you at all. Spread the pumpkin and zucchini away from each other.

Pumpkin, like a gourd, does not tolerate the effects of wind. It drains the soil, causing moisture deficiency. Leaves are damaged, impairing the photosynthetic activity of plants.

To protect pumpkin sprouts, corn is planted around the perimeter, which, acting as a rocker culture, creates a favorable microclimate, increasing early maturity and yield.

Correctly planted pumpkin, it does not matter if you planted it in open ground with seeds or seedlings, it is guaranteed to delight the crop. You will not only be able to eat it often in the autumn in the autumn, replenishing the body with vitamins and energizing, but also lay it for the future and a lot for winter storage.

Pumpkins are perfectly stored almost until the next harvest. All winter you can enjoy pumpkin porridge in a pot, or pumpkin soup puree, in which there are solid vitamins, tasty and healthy. And how many dishes you can think of with a pumpkin is impossible to imagine. Good luck and health, dear readers. Let the hand-made pumpkins be huge and vibrant.