In what soil to plant a pumpkin. Pumpkin: planting and care, and growing in the open field. Soaking and germinating seeds

In folk medicine, pumpkin seeds are dried, then oil is made from them. Pumpkin seeds are rich in glycosides and steroids, vitamin E, trace elements of potassium, copper, zinc, manganese, selenium, etc., vegetable proteins and sugars.
Pumpkin pulp contains peptide fibers that help normalize the work of the stomach and remove toxins from the intestines.
It is recommended to use pumpkin for overweight people: low-calorie vegetable; vitamin T, contained in pumpkin, helps to speed up the metabolism and the rapid absorption of food; The diuretic property of pumpkin ensures the removal of excess fluid from the body.
In diseases of the kidneys, pumpkin is recommended as a diuretic.
Pumpkin is rich in beta-carotene and lutein, which have a beneficial effect on human vision.

Pumpkin can be immediately sown in the soil, or it can be planted through seedlings. It grows best in well-drained, sunny areas. Soil preparation for planting pumpkins begins in the fall. After harvesting the predecessors of the pumpkin, the soil is freed from weeds and plant residues.

After the soil is loosened with a cutter or hoe, after two or three weeks they dig up to 25 - 30 cm to a depth. During digging, the roots of dandelion, sow thistle, couch grass, larvae of the May beetle and wireworm should be carefully removed from the site.

Fertilizers are applied to the soil simultaneously with its digging. Due to the high rate of growth of aboveground and underground organs, pumpkins have an increased need for nutrients.

The best fertilizer for pumpkins is manure. It is more advisable to use rotted compost, as there are many weeds in fresh manure. 5-10 kg of manure is applied per 1 square meter of the plot.

Organic fertilizers are applied to a depth of 10-15 cm (on heavy soils) or 15-20 cm (on light soils). With a limited amount of organic fertilizers, they can be applied immediately before planting the crop directly into the hole.

The day before sowing the pumpkin, the soil is dug up, nitrogen fertilizers are applied for digging at the rate of 15-20 grams of fertilizer per 1 square meter of the plot. After digging, the site is leveled with a rake and proceed to planting seedlings or sowing seeds.

Planting pumpkin seeds

For planting pumpkin seeds, it is best to select full-weight seeds that need to be heated at a temperature of 60 degrees (2-3 hours). This is necessary for the friendly germination of seedlings. To ensure early germination, to acquire the resistance of the culture to adverse environmental conditions, the seeds are placed for a day before sowing in a solution of one of the growth stimulants:

krezacin solution - one tablet of the stimulant is diluted per 100 ml of water;
potassium humate solution - 4 ml of the stimulant is diluted with 200 ml of water;
epin solution - dilute 2-7 drops of the stimulant per 100 ml of water.

If you do not have these drugs, you can use wood ash to treat pumpkin seeds: take 2 tablespoons of ash per 1 liter of warm water, insist for one day, while periodically stirring the solution, then filter and lower the seeds into it, placed in a gauze bag. After that, the seeds are washed with water.

You can soak the seeds in warm water or in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

After the seeds have been soaked, you can start sowing or germinating them. You can germinate pumpkin seeds in an apartment by wrapping them in a damp cloth and placing them in a saucer.

On the site, you can germinate pumpkin seeds in a box with scalded sawdust. Paper napkins (wet) are laid out on sawdust in 23 layers, pumpkin seeds are placed on them, then napkins again, then warm sawdust and everything is covered with a film. The box is left in a warm place.

Pumpkin sowing time

Depending on the biological characteristics of the pumpkin variety, as well as on the climatic conditions of the region, there are different dates for sowing the crop. The planting of hard-barked and large-fruited pumpkins begins when the soil has warmed up to 10 degrees (at a depth of 10-12 cm), and the air temperature is 15 degrees. At earlier sowing dates, the plant should be provided with heat from biofuel, as well as protection from frost with a film.

When planting hard-barked and large-fruited pumpkin seeds in open ground, they must be embedded in the soil to a depth of 5-8 cm (on light soils) or 4-5 cm (on heavy soils).

Seeds of long climbing varieties of crops are sown in a row (the distance between the holes should be about 1.5-2 meters, and between the rows - 1.4 - 2 meters).

Bush pumpkin varieties can be planted using the square-nest method according to the scheme: 80 * 80 cm or 1.2 * 1.2 m. The distance between pumpkin seeds should be 3-4 cm. humus and soil in equal quantities.

Planting pumpkin seedlings in open ground

The process of pumpkin ripening from the moment of sowing is quite long, especially for late-ripening and heat-loving varieties of the crop. The process lasts 120-140 days. In order to get an earlier pumpkin harvest, you can grow its seedlings. Window sills in the apartment are suitable for this, it is desirable that the window sills be well lit.

Also, seedlings are grown in greenhouses, greenhouses or under a film frame. Sowing seeds is best done in the last decade of April or early May. This ensures that the plant is ready to be transplanted into the open ground.

As containers for seedlings, you can use milk bags or hollow peat pots with a diameter of 10-15 cm. Ready peat soil is poured into the container. Self-preparation of nutrient soil: take humus and soddy soil in a ratio of 4: 1. In a bucket of the mixture, add 4 grams of potassium salt and ammonium nitrate, as well as 5 grams of superphosphate. After the mixture is moistened and thoroughly mixed (preferably 3-4 times). This mixture is poured into prepared containers and slightly compacted.

During sowing, the soil in containers is watered with warm water, a depression of 2-3 cm is made in the center, into which one pumpkin seed is placed. The seed preparation process is the same as when sowing directly into open ground. The pots are covered with plastic wrap on top and placed on a windowsill for germination.

After sowing the pumpkin, the air temperature should be maintained within 18-25 degrees. As soon as the first shoots appear, the film is removed and the temperature is reduced by 3-5 degrees (this is done within 4-5 days). In an apartment, this can be achieved by ventilating the room. This provides protection for the seedlings from being pulled out.

If the seedlings are still stretched out, then on the eighth to tenth day after the emergence of seedlings, roll up the hypocotyl knee and put it on the soil, covering them with earth to the cotyledon leaves. The field of this pumpkin seedling is grown at daytime air temperature of 20-22 degrees, and at night 15-18 degrees. Watering the pumpkin should not be plentiful and frequent. Excess moisture can lead to "coddling" of the culture.

The plant should be fed twice. The first top dressing is carried out on the eighth to tenth day after germination. Growing seedlings in a greenhouse will be better if you take 100 ml of slurry, chicken manure or mullein and 5 grams of garden mixture per 1 liter of water, mix everything thoroughly and pour the area with this solution.

The second top dressing is done with any complex mineral fertilizers at the rate of 3-4 grams of fertilizer per 1 liter of water. It must be done immediately before planting the plant in open ground.

A few days before planting seedlings, it should be hardened off. Transplant-ready plants have low and stocky stems with short internodes and 2-3 well-developed dark green leaves.

Planting seedlings in the soil is carried out a little deeper than she was sitting in a pot, while sprinkling it to the cotyledon leaves. This promotes the formation of additional roots. When planting, the roots are pressed with soil, while preventing the formation of voids.

Seedlings planted in the ground are watered abundantly. This is necessary for better contact of the plant with the soil, to enhance the supply of water to the leaves. The soil around the plants is sprinkled with mulch material or dry earth only after the water has been absorbed. Mulch protects the plant from the formation of an earthen crust.

In order for the resulting pumpkin fruits not to rot from soil dampness, they should be protected from this as follows: 4 stones are placed on the ground, on top of them is a wide slab or board on which the pumpkin is laid. They do this only when she is still small.

As individual fruits ripen, they are harvested. Immediately before the onset of frost, all pumpkin fruits should be removed.

Pumpkin must be present in the diet of every person. Remember this! We hope that thanks to our advice, you will grow a large and sweet pumpkin, from which you will prepare the most healthy dishes.

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It is possible to buy pumpkin seeds and grow this healthy, tasty and beautiful fruit today 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 pumpkin. Numerous hybrids were obtained on their basis, differing in the length of the shoots, the shape, size and color of the fruit, the structure and taste of the pulp, the growing season and storage.

In Russian areas, varieties of hard-barked, or ordinary, pumpkins 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 varying degrees of keeping quality and use.

The best hardy hybrids for growing in the temperate zone are:

Variety "Plushka" with medium-sized (1.5 kg) fruits of orange tones, divided by white stripes into segments, and sugary juicy pulp.
"Gribovskaya bush" - a hybrid with medium-sized fruits of light orange color, lined with black-green stripes.
"Mozolevskaya 49" - a variety with short climbing shoots and yellow, in green scalloped stripes, ovoid fruits with tasty pulp.

Muscat varieties are characterized by fruits of medium (6 kg) sizes, rounded-flattened in various shades of green, yellow and orange, covered with a thin, easily peeled skin. Most Muscat varieties are characterized by low cold resistance and long (up to 130 days) vegetation period.

The best Muscat hybrids are:

"Marble Gourd" - a variety with greenish-gray fruits, covered with specks that make up 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 hues with a pleasant nutty pulp.
"Candied pumpkin" is distinguished by the dark green color of the fruit. When ripe, they change their color to light brown, and the flesh acquires a reddish tint.

Gymnospermous 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, are distinguished by record-breaking large fruit sizes 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 tender juicy pulp. Fruits are transportable and stored for a long time.
"Russian porridge" - a bush variety that forms 3 - 4 round-shaped fruits on one plant, filled with medium-density pulp of high taste.

Some varieties are zoned for cultivation in open ground in certain areas of the Russian Federation. For example, the best hybrids recommended for growing in the central part of Russia are "Kroshka", "Sweet Pie", "Melon", "Dawn", "Almond" and "Rossiyanka".

What to look for when choosing seeds

Pumpkin seeds are purchased in stores or harvested independently.

When choosing seeds, it is important:

Decide on a variety. 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, regular in shape and uniform in color and not have damage on the surface.

Selected seeds are checked for germination.

This can be done in several ways:

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

When buying seed, you should also take an interest in its expiration date. Pumpkin seeds remain viable for 8 to 9 months.

Growing seedlings at home

In temperate latitudes, pumpkin is obtained from seedlings that are grown in room conditions.

Pumpkin seeds for seedlings are processed to speed up their germination:

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

Having prepared the seeds, proceed to sowing. To carry it out, you will need containers and a substrate.

Boxes or containers are used as containers, on the bottom of which a 3-4 cm layer of sawdust is poured. An alternative option is to use peat cups with a diameter of at least 6 cm. This will avoid transplanting, which pumpkin seedlings tolerate quite hard.
The containers are filled with a substrate - a 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.
Moisten the soil before sowing.

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

Seedlings are cared for:

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

Young plants 15–20 cm high with 2–3 true leaves are planted in beds.

How to plant pumpkin seeds in open ground

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

Time frame for landing

Temperature conditions are more reliable criteria for choosing the time of sowing. It is possible to plant a pumpkin in open ground only after the complete disappearance of the threat of frost, 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 mid-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 is placed on the lower shelves of the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

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

How to properly sow a pumpkin

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

If, for some reason, fertilizers were not applied in the fall, then 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 lungs - 5 - 8 cm;
heavy - 4 - 5 cm.

The plot with crops is mulched with peat or humus. Some gardeners cover the crops with a film, having previously made small slots in it for air to enter. This speeds up the emergence of seedlings.

Culture 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, loosening and feeding. In case of prolonged cloudy weather, additional measures are taken to prevent pest damage and the occurrence of diseases, as well as artificial pollination.

Watering. Pumpkins are often and plentifully (10 liters per 1 plant) watered using water heated in the sun. The amount of moisture increases as the leaves grow, contributing to the evaporation of moisture, until the beginning of flowering. This measure contributes to a better fruit setting.
Loosening. After the emergence of seedlings, regular loosening of the soil is practiced. Directly under the plant - to a depth of 6 - 8 cm, between the rows - by 12 - 18 cm. After loosening, to give the plants greater stability, the plants slightly spud.
thinning. Pumpkin seedlings are thinned out twice. The first time - after the growth of the 2nd true leaf, leaving when growing nutmeg and hard-barked combs in one hole, 2 plants, in large-fruited varieties - one at a time. The next thinning is carried out after the appearance of the next pair of leaves. "Extra" plants are cut at ground level.
Top dressing. To replenish the supply of nutrients spent on the formation of large leaves and fruits, the pumpkin is regularly fed with organic fertilizers: infusions of manure or chicken manure (1: 4) or wood ash (1 cup per bucket of water). The first feeding is carried out about a month after sowing. The infusion is poured into grooves 6–8 cm deep, 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 up to 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 sick or be attacked by pests. To strengthen immunity during such periods, the pumpkin is sprayed with a solution of urea: 10 g per 10 liters of water.
Pollination. If the flowering of the pumpkin fell on a period of cloudy weather, then it is artificially pollinated. The male flower is plucked (it is easy to distinguish it from the female ones by its elongated stem), the petals are cut off and the anthers touch the pistils of the female flowers with their anthers.

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

Every land owner has the opportunity to grow a pumpkin and take care of it, but not everyone succeeds in getting a good harvest. How to grow a pumpkin in the country in the open field, so that you can stock up on a healthy and energy-giving vegetable for the whole winter?

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

What is useful

Pumpkin is an annual herbaceous plant that has been successfully grown throughout Russia for more than six hundred years. The extremely popular melon culture is eaten in the form of cereals, soups, sweet dishes and desserts. And how delicious pumpkin baked in slices in the oven!

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

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

Note!

Pumpkin has not only excellent culinary properties, but is also a source of a rare vitamin "T" (carnitine), which is responsible for the energy state of a person.

The increased content of carotene in pumpkin strengthens eyesight. Pumpkin dishes help with stomach problems. Fiber ensures regular bowel movements (eliminates constipation).

Site selection

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

has sufficient solar illumination necessary for plant photosynthesis and the passage of developmental phases;
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 be completely consumed during the night cooling.

If possible, pumpkin gardeners 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 pre-selected seeds. Not damaged by frost, mold, infections, without chips and cracks.

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

As well as the effect of stimulants dissolved in water to increase survival.
Compound:

potassium humate - 4 ml per ½ l;
krezacin - one tablet per 100 g;
epin - 4-5 drops.

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

Or you can soak in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for seed germination, 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, is immediately planted in pots.

But still the most rational way is germination.

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

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

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

Other ways to grow pumpkin seeds:

seeds wrapped in bandages or gauze are soaked for half an hour in a manganese solution;
after thorough washing, they are placed in an aqueous solution with the addition of two drops of a growth stimulator or one tablespoon of wood ash. Procedure time - 12 hours;
upon completion of 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 overnight.

Planting pumpkin seeds in open ground

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

Before sowing, the selected seeds are heat treated in the form of 9-10 hours of heating at a 40-degree air temperature in an 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 the pumpkin sprouts to break through the dense skin of the seeds.
Rows with planting holes with a diameter of 0.3 m are laid out on the ridges.
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 sides equidistant from the center of the hole.
Sprinkle with an arable layer, and the rows are mulched using compost or humus.

The distances between the rows can withstand up to 2 m, the holes in the garden are placed one meter apart, on the ridge - according to a chess pattern.

Crops are carefully covered to preserve soil heat from night cooling. With the advent of pumpkin seedlings in a week, the covering material is removed.

When 2 true leaves appear, the crops are thinned out - two copies remain in the hole.

Attention!

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

How to plant a pumpkin for seedlings

In many regions with a temperate climate in Russia (Non-Chernozem zone, Urals, Siberia, Far East) and others, growing pumpkins using seedlings guarantees that they will fully ripen before the onset of frost.

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

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

After moistening, the seedling container is covered and placed in a warm place. Seedling care is as follows:

As the substrate dries out, it is watered, avoiding excess moisture;

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

nitrogen - 17,
phosphorus - 15,
potassium - 20.

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

A week and a half before planting in a field or garden, seedlings are hardened, gradually taking them out into the fresh air each time for a longer time.

When is the best time to plant pumpkin seedlings?

Sowing seeds depends on:

local climatic conditions (dates of positive temperatures);
biological properties of varieties (early, medium and late ripening) - the timing of the beginning of the growing season and their duration.

It is possible to 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 avoid April planting dates, sow pumpkins for seedlings only in early May. This is explained by the degree of heating of the earth to the required temperature: if by planting seedlings it does not reach 16-18 degrees Celsius, then the time shifts accordingly.

Having determined the optimal period for planting sprouts for our climatic conditions, we determine on which days pumpkin seeds should be sown for seedlings.

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

It should be taken into account that:

A four week growing period for seedlings is sufficient. Its longer cultivation can adversely affect survival;
in areas with a cool climate and probable night cooling, it makes no sense to rush to plant seedlings with the onset of summer heat. You should listen to the forecasts of weather forecasters;
before planting, seedlings (seedlings) must have a sufficiently developed root system that allows them to adapt in the hole at a 10-centimeter embedment depth.

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 a 10-minute period will help determine this value.

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

Seedlings are planted in containers (pots, cups, etc.), without taking out 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 pumpkins

Despite the fact that the pumpkin is planted in any free places in the garden or in the field, not all cultures tolerate its neighborhood well. Which one pairs best with pumpkin?

Good compatibility is noted with beans, beans and peas. Although many gardeners with enough land practice separate cultivation of pumpkins. We have already noted that it grows well on compost heaps.

Neighborhood with tomatoes, potatoes, pepper beds, eggplants does not bring any benefit to the pumpkin. In these crops, during the formation of fruits and root crops, nutrients are actively drawn from the soil, which takes them away from the pumpkin.

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

The formation and growth of pumpkin lashes (stems) in July-August makes it possible to place wheatgrass onions, beans, beds with spinach nearby. These crops have time to complete the growing season by mid-summer and successfully create their crop.

Is it possible to plant a pumpkin next to zucchini?

Wholesale gardeners say: - No way. These cultures will be pollinated and as a result you will treat something in between, which does not suit you at all. Space the pumpkin and zucchini away from each other.

Pumpkin, like melons, does not tolerate the effects of wind. It dries out the soil, causing a moisture deficit. Leaves are damaged, impairing the photosynthetic activity of plants.

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

A properly planted pumpkin, no matter if you planted it with seeds or seedlings in open ground, is guaranteed to please with a harvest. You will not only be able to eat it often in the fall, replenishing the body with vitamins and energizing, but also store it for future use and a lot for winter storage.

Pumpkins keep well almost until the next harvest. All winter long you can enjoy pumpkin porridge in a pot, or pumpkin puree soup, which are full of vitamins, deliciousness and usefulness. And it is impossible to imagine how many dishes you can come up with with pumpkin. Good luck and health, dear readers. Let the pumpkins grown with your own hands be huge and bright.

One of the favorite crops, which not only decorates the garden, but also the table, is a pumpkin. Among all garden vegetables, pumpkin is not picky, easy to care for, and easy to plant. In order to get a good harvest, it is important to take into account a number of rules, you need to know when it is recommended to plant a pumpkin in open ground, what time is best for planting seedlings, and how to care for the crop so that the seedlings do not wither. Pumpkin is a useful vegetable from which many dishes can be prepared, and experienced gardeners know that in order to grow a vegetable, you need to know when, at what time and in what soil to plant it.

pumpkin outdoors

When is the best time to plant seeds?

If you decide to start growing various kinds of crops, you want you to have not only a beautiful garden, but also a good harvest, then it is important to take into account the characteristics of each vegetable, how and when it should be planted. The gardener's favorite crop is pumpkin. This vegetable loves heat, and planting it in open ground, which did not have time to warm up after the winter, is not recommended. This negatively affects both seeds and seedlings. The stems of the plant will become thin and dry quickly. If you decide to plant a pumpkin in April, then consider the possible return of frost. For planting a crop in open ground, the earth must warm up well. It is impossible to choose one period and a specific period, since it is important to take into account the region in which you live and its climatic conditions. For residents of the southern part, the right time to plant a vegetable in the ground is not earlier than the tenth of May. For residents of the north side, the optimal time is the beginning of June, and for the middle lane not earlier than the twenty-fifth of May.

To get a good harvest, you need to prepare the seeds. You can plant those seeds that were previously soaked in warm water (you need to soak for at least a couple of hours). Pre-prepare the soil, the soil needs to be fertilized. Large and deep holes are not recommended. It is better to put two or even three seeds in the hole. After the stems appear, leave strong and durable, remove the rest.

When is the best time to plant seedlings

Seedlings, like seeds, do not like cold soil. The harvest will be good if the seedlings have been growing for a month before, or longer. Such a planting will be optimal for gardeners who live in an area with a rapidly passing summer. When planting a crop in the garden on May 25, seedlings should be planted between April 25 and May 3. Initially, seedlings need to be planted in a container with peat. Professional gardeners use coconut tablets for planting seedlings; peat humus tablets are well suited. If you do not have such a container, take a plastic container. It is necessary to transplant pumpkin seedlings into the garden carefully, since the culture has a thin root, especially if the planting is made from a plastic container.

Pumpkin seedlings ready for planting in open ground

culture care

In order to get a positive growth of a crop, you need not only to know how to plant it correctly, but also how to care for it. Basic rules for planting and guaranteeing a good harvest:

The soil needs to be prepared. You can use natural fertilizers, chemicals. You need to plant a pumpkin in a place where the sun's rays penetrate well.
It is not recommended to plant a vegetable in poorly heated soil. The soil should be dry, without snow, dirt, moisture. Please note that there may be frost. During landing, the temperature of the soil should be at least fifteen degrees above zero. Estimated time is the end of May.
In the holes, before planting the pumpkin in open ground, add fertilizer. This culture reacts negatively to acidic soil. You can use ash, humus, chalk. If you have a compost pit in your garden that you dug last year, then feel free to plant seedlings or seeds next to the pit.
Simple crop care is also expressed in watering. When just planted, you need to water more often than during the ripening or harvesting period. The leaves and stems of the vegetable are able to accumulate moisture, which will be enough not to wither. During the ripening period, you need to water less than usual, as the pumpkin will be watery and lose its beneficial properties.
Many fruits on one shoot are bad, they will interfere with each other to ripen. If you want the pumpkin to be large, leave two fruits on one stem. For medium sizes, four fruits are possible.

When you are going to plant seeds or seedlings, choose the right and suitable place. It is not worth planting a new crop on the site where the landing was made last year. A pumpkin will grow well in the place where potatoes, zucchini, sunflowers were planted last year. It will be possible to plant a pumpkin in the place where it originally grew in five years.

Among melons and gourds there are real champions, the yield of which exceeds the wildest expectations, often puzzling the gardener with the question of what to do with ripened wealth. Growing pumpkins will help make sure of this. Along with the high fertility of her bushes, gardeners are attracted by the ease of care for them. But to show everything that they are capable of, numerous varieties of culture can only be subject to the rules of agricultural technology.

Site Requirements

Pumpkin is not capricious, but she loves warmth and light and does not tolerate waterlogging. Therefore, it is better to place the beds with it on a dry and well-warmed up area by the sun, where the earth does not cool much even at night. An ideal option for a pumpkin is planting on a compost heap. Here, her bushes will be warm and “nourishing”, especially if you put superphosphate and wood ash (in small quantities) in each well. For early and abundant fruiting, the plant needs a short daylight hours - less than 12 hours.

Plots suitable for pumpkins have grown or planted beds with the following crops last season:

bow;
cabbage;
carrots;
beets;
soy;
beans;
beans;
peas;
peanuts
lentils.

On the soil released after harvesting cucumbers, zucchini, squash, sunflower and gourds, its bushes will be less comfortable. In the same place, the pumpkin can be planted only after 5 years.

The quality of the soil determines the size and taste of the future crop. A pumpkin is capable of growing and bearing fruit even in poor land, but it will not work sweet and large in such conditions. To form vegetables of impressive size, her bushes will need a lot of nutrients. It is correct to plant plants in loose soil with a neutral reaction, well seasoned with fertilizers.

The preparation of the pumpkin site begins in the fall. Before digging infertile soil, compost or manure is added to it (3-5 kg per 1 m²). If the land in the country is heavy, add ash (200-300 g). You can replace it with lime without changing the dosage of the substance. They also treat acidic soil. A mandatory procedure is filling the soil with phosphorus-potassium compounds. The deeper you dig the soil, the better the pumpkin will develop in it.

In the spring, the site is harrowed. Do it early, when the snow has just melted off it. It is important to follow the recommended time, otherwise the earth may dry out. In the future, light loosening of the soil is carried out, choosing weed roots from it. Before placing pumpkin seeds or seedlings in it, it is dug up again, deepening by 12-18 cm.

If the site was not fertilized in the fall, nutrient compounds - humus (compost), superphosphate, wood ash - are applied during planting, adding them to each well and mixing thoroughly with the soil.

Pre-sowing treatment

In order for pumpkin seeds to sprout quickly and amicably, they are processed before planting. This is especially important if they were collected a long time ago. Such seeds are properly checked for germination. To do this, you need a solution of table salt (at a concentration of 25-30%). Having poured seed into it, they observe it. Quality seeds are heavy, they will sink. Empty and unripened - will remain on the surface.

There are several effective ways to preplant pumpkin seeds. The easiest is to soak them and leave them to germinate in a humid environment: sawdust, a piece of cloth or moss, gauze. They will need a little time to peck - only 3 days. You can warm up or bubbling pumpkin seeds. To reduce the risk of plant damage by pests and diseases, the planting material is pickled for 30 minutes in a strong solution of potassium permanganate.

Another option is to put pumpkin seeds in a nutrient solution made from ash or liquid fertilizer from the humate series for a day. You can use a growth stimulant. Then they need to grow. After wrapping pumpkin seeds in a damp cloth, they are allowed to lie down for 1-2 days in a room where the air is heated to 22-23˚C. The cocoon is not allowed to dry out by regularly spraying it with water.

Getting seedlings

There are 2 ways to grow pumpkins:

through seedlings;
sowing seeds directly on the beds.

Which one to choose depends on the type of crop and the climate of the area. In a seedless way, a pumpkin is planted mainly in the south. In the middle lane and in regions where the summer is even shorter and colder (in the Leningrad region, in the Urals, in Siberia), when sown in open ground, its fruits often do not have time to ripen.

The gymnosperm variety of pumpkin requires a special approach. If the spring is cold and rainy, its seeds in the beds will rot and never germinate. Muscat pumpkin is also grown through seedlings, which is loved by summer residents for its sweet taste and impressive fruit size. Particularly popular with them are the varieties Pearl Muscat and Muscat de Provence.

In separate containers: plastic cups, peat pots. They should be wide - 10-15 cm in diameter. At the bottom of the container, a fertile mixture of three components is poured:

humus;
sod land;
peat.

Take them in a ratio of 2:1:1. The container is only half filled. A hatched pumpkin seed is placed on top, sprinkling it with the same substrate, but with spilled mullein solution (5%) and supplemented with wood ash (10-15 g). Having moistened the soil mixture well, the container is covered with a film. This pumpkin planting is carried out in April-May. The exact dates are determined by the planned date of placing the plants on the beds: the seeds are sown in containers 20-25 days before it.

Seedling care and planting in the ground

Pumpkin seeds need two conditions to germinate:

a lot of light (excluding direct sunlight);
heat (the air temperature in the room with seedlings should be in the range of 25-27˚C).

When shoots appear, it is reduced to 15-20˚C during the day and to 12-13˚C at night. Otherwise, pumpkin seedlings will stretch. But even this can be fought. When their age is 7-10 days, the section of the stem under the cotyledons is twisted into a ring, and moist soil is poured on top. If everything is done correctly, the seedling will be underground to the cotyledon leaves.

Pumpkin seedlings need moderate watering. It is impossible to allow waterlogging of the soil in containers. Young pumpkins are fed twice before landing on the beds. The nutritional composition is prepared on the basis of mullein, ammonium sulfate and phosphorus-potassium preparations.

By the time of placement in open ground, seedlings should release at least 3 true leaves. Before planting a pumpkin on the beds, it is hardened for 5-10 days. Having placed containers with plants on a balcony or veranda, open the window. At first, airing is made short-lived (1-1.5 hours), but every day this time is increased. At the end of hardening, the window is kept open all the time.

Seedlings are planted in the same way as pumpkin seeds, but the depth of the hole is increased. The root system of plants should completely enter it and be 8-10 cm below the ground level. Pouring 1.5-2 liters of hot water into the hole, they wait until it is absorbed, and then the seedling is transferred without disturbing the soil coma. The voids are covered with soil and compacted well. The surface of the beds is mulched. You can even use dry soil for this. Its task is to prevent the formation of soil crust and retain moisture.

Sowing on beds

Planting pumpkins in open ground will become possible when the ground warms up to 12-13˚C at a depth of 7-8 cm. This usually happens in mid-May. Having made a wide (70 cm) bed for the pumpkin, they mark holes on it. It is correct if they are at a distance of 1 m from each other. Their diameter is made equal to 30 cm, and the row spacing is 2 m.

It will be more convenient to care for plantings if you arrange the holes in a checkerboard pattern.

After abundantly moistening each well with hot (about 50˚C) water and waiting for it to be completely absorbed, lay out 2-3 pumpkin seeds, leaving more free space between them. The depth of planting is determined by the structure of the soil. On medium loams, pumpkin seeds are covered with a fertile substrate by 5-6 cm. If the earth is light, the thickness of its layer is increased to 8-10 cm.

After mulching the holes with humus or peat, they are covered with a film. To fix it, earth is poured around the edges. So pumpkin shoots will appear faster. They will have to wait about a week. When the sprouts appear from the soil, the shelter is removed.

At the stage of 2 true leaves, seedlings are thinned out, leaving a maximum of 2 of them if the pumpkin is nutmeg or hard-barked. Having chosen large-fruited crop varieties for breeding on the site (Dawn, Smile, Sweetie), you will have to limit yourself to one plant per hole. It is not recommended to pull out extra seedlings - there is a high risk of injuring the root system of those remaining in the garden. It is better to cut them flush with the soil. If the threat of frost persists, seedlings are placed under the film, stretching it over a wire frame or arcs.

Alternative cultivation

If the size of the plot does not allow allocating a plantation for sprawling pumpkin lashes, this is not a reason to refuse to grow a crop. You can plant seedlings in a barrel. For these purposes, old containers without a bottom are ideal. In new barrels, holes will need to be made on the sides and bottom to avoid stagnant moisture. Hanging pumpkin lashes under the weight of the crop can be injured on sharp edges and even break. A regular rubber hose will protect them from this. It is cut in half and put on the edge of the barrel.

The walls of the container are painted dark on the outside. So they will heat up more and not rust. Having installed the barrel in a sunny place, it is filled with biomass, creating a kind of warm bed. Thin branches, paper, weeds with powerful roots, thick grass stems are placed at the bottom - any organic matter that overheats slowly. Place on top what will quickly turn into compost: leaves, grass, tops of vegetable crops. So a barrel for planting a pumpkin is prepared in the fall.

If this is done in the spring, half-rotted organic matter from the compost heap, humus, turf or fresh grass is put into it. All this is carefully tamped. When there is no more space left in the barrel, its contents are abundantly poured first with water, and then with a solution of a special preparation that contains effective microorganisms. Within a month, they will decompose organic residues into nutrients, making it easier for the pumpkin to assimilate them. This explains the timing of the procedure - the end of April and the first days of May. While the bacteria work, the pumpkin seedlings will grow to the right size.

Instead of a barrel, you can use car tires by installing them on top of each other.

Fundamentals of agricultural technology

Pumpkin seedlings placed on the beds need frequent watering. They spend it every day until they finally take root in a new place. After that, watering is reduced to a minimum. In rainy summers, you can do without it at all.

When the ovaries begin to resemble a fist in size, pumpkin bushes will again need a lot of moisture. Plantings are watered during this period once a week, spending 1 bucket of water per bush. Plentiful moisture is especially important for pumpkins on hot days. Stop watering before harvest. If you neglect this recommendation, the fruits will be stored worse. Their taste will also suffer: they will become less sweet.

Pumpkin responds well to loosening the soil. It is advisable to carry them out after each moistening, while removing weeds. They begin to loosen the soil from the moment the shoots appear, deepening into it under the bushes by 6-8 cm. The soil in the aisles is processed more intensively - by 12-18 cm. It is better to do this before wetting, then the water will go to the roots of the plants faster. When loosening, it is recommended to slightly spud pumpkin bushes. This approach will make them more stable.

Plantings are often fed - with a frequency of 1-1.5 weeks. The nutritional composition is prepared from mullein (1 l) and nitrophoska (2 tbsp. L). They are mixed in 10 liters of water. Under an adult bush, 1.5 buckets of solution are poured. The first feeding is started when a week has passed since the seedlings were placed on the beds. If pumpkin seeds were planted immediately in the ground, you need to count 3 weeks from the date of the procedure. During this period, it is better to water the plants with manure or chicken droppings diluted with water 4 times. Another fertilizer option is wood ash (1 cup of the substance per 10 liters of water).

Before the first feeding, shallow (6-8 cm) grooves are made around the pumpkin seedlings, stepping back from the plants 10-12 cm. The nutrient composition is poured into them. In the future, the depth of the grooves is increased by 4 cm, digging them at a distance of 40 cm from the bushes. After fertilizing, the grooves are sprinkled with earth.

Bush formation

The most important thing in caring for a pumpkin is to properly form a bush. When the length of its main stem is 1.3-1.5 m, it will need to be pinched. Of the numerous side shoots, only 2 are left, removing the extra ones. In length, they should reach 60-70 cm. In order for the pumpkin to ripen large, the ovaries are normalized: one for each shoot.

The fruits will pour faster if you press the whips to the ground. This is done with a small wooden horn or wire. Soil is poured on top of the shoot. The optimal thickness of its layer is 6-7 cm. Under the ground, additional roots form on the shoots. So that ripening pumpkins do not get dirty in the ground and are not affected by rot, glass or a piece of plywood is placed under the fruit.

If the pumpkin is decorative, its shoots will need support. Growing rapidly, they will easily disguise old buildings, poles, sheds, fences on the site, twine a gazebo or trellis, creating a secluded green corner. But the lashes of such plants are heavy, so you need to choose a reliable support for them. Organic compounds are more suitable for feeding them. The rest of the decorative variety of culture is grown in the same way as the usual one.

Pumpkin, planting and caring for which will require minimal skills from the summer resident, is a very grateful plant. With competent agricultural technology, it is able to feed more than one family with its tasty and healthy fruits. Despite the thermophilicity of the culture, it is grown almost everywhere. Even in the conditions of Siberia and the Leningrad region, which are not suitable for a pumpkin, its bushes will be able to bring a harvest. It is only necessary to equip warm beds and prepare high-quality seedlings.