if you have small area land, and you have not decided what to plant on it, be sure to add a pumpkin to the list. Caring for it is not difficult, and the harvest is rich. And about how to plant a pumpkin in open ground I will explain in detail in this article.

Growing a pumpkin is easy

How to plant a pumpkin: site preparation

If you are interested in richest harvest, then it is necessary to choose the right place for planting. The ridge should be located in a warm place on the sunny side. The soil can be any, but sandy or sandy loam is preferable, such a soil warms up better. It is best to plant after winter wheat, corn or perennial herbs... You can also pick up ridges after tomato, onion, potato, cabbage or carrot. It is not recommended to plant after cucumbers or squash. You cannot plant in the same place, you need to wait 5 years after the previous planting.

Preparing the soil for planting pumpkin

Prepare the land for planting in the fall, for this it is necessary to perform the following work:

• Clear the ground from plant debris.
• Loop shallow with a hoe.
• After 2-3 weeks, the earth needs to be dug up, while collecting weed roots.
• In the spring, before planting, dig up again, with the addition of nitrogen fertilizers, after which the ridge is leveled with a rake.
• High ridges are being made. The heavier the ground, the higher the ridge. A standard ridge should be 1-1.5 meters wide and 25 centimeters high. The width of the furrows between the ridges should be about half a meter.

Fertilizing before planting pumpkin in open ground

When digging the earth, be sure to fertilize the soil. After planting, the pumpkin begins to grow rapidly, this requires a lot nutrients. The best option for fertilization is humus or manure. On square meter bring in a bucket of manure or humus.

Pumpkin loves abundant fertilization manure

In heavy soils, to a depth of 10-15 centimeters, on light soils - 15-20 centimeters. If you don't have the required amount manure, you can put only in holes for seedlings - 1..2 kilograms per hole. In addition to manure, 20 grams of superphosphate and 10 grams of potassium sulfate are also added. Or use a compound fertilizer, a tablespoon per plant.

Planting pumpkin seeds

For a large area, you will need a seeder. To do this, use the melon seeders SBN-3 and SBU-2-4. The first seeder has 2-3 rows of seeds, with an interval of 140 or 180 centimeters. For small gardens, they are not suitable, you have to plant seeds manually.

Important: Seed planting is performed only on early varieties of pumpkin, such as nutmeg and hard-bark. The rest of the varieties are planted only through seedlings.

How to plant a pumpkin correctly

If you are looking for a good harvest, you need to choose full-weight seeds. For selection the best seeds prepare salted water, into which the seed is lowered, floating seeds are rejected. The rest are collected, washed and dried.

Pumpkin seeds can be stored for up to four years

Duration of storage of seeds reaches up to 4 years. For a better germination and a healthy harvest, it is necessary to carry out preparatory measures:

1. Warming up... This process will give good shoots, it is done at 60 degrees, within 2-3 hours.
2. Hardening... The plant must withstand temperature extremes; for this, the seeds are kept at a temperature of +1 degrees for two days.
3. Increasing disease resistance... Diseases can damage the shoots that have not yet matured, and to prevent this from happening, the seeds are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate, potassium kumate or wood ash infused in water.
4. Germinating seeds... To do this, they are wrapped in damp gauze, after a couple of days the first sprouts will appear.

Of all the melons and gourds, pumpkin is the most resistant to cold weather, so it is planted at the end of spring, when the possibility of frost is already excluded. If you hurry and plant early, then the seeds in the cold soil will simply rot, therefore they are planted when the soil temperature reaches +13 degrees. One plant needs 1-4 square meters of soil for nutrition.

Please note: For early varieties, the area may be smaller - for later varieties, more, so the distance between plants is very important.

For long-growing varieties, you need to leave a distance between the holes of 1.5-2 meters, and between the rows also up to 2 meters. Bush varieties are planted in a square of 80 by 80 centimeters. On light soils, the planting depth should be 5-8 centimeters, on heavy soils 4-5 centimeters. From 2-5 seeds are placed in one hole, at a distance of three centimeters from each other.

The pumpkin must be planted at a distance from each other.

Planting pumpkin through seedlings

This method is chosen for late-ripening varieties with a growing season of 120-140 days. For this, seeds are germinated in April or early May. The main thing is to calculate the planting time so that the monthly seedlings are already planted in the ground.

Planting pumpkins for seedlings is carried out in peat pots or cassettes

For planting seedlings, peat pots are purchased with a diameter of 15 centimeters and filled with soil. You can buy the land ready-made or prepare it yourself. To do this, take 4 parts of humus and mix with one part of sod soil. The prepared soil is fertilized, a bucket will require 4 grams of ammonium nitrate, 4 grams of potassium salt, 5 grams of superphosphate. The resulting mixture is moistened and mixed. The seeds are sown to a depth of two centimeters and covered with foil. The germination temperature should be + 18..25 degrees, after the first shoots appear, the film is removed, and the temperature drops to + 15..20 degrees. To do this, the room is simply ventilated more often, if this is not done, then the seedlings will simply stretch out. Watering is also not done often, so as not to get pampered seedlings.

Important: The first feeding is performed one week after the sprouts appear. The second is produced before planting; any complex fertilizer is suitable for this.

Planting seedlings in open ground is carried out in warm weather; in case of frost, you will simply lose the seedlings. The planting pattern is the same as for seed planting. The holes are dug out large to plant together with a clod of earth. Wells are spilled before landing hot water... Deepen the seedlings to the leaves, this will allow additional roots to form. After planting, the seedlings should be watered.

Video: Planting pumpkin seedlings in the ground

One of the favorite crops, which not only decorates the garden, but also the table, is the 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 is the best time for planting seedlings, and how to care for the crop so that the seedlings do not wither. Pumpkin is a useful vegetable from which you can prepare many dishes, 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.

Outdoor pumpkin

When is the best time to plant seeds

If you decide to start growing different kinds cultures, want you to have not only beautiful vegetable 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 pumpkin is the favorite culture of the gardener. This vegetable loves warmth, and planting it in open ground, which did not have time to warm up after 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 crops 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 appropriate time for planting a vegetable in the ground is no earlier than May 10. For residents of the northern side, the optimal time is the beginning of June, and for the middle lane not earlier than May twenty-fifth.

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). Prepare the soil in advance, the soil needs to be fertilized. It is not recommended to make large and deep holes. 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 it better to plant seedlings

Seedlings, like seeds, do not like cold soil. The harvest will be good if the seedlings grow for a month before, or longer. Such a landing will be optimal for gardeners who live in an area with a rapidly passing summer. When planting a crop in a vegetable garden on May twenty-fifth, seedlings must be planted between April twenty-fifth and May third. Initially, you need to plant seedlings in a container with peat. Professional gardeners use coconut tablets for planting seedlings; peat-peat tablets are well suited. If you don't have one, get a plastic container. It is necessary to carefully transplant pumpkin seedlings into the garden, since the culture has a thin root, especially if the planting is made from a plastic container.

Pumpkin seedlings are ready for open field planting

Culture care

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

1. The soil needs to be prepared. You can use natural fertilizers, chemical agents... You need to plant a pumpkin in a place where the sun's rays penetrate well.
2. It is not recommended to plant a vegetable in poorly heated ground. The soil must be dry, free of snow, dirt, moisture. Please note that there may be frosts. During disembarkation, the soil temperature should be at least fifteen degrees above zero. Estimated time - the end of May.
3. Add fertilizer to the holes before planting the pumpkin in the open ground. This culture reacts negatively to acidic soil. You can use ash, humus, chalk. If you have in your garden compost pit that you dug last year, then feel free to plant seedlings or seeds next to the hole.
4. Simple crop care also translates into watering. When first planted, you need to water more often than during the ripening or harvesting period. The leaves and stems of the vegetable are capable of accumulating moisture, which will be enough not to wither. During the ripening period, you need to water less than usual, since the pumpkin will be watery and lose its beneficial properties.
5. Many fruits on one shoot are bad, they will interfere, ripen each other. 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, find the right and suitable place. It is not worth planting a new crop on the site where the planting was carried out last year. 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.

Dessert and feed pumpkins require a well-moistened nutrient soil. Planting and caring for both types of vegetables in the open field is carried out in the same way. This melon plant is planted with seeds in open ground in the last decade of May. From one seed, you can get from 1 to 3 large pumpkins. In the southern regions, you can get two harvests of this useful vegetable if sowing is carried out in late April - early May, pollination is carried out manually and ripe fruits are harvested in time.

One kernel can produce from 1 to 3 large pumpkins

The pumpkin grows best on the south side of the plot in well-lit areas. Its whips and leaves are well tolerated by direct sunlight. If you plant a pumpkin outdoors in a completely shaded area, it will not bear fruit. The development of this melon culture will be slowed down. Despite the fact that the flowers are manually pollinated, the ovary rots and falls off on them, without developing, because the processes of photosynthesis in plant cells are greatly disturbed.

You can choose a place that is shaded in the summer by a growing tree, but in the spring the sun should fall on the planting site. Then, after the emergence of shoots, the plant will have time to gain strength to release the whip, which will begin to grow in the direction where there is a constant solar lighting... There the pumpkin will bear fruit well.

Before planting seeds, you need to prepare a place for this. In areas where summers are short and humid, pumpkin can be placed on compost heaps or on rotted manure that rises above the ground. Layers of organic matter will provide food, warm the heat-loving roots of the plant. In such conditions, the vegetable will be able to develop well and will have time to give a full harvest.

Growing pumpkins outdoors in southern areas requires a special location. This melon culture loves moisture. Having found a place for her in a lowland, where water stands for a long time in spring, they remove the fertile layer with a bayonet shovel and remove it to the side. Then they dig a hole 0.5x1.5 m, in which they will arrange a nest.

To fill it, you need 2 buckets of manure and 1 bucket of humus. The pumpkin has a branched root system extending up to 50 cm deep. Such a pillow allows it to receive moisture and nutrition during a short drought. From above, everyone is covered with soil from the pit, a handful of ash is added and river sand... All components are mixed together.

The creation of a cushion of nutrient soil is necessary for proper nutrition during vegetative development and laying the crop. If there is no manure, it can be replaced with dry grass, which is poured into a prepared hole a week before planting and watered with hot water. Within 7 days, waste from the kitchen can be drained into it to start the combustion process. Before planting a pumpkin, this herb is covered with a bucket of nutritious soil, adding 1 tbsp. l. urea or complex fertilizer. You can add and wood ash... If it is dry and hot, half a bucket of water is poured into the finished nest to moisten the lower layers of the nutrient mixture.

If you want to plant a large plot, then the process of preparing it for growing pumpkin can be simplified. The earth is covered with an even layer of mullein for digging. Before plowing, a complex fertilizer is applied according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Gallery: pumpkin (25 photos)

All about growing pumpkin (video)

How is landing

You can plant pumpkin in open ground using dry seeds. Then the grain itself is saturated with moisture and rises when the temperature permits. Manure or dry grass in the nest is good at generating heat.

When to plant a pumpkin in open ground, you can find out by focusing on the temperature regime that is observed annually in a particular area. Seeds are planted after the threat of frost has passed. The plant is very thermophilic. It stops growing at a temperature of + 14 ° C, and at 0 ° C its roots die off completely.

The older the seeds, the more female flowers there will be on the plant, which is reflected in the harvest. Seeds remain valid for up to 5 years if their storage meets all the requirements.

If the timing of planting seeds in the ground has been violated, then the grains can be wetted so that they sprout sooner. First, they are heated in an oven at a temperature not exceeding 40 ° C during the night. Then soaked in a solution of wood ash for 12 hours. To prepare it, take 1 liter of hot water and dissolve 2 tbsp. l. powder. Such activities improve germination and increase the number of female flowers on the lashes. Seeds soaked in an alkaline solution should swell and sprout faster.

You need to grow pumpkins at a distance of 50 cm from each other. Then caring for the pumpkin in an open space will be much more convenient. The overgrown lashes will be free to position and develop correctly.

The pumpkin is planted in open ground with seeds 5 cm deep in 4 corners of the hole. If the placement takes place in several rows, then the distance between 2 lines of plants should not be less than 1 m.

On a large area, you can plant seeds in a belt way, after 15 cm by seed, in order to then remove excess shoots in a checkerboard pattern.

How to plant a crop (video)

Garden bed care

Growing and caring for a pumpkin does not require much effort, but a vegetable crop needs attention until the land in the crop area is hidden under its lashes. After the pumpkin is planted with seeds, at least a week must pass for the first shoots to hatch.

At good nutrition and sufficient soil moisture, they develop very quickly. To accelerate growth, the crop must be weeded once and the crust that interferes with air circulation must be broken. This significantly accelerates the vegetative growth of the shoots.

If it's too dry, seedlings should be watered. Pumpkin requires a lot of moisture. To ensure that there is enough water for its development, during the rain, all the collected liquid can be used for irrigation. The more moisture is poured into the garden in rainy weather, the better it will grow in a dry and hot period.

Pumpkin is an unpretentious, common and easily cultivated plant. Belongs to the genus of heat-loving herbaceous plants, distinguish between food and feed pumpkin. The plant is grown by means of seeds. In the article we will look at how pumpkin seeds are planted in open ground, what factors should be taken into account to get a rich harvest in the country.

Factors affecting pumpkin yield

Pumpkin is a plant for which the length of daylight hours plays a huge role. Short daylight hours for this vegetable crops considered to be the main factor affecting yield. Consequently, the duration of daylight hours less than 12 hours is a favorable factor for the intensive growth of the root system, leafy shoots, which leads to an early transition to fruiting and a rich harvest.

The pumpkin culture prefers cleaned areas, therefore, seeds are planted in open ground after preparatory and preventive measures:

• clean the soil by peeling from perennial weeds;
• after peeling, dig up the soil to a depth of at least 30 cm;
• stabilize the soil Ph level to a neutral composition;
• form a loamy soil. Such a soil easily passes and retains water, warms up quickly;
• exclude proximity to upright plants that can block sunlight.

Not only fertilization is responsible for the fertility of the soil, but also the mechanical composition of the soil.

Sandy loam soil warms up well sunbeams, easily passes water, but poorly retains it, which leads to the leaching of nutrients from the soil layers in which the pumpkin root ovary is located. Before planting the pumpkin, this soil should be improved by increasing the ability to retain moisture.

In order for the soil to retain moisture, it must be mixed with light loamy soil with a volume of 30-40% of the volume of the improved soil.

Planting pumpkin seeds is carried out directly on the beds with warm climatic conditions a particular region. If the region is distinguished by the absence of a prolonged warm climate, then planting pumpkins in open ground can be carried out by seedlings.

Preparing pumpkin seeds for planting outdoors

Preparation is carried out with the selection of large and high-quality pumpkin seeds. Selected seeds must be processed in order to:

• disinfection;
• increasing the immunity of seeds against diseases;
• accelerate growth and development.

To destroy pathogenic microflora on the surface of seeds, several main methods are distinguished:

Substance name	Cooking method	Time of processing	Additional Information
Potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate)	Mix 1 g of potassium permanganate with 100 ml of warm water	The seeds are soaked in the solution for no more than 30 minutes.	The solution should be bright red.
Formalin 40%	Mix 3 g of formalin with 300 ml of room temperature water	The seeds in the bag are soaked for no more than 5 minutes	After soaking, the seeds are left in a bag for 2 hours. After they take out and dry
Potassium humate	Dilute 0.5 g of potassium humate in a liter of water	Soak the seeds for 24 hours	After soaking, the seeds are covered with wet gauze for 2 days.
Sodium humate	Dilute 1/3 tsp. sodium humate for 2 liters of water	Soak the seeds for 2 days	At room temperature air 20-22 ° С
Sun rays	Place the seeds in direct sunlight	Dry the seeds in the sun for 5-7 days	The seeds must be turned over once a day.

Cleansing the surfaces of pumpkin seeds increases their germination, improves the sowing quality of seeds, increases the rate of plant growth, and increases resistance to diseases and pests.

Pumpkin seeds, before starting to plant them, experienced gardeners check them for germination. For testing seeds, take as many seeds as you like and germinate them. The more seeds were taken, the more accurate the germination percentage will be.

If out of 18-20 seeds 15-16 have sprouted, then germination is considered fruitful

Germination and hardening of seeds

Experienced gardeners do not recommend planting seeds in open ground. It will be right to germinate the seeds for a start. For this the most best seeds after treatment from pathogenic microflora, soak the seeds for 2-3 hours in warm water, the water temperature should be 50-55 0 C. After the seeds should be wrapped in a damp thin cloth and placed in a warm place.

The procedure for soaking the seeds is necessary for their quick germination, as well as in order to prevent pests from eating the seeds, since the seeds lose their taste after soaking.

It is recommended to pass the hatched pumpkin seeds through the hardening procedure. Basically, hardening is necessary for such pumpkin varieties, which are intended for cultivation in the southern regions of the country. For regions with cooler climates, such varieties are recommended to be hardened. The hardening procedure is carried out in two ways:

1. Swollen or already germinated pumpkin seeds, without removing the damp cloth, are placed in the refrigerator for 3-4 days in the lower compartment in which vegetables are stored.
2. The germination procedure is performed with sharp drops temperature. For example, the seeds are kept in a damp cloth for 10 hours in a row at a temperature of + 18 + 20 ° C., Then the seeds are harvested for 2-3 hours in a cool place, the temperature of which is + 1 + 2 ° C.

It is known that pumpkin does not tolerate transplanting well; therefore, it is recommended that sprouted seeds be immediately planted in fertilized beds.

Tip # 1. For the northern regions, planting pumpkin seeds in open ground can be carried out in raised beds. Such beds are formed as follows: in the selected area, a layer of soil is removed 25-30 cm deep. In the resulting trench, organic fertilizer is placed in layers with soil. The bottom of the trench can be covered with branches, leaves, sawdust, and you can finish it with a layer of compost. The finished garden bed should be 30 cm above the soil level. An elevated bed is fenced off with pieces of boards and slate and covered with a thick film.

At favorable conditions seeds germinate on the 3rd day.

Presowing soil fertilization and sowing time

Seeds are sown after soil treatment. It is important to sow the seeds the same day after cultivating the soil. For processing use:

• manure / droppings;
• compost;
• mineral fertilizers;
• phosphate fertilizers.

Tip # 2. To set active growth and development of seeds, it is necessary to fertilize every square meter of the garden the following composition: Mix 2 buckets of humus with half a bucket of sawdust, add 1 liter of wood ash and a glass mineral fertilizer called "Nitrofoska".

Before planting, the seeds are heated at a temperature of 40 degrees for 10 hours

Plant the seeds in warm soil. Optimum temperature the soil for sowing must correspond to at least 10-12 0 С, otherwise there is a risk that the seeds will begin to rot due to the high moisture content in the soil. Gardeners, before sowing pumpkin seeds, are watered with hot water.

The best time to plant pumpkin seeds in open ground is the second half of May. This is the time when the seeds and young seedlings are no longer threatened by frost. The soil during this period contains less moisture and is warmed up enough for planting seeds.

Planting pumpkin seeds in open ground

Seeds are sown in the morning, in moist, warm soil enriched with fertilizers. Before planting seeds in the soil, it is necessary to form holes at a distance of about 1 m from each other. As for the row spacing, they are located at a distance of 1.5 - 2 m from each other.

The planting hole is watered abundantly with warm water. The seeds are placed in the holes as the water is absorbed to a depth of 9-10 cm. It is recommended to sow 3-5 seeds in each hole. Upper layer the soil is sprinkled with fertilizers such as peat crumb or ordinary humus. The fertilizer layer should not exceed 2 cm, as the sprouts are very weak and may not break through the thick layer.

When planting seeds, a planting depth of less than 7-8 cm should be avoided. Shallow planting of seeds results in “jacketed” shoots, along with the seed coat.

The pumpkin is very fond of fertilizers. During the period of growth and development, feed the plant every two weeks. The pumpkin is planted away from erect plants, and the beds are formed on open areas with direct access to sunlight.

Let's list the basic principles of caring for the growth and development of a pumpkin:

• selection of seeds;
• disinfection of seeds;
• germination of seeds;
• hardening of seeds;
• when sowing, fertilize and water the wells with warm water;
• plant seeds to a depth of less than 7-8 cm;
• for optimal temperature regime cover with a film;
• the beds should be located on the sunny side.

The second stage of growing a pumpkin is proper care for the plant: in top dressing every 2 weeks, watering and forming ovaries.

Care and formation of pumpkin ovaries

The main care procedure consists in shaping correct growth and plant development. The main stem is pinched as soon as it reaches a length of 1.3-1.5 m and an ovary of 1-2 fruits is formed on it.

Lateral processes are left 50-60 cm long, provided that ovaries have formed on them

Timely plant pinching procedure helps to form 3 fruits on one plant: on the main stem and on two lateral shoots. The main task of the plant formation procedure is to remove excess shoots and processes of the plant. If you do not form a pumpkin plant, then many small fruits are formed on it, half of which die due to the lack of a sufficient amount nutrients, the other half does not have time to ripen.

At the stage of ovary formation, the plant is watered only with warm water. At the time of the formation of the fruit, watering should be limited. Plant feeding before fruit ripening is required every two weeks. At the ripening stage, it is recommended to put glass under each ripening fruit so that it does not come into contact with the soil, and watering should be abundant, once a week, 20-25 liters of water per plant.

During the period of pumpkin growth, high-quality protection of the crop from pests is required. The following methods of pest control are distinguished:

Pests	The affected area	How amaze	Consequences of defeat	Method of struggle	Processing method
	Aerial part of the plant	Sucks the juice from the shoots	Leaves, ovaries die	Soap solution: Mix 100g of grated soap with warm water	Spray the ground part of the plant
Medvedka	The underground part of the plant	Gnaws at the roots	Root crop rot	The drug "Medvedoks"	Granules laid out in holes
	Ground part	Affect the stems, leaves	Leaves and ovaries die	Moisten the fabric with a solution of wood ash	Lay out wet rags

The following organic mixture is suitable as the main top dressing for a ripening crop: hot water add manure, the amount of manure is determined by eye until the mass acquires a creamy consistency. The mass should be insisted until the first signs of fermentation appear in it. Then 500 ml of the finished mixture is diluted with a bucket of warm water.

Lateral whips in places of contact with the soil are sprinkled so that several more root systems are formed for additional plant nutrition

Types of sweet pumpkin varieties

Variety "Kroshka"- the fruits of this variety are small, 2-3 kg. It has a gray color and a flattened shape. From planting to harvesting is 3 months.

Variety "Atlant" refers to a late-ripening variety, the fruits are characterized by large size, the weight is 20 kg. From planting to harvesting is 4 months.

Variety "big Max"- refers to a late-ripening variety, the fruits are characterized by large sizes, weight is 40 kg. From planting to harvest is 5 months.

Variety "Almond"- the fruits of this variety are small - 5-7 kg. From planting to harvesting is 4 months.

3 mistakes when planting pumpkin seeds

1. Many gardeners refuse to test seeds for germination before sowing them in open ground. Old seeds are sown without getting the right amount seedlings.
2. Seedlings may be weak if the seeds were sown in the soil after harvesting squash, squash and cucumbers.
3. If the ovary is small, it is better not to water the pumpkin, otherwise large lashes and leaves will grow, and the fruits will form small.

Answers to frequently asked questions from gardeners

Question number 1. What kind of pumpkin is only planted with seedlings?

Only nutmeg pumpkin is grown outdoors by seedlings.

Question number 2... How many plants can you leave in one hole?

When the plants sprout and get stronger, the strongest 2 plants are left in the holes. Weak ones are pinched so as not to damage their common root system.

Question number 3. In what cases are pumpkin seeds sown not in the beds?

In light loamy soil.

Question number 4. What vegetables are considered to be the precursors of pumpkin?

The precursors of the pumpkin plant are tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, onions, and potatoes.

Question number 5... Can seeds be heated in the oven?

It is possible, but the temperature in the oven should be 30 ° C. After the oven, the seeds are wrapped in a light cloth in 3-4 layers, and soak for 5 minutes in a solution of ash. After the seeds are taken out and placed on the windowsill for swelling.

The nutmeg pumpkin variety is considered useful, but it is difficult to grow it, since this variety is considered thermophilic and late ripening. But, do not be upset, butternut squash can also be grown in a short summer:

• I keep the seeds of butternut squash in a formalin solution for no more than 2 hours. Then I leave the seeds in direct sunlight for drying. I immerse dry seeds in warm water for 2-3 minutes, wrap them in a warm thin cloth and put them in a warm place.
• After a day, I harden the seeds, put them on the balcony overnight. I transplant the strongest and healthiest seedlings into boxes 40-50 cm deep with warm and insulated soil. I grow seedlings until July in greenhouse conditions, until the seedlings finally get stronger.
• I plant seedlings in open ground on raised, insulated beds under a film in the first half of June.
• I shoot the film in early July. If the weather is sunny, then the pumpkin ripens without a film until mid-August.
• In the second half of August, I harvest the crop in an immature state and put it in a warm room. Butternut squash ripens within 25-30 days at a temperature of + 24 + 26 ° С.

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

Terms for planting pumpkin in Belarus, Ukraine, Leningrad region and other regions

A crop is planted after the soil is completely warmed up, and the average daily temperature does not fall below + 10 ° C. If, when sowing in spring, the temperature is below + 13 ° C, then the germination process slows down, which threatens seed rot. V middle lane best terms planting seeds fall in the second decade of May. By folk traditions sowing day coincides with church holiday- St. George's Day, but you shouldn't rely on the landmark date without taking into account the weather conditions.

In the southern regions, as well as in Belarus, Ukraine, 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 fruit-tops.

Most popular varieties

For Moscow region

Premiere

Cold-hardy crop with a sprawling long lash and sweet-tasting large fruits hanging over mature up to 6 kg. The culture is unpretentious to the type of soil, its fertility.

Dachnaya

Culture with early date aging (75-85 days). The vegetable is characterized by a sweetish taste with hints of vanilla. Ripe pumpkin weighs 3-4 kg. Duration of storage of fruits is more than 4 months.

For the Urals

Russian woman

The plant is resistant to garden diseases and frost. The pulp is juicy and sugar, for which it is appreciated by culinary experts. The mass of the Russian pumpkin exceeds 2.7 kg. The ripening period of the crop is 110-130 days. The ripe fruit is orange.

Pearl nutmeg

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

The best varieties of Siberia

Freckle

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

Smile

Shrub variety. The culture easily tolerates temperature extremes and withstands frosts, shows resistance to a humid environment. The variety has excellent taste and long shelf life (up to the next season). The duration of the growing season is 90-110 days, fruit weight - 2.1-3 kg.

Correct planting in open ground

The key to yield is correct planting, which includes the preparation of seeds and soil, as well as the process of laying planting material in the hole.

Seed preparation: check for germination and germination

Seed material must first be checked for germination and sorted, leaving only healthy specimens. 3 days before the start of sowing, the grains must be germinated in wet gauze or sawdust. To speed up the germination of seeds at home, they are placed in a solution of sodium or potassium humate for 2 days. The container should be kept in a 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, apply fertilizers: potash, phosphorus, compost or manure. It is better to use complex ones, they enrich the soil with different 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 depth of digging the soil should be at least 35-50 cm. To disinfect the area, it is necessary to pour hot water over it.

Where to plant a pumpkin in the country? A sunny, well-ventilated place is chosen for landing. Precursors such as potatoes, sunflowers, melons, and 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; the break should be 4-5 years.

Planting seeds and seedlings in the country

The distance between the holes should be at least 60 cm, because the lash of the plant is actively developing and spreading over a large space. When determining the scheme, it is better to be guided by the characteristics of the variety. More often, gardeners use this planting option:

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

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

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

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

In addition to 3-4 seeds, add to each hole organic fertilizers: manure, humus or peat. For moisturizing use warm water(2 L per hole).

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

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

Growing at home and further care

At home, pumpkin can be grown on almost any soil. The culture shows tolerance to adverse weather conditions, even when it has begun to germinate. But these facts do not mean that the culture does not need to be cared for.

How long will the seeds germinate?

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

Pre-planting soaking of seeds in growth stimulants will help speed up the germination process. In addition to special means apply aloe juice, infusion of wood ash, potato juice, honey solution.

Watering rules

The pumpkin needs watering, but in moderation. Excessive moisture will provoke the pulling 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 may be negative. Therefore, experts recommend using the settled liquid from the well.

Top dressing

The plant is very fond of feeding. Already a week after germination of seedlings, the first complementary food is introduced. The plant gets ideal nutrition from the mullein solution. Nitrophoska is considered no less effective (15 grams per bucket of water). She and carry out subsequent feeding with an interval of 10-14 days.

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

Forming pumpkins

As soon as 2-3 true leaves appear on the seedlings, you need to thin out the garden bed. When growing large-fruited pumpkin, only one sprout is left, nutmeg and hard bark - 2 seedlings each.

The developing lash should also be formed, and the lateral shoots. This is done in two ways: in one stem and in two. In the first case, it is recommended to leave only 2-3 ovaries, on which there are 3-4 leaves. In the second method, 2 fruits are left on the main stem, and one on the side shoot. Without such a procedure, the fruits will be small and not very tasty.

Pests and prevention

Pumpkin is considered unpretentious plant, however, this crop is also threatened by pests. Reducing productivity, and sometimes destroying young shoots can:

• slugs;
• melon aphid.

When signs of an invasion of pests are detected, special preparations are used (Actellik, Fufanon, Tsitkor, etc.). Products made from biological components are safer. In efficiency, they are sometimes not inferior and folk methods Among which noteworthy are:

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

Working solutions are used for spraying 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, it is necessary to make it a rule to inspect the beds with a regularity of 1 every 3 days. Then you can localize the problem and save the harvest.

Harvesting

You can determine the maturity of a pumpkin by the following criteria:

• the peduncle becomes more rigid, the surface is corked, its woodiness occurs simultaneously with the stem supplying food;
• the leaves on the whip dry up, change color to yellow;
• whatever the original skin color, after ripening, reflects the texture pattern more vividly;
• if you run your fingernail over the crust, no trace is formed;
• when you press your fingers on the fetus, feel hard;
• ripe product is covered matte bloom;
• when tapped, audible ringing knock;
• at harvest the peduncle is easy to remove.

To secure the harvest long term storage, it is necessary to pluck the fruits carefully, taking care not to damage the rind. Scratches should be sealed with a bactericidal plaster so that microbes do not penetrate into the vegetable.

The fruits removed from the garden are placed in a dry room, where they ripen for about a month.

The main guarantee of a good harvest is right choice seeds and timely care. Self-grown pumpkin diversifies the menu for households, enriches the body with nutrients.