How to grow pumpkin in the open field

How to grow a pumpkin in the open field? It would seem that there is difficult, stuck a seed in the ground, and let them grow. But, as the reviews show, not everyone can grow a pumpkin on their own. It seems to be unpretentious in the care of the plant, and does not get sick so often. What is the matter? The answer is banal - in the mistakes that gardeners make from year to year.

Let's understand together why the pumpkin does not grow.

Cooking a bed under the pumpkin

Those who have ever seen this plant, guess how many nutrients will be needed to build such a mass. Plus, pouring fruit also requires a lot of strength and “food” from the pumpkin. Let's see what other sources advise. Manure. Well, very good and even correct. If not for one moment. Absolutely everyone recommends fertilizer in recalculation per square meter.That is, pour over the entire surface of the bed.

Meanwhile, the optimal scheme of planting pumpkin is 1 to 1.5 meters. And how many of those fertilizers will get to the roots, which are concentrated in one place and not spreading all over the district?

Rule 1. For planting pumpkins prepare each well separately, and not the whole garden.

We read further. Council to dig the soil to a depth of 50 cm. Why? The main root of the plant goes to a depth of 1.8 m. Small feeding roots are located in the upper layer of the soil, no deeper than 30 cm. Why do you need to dig up to such depth? And even more so, to make fertilizer there. This is also one of the tips.

It will be enough to pour a pile of manure in the fall to the place where the hole will be in the spring, and dig for the length of the spade bayonet. Then mark with a stick, a peg or some other object. In the spring, after the snow melted, dig again. By the way, the width of the hole should be at least 30 to 30 cm. After all, the main root system of pumpkin is fibrous. Meals should be enough for a long growing season.

And further. The space around it is desirable to thoroughly weed and loosen. Otherwise, the weeds will simply clog the young plants. This adult bushes have nothing to fear.A healthy, full of energy pumpkin itself inhibits all weeds.

Rule 2. Do not neglect the processing of the surrounding space.

We plant pumpkin seedlings

The most common mistake when planting pumpkins on seedlings - the choice of too small capacity. The depth of the pot or glass should be at least 16 cm. We now explain why. When the seed rises, the first 2 weeks the sprout is rapidly drawn out. What do they usually do in this case? That's right, dive. Yes, and pinch the central spine.

You can not do this categorically! This root allows the plant to easily endure drought, extracting moisture from deep soil layers. And you tore him off. Or worse, looped seedlings. That is, a long stem turned in a circle and sprinkled with earth. No doubt, additional roots will grow on a buried stem. But if in nature pumpkin sprout does not grow in a ring, it means that we should not do that either. What if you break?

How to do the right thing? Capacity filled with soil at half the height. Plant 1 seed. After it rises, a little earth is sprinkled on the stalk. The plant will pull in a little more, the soil is again added to it.

As a result, by the time of landing in open ground (about 3-5 true leaves), you will have a strong plant, with a decent root system.

Rule 3. Pumpkin seedlings do not dive and do not loop.

Preparing seeds for planting

Another mistake regarding the pumpkin: the lack of pre-treatment. Why? The seeds were removed from the fruit, dried, and pushed into the pots in the spring. Perhaps something will come up. Well, yes, well, if it comes. And just great if you do not care.

But there are those gardeners who treat every germ with great love. They cherish every seed, acquire planting material of new varieties. And he is often very expensive. And just throwing seeds away is a luxury. Therefore, we prepare correctly:

1. Pumpkin seeds are soaked in a strong hot (+ 48 ° C) solution of potassium permanganate for 25 minutes.
2. Not washed, shifted to a warm solution of growth stimulant (zircon, epine, aloe juice) for 7 hours.
3. Again not washed, soaked in plain warm water for 24 hours.

Everything, now the seeds are decontaminated, energized and ready for germination.To do this, put in a container cotton cloth flap or even a paper towel. Pumpkin seeds are laid on it, covered with another piece of cloth. Now it is necessary to moisten the contents of the container slightly, then put in a warm dark place.

Check daily! Sometimes moisten with clean water. As soon as the seeds begin to open - you can sow.

Error: when planting stick a seed in the ground. What for? Sprout itself knows where to turn the leaves, and where the roots. Planting material is placed on the surface of the earth, about 2.5 cm of soil is sprinkled on top.

By the way, the soil needs to be slightly compacted so that the pumpkin will be easier to get rid of the seed coat. Just do not ram! Just press the top layer slightly with a spoon or spatula.

Now the whole structure is again placed in a warm and dark place. When sprouts appear, the pot is brought to the light.

Caring for pumpkin seedlings

In principle, it is not difficult. Watering with the drying of the soil and one dressing with complex mineral fertilizer in phase 2 of this leaf. Just do not pour the plant, because the black leg does not sleep.

And further.It is desirable to place a plate of foam plastic, a piece of foamed substrate, or even a cork roll flap under a pot or cup. This is necessary to protect the still young roots from the cool air.

Rule 4. Be sure to warm the roots of young pumpkin plants.

Planting pumpkin seedlings

If you did everything correctly, then planting a pumpkin in open ground will not be difficult. The wells have already been prepared, it remains only to thoroughly shed them with water. It will be enough to 1.5 liters per seat.

The plants themselves are strong, with a developed root system. And here is the next mistake. Many shake the roots off the ground and only then transplant the pumpkin into the soil. What is the purpose of this? We did not get a clear answer.

Do not expose the pumpkin root system. In the well down the sprout together with the seed soil. Depth - to cotyledon leaves. From above, all this is gently mulched with dry soil or loose peat.

Rule 5. Pumpkin seedlings are planted only by the method of transshipment. So the roots are not damaged.

Nursing a pumpkin

Care for pumpkins in the open field does not require dancing with tambourines.But letting things happen is not worth it.

Watering. Pumpkin loves to drink. Broad leaves evaporate a lot of moisture. Just do not need every day to look out of the watering can. It will give nothing. Watering plants need every 5 days. At the same time for 1 adult bush you need at least 15 liters of water.

Need to focus on dry soil. Spread the leaves, looked. Is it wet? So, do not pour water. Is the land dry? It's time to water the pumpkin.

In extreme heat, it is necessary to carry out sprinkling of the landings in order to lower the ambient temperature and increase the humidity. Only here it is not necessary about water droplets, as about lenses for sunlight. Not a single plant in nature after the rain in the sun burned from your “lenses”.

Feeding. You have to feed the pumpkins regularly, despite the dung in the hole. It is enough only for initial growth, about a month. Then, once every 13-16 days it is necessary to add any of the feedings to the root:

• green liquid fertilizer
• complex mineral
• mullein infusion
• bird droppings solution

There are no special requirements, choose what is in stock. Naturally, fertilizers can not be applied on dry ground. This will cause a burn of small feeding roots.Feed pumpkins strictly the next day after watering.

Shaping. You read other sources and you wonder. All, as one, say one thing: on one plant, pumpkins leave 3 fruits. The rest of the ovary plucked.

And no one thought to turn on the head. With good care, these three pumpkins will grow to the size of a cinderella's carriage. And where are you then? Keep such a colossus where? Immediately eat pumpkin weighing 10 kg and above? Consider that the cut fruit already starts to mold on the 3rd day. In the refrigerator stuff? Well, yes, there will be half a pumpkin lying there, the rest will have to be pulled out due to lack of space.

How to form a plant? In fact, very simple. Leave all the ovaries until July 30. After this time - pull out without pity. They just will not mature. And you will not get 3 mutants on one plant, but 5-7 pieces of medium-sized fruits. They are convenient to store and eat enough for 1, maximum 2 times.

Rule 6. Pumpkin shoots pinch strictly above the 5 leaf after the ovary. These shoots are involved in the process of photosynthesis and are vital for the proper growth and good development of fruits growing lower in the stem.

Peculiarities of care

Pumpkin fruits love to rot. And from the bottom, from the soil. There is not immediately notice the beginning of the process of damage. To avoid such trouble, under each vegetable enclose a piece of board, hardboard or chipboard. Just do not put slate or glass. These materials are cold on their own, and on August nights the pumpkins will additionally be cooled, which will further provoke the process of decay.

Weeding will be needed only at the beginning after disembarking to a permanent place. Then the foliage closes, the plants grow, and the weeds are no longer scary to them.

By the way, a good result is obtained when planting pumpkins on compost heaps. Only be sure to add a bucket of ordinary earth to the hole so that the roots do not burn down. Well, and additional feeding is no longer required, plenty of power in the compost. And do not forget about watering.

When growing pumpkin, as a trellis culture, the fruit must be hung in the nets. Only strictly on additional support. Well suited Soviet string bags. They are now sold. This procedure will avoid escaping shoots and stalks prematurely under the weight of the fruit.

The tendency of a lingering warm autumn in the middle lane observed in recent years makes it possible to grow pumpkins in a non-seedling manner. That is, the time for ripening and pouring fruit to the plant is enough. The only thing that plant pumpkin seeds in open ground will have a temporary shelter. And it is not at all necessary to build a monolithic greenhouse above the beds. It will be enough just to cover the hole with a thick plastic wrap or even a cut off plastic bottle.

After warming (air temperature above + 18 ° C), the temporary shelter can be removed. By this time, the seedlings have grown up enough and gained strength.

How to grow a pumpkin in the open field? As you can see, it is not difficult. Several myths debunked, the inclusion of the head in the process of planting and care, abundant watering. And you can enjoy the beneficial vitamin fruits until spring. Now you will succeed.

Video: planting spring pumpkins in open ground