Planting pumpkins in your own garden
General information about the pumpkin plant
The tropical plant originally comes from Central and South America. It therefore grows as an annual in our latitudes. Pumpkins are actually berries, or more precisely, armored berries. Their shape, size and color vary greatly depending on the variety.
Location
Pumpkin plants thrive in deep, humus-rich and nutrient-rich soil. They are often grown at the bottom of a compost. Their location should be sunny but sheltered from the wind.
Pumpkin preplanting
From mid-April, you can sow one seed per seed pot about 2-3 cm deep with the tip facing downwards. At temperatures between 20-24 °C, the seeds germinate within a week, after which the plants need between 16-20 °C.
Soil preparation & hardening
Pumpkins are heavy feeders. Prepare the soil with plenty of compost or manure. Harden off the young plants before planting out. Place them outside for a few hours for about a week to acclimatize them to the outdoor climate and direct sunlight.
Planting a pumpkin
After the last night frosts, the plant can then be moved outdoors. Plant them deeper in the prepared soil as before and apply a layer of mulch at the beginning
- Row spacing: 1.5 - 2.5 m
- Plant spacing: 0.5 - 1.5 m
Pumpkin care
- water frequently and evenly without hitting the leaves
- fertilize every 3-4 weeks with diluted nettle manure
- if space is limited, shoots can be shortened in June
- the number and size of the fruits can be controlled by pruning in July
- to prevent rotting, the fruits should ripen on a dry base
Bild von Hans auf Pixabay.
