How to mold a pumpkin outdoors

Pumpkin is a very popular vegetable in almost all regions of our country. Pumpkin is considered an undemanding plant to care for, therefore, as a rule, it is simply planted and watered. Knowing how to shape a pumpkin is very important. As it turned out, this plant also needs to be pinched and formed a bush. This procedure is very important, as it has a great influence on the appearance and taste of the fruit.

Why shape a pumpkin

If we do not form a pumpkin bush, then we will get an ordinary large overgrown bush with many small pumpkins, which then we still need to figure out how best to use them. It even happens that the bush does not bear fruit at all. This occurs most often where cool weather prevails throughout the season.

This situation, when many small fruits ripen on the plant, is because the bush first spends all the nutrients and forces on the formation of stems and leaves, and then on the formation of flowers and ovaries, for the full development of which the bush already lacks nutrients. Therefore, you should take control of the situation and form the bush yourself.

Control the number of stems and leaves, as well as control the number of ovaries. For the number of ovaries that you leave, the plant will spend all its strength and nutrients. That is, the gardener controls the growth and development of the pumpkin bush by removing excess shoots and ovaries, thereby directing the energy of the bush and its strength, as they say, in the right direction, and not so that the bush spends all the nutrients on growing leaves.

How to shape a pumpkin: a description of the procedure

Pinching is the cutting off of a section of the stem above the formed ovary. If you carry out such a procedure, then in the future all the nutrients will be spent not on the growth of this stem, which you removed, but on the formation of ovaries and the development of the fetus. However, you can pinch the stems when they have grown more than one meter in length.

The procedure for forming a bush is usually performed at the beginning of the day, when it is still cool outside. Although if the weather is not sunny and it's cloudy outside, then pinching can be done at any time.

Plant classification

As you know, breeders have bred a lot of types and varieties of pumpkins, so they are usually divided into three groups: these are decorative pumpkins. These are those pumpkins that look spectacular and are mainly planted in order to make various crafts;

-Fodder pumpkins. These varieties are grown in order to feed livestock;

-There are also table gourds, which are used to cook food for people.

In addition, the plant is classified according to other indicators, such as the shape of the fruit, depending on the timing of the ripening of the fruit, and according to the length and growth of the stems.

Bush formation procedure

As a rule, only table pumpkins are formed, since decorative and fodder bushes do not need to be pinched, since here the size of the fruit will not matter as much as for table crops.

Table gourds are formed into one, two or three stalks. This will depend on what kind of land is on the site, as well as on the weather conditions and on the plant variety itself.If the weather conditions of the region leave much to be desired, as well as if the soil is poor, then in this case the bush is formed into one stem. This is done by keeping two fruits on the whip, and the stem is swollen above the fifth leaf from the last ovary.

Formation in two and three stems is carried out on those plants where the climatic conditions are satisfactory, and the soil is not depleted. Then one or two more side weaves are allowed to develop. This is where the formation of three stems takes place. In these cases, one more pumpkin can be left on each stem, not the stem above the extreme fruit by five or six leaves should also be cut off.

How to shape a pumpkin: bush pumpkins

Shrub varieties of this vegetable, as a rule, do not grow long. It is they who are often grown on their plots by experienced gardeners, especially if the plot is not large. But bushy pumpkins also need to be shaped, since we do not need empty whips without fruit.

In order for the crop to please with quality, it is also necessary to control the number of flowers on the plant, thus leaving no more than three or four ovaries on one bush. All other flowers must be removed.

How to shape a pumpkin: forming climbing varieties

Climbing pumpkin varieties usually grow very widely. They must be planted quite spaciously, over a large area, because if you do not keep the distance, then the plants will interfere with each other, catch and intertwine, which will certainly lead to a deterioration in the yield.

Climbing gourd is also formed into one, two or three stalks, depending on weather conditions and the nutritional properties of the soil. As described above, if the soil is poor and the weather conditions are poor, fewer stems are left.

This crop variety is formed when the fruits grow up to about 10 cm in diameter. The stems must be laid out towards the south, since the pumpkin is a very light-loving and heat-loving plant. And if more sunlight falls on the bush, then this will have a very positive effect on the growth and development of the plant.

If you do not know how best to shape the pumpkin, you can do it in different ways if you have several bushes on the site. This way you will see which method resulted in the best harvest.

Climbing types of vegetables are usually grown using the construction of various structures, fences, and all kinds of supports. So, plants climb over them and are held. In any case, the formation of a climbing gourd occurs in a similar way. One central lash is left, on which, as a rule, three ovaries are formed, and one or two lateral lashes with one ovary on each. Having retreated about five leaves after the extreme fruits, the stems are pinched.

Plant care

It is also necessary to monitor the formation of stepchildren, since even after pinching the plant, additional lateral stems grow rapidly.

To prevent large fruits from falling off the stem, it is better to tie them to a support, placing them in special nets.

After you have carried out the procedure for pinching the bush, you do not need to additionally somehow process the cut site, since in a healthy plant these areas dry out without problems. So that the plant does not lose a lot of moisture, you can treat the cuts with earth.

You can also add nourishment to the plants. To do this, you can also sprinkle the internodes of the bushes with earth. This will help not only to press the stems more tightly and thus strengthen the plant on the ground during strong gusts of wind in bad weather, but here the stem will additionally put out roots, getting more nutrients from the ground. If the pumpkin fruits are on the ground, then you should put wooden stands or foam sheets under them.

In addition to bush formation and pinching, maintenance usually includes regular watering, weed removal, and plant feeding.

How to shape a pumpkin: tips for novice gardeners

Below are recommendations and tips for young and inexperienced gardeners on plant care, adhering to which you can get a guaranteed tasty harvest.

-Carry out the pinching procedure and form a bush only when the fruits are at least 10 cm in diameter;

- You can also influence the timing of fruit ripening. Forming a bush will significantly shorten the time it takes for a ripe pumpkin to form, as one or two ovaries will ripen much faster than five or six. This is especially true in cold regions, where the summer is extremely short for the full ripening of even two or three pumpkin fruits. Therefore, here, as a rule, the formation is carried out in one stem, leaving no more than two fruits. You can also reduce the ripening period of fruits by planting seedlings in the ground;

-In those places where the weather conditions are not the best, it will be optimal to plant bush pumpkins or those that do not have strong branching, as well as early maturing varieties;

-In general, it is better to obtain fewer fruits that will have good flavor and size. Since a large number of fruits impairs the palatability of the pumpkin. In addition, they are usually small in size. This applies even to those regions where the summer is long;

-In order for the places of the cuts of the stems to dry well, it is better to form a bush in the morning;

-It is logical to leave an additional one or two flowers, as this will help if the main fruit dies. If this does not happen, then the spare ovaries are cut off;

-Experienced gardeners recommend covering some stems and internodes with earth, as the interlacing of the stems can damage the entire plant, especially if they later have to be untangled. During this procedure, the plants will certainly be damaged;

- In order for the bulk of the nutrients and strength of the plant to go exactly to the formation and ripening of the fruit, you should constantly monitor the formation of additional shoots and ovaries and remove them in time;

-The construction of various structures along which the plant will curl will greatly help to preserve the free territory on the site. In addition, it is much easier to form a weaving bush, as well as to care for it;

-To make the pumpkin fruit tastier, it is necessary to turn different sides of the fruit to the sun, using the same mesh tied to the support;

-If stepsons and ovaries are small, then you can cut them off manually. If the stem is large, then it is best to use pruning shears.

Summing up, it can be noted that caring for a pumpkin is not difficult, as well as forming a bush. At the same time, this procedure will help you get delicious and high quality fruits. If the development of the bush is allowed to take its course, it will lead to the formation of a large amount of green mass and to the multiple formation of small and tasteless fruits. This is especially true for the northern regions. Here pinching is a must for a good harvest.