Growing pumpkin and the best tips for caring for a ginger beauty

Pumpkin is not a very whimsical crop for a gardener, but you need to know some of the subtleties of planting and proper care. If all the necessary procedures are carried out correctly, then a wonderful bountiful harvest will not be long in coming! We will tell in this material about the correct cultivation of pumpkin and how to care for it, the benefits of pumpkin, as well as how to properly carry out the pinching procedure.

Useful properties of pumpkin

We can talk about the beneficial properties of pumpkin for a long time. It is good in that almost all parts from the pulp itself to the seeds and crust are useful in it.
It should be noted right away that the chemical composition, in addition to many vitamins and micro, macroelements useful for the human body, contains a very rare vitamin T.
Pumpkin is widely popular in culinary dishes. Its pulp can be used to make amazing soups, pancakes, stews, cereals and even desserts. All of them, as a rule, have dietary and beneficial properties.
It is known that pumpkin seed oil, made from pumpkin seeds, is also actively used in cooking and for medicinal purposes. By the way, it is a good means of fighting parasites. Consuming pumpkin on a regular basis has a good effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system and many other organs of our body.

Growing pumpkin: seedling type of planting

Melons are quite thermophilic, pumpkin is no exception. For this reason, pumpkin is usually grown by seedling, rather than by direct sowing of seeds into the ground. The latter method may be suitable only for the southern part of our country. As for the middle lane, the east, and even more so the north, only cultivation through seedlings is relevant here.
Before planting seeds for seedlings, you need to carry out preliminary preparation. It is necessary to warm up the seeds, and then leave them to soak for a while in a solution of ash or in preparations to stimulate plant growth. Sometimes too dry seeds that have not yet been treated begin to hatch. For this reason, it is good if you sprout the seeds by placing them in moss, sawdust, or on a damp cloth. And after that, sow them with sprouts. It is better to use fertile soil for seedling. Glasses will be required in a large size. The optimum temperature for the normal development of plants is +20 degrees. Remember that the soil should not be overdried. Seedlings require regular watering. It is better to stand it before and heat it to room temperature.
It is better to roll the stem part of the plant in a circle and cover it with soil, the leaves grow quite quickly, and you need to leave a little space for adding.
If your seedlings are located on the windowsill of the south window, then the pumpkin does not need additional lighting.

Agricultural technology pumpkin cultivation

As for sowing seeds directly into open ground, here you need to be sure that the soil has already warmed up to a depth of 7 - 8 centimeters to 12 - 13 degrees.
As for the air temperature, during the day it is necessary that it be about +30 degrees, and at night + 15-18 degrees.
As for the planting of seedlings on the site, this time usually falls on the end of May - beginning of June. The soil should be well fertilized, not heavy. Not the most successful predecessors of pumpkin are its relatives related to melons. Choose a well-lit area that is sheltered from the winds. Groundwater should not be located too close to plantings.
A very important aspect of pumpkin care is its protection from diseases and harmful insects. They are quite similar to the "cucumber" enemies, so it is better not to plant these crops nearby. Watering your pumpkin should be done in moderation, the water should not be cold. It is necessary to water the plants in a circle, do not pour water to the very base of the plant. Watering must be intensified when the fruits are pouring, as well as at the time when they ripen. Pumpkin is a rather drought-resistant plant, due to the fact that this culture has a very deep root system.

Watering can sometimes be combined with feeding your plants. Pumpkin has a positive attitude to phosphorus and phosphorus-potassium supplements. You can alternate them. Do not plant other crops next to the pumpkin, as it grows actively, it will not like the close neighborhood.
Remember, an important part of pumpkin care is yield control. Try not to have too many ovaries, the size of your future harvest directly depends on this. Pinch the branches of the pumpkin as you would for cucumbers. It should not grow strongly. If you want to achieve a huge fruit size, then you can leave 1 - 2 ovaries. Excess greens take away nutrients from the fruits themselves.

Do not forget about timely preventive measures and control of pests and diseases.
A sign that the pumpkin is ready to harvest is a hardened surface and a dry tail. But even if you pick an unripe pumpkin, you can easily bring it to a condition by putting it in a warm room for a while. Ripening usually occurs after about 90 - 150 days.