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Planting pumpkin seeds in open ground is a common method for growing this crop without first distilling seedlings. This method is most suitable for cold-resistant varieties and is most often used in those regions where there is no danger of spring night frosts. However, with the right seeding technique, excellent results can be achieved even in areas with short and relatively cold summers.
When to plant pumpkin seeds outdoors
The timing of planting pumpkin seeds in open ground depends on the selected variety and climatic conditions. It is important to select varieties that mature before the fall frost. For a good harvest, not only the average daily temperature is important, but also the length of the summer season and the length of daylight hours.
If in the southern regions it is possible to sow pumpkin on the site already from the tenths of May, then for the Moscow region, the Black Earth region, the Middle Belt and other regions with similar climatic conditions, the favorable period begins from mid-May.
In the Urals and Siberia, this vegetable is usually grown by the seedling method. If, nevertheless, the method of planting with seeds in open ground is chosen, then for the speedy heating of the soil, the beds should be held under the film. The most suitable days for sowing seeds in the beds in these areas are from May 25 to mid-June, provided that the soil warms up to + 11 ° C. Muscat varieties are sown from early to mid-June, if the soil temperature is not lower than +13 ° C.
In the northern regions, it is preferable to plant the pumpkin in open ground with seeds in raised beds - they warm up faster, retain heat longer and do not get heated in heavy rains.
When to plant a pumpkin in the Moscow region
The pumpkin feels good in the Moscow region, but its yield directly depends on the exact adherence to planting dates. If seeds are planted in open ground too early, they can die due to low night temperatures, and if it is too late, fruits that do not have time to ripen will suffer from autumn frosts. The best time to plant pumpkin seeds in a garden in the Moscow region is from May 15 to 25. If at this time there is still a danger of night frosts, then at night the beds are covered with foil.
Where can you plant a pumpkin
With relative unpretentiousness, the vegetable is very picky about the area on which it will grow. When planning a place for a pumpkin, you need to consider the following factors:
- area illumination;
- protection from winds;
- depth of groundwater;
- soil composition;
- predecessor cultures;
- neighbors in the garden.
Seat selection
Pumpkin grows best in areas well-warmed by the sun and protected from strong winds, so it is optimal to plant it in the southern areas. At the same time, places with a close level of groundwater occurrence are not suitable, since the plant has a strong branched root system that penetrates deep into the ground.
For long-leafed varieties, it is desirable to allocate a spacious area, but if this is not possible, you can plant along the fence or other structures that will serve as a vertical support for its curly stems.
The pumpkin grows in almost any soil, but a great crop can only be harvested when grown in suitable soil.
Many gardeners plant a crop next to a compost heap or directly on it - pumpkin, demanding on the composition of the soil, responds well to the nutritional value of this substrate.
Best predecessors
Pumpkin grows well after green manure - plants grown specifically to improve soil quality, as well as carrots, beets, cabbage, legumes, corn, onions, tomatoes and perennial grasses. They can also be planted after the pumpkin.
Bad predecessors are sunflowers and melons (zucchini, squash, melon, watermelon, pumpkin). These plants have diseases in common with pumpkin, the pathogens of which are able to persist in the soil. The break between the cultivation of these crops and the cultivation of pumpkin should be at least 4 years. Planting them after the pumpkin is also not recommended.
Better neighbors in the garden
It is best to allocate this vegetable a separate area away from other plants, but if necessary, you can plant legumes next to the pumpkin: peas, beans, beans.
Many gardeners make the mistake of thinking they can plant squash and pumpkin side by side. As a result of the pollination of these similar, but different crops, fruits with low palatability are tied. In general, it is not recommended to plant pumpkin next to other melons and gourds in order to avoid mutual infection of plants with common diseases. In addition, pumpkin does not sit well with potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and eggplants.
Soil preparation
The soil for planting is prepared in the fall: manure, humus or compost is added for digging at the rate of 1 bucket of organic matter per 1 sq. m area. Pour 20 g of fertilizers of potash and phosphorus groups into the hole. In the spring, it is better to add humus. If the soil is acidic, add 2 glasses of lime or ash to the same area.
Another popular recipe for 1 sq. m of soil: 2 buckets of humus, 1/2 buckets of sawdust, 1 glass of nitrophoska, a liter can of ash.
In the spring, the soil is harrowed and, on the eve of planting the seeds, it is dug onto a shovel's bayonet and spilled with boiling water.
How to germinate pumpkin seeds for planting
To properly prepare pumpkin seeds for planting, you need to carry out the following procedures:
- determination of germination;
- selection of seeds;
- disinfection (disinfection);
- stimulation;
- hardening of seeds;
- germination.
A preliminary determination of the germination rate of the planting material will help to accurately plan the required number of plants. For this, an arbitrary number of seeds are germinated. The more they sprout, the higher the germination rate. So, if out of 30 seeds 27 germinated, then the germination rate is 90%. The more planting material is taken, the more accurate the calculation result will be.
The strongest, strongest and healthiest seeds should be selected, placed in a 5% aqueous solution of salt and mixed. Those that have settled to the bottom need to be collected, washed and dried - they will be the most suitable.
Further, for disinfection, the planting material is left for 20 minutes in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate, washed again and dried.
Many experienced vegetable growers warm up the seeds, leaving them for 5-6 hours at a temperature of plus 50-60 ° C. This not only disinfects them, but also activates germination. Soaking seeds in a solution of microelements and nutrients also helps to stimulate the emergence of strong friendly shoots. Often a solution of wood ash is used for this: 20 g of ash is dissolved in 1 liter of water. The seeds are left in it for a day.A few more folk remedies that serve as activators are aloe juice, honey infusion and potato juice. There are also special stimulants for spitting seeds, which also protect future plants from diseases, for example, potassium humate, crezacin, epin.
For hardening, a change in temperature is best suited: at night the plants are put in the refrigerator, and during the day they are kept in the room. In addition to the fact that the seeds acquire resistance to abrupt changes in weather conditions, they also germinate.
Before sowing directly into the ground, it is recommended to first let the seeds hatch - this way you can get seedlings on average 2 weeks earlier. In addition to hardening, this can be achieved by simply soaking them in damp gauze. Usually pumpkin seeds germinate on the third day.
How to plant a pumpkin in open ground with seeds
In order to properly plant pumpkin seeds in the ground, you need to decide on a plant arrangement suitable for a particular variety and follow simple rules. Once the flaps of the pumpkin seeds have opened, they are ready for planting.
Pumpkin planting scheme in the open field
The planting layout depends on the pumpkin variety. For long-growing varieties, a distance of about 200x150 cm is provided between the plants.Plants of bush pumpkin are more compact, therefore they are planted according to the scheme of 90x90 cm or 130x130 cm.
How to plant a pumpkin correctly
If it was not possible to fertilize the soil with organic matter before winter, on the day of planting, a mixture of humus and wood ash is laid in the hole.
On the eve of planting seeds, dig holes and spill them well. The depth depends on the type of soil - on light soils it is 8–10 cm, on dense soils it is enough to deepen the seeds by 4–5 cm.
When the water is absorbed, 3-4 seeds are placed in each groove, sprouts down.
After planting the seeds, the planting site is mulched with peat or humus and covered with a transparent film. This is especially true for the cold northern regions.
When the first shoots appear, the highest quality plant must be left in each hole.
To date, there are many videos of author's methods of planting pumpkin seeds in open ground, but the well-proven classic procedure minimizes the risk of unpleasant surprises in growing this vegetable.
Care after landing
Further care for the pumpkin involves regular watering, loosening, removing weeds, feeding and disease prevention. To increase productivity, the main stem of plants of long-leaved varieties is pinched, and extra female flowers are removed from bush ones.
Conclusion
Planting pumpkin seeds outdoors is a convenient way to grow this vegetable. Due to the lower time and labor costs compared to the seedling method, it is popular with gardeners in different regions. Compliance with the planting rules allows you to get a high yield.
