When is the best time to plant pumpkins? (Best time and method to sow pumpkins)

When is the right time to plant pumpkins?

The planting time of pumpkin varies from place to place. The south is planted earlier than the south. Here we first understand the suitable temperature required for pumpkin germination.

The most suitable germination temperature for pumpkin planting is between 20-30℃. Within this temperature range, it usually germinates in 1-2 weeks.

Generally speaking, pumpkins are usually sown in spring or before autumn. In spring, sowing is done in February and March. In colder areas, sowing can be done after the Qingming Festival. Before autumn, sowing is done in July.

Pumpkins can be planted directly from the seeds, but some people start by raising seedlings before transplanting .

If you want to plant in advance so that the pumpkin can be on the market earlier, it is best to choose seedling transplanting, which usually starts in mid-March .

Pumpkin is cold-resistant and can grow well at low temperatures, so it can be cultivated early in winter and spring, early in spring, and in the open field in spring and autumn.

Off-season cultivation in winter and spring should be covered with greenhouse film and multi-layer insulation facilities. Cultivation in early spring can be semi-covered with small arch sheds. In the early stage of autumn cultivation, insect-proof nets should be used as much as possible, and film should be covered for insulation in the later stage.

Different cultivation seasons use different cultivation methods. Taking the early spring cultivation in North China as an example, the following is a brief description:

(1) Seedling cultivation

In North China, early spring pumpkin seedlings are grown in solar greenhouses or sunbeds, and the seedling period is generally in early to mid-March.

(2) Seed soaking and germination

Use 100℃ hot water to scald the seeds for 5 seconds, then immediately cool the water to 30℃ and soak the seeds for 4-6 hours. During this time, wash the seeds 2-3 times with 30℃ warm water to remove the mucus on the surface of the seeds.

After the seeds are taken out, let them air dry for 2 hours, and then germinate them after the surface of the seeds are dry. The temperature during germination is kept at 28-30℃. After about 36 hours, the radicle of the seeds will be exposed, commonly known as "whitening", and then they can be sown.

(3) Seeding

Pumpkins are usually planted in February or March. You can prepare the land in the winter of the previous year, apply enough base fertilizer, and bury the seeds in February or March of the second spring. Because the seedlings are long and grow fast, you need to apply fertilizer in April, May, and June, and pay attention to watering.

The management of pumpkin is relatively extensive. Because of its well-developed root system and roots between leaf nodes, you should pay attention to cultivating the soil so that it can absorb nutrients.