How and when to plant pumpkins

Pumpkin Planting Time

The pumpkin planting time is around April and May every year when the weather becomes warmer. The seeds need to be processed before planting and the field needs to be given sufficient water and fertilizer. When the vines grow to three centimeters and the fruits swell rapidly, top dressing needs to be applied so that the pumpkin can grow better.

Planting Pumpkins in Spring

Pumpkin likes a warm environment and is a short-day plant. It is drought-resistant and afraid of waterlogging, and has a wide adaptability to soil. If planted in spring, it is suitable to be done between the Qingming Festival and the Grain Rain. The best sowing time is from April to May.

Growing Squash in Summer

It is best to start planting pumpkins in early June in summer. Water the land thoroughly before planting. Apply base fertilizer when the soil moisture is appropriate. Mainly use decomposed organic fertilizer, and add a small amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer. After applying the base fertilizer, deep plow the soil and mix it thoroughly.

Planting Pumpkins in the Fall

The best time to plant pumpkins in autumn is around the Mid-Autumn Festival. Pumpkin is a crop that does not like repeated planting, so if you plant a large amount, you should choose land that has not been planted with pumpkins within 2-3 years. It is best to use sandy loam with acidic soil, and also avoid beet stubble.

Growing Squash in Winter

It is recommended to start winter planting in early November. If the sowing is carried out with mulch covering or seedlings are raised in a greenhouse, the sowing time can be earlier. For winter planting, it is advisable to choose early-maturing, cold-resistant and high-yielding varieties.

Pumpkin Planting Methods

1. Planting and land preparation

   Pumpkin has a wide adaptability to soil, but it is suitable to be planted in loose, fertile, slightly acidic sandy loam. When planting, avoid beet stubble. Water thoroughly once before sowing. Apply base fertilizer according to the fertility of the soil, mainly decomposed organic fertilizer, combined with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer, and harrow and level the soil.

2. Preparation for sowing

   Before sowing, place the pumpkin seeds in the sun to dry for 1-2 days, then soak them in clean water for half an hour, soak them in potassium permanganate solution for about half an hour to disinfect and sterilize them. After cleaning, soak them in 55-degree water and stir them constantly. Then place them at 30 degrees for germination for 1-2 days. After the seeds turn white, they can be sown.

3. Pumpkin planting

   Pumpkins can be sown directly, raised and transplanted. The plant spacing for direct seeding is 30-50 cm. Sow 2-3 seeds in each hole. They will sprout in about 7-15 days. Irrigate in time after germination. If the base fertilizer is sufficient, there is no need for topdressing before transplanting. Wait until it grows 3-5 true leaves before thinning and transplanting.

4. Maintenance and management

   Pumpkin management is relatively simple. Generally, male flowers bloom first and can be picked off. After the female flowers bloom, there is no need to pick them off. Sufficient water and fertilizer need to be provided during the pumpkin fruiting period. Pumpkin diseases and pests rarely occur, and timely prevention and control will not affect the yield.