How should we manage pumpkin plants to get more pumpkins?

As a commonly grown crop, pumpkin is deeply loved by rural families. However, in the process of growing pumpkins, many farmers may encounter this problem: although the pumpkin vines grow very lushly, the number of pumpkins is very small, and sometimes there are no pumpkins at all, which directly affects the income from planting. So how should we manage pumpkin plants to get more pumpkins?

1. Grasping the sowing period

Pumpkin seeds germinate best at 20-28℃. They can germinate above 13℃ but the speed is slow. If the temperature is too low, they will easily rot, and if the temperature is too high, they will easily grow too tall. You can choose direct seeding or seedling transplanting. When direct sowing, sow 2 to 3 seeds in each hole, cover with 2 cm of soil, and water thoroughly. After the seedlings emerge from the soil, keep one and transplant the rest. When raising seedlings and transplanting, plant them when they have 3 to 5 true leaves. For ground cultivation, 300 to 500 plants per mu, and for trellis cultivation, 700 plants per mu.

2. Fertilization strategy

Pumpkin likes fertilizer, especially potassium fertilizer, followed by nitrogen fertilizer, and phosphorus fertilizer is the least. Apply 3000 kg/mu of fully decomposed farmyard manure and 40 kg/mu of triple compound fertilizer . When the growth of seedlings is weak, apply appropriate amount of diluted manure or urea. During the fruit setting period, apply potassium sulfate or wood ash, and spray potassium dihydrogen phosphate.

3. Pruning and Fruit Retention

When the main vine grows to 2 meters, pinch off the top to promote reproductive growth, retain 2 side branches, and remove the rest. Leave one fruit every 3 to 4 leaves. Leave 1 to 2 large melons on each plant and 3 to 5 small melons.

4. Artificial pollination

Pollination should be done before 9 am. Use male flowers that have opened that day to paint the stigma of female flowers, or dip a brush in pollen and apply it.

5. Water Management

Keep the soil moist during sowing. Water the seedlings once every 7 to 10 days during the seedling stage, avoid watering too frequently. The demand increases during the flowering and fruiting period. Keep the soil "dry and moist", and water once every 15 days.

6. Notes

Use anti-drop agent to spray flowers to prevent flowers and fruits from falling. Spray "Zhuangguodi Ling" to thicken the fruit stem and increase nutrient transport.

In general, when planting pumpkin , we need to pay attention to key links such as sowing period, fertilization, pruning and fruit retention, artificial pollination and water management. Through scientific management, the yield of pumpkin can be effectively increased.