Growing pumpkins is easy. Pumpkins are tender annuals. Protect them from frost and cold weather both spring and fall. Weather below 50 degrees will slow or even stunt their growth. Plant outdoors after the last frost date for your area. Follow the spacing directions on the packet. They can vary significantly variety. Water well after planting, and a second time two to four days later, only if there has been no rain.
How to Grow: Seeds can be planted in hills four to six feet apart Sow four to six seeds per hill, thinning to two to three. Or, plant in rows six inches apart, thinning to 1 to 3 feet apart, depending upon how much space you have. Plant miniatures closer, and Giants farther apart. A variety of diseases affect pumpkins, most notable is powdery mildew. Apply fungicides at the first sign of a problem. Better still, apply them before plant disease problems occur. Hot, humid weather encourages pumpkin diseases.
Depending upon variety, Plan 85-95 days for miniatures, 100-120 days for Jack O'Lanterns and 130-150 days for giant pumpkins.
Pumpkins belong to the "Curcurbita" family. There are a wide range of varieties falling into these categories:
Cucurbita Moschata - This group of mainly squash includes the ones used for commercially canned food. Commercial varieties usually have a tan-colored skin.
Cucurbita Pepo- These are the Jack-o-Lantern type you carve on Halloween, as well as the cute little miniature varieties that fit in the palm of your hand.
Cucurbita Maxima - Maxima, as it's name implies, are the giant ones. Giant pumpkin growing has become a very popular hobby. Giant variety growers are among the most devoted, and perhaps fanatical of gardeners.
Days to maturity varies widely, depending upon variety. Plan 85-95 days for miniatures, 100-120 days for Jack O'Lanterns and 130-150 days for giant pumpkins.
 Disease: Gardeners love growing these vegatables. Insects and a wide variety of pests love 'em, too. The most common insects are Cucumber beetles, squash vine borers and squash bugs. Dusting or spraying regularly before an infestation occurs, is recommended.
Among the animals that love to eat these (either the plants or the fruit) are rabbits, and in the US and Canada, woodchuck, squirrels and deer. Use animal repellent like pepper and garlic sprays as needed. More on sprays.
Tip: Allow enough time after watering for the leaves to dry before evening. Water on the leaves in warm weather encourages plant disease. | |
|
 |
Plants for Hanging Baskets -
Since you will be seeing the basket from below, trailing ones are an obvious choice; plus some to climb up the chains. Very small flowers , How to Sow Grass Seed will scarcely show....
Plague Thrips -
The plague thrips (Thrips imaginis), which is native to Australia, may occur in plague numbers in spring , Growing Lawns in Shaded Areas and early summer, , Preparing your lawn - Levelling when the climatic conditions arc favourable for its development. This species is present every year in limited numbers, but serious...
Growing Bulbs Outdoors -
Plant outdoor , DIY Water Feature bulbs with a trowel, but on no account leave them 'hanging' in a soil , Red Spider pocket. Special bulb , Standard Roses trowels are obtainable with narrow blades which cut easily into the ground, and some of these have marked measurements for setting bulbs , Garden Hose at the requir...
Indoor Garden Planters -
Planters can be of any dimensions and shapes appropriate to their locations. , Garden Hose Some enthusiasts have floor , The Light Brown Apple Moth level, bed-type planters large enough to include a fountain and perhaps a path , Growing Flowers to make servicing them easier. These are truly indoor gardens! , How to Prolong the Life of Cut Flowers But most...
Summer Bulbs -
Some well-known bulbs , Preparing a New Lawn for summer , Kitchen Remodeling include a few varieties of Gladioli, tuberous Begonia and Montbretia. If you want to try something less familiar, look for Brodiaea uniflora (profuse, neat flowers , Landscaping on sloping Ground on 6 inch stems, which remain in bloom a long time and sme...
Preparing your lawn - Levelling -
You can level an area fairly accurately by these means. You will need a straight edge and a carpenter's or bricklayer's spirit level. The straight edge could be a piece of 15 x 2.5 cm oregon or other, light , Marcottage: Propagating in the Air timber, dressed straight and parallel and about...
Shredders -
Shredders are a very useful aid to producing good quality and large quantities of compost , Indoor Plants for Warm Rooms by shredding your garden , Water Plants waste. They help to provide textured organic , Cactus and Soil matter - anything from twigs and prunings , The Vine Leaf Blister Mite etc which you would other wise not normally compost. , How To Transplant Australian Native Seedlings ...
Pumpkin Beetle -
The life history of this beetle under natural , House Plants and Water Evaporation conditions has not been studied. Eggs have been laid on moist soil , Caulking & Caulking Guns and the larva have been found on the roots , Growing Orchids and stems of pumpkins. The pupal stage is passed in the soil. , Permaculture Core Values Beetles have been known to live for a...
Bean Fly -
The bean fly (Agromyza phaseoli) is a pest , Types of Mulch of French beans during summer , Tree and Shrub Propagation and autumn , Kitchen Remodeling in coastal New South Wales especially. It sometimes occurs in north western districts such as Gunnedah and Morce. Both bush and climbing beans are attacked whilst late sow...
|
|
|
|
