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Planting pumpkin seeds in open ground is a common method that allows you to grow this crop without first forcing the seedlings. This method is most suitable for cold-resistant varieties and is more often used in those regions where there is no danger of spring night frosts. However, with the right approach to seed sowing techniques, excellent results can be achieved even in areas with short and relatively cold summers.
When to plant pumpkin seeds in open ground
The timing of planting pumpkin seeds in open ground depends on the selected variety and climatic conditions. It is important to select varieties that ripen before the onset of autumn frosts. For a good harvest, not only the average daily temperature matters, but also the length of the summer season and the length of daylight hours.
If in the southern regions you can sow pumpkins on a plot already from the tenth of May, then for the Moscow region, the Black Earth Region, the Middle Zone and other regions with similar climatic conditions, the favorable period begins in mid-May.
In the Urals and Siberia, this vegetable is usually grown by seedlings. If you still choose the method of planting seeds in open ground, then in order to warm up the soil as quickly as possible, the beds should be kept under a film. The most suitable days for sowing seeds in 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 pumpkin in open ground with seeds in raised beds - they warm up faster, retain heat longer and do not flood during heavy rains.
When to plant pumpkins in the Moscow region
Pumpkin feels good in plots near Moscow, but its yield directly depends on strict adherence to planting dates. If you plant seeds in open ground too early, they may die due to low night temperatures, and if too late, the fruits that have not had time to ripen will suffer from autumn frosts. The best time to plant pumpkin seeds in a garden bed in the Moscow region is from May 15 to May 25. If at this time there is still a danger of night frosts, then cover the beds with film at night.
Where can you plant a pumpkin?
Despite its relative unpretentiousness, the vegetable is very demanding of the area in which it will grow. When planning a place for a pumpkin, you need to consider the following factors:
- illumination of the area;
- protection from winds;
- depth of groundwater;
- soil composition;
- predecessor cultures;
- neighbors in the garden.
Selecting a location
Pumpkin grows best in areas that are well-warmed by the sun and protected from strong winds, so it is optimal to plant it in southern areas. In this case, places with close groundwater levels are not suitable, since the plant has a strong branched root system that penetrates deep into the soil.
For long-climbing varieties, it is advisable to allocate a spacious area, but if this is not possible, you can plant along a fence or other buildings that will serve as a vertical support for its climbing stems.
Pumpkin grows in almost any soil, but an excellent harvest can only be harvested when grown in suitable soil.
Many gardeners plant the crop next to the compost heap or directly on it - pumpkin, which is demanding on the composition of the soil, responds well to the nutritional value of this substrate.
The 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 herbs. They can also be planted after pumpkins.
Bad predecessors are sunflowers and melons (zucchini, squash, melon, watermelon, pumpkin). These plants have diseases in common with pumpkin, the pathogens of which can survive in the soil. The break between growing these crops and growing pumpkin should be at least 4 years. Planting them after pumpkins is also not recommended.
Better neighbors in the garden
It is best to allocate a separate area for this vegetable 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 that they can plant zucchini and pumpkin next to each other. As a result of cross-pollination of these similar but different crops, fruits with low taste are set. In general, it is not recommended to plant pumpkin next to other melon crops in order to avoid mutual contamination of plants with common diseases. In addition, pumpkin does not mix well with potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and eggplants.
Soil preparation
The soil for planting is prepared in the fall: manure, humus or compost are added for digging at the rate of 1 bucket of organic matter per 1 square meter. m area. 20 g of potassium and phosphorus group fertilizers are poured into the hole. In spring it is better to add humus. If the soil is acidic, add 2 cups of lime or ash to the same area.
Another popular recipe for a nutrient mixture for 1 sq. m of soil: 2 buckets of humus, 1/2 bucket of sawdust, 1 glass of nitrophoska, liter jar of ash.
In the spring, the ground is harrowed and, on the eve of planting the seeds, it is dug up onto the bayonet of a shovel and poured 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:
- germination determination;
- seed selection;
- disinfection (disinfection);
- stimulation;
- seed hardening;
- germination.
Preliminary determination of the germination capacity of planting material will help you accurately plan the required number of plants. To do this, germinate an arbitrary number of seeds. The more of them sprouted, the higher the germination rate.So, if 27 out of 30 seeds sprouted, then the germination rate is 90%. The more planting material is taken, the more accurate the calculation result will be.
You should select the strongest, strongest and healthiest seeds, place them in a 5% aqueous salt solution and mix. Those that have settled to the bottom need to be collected, washed and dried - they will be the most suitable.
Next, 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 can also stimulate the appearance of strong, friendly shoots. A solution of wood ash is often 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 seed pecking, which also protect future plants from diseases, for example, potassium humate, krezatsin, epin.
For hardening, a change in temperature is best: the plants are put in the refrigerator at night, and kept in the room during the day. In addition to the fact that the seeds become resistant to sudden 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 pumpkin in open ground with seeds
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. As soon as the pumpkin seed valves open slightly, they are ready for planting.
Scheme for planting pumpkins in open ground
The planting arrangement depends on the pumpkin variety. For long-climbing varieties, a distance of approximately 200x150 cm is provided between plants. Bush pumpkin plants are more compact, so they are planted according to a 90x90 cm or 130x130 cm pattern.
How to plant a pumpkin correctly
If it was not possible to fertilize the soil with organic matter before winter, a mixture of humus and wood ash is placed in the hole on the day of planting.
On the eve of planting the seeds, dig holes and water 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 bury the seeds by 4–5 cm.
When the water is absorbed, place 3-4 seeds in each cavity with the sprouts facing down.
After sowing the seeds, the planting site is mulched with peat or humus and covered with a transparent film. This is especially true for cold northern regions.
When the first shoots appear, it is necessary to leave the highest quality plant in each hole.
Today, there are many videos of original methods for planting pumpkin seeds in open ground, but the well-proven classical procedure minimizes the risk of unpleasant surprises in growing this vegetable.
Care after landing
Further care of the pumpkin involves regular watering, loosening, removing weed, feeding and disease prevention.To increase productivity, the main stem of plants of long-climbing varieties is pinched, and from bush varieties, excess female flowers are removed.
Conclusion
Planting pumpkin seeds in open ground is a convenient way to grow this vegetable. Due to lower time and labor costs compared to the seedling method, it is popular among gardeners in different regions. Compliance with planting rules allows you to get a high yield.
