How to shape and pinch a pumpkin in open ground: video, diagram

Content

1 The importance of pumpkin formation in open ground
2 When to shape a pumpkin
3 How to pinch a pumpkin in open ground, depending on the variety and type
- 3.1 Formation of a bush with 1, 2 and 3 stems
4 How to properly pinch bush pumpkin in open ground
5 Pinching climbing pumpkin in open ground
6 Caring for the crop after pinching
7 Some tips for beginning gardeners
8 Conclusion

Pumpkin is grown in many regions of Russia. However, gardeners do not always pay due attention to such maintenance operations as pinching or forming a bush. Meanwhile, it is necessary to form a pumpkin in open ground; this procedure has a direct impact not only on the quantity, but also on the quality of the harvest.

The importance of pumpkin formation in open ground

Uncontrolled growth of pumpkin usually leads to the fact that a fairly large number of small fruits ripen on the bush, while the yield of marketable products leaves much to be desired. It is also possible that fruiting does not occur at all. This situation is far from uncommon, especially in regions with cool climates. This happens because the plant grows green mass throughout its entire life, sends out many shoots, and forms a large number of fruit ovaries. In this case, it simply does not have enough nutrients to lay and ripen full-fledged fruits.

The situation can be corrected by artificially forming a pumpkin bush. In this case, the number of shoots is strictly rationed, and the required number of fruits is planted on the bush. It is on their maturation that the lion's share of the nutrients received by the plant will be spent. Thus, by forming a bush, the gardener redirects nutrients to the ripening of fruits, while limiting their number and blocking the growth of green mass by the plant.

When to shape a pumpkin

Pinching is the removal of part of the stem above the set fruit. After such a procedure, all the juices that the plant would spend on further growth of the shoot will be used to ripen the fruit. You can start pinching pumpkin vines after their length reaches at least 1 m. The procedure itself should be carried out early in the morning, before the heat sets in. If the day is cloudy, then work can be done throughout the day.

How to pinch a pumpkin in open ground, depending on the variety and type

Pumpkins come in a wide variety of varieties and types. There are three main groups of these plants:

Decorative. Such pumpkins have a beautiful appearance and are used to decorate personal plots, as well as as ornamental material and souvenirs.
Feed. Grown for feeding to domestic animals.
Dining rooms. These varieties of pumpkins are used for food.

In addition, pumpkins are divided depending on the timing of ripening, the size of the fruit, the length of the vines and some other factors.

Formation of a bush with 1, 2 and 3 stems

Decorative and fodder varieties of pumpkin are usually not pinched, since in this case size and taste do not matter.When forming table varieties, formation is carried out in 1,2 or 3 stems, depending on the yield of the variety, soil fertility and climate of the region. In the most unfavorable conditions, with insufficient soil nutrition and a cool climate, the plant is formed into 1 stem. To do this, leave 2 fruits on the main vine; pinch the stem at a distance of 4-5 leaves above the outermost fruit.

In more favorable conditions, you can form a pumpkin with 2 stems (main vine + side) or 3 (main + 2 lateral). In this case, an additional 1 fruit is left on each of the side shoots. Above it, at a distance of 5 leaves, the stem is pinched.

The diagram for forming a pumpkin in open ground is shown in the figure below.

How to properly pinch bush pumpkin in open ground

Bush varieties of pumpkin do not form long vines, so many gardeners grow such varieties in order to save space on the site. However, such species also need to be pinched. Otherwise, the bush will form a large number of empty shoots. The harvest also needs to be rationed, otherwise it will be small-fruited and tasteless. Usually 3-4 ovaries are left per bush. All other flowers are removed, as well as excess side shoots.

A video about pinching a pumpkin and how to shape it to get a good harvest can be viewed at the link below.

Pinching climbing pumpkin in open ground

Pumpkins are characterized by intensive growth and large stem sizes, so growing them in open ground requires a lot of space. In crowded plantings, the stems often intertwine, which creates additional difficulties.When grown in a creeping form, you can form a melon with 1,2 or 3 stems, it all depends on the climate of the region and the fertility of the land. The worse the conditions, the fewer shoots and ovaries need to be left.

Climbing pumpkins are pinched after the size of the fruit ovaries exceeds 10 cm. The stems are straightened so that they are directed to the south. Pumpkin loves light and warmth; this orientation will allow the bush to receive more sunlight.

Important! If there are a significant number of pumpkin plantings, you can conduct an experiment by forming neighboring bushes according to different patterns. Thus, it will be possible to choose the optimal one for a given area.

Climbing pumpkin can be grown in either creeping or bush form, using natural or artificial supports: fences, nets, walls. The plant is perfectly held on them with the help of tendrils. With this growing method, two shoots are usually formed, the main and the lateral, spreading them in opposite directions. The general principle of formation remains unchanged. 2-3 fruit ovaries are left on the main lash, and 1 on the side. 4-6 leaves are removed from them and pinched.

After pinching, the plant will continue to strive to increase green mass, constantly releasing side shoots - stepchildren. They must be completely removed immediately.

Important! Ripening pumpkins with this growing method can tear off the stem under their own weight. To prevent this from happening, the fruits must be placed in special mesh bags and tied to a support.

Another video on how to properly pinch a pumpkin when growing in open ground:

Caring for the crop after pinching

After removing part of the shoot, fresh sections are usually not processed; they dry out on their own. You can also sprinkle them with soil to minimize moisture loss. In order for the plant to receive additional nutrition, the internodes of the lashes are sprinkled with soil. This not only fixes the plant on the ground and prevents it from moving around the bed under the influence of the wind, the stem takes root in such places. It is necessary to place a piece of foam plastic or a board under each fruit lying on the ground, thereby limiting its contact with the ground.

After the pumpkin bush has formed, you should continue all the usual care operations: watering, weeding, fertilizing.

Some tips for beginning gardeners

Pinching pumpkins in open ground is a very important undertaking. To get a high-quality harvest, you cannot do without this procedure. Here are some tips for novice gardeners to help avoid mistakes when carrying out work.

All work on pumpkin formation can begin only after fist-sized fruits have formed on it.
Pinching significantly shortens the period of fruit ripening. This is very important when growing pumpkin in the northern regions. So that a short summer is enough for full ripening, in such regions the plant is formed into 1 stem, leaving 1-2 fruits on it. The ripening time of the crop can be shortened by using the seedling method of cultivation, when not seeds are planted in open ground, but a plant that has already begun to grow.
For areas with an unfavorable climate, it is better to choose bush or weakly branching varieties of early ripening.
No need to chase quantity. Even in the southern fertile regions, only 3-5 pumpkins per bush fully ripen; the rest are small, unripe and tasteless.
It is best to do pinching early in the morning. Then, before the end of the day, the sections will have time to dry.
Some gardeners leave 1-2 fruit ovaries “in reserve”. They will be useful in case of death or damage to the main fruits. And you can cut them off at any time.
There is no need to be afraid to dig in the lashes or sprinkle them with earth, fixing them in the garden bed. They will take much more damage if they become entangled and then have to be untangled.
Stepchildren, extra shoots, unnecessary flowers must continue to be plucked until harvest, so that they do not absorb some of the nutrients.
Growing pumpkins on a net or support can greatly reduce the amount of space your pumpkin takes up. It is much more convenient to pinch such plants, since all the lashes are in plain sight.
The nets in which ripening pumpkins are hung must be rotated periodically so that the fruits are illuminated by the sun evenly from all sides. This helps improve their taste.
Young shoots and stepsons are usually removed simply by hand. To trim large shoots, it is more convenient to use ordinary garden pruners.

Conclusion

Forming a pumpkin in open ground is quite simple. Many gardeners forget about the need to do this, relying on the fact that the pumpkin itself will regulate the number of fruits and give a good harvest. However, this only happens in the southern regions, where the long summer allows the fruits to ripen completely under natural conditions. In an unfavorable climate, it is unlikely that you will be able to get a good harvest without pinching.