Grow pumpkins in your backyard

Jun 12, 2001

Pumpkins, melons, cucumber, squashes, morrow fall in the cucurbitaceae family, have similar cultural requirements and suffer from the same diseases.

By Mama-Shamba Pumpkins, melons, cucumber, squashes, morrow fall in the cucurbitaceae family, have similar cultural requirements and suffer from the same diseases. They are rich in vitamins as a fruit and as a vegetable. Pumpkins require heavy fertile soils, because they are heavy feeders, it is therefore necessary to supply well rotted compost or manure in good quantity - a wheel barrow to each plant if possible. Pumpkins need a lot of space and are not ideal crops for a small garden In a small space and little manure they will just give plenty of leaves and flower but no fruits will develop. Sowing Sow the seeds in a nursery bed or in pots and transplant when 16cm high. The seeds can also be directly sown. Direct seeding can be done on mounds or on ridges 4m x 4 m, 5-6 seeds per hole and thing to 3 when 16cm high. Watering Regular watering is necessary but excessive watering will encourage fungal diseases. Cultivation The plant takes three to four months to start flowering. It requires well-spaced ground and plenty of light to flower and fruit. The fruit can be saved from damage caused by damp or pests from the soil by being raised off the ground. Reduce watering when fruits begin to form. Fertilizer Apply fertilizer only when there is no adequate compost. (125gn) of double super phosphate per planting hole. (200kg/ha) at planting time. When plants start to spread top dress with 65gn of C.A. N. per plant. Apply a further r130gm per plant (220kg/ha) when the plant starts to flower. Harvesting You can harvest young leaves, young pumpkins as vegetables, but do it sparingly because the more you harvest the leaves the more you deprive the fruits and the plant of photosynthesised nutrients. Pests and diseases. Pumpkins are attacked mostly by snails, slugs and mice all of which have a liking for the developing fruits. Other pests include: melon flies, ladybird, cotton aphids, tobacco white flies. Diseases: include Powdery Mildew Down Mildew, Stem rot, Anthracnose, Scab or leak. You may use several chemicals as sprays for instance Benomy, mancozeb, cuprous oxide but prevention of these diseases may be enhanced by raising the plant off the ground, crop rotation and destroying infected material. Harvest: Pumpkins take 3-5 months to reach maturity and yield 20-30 tons/ha. Ends

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