How, when and what to feed a pumpkin during flowering and fruiting: advice from gardeners and common mistakes
Often at agricultural fairs, gardeners sell large and ripe pumpkins. Buyers have a question: “Was the pumpkin born like that, or is it some kind of expensive variety?” Everything is simple here: proper fertilizer plays a big role in the ripening of a vegetable crop.
In this article we will figure out how to feed the pumpkin during flowering and fruiting in order to get a rich harvest.
Fertilizer during flowering and fruiting
Pumpkin is an unpretentious plant in many respects, but it needs regular feeding in order for the fruits to ripen large. The composition of the soil (it is prepared in the fall) and complex fertilization of the crop are important. The powerful root system of the bushes absorbs a lot of nutrients, so the optimal amount of them will make it easier to plant pumpkins.
Culture development takes 3–3.5 months. During this time, the green mass grows and fruits are formed. The weight of individual specimens reaches 40 kg.
How and with what to fertilize pumpkin
When growing a vegetable crop, it is provided with:
- presence of sunlight, open area;
- fertile soil;
- regular watering and fertilizing.
For a pumpkin to grow well, it must receive basic micro- and macroelements:
- nitrogen - introduced during planting, prevents growth retardation and leaf wilting;
- potassium - used at the flowering stage, relieves leaves from damage;
- phosphorus - important in the formation of ovaries and fruit development.
Fertilize the crop with organic matter (manure, compost, herbal infusions, mullein, peat, bird droppings), mineral or complex products. Dry substances are added to the holes or scattered, and the soil is dug with them. Liquid ones are used for watering and spraying (they are used before noon).
Number of feedings per season
The amount of fertilizer depends on the fertility of the soil. In soil rich in nutrients, fertilize the crop 3-4 times per season:
- after planting in open ground;
- before the formation of ovaries;
- during flowering and during fruit formation.
If the land is infertile, this amount of fertilizing will not be enough: they are applied every 10–14 days. Alternate organics and minerals. Additionally, the soil is saturated in the fall:
- manure, compost - 3–5 kg/m2;
- superphosphate (25 g), potassium salt (15 g), ammonium nitrate (25 g) per 1 m2;
- wood ash.
The crop grows best on compost heaps. Therefore, in the fall, slides are formed from plant residues, sprinkled with a little soil and covered with a special film. Next year, seeds or seedlings are planted in these heaps.
Is it necessary to feed with nitrogen in this case? No, because there is already enough of it in the soil. With this method of cultivation, organic fertilizers are applied during the season after the formation of two leaves, and mineral fertilizers are applied when the ovaries appear.
Feeding time
Feeding plants depends on their vegetative stage and area of growth.
In the northern regions, the crop is grown through seedlings. In this case, the sprouts are fertilized with organic matter for the first time when the second leaf appears, usually on the tenth day. A week before transplanting, the same composition is applied so that the bushes better adapt to the new conditions.1.5 weeks after picking and at the stage of formation of lashes, complex mineral or organic fertilizers are applied.
In southern climates, pumpkin seeds are planted directly into the ground. The first feeding is applied at the stage of 4-5 leaves, the next one - when the lashes are formed.
Reference. The concentration of nutrients for young plants is halved, since the values for adult bushes are indicated on the packages.
Fertilizer schedule by month
In autumn, gardeners prepare the soil for the new season. Weeds are removed if the ground has been dug up, and manure, potassium, phosphorus or complex products are added.
If the land is not prepared, then in the spring (April - May) it is fertilized. Compost or humus is added directly to the plant holes and covered with sand. Only after this the seedlings are picked or the seeds are planted.
At the flowering stage, in July, potassium compounds and azofoska are added (3 tablespoons per bucket of water). Mineralize the soil with phosphorus and nitrogen. Before laying the fruits and during their active formation (late August - early September), the crop is fertilized with organic matter, azofoska (4 tbsp. L.).
Two weeks before harvest, feeding is stopped in order to preserve the juicy and tasty pulp of pumpkins.
This is interesting:
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Folk remedies
Folk remedies for feeding pumpkins in open ground are popular among gardeners. It is not difficult to prepare such compositions.
Ash
Wood ash is a rich source of various microelements. It reduces the acidity of the soil and, when picked, improves the adaptation of the crop to new conditions.
For 1 m2 of land use 200 g of ash. Pour it into the holes.
Reference. At the stages of flowering and fruit formation, an ash solution is used. To do this, add 100 g of fertilizer to a bucket of water. Water the bushes at the roots.
Manure
The organic product contains phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium, which are important for the development of pumpkin. Fertilizer reduces soil acidity and excess salts, increases its fertility, and the resistance of bushes to chemicals. During the growth of bushes and ripening of fruits, slurry is used: 2 liters of it are watered at the root when green mass is formed, 3 liters - when pumpkins are formed.
To prepare liquid fertilizer, one bucket of manure is diluted with five buckets of water, left for three days, stirred, another five buckets of liquid and 100 g of superphosphate are added. The soil is well moistened, and fertilizing is applied to the dug ditches around the bushes.
Chicken droppings
The product is rich in phosphorus, nitrogen, magnesium, potassium, calcium.
It is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:20 and left for 10 days. Water only in the furrows around the bushes so as not to burn the roots.
Mineral fertilizers
When cultivating pumpkin, organic products alternate with mineral ones. They promote the formation of juicy large fruits and are suitable at the flowering stage.
The first feeding consists of 15 g of ammophosphate, 15 g of urea and 10 liters of water or 8 g of superphosphate, 5 g of potassium salt and ammonium nitrate per bucket of water. The second is from a mixture of phosphorus and superphosphate (20–30 g per bucket of liquid). For the third time, a solution of potassium sulfate is added.
On the shelves of gardening stores there are various types of complex mineral fertilizers. They contain phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen, as well as other trace elements.
Is it possible to spray with boric acid?
Boric acid is one of the important elements for fruit ripening and increasing the duration of flowering in many crops, including pumpkin.. Boron does not oxidize the soil and does not accumulate in bushes, so vegetables after treating plants are safe for humans.
Dilute 1 g of powder in 1 liter of warm water. The resulting solution is sprayed onto the pumpkin in the morning or evening in calm, cool weather. This foliar feeding is applied twice, with an interval of 1-2 weeks. With the simultaneous addition of other mineral compounds, the concentration of boric acid is reduced to 0.5 g.
Attention! Work with the product carefully: wear protective equipment so that the substance does not get on the skin.
Purchased fertilizers
To fertilize vegetables, ready-made substances are used:
- “Kemiru Lux”, “Kemiru Combi” (in addition to the main elements they contain iron, manganese, bromine, copper, molybdenum, zinc);
- "Juno" (rich in potassium);
- "Azofoska" (complex nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer).
Errors when applying fertilizers
A high concentration of nitrogen compounds has a detrimental effect on the appearance of bushes and provokes the appearance of powdery mildew. The fruits begin to absorb nitrates, which are harmful to the human body.
When applying dry fertilizers without moistening the soil, burns form on the leaves and roots of the pumpkin and the plants die.
When feeding crops, make sure that microelements do not exceed the permissible concentration standards, and carefully select ready-made fertilizers.
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Conclusion
Although pumpkin is an unpretentious plant, it needs systematic and proper feeding, fertile soil, and sufficient lighting. The beds have been prepared since the fall, dug up, and fertilized. At each stage of crop growth, appropriate nutrients are added.
Organic and mineral compositions are alternated, the concentration of elements is monitored so that it does not exceed the norm. The key to obtaining a rich harvest of tasty fruits is proper fertilization of the crop.