Instructions for growing pumpkins in open ground in the Urals: nuances and tips for beginning farmers
Pumpkin is an unpretentious and healthy vegetable native to hot Latin America. For its rich content of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, pumpkin is rightly called the queen of autumn. On gloomy autumn days, the bright orange vegetable is good for making a warming soup, a healthy casserole or a delicious pie.
The plant's love for warmth and sunlight is due to its southern origin. In our latitudes, pumpkin cultivation has its own characteristics. In this article we will tell you about the secrets of growing pumpkins in open ground in the Urals and neighboring regions.
Varieties suitable for the Urals
The key to successful cultivation of crops in the Urals is a competent choice of variety. Thanks to modern breeding, it is possible to select a variety of vegetable for almost any region, including areas with short and not too hot summers.
Interesting fact. Germany hosts an annual pumpkin festival where you can see bright orange fruits from all over the world. The largest specimens weigh several hundred kilograms!
When choosing a variety, first of all, pay attention to its resistance to frost. and timing of fruit ripening. Cold weather in the Urals also occurs in June, so early and mid-ripening varieties are chosen for planting, as well as those that ripen during storage.
Let's list the best varieties for cultivation in temperate climates:
- Chit – a mid-season variety, bred specifically for cultivation in regions with cool summers.From the moment of emergence of seedlings to technical maturity, 115 to 125 days pass. The bush is powerful, with long stems. Grown through seedlings. The average weight of pumpkins is 2.5-3 kg. The color of the rind is light gray, the flesh is bright orange. Dense, sugary fruits store well until spring.
- Freckle – early ripe bush pumpkin. Pumpkins are small, on average 3 kg. The peel is light green, the flesh is yellow-orange. A distinctive feature of the variety is its delicate pear flavor. With proper care it produces a stable harvest. It is distinguished by keeping quality.
- Variety Pearl belongs to the mid-early varieties. Large pear-shaped pumpkins ripen in 100 days. The variety is resistant to temperature changes, tolerates light frosts well and is pleased with its high yield (15 kg/m²). The pulp has a sweet taste and nutmeg aroma.
- Medical - another early ripening variety. From the moment of emergence of seedlings to technical maturity, 100-105 days pass. Pumpkins are large, up to 5 kg. The shape of the fruit is rounded and flattened, with a thin skin. Ripe pumpkins have excellent taste. It is characterized by keeping quality and resistance to low temperatures.
- Smile – an early ripening variety, ripening in 85 days. The bushes are compact, the fruits are small, on average 1.5-2 kg. Blooms beautifully. The fruits are bright orange with light stripes. The pulp is sugary and aromatic. A characteristic feature of the variety is good keeping quality.
- Bush golden - an early ripening variety of bush pumpkin. The fruits ripen within 90 days from the moment of emergence. The bushes are compact and perfect for growing in small gardens. The shape of the fruit is spherical, the color of the rind is light orange. The average weight of pumpkins is 3 kg. The pulp is juicy, aromatic, with a high content of sugars.
Features of cultivation
To make the grown pumpkin pleasing to the eye and pleasant to the taste, we need to create optimal conditions for it growing. The pumpkin patch is prepared in advance.
When choosing a site for planting, the following criteria are taken into account::
- Illumination. Pumpkin is a light-loving crop. In the shade, pumpkin bushes grow slowly and bloom late. If there is no suitable open space, the pumpkin is planted in partial shade, near large trees.
- Provides protection from cold winds. The best place for a pumpkin patch is a fence or wall on the north side, and an open sunny space on the south side.
- Space. Pumpkin bushes grow strongly and have a powerful root system. Therefore, the feeding area of the bush is very large. When planting, leave 1-2 m between plants, depending on the climbing variety.
Need to know. Pumpkin bushes grow well in warm beds prepared in the fall.
It is important to adhere to the basic rules of crop rotation. Plants are not planted in the same place every year. They return to the old site after a few years. Then the soil will have time to recover, and pumpkin plantings will delight you with a harvest.
Pumpkin is demanding of its predecessors. It is good to plant the crop after potatoes, onions, cabbage, root vegetables and legumes. Undesirable predecessors include pumpkin relatives, such as cucumbers, zucchini, and squash. These plants are affected by common diseases and pests.
In the short and cool Ural summer it is important to provide pumpkin crops with protection from drafts and adequate lighting. The less sunlight hits the inflorescences, the fewer ovaries will form.Lack of sun also provokes the development of diseases and the appearance of pests.
Dates for planting pumpkins in the Urals
Pumpkin is a southern plant that is sensitive to cold.. Tender young leaves are easily damaged by night frosts. Even a slight drop in temperature is detrimental to crops. The optimal time for sowing seeds for the Urals is no earlier than May 10 (for seedling cultivation). Seeds are sown approximately three weeks before transplanting into open ground.
When choosing a date for sowing, experienced gardeners rely on the lunar calendar. Seeds are planted in the ground on favorable days. It is good to sow pumpkin on the days of the waxing moon. The unfavorable period is the new moon and the last phase of the waning moon. In 2019, May 7, 8, 9 and 10 are considered favorable days for planting pumpkin seeds.
Direct and seedling method of cultivation
Pumpkin seeds are being planted in the Urals directly into open ground or through seedlings. With the direct method of cultivation, crops are protected from the cold with covering material. The bed is kept under film until the threat of night frosts has passed.
Advice. Considering that frosts in the Urals also occur in mid-June, it is preferable to grow pumpkins using seedlings.
Growing seedlings begins with preparing the seed. The seeds are first heated for several days in a warm place and then germinated. Healthy, heavy, medium-sized seeds are selected for sowing.
The selected material is disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate or in any other way. This will protect the tender sprouts from diseases and pests. After this, the seeds are placed in a damp cloth and kept until a sprout appears.
Germinated seeds are planted in the ground (a mixture of peat, turf soil and humus in a ratio of 2:2:1).Sow to a depth of 2-3 cm. Pumpkin seedlings are sensitive to picking, so it is preferable to immediately use separate cups or peat pots. The recommended volume of one container is 500 ml.
When the first shoots appear The seedlings are transferred to a cool place with a temperature of 15–18 °C for about a week. This way the sprouts will not stretch out and become stronger. After 6–7 days the temperature is raised.
Caring for seedlings consists of feeding and timely watering settled water at room temperature. Moisten the soil regularly, but moderately. Drying out of the soil or waterlogging of the soil leads to the death of plants.
A week after emergence Fertilize with nitrophoska strictly in accordance with the instructions. Excess fertilizer will cause the seedlings to become deformed and grow too quickly.
Need to know. Healthy pumpkin seedlings are strong, short-stemmed plants with small internodes and dark green leaves.
With the arrival of warm weather pumpkin bushes are periodically taken out into the air for hardening. Planting in open ground is carried out when the plants have formed 2-3 true leaves.
Growing and caring for pumpkin
Seedlings are planted in open ground only after stable above-zero temperatures have been established day and night. As a rule, this happens in early June.
For each bush, make a cup-sized hole in the ground., in which seedlings grow. The hole is moistened with warm water. Carefully remove the plant from the container and plant it. The distance between bushes is calculated based on the characteristics of a particular variety. The manufacturer usually indicates the recommended scheme on the package of seeds.
After transplanting, the bed is watered and covered with non-woven material.. The shelter will save tender young plants from scorching sun rays, wind and cold. Further care of pumpkin beds consists of regular watering, fertilizing, loosening the soil, and removing weeds.
Besides, To increase productivity, gardeners use special techniques, allowing you to regulate the number and size of pumpkins. Such agricultural practices include pinching and pinching.
Important. Summer in the Urals is short and often cool. In such conditions, leaving many pumpkins on one bush is impractical. Too many fruits set will slow down the ripening process.
Pumpkin formation begins from pinching the top of the main lash. The purpose of the event is to enhance the growth of side shoots. As the bush grows, excess side branches are also removed. Thinning greenery improves light access and air flow to the bush. 3-4 fruits are left on each lash. The vine is cut so that 4-5 leaves remain above the last fruit.
If you let the bush grow freely, the root system cannot cope with providing the fruits with the necessary nutrition. Limiting the growth of green mass forces the plant to direct all its forces to ripening the existing fruits.
To help plants recover faster, work on the formation of bushes is carried out on a cool day, in the morning. After pinching, the bushes are periodically inspected to make sure that pathogens have not penetrated into the plant through the wounds.
Common diseases and pests
Pumpkin bushes, like any vegetable crop, are not immune to the development of diseases and attacks by pests. Measures are taken when the first signs of a problem appear, otherwise you may lose not only the pumpkin harvest, but also other crops on the site.
Bacteriosis is one of the most common pumpkin diseases.. The disease is recognized by light brownish spots on the cotyledons and angular spots on the leaves. The affected tissues gradually darken and dry out. Crop rotation is a good way to prevent bacteriosis. When the first signs of the disease appear, the bushes are sprayed with 1% Bordeaux mixture. The treatment is repeated after 1.5-2 weeks.
Root rot. As the name suggests, the disease affects the root system. The stems become brown, the growth of the bush stops, the lower leaves turn yellow. Reasons for the development of the disease: differences in day and night temperatures, watering plants with cold water. At the first signs of root rot, soil is added to the stems to form additional roots.
Affects pumpkin bushes and white rot. The symptom of the disease is a white coating on the leaves and stems of the plant. The affected areas become soft and slimy to the touch. If a problem is detected, the diseased parts of the bush are removed, and the cut sites are treated with copper sulfate (30 g per 3 liters of water).
If the pumpkin is affected by powdery mildew (a white coating that causes leaves to wrinkle and die), foci of infection are treated with ground sulfur or sprayed with 80% colloidal sulfur.
Pumpkin crops are susceptible to spider mite attacks. The pest attacks the underside of the leaves, entwining the plant with a thin web. The leaves turn yellow and dry out. If the parasite is not dealt with, the plant dies. Spraying with a solution of onion peels (3 kg per 10 liters of water) will help you cope with the mite.
Another dangerous pest is the melon aphid.. The pest lives on weeds and then infects pumpkin plants. Aphids settle on the underside of leaves, shoots, ovaries and flowers. It feeds on plant sap.Affected leaves curl and fall off. Plant growth slows down. An effective control measure is spraying plants with karbofos (100 g per 10 liters of water).
When to remove pumpkin from the garden
It is not enough to grow a rich harvest in the conditions of the Urals; you also need to harvest it in time. The most delicious and healthy pumpkin is a fully ripened one. Unripe fruits are not only inferior in taste, but also poorly stored. Excellent keeping quality is inherent only in those fruits that have ripened in the garden.
At the same time, delays in cleaning harvest leads to the appearance of rotten and damaged pumpkins. Such fruits will not be stored for long.
When to harvest? When determining the timing of collection, the first consideration is for information from the variety producer. The seed packaging indicates the exact timing of the onset of technical ripeness of the fruit. In addition, the ripeness of pumpkins is determined by the hard, dried stalk, dense peel and peel pattern characteristic of a particular variety.
Pumpkin treats for the winter:
Harvest and storage
When harvesting, pumpkins are cut off along with the stem.. This extends the shelf life. Then the fruits are dried for 7-10 days in a warm place. During drying, excess moisture is removed and the pumpkin crust is strengthened.
Attention. Pumpkins will last longer in a well-ventilated area.
Store the harvest in a dry, cool place, laid out on racks. The optimal air temperature in the storage is 6-8 °C, humidity is 70%. All pumpkins will last well for 1-2 months without damage. For longer storage, select large fruits with dense, hard skin.
Conclusion
The right approach to cultivating the crop allows you to grow large and tasty pumpkins even in the Urals. Proper selection of varieties, timely planting and care will provide you with a rich harvest, despite the short summer and temperature changes.
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Don’t leave) Regarding varieties, the article contains links with a detailed article about this variety. They are highlighted in orange. There should also be photos of these varieties.