by Jennifer Poindexter
Are you consider growing your own Cucurbita pepo patch ? Sounds like a play idea , right ? Cucurbita pepo are neat for baking , strain , and for decorate , too . Though produce Cucurbita pepo can be a fun experience , it ’s important you debar a few error .
learn the mistakes gardeners commonly makegrowing this plantcan help you avoid making them yourself and save up you a bunch of metre , bother and money . So have ’s plunge in to learn about what youshouldn’tdo .
You ’ve made it to the right place because I ’m going to share mistakes I ’ve made , and many other gardeners have made as well , when adding this crop to our gardens . Here are the common mistakes gardeners make when grow Cucurbita pepo .
1. Don’t Make a Misstep with the Lighting When Growing Pumpkins
Most plant life call for Light Within to thrive . There are a few mixture which seem to do better in full tone . However , pumpkins are n’t one of them .
Yet , pumpkins involve to be found where there ’s a symmetry of light . If given too much sunlight it can have damaging effects . check how to strike the equaliser on inflammation prior to planting pumpkins .
How to keep off this Mistake :
you may keep off light issues by select a growing localization which receives fond sunlight . This should give pumpkins enough light source to flourish .
However , it should n’t overwhelm them to the point of scorching . If you plant pumpkins where there ’s too much subtlety , it could make them to become leggy .
Find a location with approximately four hours of sunlight throughout the daytime . This ensures your pumpkin get enough light without receiving too much .
2. Don’t Discourage Pollinators When Growing Pumpkins
pollenation is a lively part to success when gardening . If pumpkin vine do n’t invite right pollination , they wo n’t grow any yield .
Therefore , you must find way to encourage pollinators to visit your garden . Doing this can make all the difference in how much of a harvest you receive .
you’re able to avoid this mistake by planting token whichinvite pollinatorsto visit your garden . Any case of vegetable , which flowers , will invite pollinators .
However , you may also include annual bloom around your garden patch . smart colors and sweet smells will further bees and other pollinators to visit your garden frequently .
3. Don’t Plant Pumpkins in Close Proximity to Other Plants
Have you ever seen a thriving pumpkin plant ? It produce large vines which can take over an area quickly .
If you ’re planting pumpkins , take this into consideration . When plant vining plants , near smaller industrial plant , it can become a problem .
Pumpkins want their own bed . This will allow them to sprawl without have concern or issues for other plants . Most pumpkin plants require at least one animal foot of space between each plant and each row .
Hence , why pumpkin vine should be planted by themselves . If you plant pumpkins with other crops , the vine can do the smaller plants to stifle . avoid this will assure you do n’t have to sacrifice one harvest home for another .
4. Don’t Sow Too Many Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkins are typically planted from cum . They germinate well and take close to two weeks for the sprouting process to occur .
Therefore , most of the seed you sow will form a pumpkin plant . This can become overwhelming quickly .
Pumpkin germ can be plant using two different methods . If you choose to direct the seeds directly in the grease , place a foot of space between each seed .
However , if you choose to plant pumpkin seeds in hills , mound the hill of dirt to where it ’s a infantry marvellous . Leave two feet of distance between each hill . works two seeds per mound .
If they both sprout , pick the stronger flora , and remove the other . This will help you to avoid over constitute pumpkin come in your garden area .
5. Don’t Ignore Pests and Diseases When Growing Pumpkins
You should never ignore signs of pests or disease in your garden . If you do , you could afford your works up to quite a few problem .
Pests and disease can take over your garden area in very little time . This is why it ’s vital to pay attending and avoid this mistake when raising pumpkins .
This mistake can be avoided by see what jeopardize pumpkins . alas , there are quite a few things to be on the lookout for .
autumn pumpkin are susceptible to cucumber vine beetles , slugs , flea beetles , aphids , hornworms , and cutworms . Each of these pests can be treated with an insecticide and diatomaceous world .
The master diseases which impact Cucurbita pepo are fungal based . Powdery mildew is probably the most common threat .
If you encounter this disease , ensure there ’s enough space between the plants for adequate airflow . You should also irrigate your plants earlier in the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , industrial plant in well - draining soil , and treat any signs of fungous disease with a antimycotic agent .
6. Don’t Skip Watering Your Pumpkin Plants
Pumpkins need water . bet upon where they ’re planted will have an impact on how much weewee each plant pauperism .
Pay tending to your plants to expect for house that they are n’t receiving enough water . By watering adequately , you should be able to avoid this mistake .
you could forefend this mistake by applying water supply to your pumpkin plants . In most cases , you should apply the deep lachrymation method .
use water system , for long geological period of prison term , fewer days of the week . This will advance the ascendent to dig up deeply , into the soil , to regain water .
In turn , this make secure plants . If you must plant pumpkins in full sun , be certain to water more frequently . Without enough piss , the plant may become scorch .
7. Don’t Harvest Your Pumpkins Too Early
Another error to deflect is harvesting pumpkins too ahead of time . You might call up it best to reap the pumpkins before they reach their full colouring .
Some people do this assuming it will forefend putrefaction . However , once pumpkins are picked , they do n’t mature any further . Take this into considerateness around harvest home sentence .
you may avoid this error by wait until your pumpkin vine reach their full people of color before harvesting . Be patient with your industrial plant , and blame the autumn pumpkin once the growing procedure is sodding .
If you ’re interested about your pumpkins waste , from sitting on the ground , slither a piece of composition board beneath them .
This will keep moisture from reaching your pumpkin while allowing them to remain on the vine to ripen . When it ’s time to reap , use a needlelike tongue to reduce the pumpkin from the vine to avoid any damage .
8. Provide Adequate Growing Conditions and Care for Pumpkins
Did you know when you choose to produce pumpkins , will bet greatly upon where you experience ? Planting zones matter a lot when choosing to grow this plant .
You should also be cognizant that pumpkins necessitate basic maintenance to keep the harvest healthy and thriving . overleap these two thing , and you could have a negative experience raising pumpkins .
you may avoid this mistake by understanding what planting zone you ’re in . If you live in a northern clime , you ’ll plant pumpkins in late spring or early summer .
This ensures the plant has time to grow before cool weather motion in . Planting around May should allow you to glean pumpkins which can still be enjoyed around Halloween . If you plant too too soon , they might waste .
If you live in a southern mood , you wo n’t plant pumpkins until approximately the Fourth of July . This is when my home plants our pumpkins , and this will allow you to harvest them in meter for fall .
When growing Cucurbita pepo , you ca n’t skip their basic care . We ’ve talk about watering in the beginning in this article .
However , you ca n’t block to fertilize your crop . pumpkin vine are heavy feeders and must be fertilized bi - weekly , but it ’s a process .
In the pumpkin ’s beginning degree , it necessitate nitrogen . This will produce a lucullan industrial plant . As the pumpkin plant begins to flower , you should give phosphorus to ascertain the plant life produces yield .
After the fruit is forming , add fertilizer fat in potassium . This will encourage the fruit to remain tidy while on the vine . Understanding when to plant and how to inseminate pumpkins could make a prominent impact on your experience with this harvest .
This reason out the mistakes many gardeners make when raising pumpkins . By staying aware of these mistakes , you’re able to hopefully debar making them yourself .
Use the backsheesh , for avoiding the mistakes , as shaft while taking this journey of growing a new crop . Hopefully , you ’ll have a gorgeous harvesting to display your endeavor and heavy work .
Learn More About Growing Pumpkins
https://web.extension.illinois.edu/pumpkins/growing.cfm
https://extension.psu.edu/pumpkin-production
https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/pumpkins-and-winter-squash
