How to Grow Pumpkin from Seed to Harvest
In this article I have explained How to Grow Pumpkin from Seed to Harvest, which helps every farmer and home gardener to gain the knowledge on
- Available verities of Pumpkin.
- Seed germination time.
- Suitable soil and weather conditions.
- Field preparation and planting distance.
- Fertilizer and Water Management.
- Required seed per acre and expected yield per acre.
Pumpkin Varieties:
There are two type of pumpkins Sweet Pumpkin and Ash Gourd
Sweet Pumpkin
Sweet Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Poir) is used in auspicious works, its pulp is used to make halwa and it is rich in vitamin A.
Weather:
Vines grow best at 25-30° centigrade. Cucumber mosaic virus is more expected if the temperature is above 40° centigrade. Below 15° centigrade vine growth is reduced and fruiting is reduced.
Varieties:
1 KG of seeds Contains approximately 5000 seeds
Sweet Pumpkin Seed Germination time is 5 to 10 Days
Co-1: Fruits are medium in size, green in color and brown in color when ripe. Each fruit weights 7-8 kg. Harvesting period: 150-160 days. Yield : 12.0 t/a.
Co-2: Fruits are small and weighting 1.5-2.0 kg and perfect for the backyard. Harvesting period : 135 days, Yield : 9.2-10.0 t/a.
Arka Chandana: Fruit weights 2-3 kg, brown in color with milky spots. Harvesting period: 125 days.
Arka Suryamukhi: Fruits are dark orange in color and each fruit weights 1 kg. Harvesting period: 100 days.
Planting time:
Sowing can be done in June-July in Kharif and from second half of December to end of February in summer.
Seed Per Acre:
Seed Rate: 1.0-1.5 kg per acre is sufficient for sowing.
Harvesting: 100-120 days.
Yield: 8.0-12.0 t/a
Planting distance:
3-4 seeds should be sown per pit keeping the distance between two rows 3.0 m, 0.75 m in summer and 0.90 m in Kharif. After germination, two strong germinated plants should be planted and the rest should be planted.
Water management:
Irrigation should be done immediately after germination of seeds. After that water should be given at intervals of 7-10 days depending on the nature of the soil and the season.
Depending on the variety, the crop is harvested in 100-120 days. The color of the fruit changes from green and the fruit quickly separates from the vine. Average yield : 8.0-12.0 t/a.
Ash gourd
Ash gourd (Benincasa hispida Thunb.) is used in auspicious works, for making wadiyas and for making a sweet called ‘peta’. There is an ash-like layer on the fruit that’s why it is called ash gourd.
Soils:
Light loamy soils that retain water, alluvial soils with good drainage, Soils with a Soil PH levels 6.5–7.5 are suitable.
Varieties:
1 KG of seeds Contains approximately 10000 seeds
Ash Gourd Seed Germination time is 5 to 10 Days
Shakthi: This is a variety released from Vegetable Research Station, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, Rajendranagar. The fruits are small and cylindrical and each fruit weights 2.5-3.0 kg. Resistant to leaf spot and fruit fly. Harvesting period: 140-150 days. Yield : 12.0-14.0 t/a.
Co-1: The fruits are large and each fruit weights 8-10 kg. Harvesting period: 140-150 days. Yield : 8.0-10.0 t/a.
Co-2: Fruits are small and weight 2-4 kg each. Harvesting period: 120-130 days. Yield : 13.6 t/a.
B.H.24 and B. H.25: These varieties have very large and fruits weighting 10-15 kg each. Perfect for making ‘peta’ sweets.
Planting time:
Kharif : June to first half of August
Summer : Second half of December to end of February
Seed Per Acre:
Seed rate: 800-1000 g/acre
Harvesting: 120-150 days
Yield: 8.0-12.0 tones/acre
Planting distance:
The distance between two canals is 3.0 m. 3 seeds per pit should be sown at a depth of 1-2 cm so that the distance between two pits in the canal is 90 cm in Kharif and 75 cm in summer.
Water Management:
Irrigation should be done at intervals of 7-10 days depending on the soil and season.
Yield:
8.0-12.0 tones per acre depending on variety.
Follow WalPencil to get to know cultivation tips for other vegetable crops like Bottle Gourd, Peas, Ridge Gourd etc.….
