Growing Pumpkins
Introduction
Growing pumpkins gives you big results for small efforts. Pumpkin plants are like teenage boys: always hungry and they like to sprawl out so here are some great tips for growing pumpkins in planters.
They need full sun and very rich soil.
There are plenty of different types to choose from:
- Marina di Chioggia – feature in several Italian old masters’ paintings.
- Triamble- popular, keeps well, blue grey skin, shaped like a tricorn.
- Whangaparoa Crown – a great long keeper.
- Queensland Blue- has a deep orange flesh.
- Butternut- 1to 2 kg, pear shaped. Matures early and has a shorter storage time.
- Kamokamo – an heirloom iron bark.
Pumpkin seeds remain viable for 4-5 years.
Conditions for Growing Pumpkins
Sow pumpkin seeds in September/October/November. Soak the seeds overnight before planting then the seeds should be buried to about three times the seed diameter. Sow under cover if planting seeds in September as the fastest germination occurs with a soil temperature of 20-32 degrees C. You can use the elasticised plastic cover over the GreenSmart pot to keep the soil moist during germination. Plant 5-6 seeds per planter then remove the cover after the seedlings emerge and pinch out 3-4 of the weaker plants so grow two pumpkins per GreenSmart pot.
An early spring start helps plants get well established so minimises the risk of powdery mildew.
Allow an area of 2.5m x 2.5m per plant. Pinch out the growing tips to encourage lateral growth.
As fruit ripens lift them clear of damp ground and support with straw or pieces of wood. Mulching helps retain moisture and lowers the humidity around the plants. Occasionally hand pollination is needed in cooler weather. Do this by rubbing a male flower (with petals removed) into a female flower (it has a tiny pumpkin at its base).
It will take 4-6 months to harvest time.
Fertiliser
Growing pumpkins in a planter requires plenty of good organic fertiliser – say one bucket of well rotted farmyard manure and a cup of blood and bone. If the leaves start turning yellow it is an indication of being short of nitrogen.
Feed with liquid fertiliser every couple of weeks after flowering commences.
Pests and Diseases
In late summer pumpkin leaves often develop ash-like covering of powdery mildew. It is a result of high humidity, poor air circulation or irregular watering so it is best to do the watering through the water sight glass to avoid splashing water onto the leaves. Remove the mildew -affected leaves as soon as it appears. You can also spray with baking soda spray.
Companions
Pumpkins grow well with corn but pumpkins and potatoes don’t do well near each other.
Harvesting
Pumpkins are ready to harvest after the leaves have died away and the skin leaves no impression when pressed. Try testing by tapping them with your knuckles. When your ‘knock knock’ (there is no joke to follow !) results in a hollow sound they are ready. Leave a 5 cm stem on the pumpkin as cutting it off can result in rot. Shift the pumpkin to a warm spot like a sun porch to dry out the stem. Then store in cool dark place off the ground.
The NZ pumpkin record size is 721 kg – an Atlantic Giant.
In the Kitchen
Try out this Thai pumpkin soup from Anabel Langbein.
Pumpkin seeds are nutrient-rich. Here is a great recipe.
Check out the pumpkins on this NZ Italian seeds website
Happy gardening,
Bill.
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