Pumpkin Germination ,Growing ,Care, Use and its Health Benefits.

Pumpkin is a very common vegetable. It is a hot seasonal plant and it requires from 90 to 120 frost free days.Growing a pumpkin is easy, fun and rewarding.

SPECIFICATION OF PUMPKIN



Height: vining
Environment: partial shade
Soil Type: Loamy, well-drained, pH 6.1 - 7.8
Sowing Temperature: 20-25 C
Growing Temperature: 18- 38 C
Spacing: 50*60CM
Height when growing up: Sprawl
Grow up / Flower days: 90 days
Average Germ Time: 14 - 21 days
Fruit colour: green, yellow
Depth: 1/4 inch
Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination
Plant Spacing: 8 - 12 inches

PUMPKIN SEED GERMINATION

For high yielding choice a site with full sun (to light shade) and lots of space for sprawling vines. Vine varieties need more area. Pumpkins are sown end of February eastern India and this is to make sure that the ground temperature is warm enough for germination.Make few holes and pure with manure.Sow three seeds in a  hole. Cover the seeds with side soil to maintain moisture in the soil. Seeds take 4 to 5 days for germination.
 

 Soak the seeds overnight and sowing direct on the prepared  soil.It will takes  4 to 5 days for sprouting.Pumpkin seeds won’t germinate in cold soil. Mound the soil in the centre of the chosen location up a bit to help the sun heat the pumpkin seeds. The warmer the soil, the faster the pumpkin seeds will germinate. In the mound, plant three to five pumpkin seeds about 1 inch deep.
As it is vine you need  to get support them .No need to do on the ground .So, on ground  sow 3 seeds forone and keep distance 4  feet between two  plants.Pumpkins should dig deep soil ploughing of 25-30 cm because of the plants with deep root systems. Should leave the soil exposed 5-7 days to kill pathogens and weed it. Should manure or compost To improve soil conditions incoherent. And increase the fertility of the soil.

FERTILIZING
Pumpkins are fast growers and heavy feeders and benefit from regular applications of fertilizer. Mature trees may require as much as 1/2 pound actual nitrogen per year. Apply fertilizer monthly, just prior to heavy pruning.