Pumpkin Growing High-Yield Tips: Double Your Profits Once You Master Them

Pumpkin is also called wogua, fangua and beigua, among other names. It is an “exotic species” introduced to China during the Ming Dynasty, and it is now widely cultivated in both the north and south of China. Here are a few pumpkin growing high-yield tips; master them well and your profits will double!

1. Open-field cultivation

1. The suitable sowing period in different regions should be determined according to local climate conditions, seedling-raising facility conditions, cultivation methods, planting time and market demand. The sowing rate should be determined according to conditions such as seed germination rate, seed purity and planting density.

2. The seedling age is generally 20-25 days and the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves; for protected cultivation: the seedling age is about 30 days, when the seedlings have 3-4 true leaves. The standards for strong seedlings: seedling age 25-35 days, plant height about 10 cm, stem diameter 0.4-0.5 cm, with 3-4 true leaves.

3. Pumpkin is not strict about soil requirements, and sandy loam and loam are most suitable. Before sowing pumpkin, carry out deep plowing and apply barnyard manure as base fertilizer, generally applying 2500-4000 kg of base fertilizer per mu.

4. Pumpkin cultivation can be done by raising seedlings and transplanting, or by direct sowing. Because the climate varies greatly across China, the planting time for pumpkin is also inconsistent. As long as it can be ensured that the pumpkin seedlings are not damaged by low-temperature freezing, they can be planted or directly sown once they grow normally.

5. Carry out intertillage together with weeding, from shallow to deep. Note that when weeding, do not move the seedlings or injure the seedlings or root system. To promote root development, hill up soil around the roots during intertillage. During the entire pumpkin growth period, intertillage and weeding are generally carried out 2-3 times.

6. After pumpkin planting, irrigation is generally not needed; intertillage should be carried out multiple times, and at the same time, raise the ground temperature to promote root development and help the vines grow strong. After the vines extend, apply 500-1000 kg of decomposed manure per mu, or 15-20 kg of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer. After fertilizing, irrigate to prevent the quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer from burning the roots. Fertilizer topdressing should be done in small amounts and frequently, and after fertilizing, pay attention to preventing root burn and fertilizer damage.

7. Generally, keep at most 3-4 side vines of pumpkin, and keeping 3 is best. If there are special cultivation needs, then prune and train the vines and keep side vines according to need. Hand pollination or bee-assisted pollination can be carried out, but it must be completed before 9 a.m.

8. The main diseases of pumpkin are powdery mildew and viral disease. The occurrence of diseases directly affects the growth and development of pumpkin, causing a shortened growth period, reduced yield and lower quality. Aphids are the main transmitters of viral disease, so to control viral disease, aphids must first be controlled, and then prevention and control should be carried out. Symptoms of pumpkin powdery mildew: this disease mainly infects leaves, and also damages stems and petioles, and generally does not damage the fruit. In the early stage of the disease, small nearly round white powdery spots are produced on the upper or lower surface of the leaves, and later gradually expand into continuous powdery white spots with indistinct edges, as if a layer of white powder has been sprinkled on them, and in severe cases cause the leaves to turn yellow and withered.

2. Greenhouse cultivation

1. The yield of pumpkin planted per mu is about 5000 jin. If the yield per mu can reach more than 6000 jin, it is considered high yield. By adopting this joining technique, growers can make pumpkin yield increase several times over, and pumpkin quality can also be greatly improved. The multi-plant pumpkin joining technique is to join the main vines of two or more pumpkin plants together so that a new pumpkin main vine grows, and in this way multiple pumpkin root systems supply nutrients.

2. Dig the holes about 10 days before pumpkin planting. The size and depth of the pumpkin holes must be 1-2 times those of conventional pumpkin cultivation. Apply more organic fertilizer in the pumpkin holes, and increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. After mixing the fertilizer and soil evenly, fill the pumpkin holes with soil so that they are slightly higher than the ground. Plant 2-4 pumpkin seedlings per hole.

3. When the main vine of the pumpkin seedlings grows to 60 cm long, joining should be carried out. First use a sharp knife to cut off the tips of the main vines of two adjacent pumpkin seedlings at an angle. The cut surfaces of the pumpkin sections should face each other and fit together, and their shape and size should be basically the same. Then join the two pumpkin cut surfaces well and tie them tightly, and at the same time remove the side vines and side buds on each plant below the pumpkin joining point. After 2-3 days, the pumpkin joining point can heal and grow a new vine.

4. A rank vine grows at the pumpkin joining site. It only grows vines and does not bloom, so it must be removed in time. The difference between a rank vine and a new main vine is: the rank vine is located below the pumpkin joining point and grows rapidly, growing more than 10 cm per day; the new main vine (fruit-bearing vine) grows on the back side of the pumpkin joining point and grows more slowly, but is thick and strong.

5. When cutting and joining the main vines, protect the bud points on the back side of the cut. Joining should be carried out on a cloudy day or after 5 p.m. on a sunny day; within 2 days after pumpkin joining, never water in a way that washes the joining point, and strictly prevent the binding tape from loosening or falling off. In addition, during the growth process after pumpkin joining, attention should be paid to applying more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer and less nitrogen fertilizer. If pumpkin is grown in protected facilities such as solar greenhouses, supplementing carbon dioxide gas fertilizer during the pumpkin flowering and fruiting period will make the pumpkin yield increase more significantly.

The above are a few tips for high-yield pumpkin cultivation in open fields and greenhouses. We hope they can be helpful to the many growers!