How to cultivate and manage 'Sijilv' pumpkin? A grower shares planting experience

Sijilv pumpkin is a hybrid pumpkin developed by the Shaoxing Institute of Agricultural Sciences. It has the characteristics of early maturity, short vines, many fruits, excellent quality, high yield and good resistance. It has been promoted quite well in recent years, so how do you cultivate and manage “Sijilv” pumpkin? An experienced grower shared his planting insights.

1. Seed treatment

Sijilv pumpkin seeds have a thicker shell than ordinary pumpkin seeds. To improve the germination rate, before soaking the seeds, you can use pliers or your teeth (for untreated seeds) to gently crack open the pointed tip of the pumpkin seed, soak it in 30°C warm water for 4 hr, then wrap it in a wet towel and place it in a warm spot. After one day, check its germination. If few have germinated, rinse with 30°C warm water, wrap again in a wet towel and place in a warming facility, observing once every few hours. Once the sprouts have grown well, they can be sown.

2. Sowing and raising seedlings

The same as general pumpkin varieties, it can be direct-sown or raised in nutrient pots.

3. Transplanting and field planting

This pumpkin variety sets fruit early, so the seedling age should not be too long; transplanting when the first true leaf unfolds is best. For planting density in summer, generally about 700 plants per mu, with row spacing of 1.5 x 0.6 m; in winter, generally about 900 plants per mu, with row spacing of 0.5 x 1.5 m. Select strong, good seedlings for transplanting. Growers with high technical skill can also use direct sowing in the field, but must pay attention to damage by insects and rodents, and at the same time provide appropriate shading.

4. Fertilizer and water management

Apply sufficient base fertilizer all at once before transplanting; generally apply about 1000 kg of pig pen manure per mu, band-applied in the middle of the pumpkin rows. At transplanting, under and beside the pumpkin seedling roots (never let it come into direct contact with the pumpkin roots), apply 20 kg of compound fertilizer per mu. After transplanting, use dilute human and animal urine to water the roots until they survive. Afterward, decide the number and amount of topdressings according to growth conditions, following the principle: sufficient in the early stage, supplemental in the middle stage, controlled in the late stage.

5. Pruning and fruit thinning

This pumpkin variety has a short-vine characteristic and many branches. In cultivation, single-vine pruning is generally suitable; in fields with high fertility, double-vine pruning can also be used. If it sets fruit too early, it is unfavorable for growth. The higher the fruit-setting node, the faster the fruit grows and the larger the fruit. Therefore, retain fruits according to market demand; generally the young fruits at nodes 1--2 should be removed.

6. Pollination and fruit setting

“Sijilv” pumpkin has many female flowers and few male flowers. Under protected cultivation, artificial pollination must be carried out. When its own male flowers are insufficient, the male flowers of any other pumpkin can be used; for open-field cultivation, other varieties with more male flowers must be interplanted to ensure that the pumpkins set and expand.

7. Pest and disease control

Timely control powdery mildew, viral disease, aphids, mites, leafminers, diamondback moths and other pests and diseases.

Overall, the “Sijilv” pumpkin variety has good early maturity, wide adaptability, high yield, tolerance to high temperatures and excellent quality, and is suitable for promotion and cultivation as a vegetable pumpkin throughout the province.