How to fertilize pumpkins for high yields? A full analysis of the key techniques

Pumpkin is one of our common vegetables and a favorite food for many people. Its fruit can be used as a dish and can also substitute for grain, and the whole plant can be used medicinally. It is currently cultivated all over the world, and many farmers always get low yields when growing it. In fact, this is related to pumpkin fertilization. Let's take a look at the high-yield fertilization techniques for pumpkins.

1. Fertilizer requirements

Pumpkin is a vine crop. Its root system is well developed and penetrates deep into the soil, giving it extremely strong water- and fertilizer-absorbing capacity, so it has very strong tolerance to drought and poor soil. Therefore, it is not strict about soil when planted, but it is best grown in sandy loam with deep soil layers, good drainage and rapid warming. Pumpkin needs less fertilizer during the seedling stage, but once the fruit begins to swell, its fertilizer demand rises sharply, especially for nitrogen fertilizer, followed by potassium, while phosphorus uptake increases and watering is needed. However, if there is too much nitrogen fertilizer in the early growth stage, it easily causes excessive vegetative growth of stems and leaves and easy fruit drop.

2. Base fertilizer

The base fertilizer is mainly organic fertilizer, combined with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Commonly used ones include barnyard manure, compost or farmyard manure. The application rate of base fertilizer is relatively large, accounting for about half of the total fertilization amount. Generally, 3000-4000 kg of organic fertilizer is applied per mu. Mix the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers with the organic fertilizer and apply them into the soil layer. If the organic fertilizer is insufficient, supplement with 15-20 kg of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer per mu. Base fertilizer is generally applied by broadcasting or by digging furrows and applying in strips. Broadcasting is mainly done during land preparation, spreading the fertilizer evenly on the soil and mixing it evenly with the soil.

3. Topdressing

Topdressing is generally based on quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, reasonably combined with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Topdressing should be carried out according to the different growth stages of pumpkin. During the seedling stage, topdressing is mainly nitrogen fertilizer. To promote seedling growth, generally 5-8 [units] of urea is applied per mu. During the fruiting stage, not only must sufficient nitrogen fertilizer be supplied, but phosphorus and potassium fertilizers must also be supplemented in time to promote fruit swelling. Generally, 10-15 kg of urea and 5-10 kg of potassium sulfate are applied per mu, and this should be done twice throughout the fruiting stage.

4. Foliar spraying

In the middle and late growth stages of pumpkin, the root absorption capacity is relatively weak. To ensure the growth and development needs of pumpkin and avoid premature aging of the plants, root-external fertilization should be used at this time to supplement nutrients to the plants, and the most commonly used method is foliar spraying. Generally, urea, chloride fertilizer and potassium dihydrogen phosphate are prepared into a very low-concentration mixed solution and sprayed once every 7-10 days for 2-3 consecutive times.

The above are the high-yield fertilization techniques for pumpkins. We hope they can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.