How to Plant Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin Seed Planting Time

Pumpkin seeds are suitable for sowing in spring and autumn. The planting time in spring is from January to March, using the seedling transplanting method. The planting time in autumn is generally from July to August, using direct sowing.

How to Plant Pumpkin Seeds

1. Sowing and seedling raising

If you want to increase the germination rate of pumpkin seeds, you can soak the seeds in warm water for 4-7 hours before sowing, then wrap the seeds with a damp towel and place them in an environment of 26-30 degrees to germinate. Wait until the radicle of the pumpkin seeds extends 2-3cm out of the seed coat before sowing.

2. Land preparation and fertilization

Before planting pumpkins, the land should be prepared and fertilized, and sufficient organic fertilizer and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be mixed into the soil as base fertilizer. During the growing period of the pumpkin, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be applied to increase the yield of the pumpkin. In general, after applying the base fertilizer, topdressing should be applied reasonably according to the growth condition of the pumpkin.

3. Transplanting and planting

When the soil temperature of the 10 cm soil layer outdoors stabilizes at 12-13℃, the cultivated pumpkin seedlings can be transplanted into the ground. They are usually planted at a row spacing of 130-150 cm and a plant spacing of 40-50 cm. In the early growth stage of the pumpkin, spinach and other fast-growing lettuces can also be intercropped.

Pumpkin daily management precautions

1. Press and pinch the vines

The stems of pumpkin are long. As they grow, they can be cultivated on a trellis. Of course, they can also be cultivated on the ground. If you use the creeping cultivation method, when the main vine of the pumpkin grows to 40-50 cm, you should start pressing the vines, usually once every 5-6 nodes, and combine pressing with pinching and removing excess side branches.

2. Pollination and harvesting

Pumpkin is an insect-pollinated cross-pollinated plant. It requires artificial pollination in the rainy season, and pollination must be done between 6 and 7 o'clock every day to obtain the highest yield of pumpkin.