When is the best time to grow pumpkin seedlings?

Pumpkin is a popular melon vegetable from late summer to autumn. It is not only rich in nutritional value, but also has significant therapeutic effects. Pumpkin is rich in starch, high-quality protein, carotene , B vitamins, vitamin C, and minerals that are beneficial to the human body such as calcium and phosphorus. So when is the best time to grow pumpkin seedlings?

When is the best time to grow pumpkin seedlings?

The best time to grow pumpkin seedlings varies by region and climatic conditions, but there are generally two main periods: spring and autumn.

Spring seedling raising: Spring is a common period for pumpkin seedling raising, especially between the Qingming and Guyu solar terms, approximately from April to May. If the seedlings are grown in a greenhouse or using other covering methods, the sowing time can be slightly earlier. When planting in spring, choose early-maturing, cold-resistant and high-yielding varieties.

Autumn seedling raising: Pumpkin seedlings can also be raised in the autumn, usually between July and August. Autumn seedlings can be sown directly without additional covering material.

The specific seedling raising time also needs to refer to the local climatic conditions and frost-free period. For example, early-maturing cultivation in North China may be planted in mid-to-late April, while ordinary cultivation is in early May. If you use facilities such as mulch covering or small mulch shed covering, you can plant the seeds 7-10 days in advance.

Pumpkin seedling cultivation method

1. Seed preparation and processing

Selecting high-quality pumpkin seeds is key to ensuring a good harvest and quality fruit. Faced with a wide variety of pumpkin varieties, they should be carefully selected according to local climate, soil and environmental conditions, and tend to choose those varieties with plump flesh, large size, vigorous growth and high yield, such as Jinsha, Baisha, etc.

In order to reduce the risk of pests and diseases during planting, seed pretreatment is necessary. This includes drying the seeds or soaking them in warm water to eliminate pest eggs, viruses and pathogens on the surface of the seeds. First, soak the seeds in clean water for 30 minutes, then treat them in hot water at 55°C for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring continuously. After the water temperature drops, continue soaking for 6 hours. For early spring sowing, take out the seeds, wrap them in a moist cloth, and promote germination in an environment of 28 to 30°C. When more than half of the seeds turn white, they can be sown. When sowing in autumn, due to the high temperature, there is no need for additional germination after soaking the seeds, and seedlings can be grown directly.

2. Preparation for seedling cultivation

Commonly used facilities for pumpkin seedling cultivation include greenhouses, small arch sheds or rain shelters, as well as nutrient pots or trays for loading nutrient soil.

When choosing soil for raising seedlings, avoid using garden soil to prevent the introduction of pathogens. It is recommended to mix 70% of the rice field topsoil with 30% of the fire ash, in a ratio of 1:2 between fine manure and compound soil, and add 1 kg of high-efficiency triple compound fertilizer , 100 g of 50% carbendazim and 500 g of chlorpyrifos. After mixing evenly, cover with film and pile it for 5 to 6 days. Remove the film 2 to 3 days before sowing, loosen the soil 1 to 2 times, and then put it into nutrient pots.

Before sowing the germinated pumpkin seeds, water the nutrient soil thoroughly, cover it with a thin layer of soil after sowing, and water it again. Pay attention to controlling temperature and moisture during the seedling stage to prevent excessive growth of seedlings, and follow the principle of "early watering and early covering, late watering and late covering". After sowing, the daytime temperature should be controlled at 28 to 30°C and not lower than 15°C at night. At the same time, the humidity should be kept above 90%. The seeds will germinate in about three days. From germination to transplanting, the daytime temperature should be maintained between 22 and 30°C.

In short, when raising pumpkin seedlings, the local climate characteristics and planting habits should be considered, and the appropriate time for raising seedlings should be selected to ensure the healthy growth and good development of the pumpkin seedlings in the later stage.