Cultivation Techniques of Western Pumpkin
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Cultivation Techniques of Western Pumpkin
Also known as chestnut pumpkin, the Western pumpkin is a type of Indian pumpkin. Since its introduction to China, it has been welcomed by consumers for its attractive appearance, good quality, and unique flavor, leading to a rapid expansion of planting area. There are mainly two types of pumpkins in the market: red-skinned and green-skinned. Compared with Chinese pumpkins, Western pumpkins have the advantages of early maturity and cold resistance, but they are less resistant to stress and not heat and humidity tolerant. The cultivation techniques are as follows.
Suitable Planting Time
Under the climatic conditions of Guangdong, Western pumpkins are most suitable for spring planting. Due to the high temperature and dry conditions in autumn, viral diseases can be severe, causing reduced yield or even loss. Winter planting is also possible in greenhouses. The spring sowing period is from January to February; in the middle to late October, seeds are directly sown after winter seeding germination.
Seed Germination
Soak seeds in 55℃ hot water, let it cool naturally, then pick up after about 4 hours, rinse with warm water 2-3 times, and then wrap in a damp towel wrung dry, place at 30℃ to promote germination. When the sprouts emerge, the seeds can be sown. Before sowing, water the nutrient soil in the seedling cups. The nutrient soil is made by mixing mushroom residue or dried manure with paddy soil and 1% superphosphate, composted and screened. Sprinkle one seed in each nutrient cup, then cover with about 1 cm of soil and water once more. Seedlings are raised in small arch sheds or greenhouses. Plastic film should be covered before the cotyledons emerge, and the temperature should be increased to promote seedling emergence. When most of the cotyledons have emerged, the humidity inside the shed should be reduced. After the true leaves emerge, foliar fertilizer should be applied every 5-7 days. During the seedling stage, apply Toproxy 800-1000 times liquid 1-2 times, the main pest is Scutellaria, which can be sprayed with 800 times liquid of dichlorvos. When the seedlings have grown 2-4 true leaves, they should be transplanted in the sunny afternoon.
Transplanting
Raise the borders and open drainage ditches around them. Crawl cultivation ridges are 2.5 meters wide, with single row planting and 0.6 meters spacing; border planting width is 1.8m, double row planting with 0.55M spacing. After preparing the planting trenches, apply 2000-3000 kg of organic fertilizer, 30 kg of compound fertilizer, and 1.5-2.0 kg of Milor per mu. Transplant with soil and water sufficiently to root.
Field Management
Apply 5% urea or compound fertilizer with water 2-3 times. During the grape introduction period, apply 20 kg of合肥 and 10 kg of urea. Remove side vines and retain the main vines; for climbing cultivation, leave some stronger side vines and ensure good trellising and guide the vines. Old leaves, diseased leaves, and yellow basal leaves should be removed in the middle and late growth stages. Generally, starting from the second female flower, select nuts to keep. 1-2 days before flowering, leave 2-3 leaves on the vine and cover them above. To improve fruit setting rate, manual pollination should be done in the morning during the flowering period. After the full fruit stage, apply 30 kg of compound fertilizer per mu, then combine with foliar fertilizer application. It is necessary to maintain water supply.
Main diseases of pumpkins include blight, powdery mildew, and viral diseases. Control the disease by applying carbendazim or sufentanil 600 times, once every 7-10 days, for 3-4 consecutive times; powdery mildew can be controlled by spraying triazolone 1000-1500 times, 2-3 times; viral diseases are mainly controlled by preventing aphid infestation, and plants with early onset should be removed promptly. The main pests are aphids and fruit flies. Control aphids with dimethoate or dichlorvos 800-1000 times; use leban 1500 times or dichlorvos 800-1000 times, spray once every 3-5 days, repeatedly, to control melon fruit flies.
Timely Harvesting
The best harvesting period for pumpkins is 40-45 days after pollination. Some fruit stems can be cut with a knife.
The above sharing is the full content of the cultivation techniques of Western pumpkin, hoping it is helpful to green plant enthusiasts!