What to Do to Increase Pumpkin Yield
Core introduction to the main content: Some small experiences in green plant maintenance on how to increase pumpkin yield. Next, the editor will introduce to everyone.
What to Do to Increase Pumpkin Yield
Pumpkins are very hard when unripe, but once cooked and softened, they are suitable for people of all ages to eat and have very high nutritional value. Pumpkins can also be processed into various delicious foods. So, how to grow high-yield pumpkins?
Base Fertilization
Base fertilizer mainly consists of organic fertilizer, supplemented with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. Common fertilizers include stable fertilizers, compost, or manure. The amount of base fertilizer applied is relatively large, accounting for about half of the total fertilizer. Generally, 3000-4000 kilograms of organic fertilizer is applied per mu. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers are mixed with organic fertilizer and applied to the soil layer. When organic fertilizer is insufficient, 15-20 kg of NPK compound fertilizer is applied per mu. The application of base fertilizer generally includes the spreading method and the trench method. Spreading mainly involves evenly spreading the fertilizer on the soil and mixing it with the soil.
Seedling Management
After the seedlings emerge, it is necessary to till and loosen the soil in time to promote the growth of the seedling roots, taking care not to damage the roots. Weeds will occupy the nutrients and growth space of the seedlings, and may even cause a weed disaster, affecting the growth and development of the seedlings. It is recommended to manually remove weeds. For large-scale weeding, toxic pesticides can be used. In addition, intertilling and weeding should also consider the height and time of the seedling growth. When thinning seedlings, seedlings with poor growth and diseases should be removed in time, and strong seedlings should be retained. After thinning, inspections should be strengthened to check the survival rate of the seedlings. Once dead seedlings are found, they should be supplemented promptly.
Pruning and Pressing Vines
When the seedlings grow to 4-7 true leaves, it is necessary to pinch the tips to make the vines sprout lateral branches. Generally, except for the main branch, only 4-5 strong lateral vines are left per plant, and the rest should be removed. When the vines grow to 40-70 centimeters, they should be pressed once by introducing the vines. Introducing vines involves guiding the vines to the middle of the row and digging a trench 15 centimeters above the top of the vines to press the vines. This can promote the growth of adventitious roots on the pumpkin stems, increase the absorption area of the roots, and have a fixing effect.
Fertilizer Demand Characteristics
Pumpkins are a kind of vine crop with well-developed roots that penetrate deep into the soil, having strong water absorption and fertility, thus they have strong drought resistance and tolerance to poor soil. Therefore, there are no high requirements for the soil during planting, but it is suitable to plant in deep soil layers, well-drained, and fast-warming sandy loam soil. Pumpkin seedlings require less fertilizer, but after the fruit swells, the demand for fertilizer increases sharply, especially the absorption of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus and watering. However, if too much nitrogen fertilizer is applied in the early growth stage, it can easily cause excessive stem and leaf growth, leading to fruit drop.
Topdressing
Topdressing generally focuses on effective nitrogen fertilizer, with a reasonable mix of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and should be applied according to different growth stages of pumpkins. To promote seedling growth, 5-8 kg of urea is applied per mu. During the fruiting period, not only enough nitrogen fertilizer should be supplemented, but also phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be applied in time to promote fruit expansion. Generally, 10-15 kg of urea and 5-10 kg of sulfate potassium are applied per mu, twice during the full fruiting period.
Foliar Fertilization
In the middle and late stages of pumpkin growth, the root absorption capacity is weaker. To ensure the growth and development of pumpkins and avoid premature aging of the plants, it is necessary to supplement nutrients for the plants using the method of root external fertilization, with the most common method being foliar spraying. Generally, a very low-concentration mixed solution of urea, chlorinated fertilizer, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate is prepared and sprayed 2-3 times every 7-10 days.
Watering
After the seedlings have adapted, if the soil is dry or wet, and the weather changes, more watering is suitable for sunny days and less for cloudy days. If the soil has poor water and fertilizer retention, more watering is needed in sandy soil and less in clay soil to prevent soil hardening. Rainwater should be drained in time to avoid root rot due to waterlogging. When the plants have borne fruit, to promote fruit expansion and more fruiting, if there is no rainfall, watering should be done in time.
Disease and Pest Control
In pumpkin planting production, diseases and pests are the key factors affecting pumpkin yield and quality. The main diseases of pumpkins include wilt disease and root rot, which can be effectively controlled by spraying carbendazim. The main pests include underground pests such as crickets and snails, which can be controlled using insecticides and ground insecticides, while钉螺 can be controlled using molluscicides and coal.
The above comprehensive introduction to how to increase pumpkin yield, hoping to bring some knowledge about green plants to green plant enthusiasts.