Pumpkin (squash)
The pumpkin is the queen of Halloween, but it is also a very good fruit (used as a vegetable) in autumn in soup, gratin, fritters, pie ... The pumpkin, variety of squash, is part of the family Cucurbitaceae. There are many varieties of pumpkins, but the best known are the "Connecticut Field", "Spirit" or "Styrian pumpkin". The pumpkin is easy to grow and decorates the garden.
It is possible to sow pumpkin seeds or to plant it in a pot. The pumpkin is sown in three-seed stacks spaced one meter apart. The young plants in pots are transplanted directly into the ground. Sowing can be done as early as March under cover before being transplanted to the garden in May. You can choose to sow or plant directly in the ground in May. The pumpkin needs a very sunny exposure and prefers loose soils with a lot of organic matter and a lot of compost or manure in depth.
To encourage development, pinch the stems above the third or fourth leaf. Limit the number of fruits per plant to two or three so that they can grow properly. Mulch the soil around the plants to limit contact with wet soil. Harvesting takes place about five months after planting or 80 days after the first flowers appear. Harvest before the first frost.
Pumpkin (squash)
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Fruiting vegetables
- Botanical family : Cucurbits
Characteristics
- Exposure : Sun
- Hardiness : Not frost resistant
- Very easy to grow, requires little maintenance (difficulty : 1/3)
Sowing & planting
- Sowing depth : 2 cm
- Plant spacing : 120 cm
- Row spacing : 120 cm
- Emergence time : 8 days
- Emergence temperature : 15 °C
- From sowing to harvesting : 150 days
- Seed storage : 8 years