Red kuri squash
How do I sow pumpkins under cover?
To sow pumpkins under cover, it is advisable to start sowing in April. Fill cups with light potting soil and place a pumpkin seed 2 cm deep. Water regularly but sparingly to prevent the soil becoming soggy. Keep the cups in a bright, warm place, at a temperature of around 20°C.
After emergence, wait until the plants have at least two leaves before transplanting them into the ground. Choose a sunny, fertile, well-drained spot. Allow about 1 metre between each plant. Mulch the soil to retain moisture and limit weeds.
Take care to protect plants from disease and pests by encouraging biodiversity in your garden. Use natural purins such as nettle purin to boost plants' natural defences. Avoid chemical fertilisers, which could harm their development, and favour environmentally-friendly methods.
How do I sow pumpkin outdoors?
To sow pumpkins outdoors, it's best to do so in spring, when temperatures start to warm up. Prepare the soil by carefully weeding it and aerating it with a fork to encourage the seedlings to grow. Dig furrows about 1 metre apart and place the pumpkin seeds 3-4 cm deep. Cover them with fine soil and tamp lightly.
Maintain a distance of about 1 metre between each seedling to allow for good development. Water regularly, but avoid over-watering so as not to drown the young plants. Pumpkins need well-drained soil and sunny exposure to develop fully.
Watch out for any attacks by pests and diseases, and act quickly if necessary with natural gardening methods. By following these simple tips, you'll be able to harvest beautiful pumpkins in autumn to delight the whole family.
How do I plant a pumpkin?
To plant pumpkins in the ground, choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Prepare the soil by weeding and working it deeply. Pumpkins like soil rich in organic matter, so add compost if necessary.
The best time to plant pumpkins is in spring, when all risk of frost has passed. Sow the seeds directly in the ground about 3 cm deep and space them about 1 metre apart. You can also sow the seeds in pots in March and transplant them into the ground after the last frosts.
To encourage your pumpkins to grow, water them regularly but sparingly, avoiding getting the leaves wet. Pumpkins require little maintenance, but mulching the soil is recommended to conserve moisture and limit weeds. Finally, keep an eye on the plants for any diseases and pests, and act quickly if necessary.
When to harvest pumpkins?
Pumpkin is a winter vegetable much appreciated for its sweet flavour and creamy flesh. To harvest it, we recommend waiting until the fruit has reached full maturity in autumn. It's best to wait until the skin becomes hard and the stalk begins to dry out. To cut the pumpkin, it's important to use a sharp knife to avoid damaging the fruit.
Once harvested, the pumpkin keeps very well. In fact, it can be kept for up to several months in a cool, dry place. We recommend storing the pumpkins in a dark, airy place at a temperature of between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius. It's important to check the condition of the pumpkins regularly to remove any that show signs of rot.
Red kuri squash
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Fruiting vegetables
- Botanical Family : Cucurbits
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Sensitive
- Cultivation Difficulty : Easy
- Adult Height : 30 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
- Sowing Depth : 2 cm
- Plant Spacing : 120 cm
- Row Spacing : 120 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Moderate
- Water Requirements : High
Seeds
- Soil Type : Humus-rich
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
- Pollination : Insect-pollinated
- Propagation : Sowing