General information about pumpkin cultures
There are many relatives of cucumbers: zucchini, krukenki, lagenariya, patisson and potymarron, melon, watermelon. What do all these pumpkin cultures have in common?
First, all the pumpkin cultures are photophilous, they will not develop well in the shade and even penumbra, so do not put them under the trees, among the bushes, they need an open, whole day sunlit place.
Secondly, they are thermophilic. For shoots, they need a high soil temperature( not lower than 15-16 degrees, and for lagenarii - not less than 25-30 degrees).Especially heat-loving at them root system, and therefore it is quite good to bring biofuel under planting of pumpkin cultures.
Third, they need an organic, air-and moisture-permeable soil with a neutral reaction.
Fourth, the pumpkin cultures have a weak root system: the sucking hairs break off at the slightest movement of the soil and are not restored. First, a new root must grow, on which then sucking hairs will appear. It will take several days, therefore, to push the ripening of the crop. In this regard, it is undesirable to grow pumpkin through seedlings or transplant, especially at an older age. Like cucumber, all pumpkin plants relatively easily tolerate transplantation at the earliest age, when plants have only 1 -2 present leaflets, that is, at the age of 15-25 days. Therefore, they should be planted on seedlings about a month before transplantation, since it will take about 7-10 more days for the emergence of seedlings to be planted with dry seeds. In addition, do not deep loosen the soil under the plants, it is better after mulching it. Do not weed the weeds around the plants, it is better to cut them according to the level of the soil with a secateurs.
Fifth, all pumpkin( except for cucumber and Tladiants) are drought-resistant, which means that they should be watered moderately. In regions with high humidity, they can not be watered at all, especially since in most of them the root system can penetrate very deeply into the soil( for example, for a melon - for more than 2 meters, for a pumpkin - more than 3 meters) and there to get moisture. They are able to take pumpkin cultures with moisture from the leaves from the air. Leaf binding in the midday heat is a protective reaction of plants, its purpose is to reduce the evaporation of moisture from the leaves. During the night, the elasticity of the leaves is restored. Therefore, do not rush to the watering can, as soon as you see the lowered leaves, this is not a request to drink urgently, it is a kind of protection against loss of moisture. Naturally, this does not apply to cucumbers, they tolerate the slightest drying of the soil very badly.
Sixth, pumpkin cultures love fresh manure, but only in the form of liquid fertilizing. In early spring, fertilization with manure( and generally nitrogen) can only be done where there is no recurrent morning frost. In the Northwest, this should not be done, since nitrogen reduces the frost resistance of all plants, so nitrogen fertilizer should be given after frost has passed.
Seventh, all pumpkin cultures do not tolerate a negative temperature. In regions where there are spring frosts, in the early spring should be given top dressing with superphosphate and potassium, spray plants Epinom-exstra, Novosilom, homeopathic remedy EcoBerin, which increase the resistance of the plant to a decrease in temperature, and cover the landing with lutrasil or spunbond.
Eighth, all pumpkin crops need increased nutrition throughout the growing season, as they build up a large green mass, constantly blossom and bear fruit. In order to "feed" one cucumber, the plant needs about 15-20 leaves, for one melon or watermelon - 12-14 leaves, for every vegetable marrow - 6-7, and for a pumpkin - 8-10.If you remove the squash and zucchini young, the plants will be able to feed up to 30 fruits per season. But for storage it is necessary to increase zucchini( zucchini) and pumpkin to full maturity, and therefore it is necessary to be content with 6-8 fruits( in pumpkin - 1 -3).