Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin is a heat-loving culture. Seeds begin to germinate when they establish a constant soil temperature at a seed-packing depth of 13°C; The optimal temperature, at which the germination process occurs much faster, is 33-35 °C. The best temperature for growth and development is 20-25 °C.

Like other melons, squash is considered a drought tolerant crop. However, compared to them, it is more moisture-loving. This is due to the development of a powerful assimilation apparatus, evaporating a lot of moisture, as well as the fact that intensive growth is observed in the pumpkin throughout the growing season. The transpiration coefficient is 834. The most favorable soil moisture for a pumpkin is 80% before the formation of the ovary and 70% during the development of the fruit.
Pumpkin is a light-loving culture. The lack of sun exposure as a result of weed shading or thickening reduces assimilation, delays flowering and the formation of female flowers, which ultimately negatively affects the crop and its quality. Pumpkin places increased demands on soil fertility. The best soils for them are black earth, light loam and loam, they grow poorly on soil with high acidity.

Well-drained soils with a high organic content are optimal for squash crops. Sandy or sandy soil is preferable for early production, but pumpkin crops can be grown in different types of soil. Fields with adequate air drainage can avoid frost at the beginning or end of the season, resulting in a longer growing season. Heavy soil with good water holding properties may be preferred in a relatively dry, unclean situation. However, very heavy soils, which are in a wet state for a long time or compacted with large machinery, should be avoided because of the need for sufficient aeration of the soil.

Seed treatment can help prevent flogging as well as other diseases. Seed companies often cover pumpkin seeds with fungicides and adjuvants to improve germination and vigor. Hot water treatment (about 50 °C) controls certain seed-borne diseases and also promotes germination of freshly harvested seeds. The seeds of other squash crops are too large to use hot water treatment effectively, as the outer layers may die off before the heat penetrates the interior.

Pumpkin crops are usually planted in the field after the threat of late frosts has passed. Squash, cantaloupe, watermelon, bottle gourd, and loofah require a long growing season. Cucumber, zucchini, and bitter gourd grow quickly in warm weather, taking less than 2 months from seed to harvest of edible, unripe fruit. In California and other long growing season regions, it is possible to grow a dual crop and plant two squash crops in one field for mechanized harvesting. In frost-free tropics, a wax gourd can produce two harvests per year, and mature hayota plants bear fruit year-round.

Monoculture is widespread today. In the past, Indians grew zucchini together with corn and beans, and this is still practiced in parts of Latin America. Cross-breeding is also practiced in Africa, where pumpkin is grown together with cassava and sweet potato, while egusi is grown with grains and sweet potatoes are grown.

Direct sowing in the field is common. In less mechanized societies, planting is often done via a mound system, when three to ten seeds are hand sown in the same spot and then thinned out to one to three plants per mound. Although home gardeners and other people still plant this way, most major producers in developed countries now sow squash crops with precision tractor seeders that disperse the seeds evenly, eliminating the need for thinning.

In areas with a short season, the season can be extended by sowing seeds in greenhouses and growth chambers and transplanting young plants to the field. The age of the transplanted plants should be 3-4 weeks, and they should not be rooted. Transplanted plants should be rooted in an unseeded environment or in other containers that allow plants to be transplanted without damaging the roots. Using transplants early in the season, especially when there is plastic mulch and row spacing, can speed up maturation and help the farmer to harvest early in the season when prices are usually higher.

The speed of appearance of germination is affected by the depth at which the seeds are sown. Gardeners planting seedlings early in the season sometimes sow seeds at two different depths. The small seedlings germinate first and can be harvested for the early market if the seedlings have not died from late frosts, in which case it can be replaced with deeper seedlings that have appeared after the frost.

Zucchini and some C. pepo squash varieties are typically bushy in shape and are grown at a much closer spacing than curly squash plants. For melon, cucumber and watermelon there are also shrub varieties with short internodes and a compact plant shape. They are grown by home gardeners with limited space, but are rarely grown on commercial farms. Small bush cucumbers (like “Baby Bush”) can be placed in rows as close together as possible or every 5 inches.

Pumpkin purging is done in one step before frost. A light frost will not damage ripe fruit and will facilitate harvesting by destroying the whips and exposing the fruit, but prolonged exposure to temperatures below 10 °C will damage the fruit. If the fruit can be harvested before much rainfall occurs, its storage life increases.

When harvesting pumpkins on fruit, it is recommended to leave 2-3 cm stems for better shelf life. When harvesting directly in large pallet containers, the length of the stem should be reduced or removed to avoid damage to other fruits.

The ripeness of the pumpkin fruit is determined by the color and density of the skin. In tropical countries, ripe fruits are harvested when the skin loses its luster.

The squash fruits are quite variable in size, shape and color, so it is difficult to get a consistent product from a single harvest. However, sorting for appearance uniformity is important to meet market demands. There are three fixed size categories (small, medium and large) based on the weight of the fruit to realize gourds in the domestic market. Small squashes weigh between 1,4 and 3,2 pounds, medium squash weigh between 3,3 and 5,5 pounds, and large squashes weigh 5,6 pounds or more. Export markets accept fruits of varying sizes, although large fruits weighing 5,6 to 8 kg are preferred. The shape of the fruit can range from round, oval to slightly flat. The color of the shell also varies from green, blue-green to tan. The striped pattern or mottling of the shell also varies, although the stripes are usually white or creamy. The shell can be smooth or wrinkled.

All fruit should be examined for outward signs of ripeness and only ripe squashes should be bagged. The fruit should not have any noticeable spots on the skin. The shell should not be discolored or show superficial mold growth. Fruit should be free of insects or mechanical damage, and any partially decomposed fruit should be rejected. The fruit should have a closed stem end and no cracks to avoid serious rot problems. The flesh should be dense and dark orange, since many pumpkins on the market are sold in sliced ​​form. Randomly selected fruit should be opened occasionally to assess internal color.

Undamaged fruits are suitable for storage. Pumpkins not for immediate sale should be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. The optimal storage temperature for pumpkins is 10-12 °C and a relative humidity of 70-75%. At this temperature, the fruit can be stored for up to 3 months without significant loss of quality. Storage at ambient temperatures will result in excessive weight loss, loss of surface color intensity and reduced culinary quality. Green-skinned varieties gradually turn yellow at high temperature, and the pulp becomes dry and fibrous. The shelf life of pumpkins at ambient temperatures is limited to several weeks. On the other hand, fruits should not be stored at low temperatures. Pumpkins are sensitive to cold and should never be stored below 10 °C.

In warm and dry rooms, the fruits can be stored throughout the winter.

The packaging used to sell the gourd depends on the purpose of the market. Fruits sold to the domestic market and nearest export destinations in the Caribbean are usually packed in mesh bags. The bags usually contain three to seven fruits and their weight is around 23 kg. However, mesh bags practically do not protect against bruises and injuries. The variability in fruit size also creates problems with mesh bag bulging. Smaller squashes destined for more distant export markets should be packed in strong, well-ventilated cartons containing 19 kg of fruit. Cartons should have minimal tensile strength and internal dividers should be used to separate and protect the fruit.

Large, wooden bulk containers holding between 360 and 410 kg of fruit can be used for sea transport to export market destinations. Gourds packed in boxes and shipped in sea containers should include an additional 5% by weight to account for moisture and weight loss on breathing that occurs during shipment.