Description
Growing pumpkins stands as an enduring symbol
of fall, whether they end up as smiling jack-o’-lanterns or stacked near
cornstalks for a lovely autumn scene. But this vegetable boasts more than good
looks. It’s also full of nutrition, dishing up vitamin C, beta-carotene, fiber,
and potassium. One half cup of cooked pumpkin provides a day’s supply of
vitamin A.
A pumpkin is a cultivar of winter squash that
is round with smooth, slightly ribbed skin, and is most often deep yellow to
orange in coloration.
[1] The thick shell contains the seeds and
pulp. The name is most commonly used for cultivars of Cucurbita pepo, but some
cultivars of Cucurbita maxima, C. argyrosperma, and C. moschata with similar
appearance are also sometimes called "pumpkins".
Native to North America (northeastern Mexico and the southern United States),
[1] pumpkins are one of the oldest domesticated
plants, having been used as early as 7,000 to 5,500 BC.[1] Pumpkins are widely
grown for food, as well as for aesthetic and recreational purposes.
[2] Pumpkin pie, for instance, is a
traditional part of Thanksgiving meals in Canada and the United States, and
pumpkins are frequently carved as jack-o'-lanterns for decoration around
Halloween, although commercially canned pumpkin purée and pumpkin pie fillings
are usually made from varieties of winter squash different from the ones used
for jack-o'-lanterns.
Climatic
requirements/ Areas suitable for cultivation
These crops may be
grown to an elevation of 500 m in the dry and intermediate zones. Pumpkin is
grown as a Yala Crops, While squash can be grown in either Maha or Yala.
Soil
Soil should be rich in
humus with a pH range of 5.5 – 7.5
Seed
requirement
1 kg/ha
Land
preparation
a)
Plough to a depth of about 20-30 cm and harrow for fine tilth.
b)Make
planting holes 30 x 30 x 30 cm
c) Add 5 kg organic
matter per planting hole, mix with soil and heap to about 10 cm above ground
level.
Planting
Plant
after heavy rains.
a)
Local Strains and A.N.K.
i)
Dibble 4 seeds/planting hole (10 cm between seeds)
b)Butternut
i)
Seeds with high germination – 2 seeds/hill
ii)
Seeds with low germination – 3 seeds/hill
iii)Thin
to 2 plants/hill 2 weeks after emergence
iv)To avoid adverse
effects of unfavourable weather conditions seedlings can also be raised in
polythene bags or Noridoko nurseries
Spacing
a)
Local Strain – 3 x 3m
b)
A.N.K. – 2.5 x 2.5 m
c) Butternut – 50 x 100
cm
Fertilizer
N -140 kg/ha, P2O5-175
kg/ha, K2O – 105 kg/ha
|
|
Urea kg/ha |
TSP kg/ha |
MOP kg/ha |
|
Basal |
220 |
380 |
125 |
|
Top dressing – apply 4 and 8 weeks after planting |
45 |
– |
25 |
Water
supply
a)
For irrigation or drainage purposes make shallow drains 25 cm away from the
planting hill.
b)
Irrigate daily until germination is complete and every 7 days thereafter
C)Irrigate until beds
come to field capacity, taking care not to submerge vines.
Weed
Control
Hand weed and apply a
straw mulch 3 weeks after gerination
Harvesting
Harvest
when fruit develops a powdery film.
1
pumpkin
a)A.N.K.
– Harvest 40 days after flowering
b)
Local Variety – Harvest 60days after flowering
2
Butternut – harvest 20 days after flowering
Yield
Average yeilds
for all varieties vary from 15,000 – 20,000 kg/ha
Post-harvest
a)
Pumpkins can be stored for 6 – 8 months
b)
Butternut can be kept for about 1 month under ambient conditions