Pumpkin
Cucurbita pepo
History
Pumpkins are native to the americas and acted as a staple crop used in the 3 sisters gardening technique. When the settlers first came to america they were slow to accept it but eventually associated it with autumn becoming very popular around holloween and thanksgiving.
Growing conditions
Sunlight
Needs atleast 6 hours of direct sunlight
Temperature Range
75F-95F
Soil Conditions
Sandy Loam soil.
Water
1 to 2 inches of water per week.
Water plants deep ands keep soil moist
Nutrients
10-10-5 for vegitation
5-10-10 for flowering
pH
6.0-7.0
Plant care
Sowing Seeds
Build a mound of soil 2 to 3 feet apart. Plant seeds about 1 inch deep and cover with straw
Germination
seeds can take 7 to 14 days for germination. keep soil moist during this time.
Pruning
cut back any un wanted suckers form the main vine. Remove any dead or diseased leaves.
Harvest
Wait for the stem to start dring out. Once the skin is firm and has a uniform color they are ready to harvest
Growing Tips
Pimpkins have male and female flowers. females will have a pumpkin bulb at the base of the flower between the stem, manual pollination can help promote fruiting.