by Pumpkin is not only a very healthy vegetable, but also a decoration of the plot. One of the many advantages of pumpkin is that it can be stored for a long time without losing its wonderful taste. But in order for the fruits to ripen well and lie for a long time, you need to properly form the plant.
Many varieties of pumpkins have a long growing season, and in the conditions of the middle zone, the fruits do not always have time to reach the desired size and ripen. In order to get ripe and sweet fruits in the fall, you need to make some effort: in the second half of the summer, feed the pumpkin with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers and be sure to pinch the vines to direct plastic substances to the formation of fruits.
How to Pinch Pumpkin Shoots
The formation of pumpkin depends on the species, variety and planting pattern. Long-vine pumpkin grows strongly during the growing season. Its creeping stems can be up to four meters long. And if there is enough nutrition, the pumpkin will build up vegetative mass until the end of the season. Therefore, in the second half of summer, when a sufficient number of fruits are tied, the pumpkin shoots are pinched. This solves several important problems at once:
- fruits ripen faster;
- the taste and nutritional value of fruits are improved;
- ventilation and lighting of plantings are improved;
- Pumpkin plantings take up less space on the plot.
Pumpkin shaping should be done in sunny weather, in the first half of the day, so that the cuts dry quickly in the sun. Scissors or pruning shears must be treated with an antiseptic before work.
When forming large-fruited pumpkin varieties, 2-3 vines are usually left on the bush, i.e. the main stem and 1-2 of the strongest side shoots. To obtain large fruits, one ovary is left on each shoot. The tops of all vines are pinched, leaving 5-6 leaves after the ovary. This volume of green mass is enough to provide the developing fruit with nutrition.
On the shoots of small-fruited and medium-fruited pumpkin varieties, you can leave 2-3 ovaries and 3-4 leaves after the last female flower, from which the fruit will form. As a rule, there are usually more female flowers on the side shoots than on the main one. Therefore, if you need to get more fruits, then pinch the main stem after the 5-7th leaf, and instead stimulate the growth of side shoots.
On a small-fruited pumpkin, you can leave up to five stems. But the total number of fruits on one plant should not exceed 10-12 pieces – otherwise they will not have time to ripen. On the bushes of a medium-fruited pumpkin, 5-6 pumpkins can ripen (provided that the plant is properly fed and well-lit).
After a sufficient number of fruits have formed on the bush, the pumpkin is regularly side-sonned, that is, all lateral shoots of the first and second order that form in the leaf axils are removed.
Bush pumpkin grows more compact, but its stems also need to be pinched, leaving 3-5 fruits on one plant, depending on their size. All weak shoots and side shoots on which ovaries have not formed are removed.
In August, you should not only pinch the shoots, but also remove all female flowers and new ovaries so that all nutrients go only to the ripening fruits. Roots can also form on the stems that touch the soil, providing the plant with additional nutrition. Therefore, the vines on which the fruits ripen should not be moved so as not to damage these roots. And the areas where the stems have taken root should preferably be sprinkled with nutritious soil or compost.
Should I remove pumpkin leaves?
Pumpkin likes to grow in an open sunny place – its fruits should be well lit throughout the day. If the pumpkin grows in partial shade or the plantings are too dense, the bushes are more susceptible to diseases, the plant produces fewer flowers and the fruits are worse set, since pollination is difficult.
Of course, pumpkins need leaves, like other plants, for photosynthesis. Without enough leaves, the fruits will not be able to get the necessary nutrition. However, pumpkins very quickly build up green mass, especially if they grow in fertile soil. Therefore, in addition to pinching the shoots, sometimes you need to remove some leaves.
First of all, you should remove the leaves that show signs of any diseases: powdery mildew, anthracnose, bacteriosis, etc. The leaves should be cut off at the stem itself, without leaving the petioles, using pruning shears or scissors. After removing the diseased leaves, the tool should be treated with a disinfectant, and the plants should be sprayed with a preparation based on hay bacillus or trichoderma.
In addition, at the end of the season, you should remove damaged and yellowed leaves, as well as those that are directly above the fruits and completely shade them. This will help improve the lighting of the plants and speed up the ripening of the fruits.
But if the pumpkin grows in a well-lit place, the plants are located at a large distance from each other, are not sick, and the plantings are well ventilated, then the pumpkin leaves do not need to be cut.
Many gardeners do not pay attention to the formation of pumpkins and allow them to grow freely in all directions – there will be a harvest in any case. You can also grow pumpkins this way, especially if it is used as animal feed. But if we want to get a good harvest of tasty fruits on a small plot that will please us throughout the year, then we should still pay attention to the plantings sometimes, be responsible for the choice of variety, and for preparing the plot, and for caring for the plants.
