How to properly plant pumpkin seedlings in open ground?

The southern melon culture - pumpkin - is very fond of warmth and sunshine, so it often does not have time to ripen by the end of the summer season. This is especially true of the northern regions, where the warm period does not last long. To get a guaranteed harvest faster, pumpkin is grown by seedling method.

Growing seedlings

For growing, use a fairly spacious dish: peat pots, paper and plastic cups. It is filled with fertilized soil and shed well with water. About a month before the planned planting in open ground, sowing seeds, which are deepened by 3 cm and covered with foil until the first shoots appear. It is worth pouring sawdust on the bottom of the seed boxes in order to reduce the likelihood of damage to the root system at the time of transplanting the shoots.

In view of the rejection of various transplants by pumpkin, it is better to choose the following containers:

• peat cups, which are placed in the hole along with the seedlings;
• paper cups from which it will be easy enough to remove the plants.

In the seedling period, the plants are fed and watered several times with warm water. Dishes with sprouts must be placed in a sunny and warm place.

In order for the sprouts to be strong enough at the time of planting, it is necessary to provide them with the optimum temperature.

• For seed germination not less than 18^aboutHappy and 15^aboutWith the night.
• Emerging seedlings during the week - 15-18^aboutHappy and 12-13^aboutWith the night.
• Before landing in the ground - in the afternoon 18-22^aboutFrom and at night 13-15^aboutFROM.

The appearance of one or two true leaves on each bush signals that the pumpkin is ready for planting in open ground.

Preparing for transplant

In order for the sprouts to adapt to new conditions faster, about a week before planting they begin harden seedlings... At this time, the temperature is slightly lowered: in the afternoon to 15^aboutC, and at night until 12^aboutC. Hardening includes not only a change in temperature, but also periodic ventilation of the room, as well as taking it out into the open air, first in the afternoon, then completely for a day. When the pumpkin is hardened, it becomes more robust and able to withstand a slight drop in temperatures after transplanting.

When two or three days are left before replanting plants in open ground, it is necessary to reduce watering in order to slightly dry the soil, but prevent the sprouts from withering. The day before planting, the soil is watered abundantly to make it easier to remove the plant from the pot.

The seedling ready to plant is characterized by a strong stem with small internodes and a pair of dark green leaves. The root system of such a sprout should grow over the entire volume of the occupied pot.

Terms and time of planting

In the matter of transplanting plants into open ground, one should not rush, because you can ruin all the plants. The optimum temperature for normal culture growth is considered to be about 15^aboutC, therefore, it is better to wait for the establishment of warm weather and only then proceed to transplanting seedlings. When to start transplanting, everyone decides for himself. Most often, they begin to plant in late May - early June: when the threat of night frosts has passed, the mature seedlings are transferred to a permanent place.

Before planting, you need to make sure that the ground is dry enough and warmed up well. Cold soil is a factor in the growth retardation of seedlings, and excess moisture leads to decay. When plants are planted in the evening hours or on an overcast, rainy day, they more easily adapt to the changed conditions.

Planting site and soil composition

Before planting seedlings, you need to decide on a planting site. The heat-loving culture prefers well-lit beds. There is no need to be afraid of burns: the entire surface of the wide leaves is densely covered with hairs that protect from the hot sun. If you ignore the lighting factor and choose a shaded area for planting a pumpkin crop, you can end up with a weak plant that gives small and faded fruits.
The soil for transplanting pumpkin should be suitable for the following indicators:

• nutritional value;
• acidity close to neutral;
• friability;
• free passage of oxygen to the roots.

Any flaw can be eliminated in one way or another. If you are planting a pumpkin, it is important to understand that this melon crop has a main long root and many small roots, which are located about half a meter from the ground. That is why it is important that the topsoil is fertile enough. For this, in the fall, they bring phosphorus-potassium fertilizers... The acidity of the soil is reduced with lime or ash. You can apply humus or fertilizer just before planting in the hole.

Advice

If the ground is very wet and heavy, then it is recommended to make high beds, which contribute to better heating of the soil.

Landing rules

Pumpkin crops have a negative attitude towards transplanting, therefore, it is better to plant them before the age of one month with the appearance of one or two true leaves. Landing in open ground is done only after good feeding. When the pumpkin grows in peat pots, it is transplanted along with the container: it is enough to remove the bottom and slightly destroy the walls so that the weak roots can cope with this obstacle. Otherwise, you must carefully remove the sprout along with a lump of earth from the dishes, taking care not to damage the already weak roots. To facilitate this procedure, you can shed the soil well beforehand.

Correct planting is associated with the following important points, the observance of which is very important for better adaptation of the transplanted plant.

• It is better to transplant seedlings by transshipment, so as not to disturb the root system.
• The sprouts are buried in a well-watered hole up to the cotyledonous leaves.
• Then the ground is pressed and gently watered with warm water as needed.
• To protect against low temperatures, it is better to make recesses on small mounds about 10 cm high; it is also important to provide shelter in case of frost.
• Cover the base of the mound with compost to prevent weed growth and to prevent rotting in wet weather.
• For better survival, you need to shade the plant with a covering material.

Important!

In order not to damage the stem and real leaves when planting seedlings, you only need to hold on to the cotyledon leaves.

The pumpkin holes are made deep enough - up to 10 cm. Mineral and organic fertilizers must be added to each hole, and then spilled abundantly with warm water. When the liquid is completely absorbed into the ground, they begin to transplant.

Taking into account the fact that the pumpkin culture requires space, at least 1.5 m is allocated for each bush²... How many meters to leave between the shoots depends on the type of plant:

• 55 cm - when planting bush crops;
• 85 cm - for weakly braided varieties;
• from 125 cm strong plants require.

Care of planted seedlings

In general, caring for plants transplanted into open ground is quite easy. It includes timely weeding, loosening and watering. However, you must follow some guidelines for normal growth and development of culture:

• do not water the plant while the ovary is small, otherwise all useful substances will go to the growth of foliage, depriving the fruit;
• feeding must be done in optimal sizes;
• it is better to water in the evenings with warm water in moderation: excess water leads to rotting of the stem and increases the likelihood of infection with fungal diseases;

Important!

The amount of watering and the quality of the fruit are inversely related: the less water is used for watering, the more useful the fruit will be.

Do not forget about periodically pinching the plants after setting the fruits. This is done in order for the fruit to ripen faster. To form strong lateral roots, you need to overlay the bush in a circle with moist soil. When it rains, to prevent decay, you can put planks here.

Important!

The adaptation time of seedlings depends on their age: the younger the sprouts, the faster they normalize and begin to develop.

Planting pumpkin seedlings helps to obtain earlier fruits. Incorrect actions when planting a crop in open ground can lead to a halt in the development of the bush, immature fruits or death of the plant. Therefore, you need to follow all the rules for caring for a pumpkin and its transplant.