How To Grow Pumpkin

How To Grow Pumpkin

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata), belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. Related crops are watermelon, cucumber, cantaloupe, caraille and other gourds. Pumpkin is a good source of vitamins A, B, C and minerals. It is very versatile vegetable and can be steamed, boiled or baked to meet your favourite dishes and the waste can also be fed to livestock.  

Varities

Some common varities grown locally are: 

• Sweet mama

• Jamaican

• Local Large

• Butternut Squash

• Jack O' Lantern

• Crapaud Back

• Hybrid 

See FAQ for what is hybrid crops.

Planting

Fertilizer 

• Apply 25g (5 tsp) of a high phosphate NPK fertilizer (e.g. 12:24:12) to each  mound within 1 week after transplanting. If direct seeding was done make this application 1 week after seedlings emerge. Apply the fertilizer at the middle of the mound around the plants. Do not place the fertilizer too close to the plant.

• About 5 weeks after transplanting, apply 25g (5 tsp) of Calcium Nitrate mixed with 25g 12: 12: 17 + 2 distributed over the entire mound.

• About 9 weeks after transplanting, apply 75 g (5 tbsp) of 12: 12: 17 + 2 per mound. This last application may not be necessary if the crop looks quite healthy.

Pest and Control

Harvesting

Pumpkin matures in about 3½ months and usually yields about 5 – 7 good sized fruits or 45 kg (100 lb) per mound. You can tell that your crop is mature when:

• The overall colour of the peel (rind) changes from shiny green to pale yellow.
• The colour of the rind that is in contact with the soil darkens.
• The stem and tendril close to the fruit begin to dry.
• A distinct abscission layer appears between the stem and the fruit.
• The blossom end (opposite the stem) of the fruit is fully expand