What is the best way to feed pumpkins in open ground?

Of all the vegetables grown by Russian gardeners, pumpkins are the largest. A mature fruit can weigh around 200 kg. This applies to central Russia. However, successful pumpkin cultivation is also entirely possible in other regions of the country. To achieve this, you simply need to follow basic care recommendations and choose the right location for your pumpkin. Timely fertilization is also crucial, and this aspect deserves special attention.

Content

1 How to prepare the soil in spring
2 When to fertilize pumpkin
3 Fertilizing pumpkins during fruiting
4 How to fertilize crops in open ground
5 Video: Planting Pumpkins in Open Ground

How to prepare the soil in spring

Knowing how to feed pumpkins outdoors will help you grow large, nutritious fruits in your garden or backyard. However, growing this crop won't be successful without following all the preparatory steps. It's best to start by applying a complete fertilizer to the soil. Preparation for planting pumpkins should begin in early spring. First, assess the soil composition in the chosen area.

Experts say that growing pumpkins and other vegetable crops requires soil with medium or slightly acidic conditions. Another important consideration is looseness. This crop will thrive if the soil is unable to accumulate moisture. Otherwise, the plant's root system may simply rot.

However, not all farmers are lucky with their soil's nutrient composition. If it's acidic, it needs to be addressed before sowing pumpkin seeds. Add chalk or lime to the soil. Another common problem for gardeners is heavy soil. In this case, compost or humus should be added. Ideally, apply fertilizer in the fall, and then enrich the soil with leaf mold in the spring. Among the traditional methods of preparing the soil for sowing seeds is planting green manure. Not every gardener will take this step, but the results are worth it. It's recommended to plant green manure the season before sowing pumpkin seeds. This will enrich the soil with the nutrients necessary for growing pumpkins.

When to fertilize pumpkin

Growing pumpkins outdoors is impossible without timely fertilization. But you need to know when and what to feed the soil with. If you've decided to grow pumpkins from seedlings, it's best to hold off on fertilizing. When cultivating the vegetable outdoors, there are several steps:

When sowing seeds, use organic fertilizer. Sprinkle it into the hole before planting, then water thoroughly with warm water before sowing the seeds.
the next feeding will be needed when three to five leaves appear on the plant;
The third stage of introducing nutrient mixtures is necessary during the formation of tendrils or shoots on the plant.

It is also necessary to feed pumpkins grown from seedlings, but this is done according to a slightly different principle:

the first time you will need to apply fertilizer a week after the first shoots appear;
During the process of transplanting seedlings into open ground, fertilizing is advisable, as this is a serious stress for a young, fragile plant;
10-12 days after transplanting, we carry out the following pumpkin feeding;
The final feeding is usually carried out during the period of emergence of tendrils.

After and before planting, it is necessary to fertilize the soil if you want the resulting pumpkin harvest to meet your needs.

Fertilizing pumpkins during fruiting

Choosing the right fertilizer for growing pumpkins is fairly simple. But when it comes to the fruiting phase, many beginning farmers become confused. However, the key is to pay attention to the plant's properties during this period, and choosing beneficial nutrient mixtures will be easier. Among the beneficial mixtures, it's worth highlighting:

Manure. This folk remedy is a good alternative to store-bought fertilizers. It contains virtually all the necessary components for soil and also reduces its acidity. When pumpkins begin to actively ripen, it is recommended to add liquid manure to the soil;
Chicken manure. You won't find a better homemade mineral fertilizer. The mixture contains nitrogen, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. It's easy to prepare. Just add the manure to water at a ratio of 1:20 and let it sit for 10 days. Use this mixture carefully. Don't pour it directly into the planting holes, as this can burn the roots.

Knowing how to feed pumpkins during the fruiting period will help you reap a bountiful harvest.

How to fertilize crops in open ground

After planting pumpkins in their garden, many beginning farmers wonder what to feed them with. Before choosing a nutrient solution, make it a rule to water your pumpkins regularly. Without adequate soil moisture, no amount of fertilizer will help you grow pumpkins in your garden.

What fertilizers are recommended for pumpkins grown in open ground?

Nitrophoska. When the plant's first leaves begin to actively form, you can use dry nitrophoska. Sprinkle 10 g of it per plant and then water it. If you need to apply the fertilizer to the soil already when the shoots are forming, increase the amount to 15 g. Dilute the powder with water first.
Ash. This product is also scattered under bushes in dry form. Its key advantage is that it loosens the soil well;
Cow manure. Soon after planting pumpkin seeds, liquid cow manure can be used as a fertilizer. Dilute it with water at a ratio of 1:8.
Potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. These are commonly used during pumpkin cultivation. If desired, compost, vermicompost, and chicken manure can be added to the soil.

Growing pumpkins outdoors is possible, but you won't be able to do so without timely and proper fertilization. Pay special attention to this moment – and you will reap a bountiful harvest of pumpkins in your garden at the end of the season.

Video: Planting Pumpkins in Open Ground

This video will show you how to properly plant pumpkins in open ground in the spring.