»Organic Pumpkin Farming«

Pumpkins belong to the family cucurbitaceae and genus cucurbitaceae. They are warm seasoned, frost sensitive plant and popular vegetable crop in India which is grown in rainy season. 

Organic pumpkin farming requires loamy soil with good drainage system rich in organic matter. Soil pH of 6-7 is is optimum for pumpkin cultivation. Pumpkins are warm season crops and need a relatively long warm growing season. The soil temperature at two inch depths should be at least 15 degrees Celsius for good seed germination. Sow 2 seeds per hill and use a spacing of around 60 cm. For hybrid varieties sow seeds on both sides of the bed and use a spacing of around 45 cm.

The seed rate in organic pumpkin farming is one kg seed for one-acre pumpkin production. After 5 days of being planted in full sun your seeds should start to sprout. Pumpkin can either be grown as seedlings or directly as seeds placed in the garden.

Using soil blocks or compostable pots can help minimize transplanting. Plants are thinned after they have two or three true leaves.

 Ensure success of pumpkin crop by feeding it large amounts of compost and manure. Mix a few scoops of compost into the top inches of soil that are mounded around your plants is ideal. Alfalfa milk fish bone meal capped milk and kitchen compost are all great soil additives for pumpkins.

Pumpkins need between 1 and 2 inches of water every week. Drip irrigation systems are preferred to overhead sprinklers but if they are your only option be sure to use it only early in the day.

Common pests and diseases of pumpkin are; squash bugs, blossom and rot, cucumber beetles, squash vine borer and some of the diseases are downy mildew, powdery mildew. Control these diseases and pests by insecticidal soap and neem oil. 

Harvest when the skin of the fruits turn pale brown and inner flesh becomes golden yellow. Pumpkins don‘t change colour after harvesting thus it is good to wait till they are the desired colour before harvesting.