If plants are too close, stress and competition can decrease fruit size and possibly even reduce the number of female flowers. It is important to keep fruit dry.Įach variety or type of pumpkin has an optimum plant spacing for its best performance. Make sure air is able to circulate around fruit. Cut handles with shears to protect handles from being broken off.Ĭlean fruit of dirt and wash in 5% chlorine solution. Harvest when fruit has developed deep color. Place pollinators in field to ensure maximum fruit set. For weed, insect, and disease identification and treatments consult the Midwest Vegetable Production Guide: Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers 2020 or your local extension. The first three weeks focus on weeds and insect pressure. Look for insect, weed, and disease pressure. PACKET: 30 seeds (unless otherwise noted in product description), sows 15′.Scout fields every 7 days to ensure crop health. STORAGE: Store at 50-60☏/10-15☌ with 50-70% relative humidity and good ventilation.ĭAYS TO MATURITY: From direct seeding. White varieties should be brought out of direct sunlight once foliage starts to die back cure inside and keep out of sun to avoid yellowing. Sun cure in the field for 5-7 days or cure indoors by keeping fruits at 80-85☏/27-29☌ with good air ventilation. Avoid picking up fruits by handles and take care not to damage the skin/rind. When fruit color is fully developed, clip handles close to the vine. HARVEST: Fruits can tolerate 1-2 light frosts, however, temperatures below 28☏/-2☌ can damage fruit. Insecticides (specifically, pyrethrin sprays) may offer some control.
moschata types are less susceptible to vine borers. Keep field borders mowed and remove plant refuse in the fall spring plow to bury pupae. For vine borers, cut out of vines and hill soil over the wound. Squash bug eggs found on the undersides of leaves may be crushed by hand. Protect young plants with floating row covers. INSECT PESTS: Cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and vine borers are all common pests for cucurbits. If necessary, check with your local Cooperative Extension Service agent for specific control options. Avoid problems with adequate soil drainage, good air flow, insect pest control, and crop rotation. Spacing requirements may vary, so check for individual variety recommendations.ĭISEASES: Common cucurbit diseases include powdery mildew, downy mildew, bacterial wilt, and phytophthora. In-row spacing varies depending on fruit size and is generally: small, 18-24" medium, 24-36" and large to extra-large, 36-72". PLANT SPACING: For between-row spacing, bush plants require 4-5′, short-vine habits require 6′ and long-vine habits generally require 12′. Thin to 1 plant per spacing interval after seedlings are established. Sow 2 seeds at the appropriate spacing interval for the variety’s vine length, 1/2-1" deep. Handle seedlings carefully minimal root disturbance is best.ĭIRECT SEEDING: Sow in late spring when soil is at least 70☏/21☌ and frost danger has passed. After danger of frost has passed, transplant out according to the spacing recommendations for each variety. Harden plants 4–7 days prior to transplanting. Thin with scissors to 1 plant/container or cell with scissors. TRANSPLANTING: Sow 2-3 seeds per 2" container or plug flat about 3 weeks prior to transplanting. Overexposure to sun in the field after maturity and foliage dieback reduces fruit and handle color quality. Time plantings so that varieties will mature for the fall market. Poor fruit development may indicate insufficient pollination. Row covers should be removed when plants begin to flower. Plastic mulch and fabric row covers (AG-19 grade) can aide plant establishment and exclude insect pests during the seedling stage.
Packet: 30 seeds.ĬULTURE: Fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.8–6.8 is best. Excellent powdery mildew resistance and solid field performance. Uniform in shape and size, Mellow Yellow is blocky-round, avg. Something new and different in the 20-lb.
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