Introduction
Pumpkin is a popular vegetable rainy season crop in India. The pumpkin belongs to “cucurbitace” family and is grown extensively during kharif season (monsoon) and summer season throughout India, for immature and tender fruits. India is the second largest country producing pumpkin in the world after China. Pumpkin fruits are consumed in daily cooking and also used in sweets preparation. The fruit juice, young stems, flowers, and leaves have many medicinal properties.
Local Names
Gummadi Kaya (Telugu), Poosanikai (Tamil), Kumbalakai (Kannada), Mathanga (Malayalam), Lal bhopala (Marathi), Kaddu (Hindi), kollaano velo (Gujarati.)
Climatic Condition
Pumpkin needs min temperature of 18 C at early stage of it’s growth. Ideal temperature range is 25 to 28 C for its cultivation. It adapts wide range of rainfall conditions and it also tolerate low temperatures.
Suitable Season
Pumpkin can be grown during time period of January to March & September to December. Sowing can also be started after the first few showers during May to June for the rain fed crop.
Suitable Soil
It thrives well in wide variety of soils but sandy loam soil with good organic matter is best suited. Soil with good drainage and the PH range of 6 to 7 is ideal for pumpkin cultivation. The field should be leveled to fine tilth, well-drained, fertile (can make adding organic compost or Farm Yard Manure (FMY). The selected main field should also have an assured water source.
Seed rate
Seed rate in pumpkin farming is 1.0 to 1.5 kg per one hectare.
Nursery bed preparation for Brinjal Farming
Dig pits of 60 cm diameter and 30 to 45 cm depth and maintain a spacing of 4.5 meter x 2.0 meter. Well rotten Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and fertilizers should be mixed with topsoil in the pit.
Sowing Time
4 or 5 seeds are to be sown per pit. Destroy any unhealthy or damaged plants after two weeks and retain 3 plants per pit.
Irrigation/Water supply
The irrigation should be given in open field as per the requirement of the plants. During the initial stages of pumpkin plant growth, irrigate at an interval of 3 to 4 days. Irrigating on alternate days during flowering and fruiting will return in high quality fruits.
Weed Control in Brinjal Farming
Raking of the soil at the time of fertilizer application and conducting 2 to 3 hand weeding are required to keep field weed free. Earthling up should be done during monsoon (rainy season).
Manures and Fertilizers in Pumpkin farming
Apply Farm Yard Manure FYM at 20 to 25 ton/ha as basal dose along with half dose of 35 kg of N and full dose of 25 kg of P2O5 and K2O (25 kg/ha ). The remaining doses of 35 kg of N should be applied in two equal split doses at the time of plantation and at the time of full blooming.
Harvesting and Yield
Pumpkins will be ready for harvesting when the stems connecting the fruit to vine begin to shrivel. Can harvest the fruits when they are in deep solid colour and the rind is hard. Destroy any unhealthy fruit from the vine, use sharp knife for harvesting with care.
Yield
The pumpkin yield (http://agrifarming.in/tag/pumpkin-yield) mainly depends on plant management and the variety of fruit. An average yield of pumpkin can be expected up to 30 ton/ha.