Pull the pumpkin out of pumpkin seeds yourself
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If you want to plant pumpkins in your own garden, you first have to decide which type of pumpkin should be grown, for example whether pumpkin or ornamental gourds should be grown. Ornamental gourds contain the bitter substance cucurbitacin, which makes them inedible. In contrast, squashes develop a nutty to sweet taste. In some cases, e.g. B. the bishop’s hat, however, both properties have combined advantageously, so that the meat of this decorative pumpkin variety is also suitable for consumption.
Pumpkins are planted in spring and harvested in autumn and in autumn. When planting, however, it is important to ensure the correct temperature and sufficient moisture so that the pumpkin plants develop well in the first few weeks.
If you want to grow tasty pumpkins, you should always buy the pumpkin seeds for sowing.
Multiplication of pumpkins with pumpkin seeds
Anyone who has ever hollowed out pumpkins for Halloween may have noticed the many pumpkin seeds inside. Unfortunately, these kernels cannot be used as pumpkin seeds for squash next spring, because it is relatively likely that the next pumpkin generation will taste bitter.
Even an ornamental pumpkin that has been planted a few beds or in the neighboring garden can cause the pumpkin to cross uncontrollably and the next generation of pumpkins to develop a bitter taste.
So if you want to make sure that you can really eat the pumpkin after a few months of care and maintenance, you shouldn’t use pumpkin seeds that you have harvested, but rather pick pumpkin seeds from the gardener’s shelf.
Use pumpkin seeds
Even if you should not sow the pumpkin seeds you have harvested, you can still do a lot with them. Because there are many important plant hormones in the seeds.
The medicinal healing effect is particularly important for prostate problems and bladder problems.
Plant pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds from the nursery are either brought forward in clay pots in mid-April or can be planted directly in the vegetable patch at the end of May. Nevertheless, the first method is more advisable since the seedlings of the pumpkin plants are very sensitive to the cold. To advance in the cold frame or in the apartment, let the pumpkin seeds soak in water for 24 hours.
Then you fill clay pots with soil and plant a pumpkin seed about 1.5 cm in with the tip down. The pumpkin seed needs a temperature of approx. 20 to 24 degrees, a bright location and sufficient water to germinate. After about three to four weeks, the pumpkin plant is large enough to be placed in the vegetable patch. To get used to the weather, the clay pots are placed outside on warm days beforehand.
The small pumpkin plants are very delicate and must be preferred.
In the middle of May after the last frost, plant the pumpkin plants in the vegetable patch. Her roots must not be damaged. Since pumpkins take up a lot of space, there should be no other plants within a radius of about 1 to 2 m².
To prevent rot from moisture, cover the ground with straw or bark mulch. When the pumpkins are ready for harvest depends primarily on the variety. Garden owners can find detailed information on pumpkin harvesting and processing of squash on our advice page on harvesting pumpkins.
