Pumpkin is a common vegetable crop during the rainy season in India. Pumpkins are members of the “Cucurbitaceae” family and are widely produced in India during the Kharif (monsoon) and summer seasons for their immature and fragile fruits. India is the world’s second biggest manufac turer of pumpkins, after China. Pumpkin fruits are utilized in daily cookery as well as in the manufacture of sweets. The fruit juice, young stems,  flowers, and leaves contain numerous therapeutic characteristics.

Health Benefits of Pumpkin 

Pumpkin has several health benefits, which are described below.

• Pumpkin is high in vitamin ‘A’ and potassium. 
• Pumpkin contains strong antioxidant capabilities.
•  Pumpkin may improve eye vision.
•  Pumpkin may help you sleep better.
• Pumpkin may lower blood pressure.

Local Names of Pumpkin in India

Following are the local names of Pumpkin that are commonly used in India:

• Kaddu (Hindi),
• Poosanikai (Tamil),
• Kollaano Velo (Gujarati),
• Gummadi Kaya (Telugu),
• Mathanga (Malayalam),
• Kumbalakai (Kannada), and
• Lal Bhopala (Marathi)

Commercial Varieties of Pumpkin in India

Below listed are some of the commercial varieties of Pumpkin:

• Arka Suryamukhi
• Suvarna
• Saras
• Sooraj
• Ambili
• Arka Chandan

Climate required for Pumpkin planting:

Pumpkins require a minimum temperature of 18℃ throughout their early stages of growth. The ideal temperature range for cultivation is 25-28℃. It adapts to a wide range of rainfall circumstances and can survive low temperatures.

Best season for growing Pumpkins:

Pumpkins can be cultivated between January and March, as well as September and December. Sowing can also begin after the first few showers in May and June for rainfed crops.

Soil requirement and its preparation for  Pumpkin plantation:

It grows healthy in a wide variety of soils, but sandy loam soil with high organic matter is ideal. Soil with good drainage & a pH range of 6 to 7 is suitable for growing pumpkins. The field should be levelled to a very fine tilth, well-drained, and fertile (with organic compost or Farm Yard Manure (FMY). The selected primary field should also have a reliable water source.

Preparation of the soil for Pumpkin plantation:

Create trenches that are 60 cm in diameter, 30 to 45 cm deep, and spaced 4.5 meters apart by 2.0 meters. In the pit, dirt and fertilizers should be combined with well decomposed Farmyard Manure (FYM).

How to sow  Pumpkin seeds:

You should plant 4 or 5 seeds in each trench. After two weeks, remove any unhealthy or damaged plants, leaving three plants in each pit.

Manures and Fertilizers of Pumpkin:

Utilize Farm Yard Manure FYM at a basal dose of 20 to 25 tons/ha in conjunction with a 35 kg N half-dose and a 25 kg P2O5 and K2O full-dose (25 kg/ha). Applying the remaining 35 kg of N in two equal split dosages during plantation and full blossoming is recommended.

Weed control of  Pumpkin crop:

To maintain a field free of weeds, raking the soil after fertilizer application and two to three manual weedings are necessary. During the monsoon (rainy season), earthling up should be done.

Water requirement of  Pumpkin plants:

In an open field, irrigation should be provided based on the needs of the plants. When the pumpkin plant is first growing, water it every three to four days. Fruits of superior quality will result from alternating days of irrigation during flowering and fruiting.

Pests and Diseases in Pumpkin Farming:

The primary pests in pumpkin plantations are fruit flies, red pumpkin beetles, and epilachna beetles. They are manageable, just like bitter gourds. In pumpkin farming, powdery mildew, downy mildew, and mosaic are the most common illnesses.

How & When to Harvest Pumpkins:

When the stems holding the fruit to the vine start to wilt, pumpkins are ready to be picked. When the rind is rigid, and the fruits have a rich, solid colour, they can be harvested. Remove any diseased fruit from the vine; carefully harvest with a sharp knife.

The yield of Pumpkins:

The fruit variety and plant management have the most effects on pumpkin productivity. Up to 30 tons of pumpkin might be predicted per hectare on average. One of the most popular choices for transporting these yields is the Massey Ferguson tractor.

Some Interesting Facts about Growing Pumpkins:

• After planting the seeds in the ground, most pumpkins typically take three to four months to yield their first harvest.
• To stop root rot disease, it’s advised to tuck a piece of wood beneath growing pumpkin vines.
• The variety will determine how many pumpkins you get from a single plant. While small cultivars yield more pumpkins per plant, regular kinds yield two to four pumpkins for each plant.
• A nutritional shortage or an infestation is the cause of yellowing pumpkin leaves.
• Avoid frost conditions and only sow pumpkin seeds when the soil temperature is higher than 19°C.
• Since pumpkin seeds can not germinate in cold climates, the optimum time to sow pumpkins is after the last frost.
• Pumpkins can be grown in pots of a suitable size, with three to four seeds planted in each pot. Once the seeds germinate, they can be thinned to one actual plant.
• Although store-bought pumpkins can be grown, they are hybrids and won’t yield true types.
• Pumpkins may be grown indoors, but you’ll need to set up the right growing environment.
• Cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, flowering herbs, lettuce, broccoli, cilantro, radishes, and carrots are the plants that go well with pumpkins.

The Bottom Line of Growing Pumpkins

Profitability from pumpkin farming is good as long as proper management is practised. If you follow the above mentioned tips, you can actually grow your pumpkin yield significantly