Pumpkin has a well-deserved reputation among gardeners: it is an irreplaceable source of carotene and various vitamins. It is not only tasty, but also healthy. It is grown in all regions of the country in the open field.
Every gardener, for sure, has a desire to plant this berry, if he, at least once, planted it on his site.
As a result of the fruitful activity of breeders, there are a lot of species and varieties of these plants. In the article we will look at such a care procedure as correct pinching and bush formation.
A vegetable is an unpretentious plant to grow, moreover, it does not require any special conditions of keeping. But if at the time when the plant ripens, the cultivation of the stems is not given due attention, then you can be left without a crop. Therefore, pinching is a very important procedure when caring for this plant, and directly affects the weight of the fruit and the quality of the crop.
Why pinch a plant outdoors?
To answer the question, you need to understand how the plant stem develops. From the planted seed to the formation of a new seed, the plant develops in twelve stages of morphogenesis. A vegetation bud is transformed into a flower in the third stage. In annual plants like pumpkin, the formation of flowers at conception occurs on the seventh day.
In other words, a young berry shoot with a 3-4 leaf phase already has an ovary for ripening. Therefore, the task of the gardener is to know exactly the mechanism of ovary formation and to pinch the branch for the growth of female flowers. With this operation, the number of fruiting branches is adjusted.
You need to understand that for the full ripening of vegetables, it is enough to leave 2-3 lashes of the plant in order to end up with up to seven fruits of average size.
If you leave the pumpkin without pinching and pinching, there will be many unripe fruits that will not be stored and will soon rot.
Types and varieties of pumpkins
With all the variety of species and varieties, these vegetables are divided into two main types - bush and multicolored pumpkins. In multicolored plants, all the lashes must be directed in a certain direction, timely pinching, pinching and pruning of interfering leaves must be done.
Bushy pumpkin species have small internodes and many shoots. The first fruit is formed on the main shoot and it must be pinched. It is necessary to form a bush on them: remove the side shoots that do not bear fruit, and unnecessary leaves. After carrying out such procedures, the fruits will ripen faster, and their quality will improve.
Pumpkins are conventionally divided by purpose:
- Decorative pumpkins. Such vegetables are mainly used for crafts;
- Fodder. The name of these varieties speaks for itself: they are used for animal feed;
- Table varieties. These varieties are ubiquitous and we will dwell on them in more detail.
Pumpkin is the only vegetable that improves its qualities during storage. Under the right conditions, starch is converted into sugar, and it becomes sweeter, moreover, carotene accumulates.
The long-leafed species includes pumpkin Vitamin, late and high-yielding variety... Fruits weighing up to 6 kg, thin-crust, with a short oval, orange-red pulp, have a high content of carotene.
With early ripening, the Red Riding Hood variety also has high yields: one plant can produce up to 20 fruits. They are thick-chested, lightweight, with a very interesting turban-like shape. The length of the lashes is up to 3 meters.
Early ripe variety Smile constantly pleases gardeners with its yield. On one bush, up to 6-7 fruits are formed and ripen. The vegetables are small, from one to two kilograms, orange in color, and have a sweet, aromatic taste.
Pumpkin Shrub gold has large fruits up to 3 kg, round flattened shape. The fruit ripens in 90 days. The flesh of the berry is yellow, juicy, slightly sweet.
Of the bush species, the Gribovskaya bush variety should also be noted. The variety grows very compactly, since it has no branches, with 1 m2 you can collect up to 8 kg of fruit. The vegetables are orange in color, very juicy and sweet in taste and can be stored for a long time.
Pinching and shaping pumpkins
It is necessary to pinch the stems so that 4-6 leaves are preserved over each developing fruit. Depending on the variety and region, as well as on the weather conditions, decide how much to leave the ovaries. It is recommended to leave 1-4 ovaries. Experienced gardeners advise cutting the stems with different options, that is, leave one plant with one stem, the other with two, and so on.
There are different schemes:
- One stem. Forming a plant into one stem, you need to remove all lateral shoots and unnecessary ovaries immediately after their formation. Leave 2-4 ovaries on the main stem. After the final ovary, leave 4-6 leaves and in this place pinch the "growth point" pinch part of the procedure, all flowers should be cut off on the branches - both female and male inflorescences.
- In two stems, the classic way. Leave two fruits on the main whip, and one on the side. Save 3-4 leaves on the side shoots and pinch the tops.
- Three stems one main pumpkin with 2-3 pumpkins and two lateral ones with one fruit;
When processing a vegetable, you must simultaneously shape it. To do this, thin out the leaves on the left shoots, remove excess axillary shoots and direct the lashes in a certain direction, do not dig in each lash, then the wind can turn them over and intertwine the lashes, which will negatively affect the growth of the plant.
And also when watering the buried internodes of the whip, the plant will receive additional nutrition. Alternatively, if the vegetable is planted next to the fence, then the shoots can be hung on it. Then, when the berries are ripe, place them during growth in any nets and tie them to the fence.
After all these manipulations, all the nutritious juices will go to the left fruits.
For storage, vegetables must be fully ripe, have a whole rind, with a shiny, slightly matte pattern. If there are scratches on the surface, then they need to be treated with brilliant green and covered with a bactericidal plaster.
In conclusion, I would like to note that pumpkin, with proper care, will give an excellent harvest. This is a product that is useful and accessible to everyone. It remains only to include it in your diet, and the result will not be long in coming. When you use it, you can not only lose weight, but also supply your body with useful trace elements.