Pumpkin plants that are spoiled with nutrients, sun and water tend to overgrow. This is followed by many flowers and correspondingly many fruit sets. Experienced gardeners know that you can specifically influence the size of the pumpkins by thinning them out.
To the point
- Promotes larger fruit, but is not a must
- twice four weeks apart on an overcast day
- Leave two leaves per shoot in June and five to six leaves per shoot in July
- greatly reduce female flowers
- Use sharp, disinfected scissors
Table of contents
- definition
- Austerity can make sense
- The ideal time
- What is needed?
- Harvesting pumpkin: instructions
- frequently asked Questions
definition
For everyone who is just getting excited about growing their own vegetables, here is a short explanation: Maxed out means shortening or removing excess shoots, especially so that they do not unnecessarily rob the plant of its strength. This care measure is particularly worth considering for plants that branch heavily. Pumpkin plants are definitely one of them, as new shoots regularly form in their leaf axils.
Austerity can make sense
To say it straight away: it's a matter of making the most of it Pumpkin plant no need! Even pumpkin plants that are not pruned at all bear a lot of fruit. But the more fruits grow on a plant, the smaller the final size to be expected. This is exactly where you can find the reason why pinching is often practiced in hobby gardens, including with pumpkins:
- directs the plant's energy towards fewer fruits
- become larger as a result
Some gardeners even go one step further. You only want to harvest a single, but very large, pumpkin per pumpkin plant. Whether pruning makes sense for you depends on how many and how large pumpkins you have harvest in autumn want.
The ideal time
Since pumpkin plants grow quickly and lushly, you should plant them not just once, but ideally twice.
The following dates are suitable for plants that grow early preferred and were planted out immediately after the Ice Saints:
- Stir pumpkins twice
- approximately four weeks apart
- first stripping in June
- second thinning in July
Tip: Choose an overcast day to plant your pumpkins. This will help you avoid sunburn on the fruit bases.
What is needed?
Shoots of pumpkin plants are quite soft when young. However, do not snap them off with your fingers as this will crush the shoots. Don't pull on it either, or you may tear off more of the plant than you originally intended. It's better to use a suitable garden tool:
- sharp scissors
- Alternatively, a small, sharp knife
- Disinfect cutting tools before use
Tip: Skin contact with rough pumpkin leaves is not particularly pleasant. People with sensitive skin should therefore wear long clothing and use gloves when shortening the shoots.
Harvesting pumpkin: instructions
Shorten each shoot the first time you pinch out. Only two leaves should remain per shoot. During the second thinning, you should leave more leaves on each shoot so that the larger plant can be adequately supplied with its fruit sets. Then only place the scissors over the fifth or sixth sheet.
Maximize flowers and fruits
Leave as many female flowers or Fruit has already set on the plant, the way you want fruit. Experts recommend the following number:
- Pumpkin varieties with large fruits: 2 to 3 fruits per plant
- Small-fruited pumpkin varieties: 4 to 6 fruits per plant
Tip: If pollination has already been successful, you should cut off all male flowers so that they do not use up any energy. You can recognize them by the fact that there is no round fruit base underneath the flower.
Paid for a giant pumpkin
If you want to harvest a single giant pumpkin, you should only leave one (fertilized) female flower on the plant. Practical experience has shown that only the second or even third female flower is suitable for this. You should pinch off the first flower early.
frequently asked Questions
The austerity is mainly caused by Stick tomatoes, Cucumbers, Paprika, eggplant and zucchini practiced. Partly to get larger fruits, but also to avoid diseases like mildew to avoid. A lack of space can also be a reason to limit overgrown specimens.
Small cuts dry quickly on their own. With larger cuts, there is a greater risk that viruses, fungal spores and other harmful germs will find their way into the interior of the plant through the moist cut and cause disease. At the very least, sprinkle these large cuts with charcoal ash immediately after trimming them.
The main reason for missing flowers or Fruits are nutrient deficient. Either the pumpkin plant was not fertilized or the nutrients from the fertilization are not sufficient because the soil is too poor.
