Prefer or sow directly?

Which makes more sense: direct sowing or advance?

The experts argue on this question. Some believe that directly sown plants are stronger, healthier and more resilient than previously grown plants, while others believe that previously grown plants bear fruit faster. It is not so easy to answer who is actually right - you have to try it out for yourself. Because which method is more successful depends primarily on the nature of the soil and the local climatic conditions. In northern German regions, for example, it usually makes more sense to prefer plants, while direct sowing shows better results in southern Germany.

Sow Hokkaido directly outdoors

To Hokkaido seeds directly in the open air To sow, you should first of all dig up the soil well, loosen and fertilize. It is best to start as early as the fall before the scheduled sowing to bring plenty of manure into the earth - this then has plenty of time to rot until spring and thus enrich the soil with nitrogen. Two to three seed kernels are placed in a small hollow about one centimeter deep and loosely covered with substrate. Always keep the bed moist, but not wet. You will see the first delicate tips after about one to two weeks, provided it is warm enough. If several seed kernels have emerged per seed hole, you have to dispose of the surplus plants as quickly as possible.

Prefer Hokkaido

Hokkaido can be brought forward on the window sill at home from around mid to late March. To do this, you put one or two seeds per plant pot in the appropriate one Potting soilThe seeds should be about one to two centimeters deep and loosely covered with soil. Spray the soil with room warm, stale water and cover the pot with cling film. The pot should be in a warm, sunny place. The plants will germinate within one to two weeks and grow very quickly. From mid-May, the strong pumpkin plants can finally go into the field.

This is what you need for growing your pumpkin plants

• pumpkin seed
• several plant pots
• Potting soil or nutrient-rich substrate
• Spray bottle with water
• Cling film and elastic band

Tips & Tricks

Pumpkin goes well with spring onions, vegetable onions, lettuce, corn and runner beans. On the other hand, it makes less sense to socialize with other types of pumpkin, especially with ornamental pumpkins. Pumpkins are cross-pollinated and Hokkaido pumpkins fertilized with inedible decorative pumpkins are also inedible.