The secrets of growing pumpkin "Smile"

Pumpkin variety "Smile" was bred in Russia by experts of the Federal Research Center for Vegetable Growing, in 1998 it was included in the State Register of Russia. During this time, the variety has gained popularity among gardeners with a combination of many advantages.

The early ripe grade, from the moment of emergence of shoots before harvesting passes 85-90 days. This means that the inhabitants of the regions with a climate that is far from the south will manage to grow this useful vegetable over the summer.

Pumpkin "Smile" has a bush form, which is important in a small area: the whips do not "crawl" on the half-garden, interfering with the cultivation of other crops. Large green leaves covered with a pattern; flowers are yellow or orange, have a pleasant aroma. The seed content is small, the seeds are white and smooth, oval-shaped.

Small fruits weighing from 700 g to 1 kg are formed at the very stem, all of them on one bush can mature up to seven, and sometimes up to ten pieces. Fruits have the form of a slightly flattened orange-colored ball, on the bark there may be slight veins of white color.

The flesh of the pumpkin is a rich orange color, thin, dense and crispy. Numerous reviews of gardeners note the excellent taste - sweet, with fruity notes and melon aroma, which favorably distinguishes the variety "Smile" among many others. It is noted that the taste of pumpkin during storage improves.

The peel is thin and well cleaned, but durable. This quality protects pumpkin pulp from mechanical damage, makes it possible to preserve the taste and benefit of the fruit for almost six months. In addition, the degree of crop transportability increases.

Having a small plot of land, many people think about observing the sequence of their plantings (crop rotation). In the fall, a plan is planned for planting different crops in the garden, according to the plans, the land is cultivated differently. In the case of planting a pumpkin, it is also worth treating the garden bed in the fall.

Gardeners are looking for a place to plant: since this is a large-fruited crop, it needs sunlight and heat. So, we need the south side, generously illuminated by the sun. The earth is dug up to a depth of 30 cm, at the same time organic matter and wood ash are added. The structure and acidity of the soil is assessed: the pumpkin will not grow on heavy clay soils.

If the soil is not happy with its composition, various additives are made to reduce its acidity and obtain a more loose composition. Suitable dolomite flour, lime, making peat and sand. Planting green manure after harvesting the previous crop can also help in improving the soil.

For sowing, the most healthy-looking seeds are selected - full of damage and darkening.

Experienced gardeners advise to grow pumpkins in a seedling way, it is recommended to begin sowing in the first decade of May. Pre-sowing seed treatment consists of soaking pumpkin seeds in warm water or any growth stimulants (you can use aloe juice or vitamin C solution) for about a day.

A good seedling should come about three weeks after sowing and look like this: a strong and low stalk, on which 3-4 true leaves of intense green color have already formed, the internodes are short. Sprouts are planted around the beginning of June, when the temperature of the soil at a depth of about 5 cm warms to + 12 ° C, and night frosts are no longer foreseen.

Some gardeners are advised to simply plant germinated seeds into the ground. Landing by a seedless method is made at the end of May - the beginning of June. By this time, the soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm should warm up to + 10 ... 12 ° С. For seedlings, seeds are placed in various vitamin solutions or simply in water, while they are wrapped in a paper napkin or piece of cloth, and covered with a film on top, this will not allow moisture to evaporate.

Seedlings or germinated seeds are placed in holes dug under the 70 x 70 cm scheme (the distance can be slightly increased). Seeds in one well are placed 2 pieces to a depth of 5 cm, if both shoots come out, the weaker ones will need to be removed. However, some of them can be placed a little deeper, so you can avoid the risk of damage to crops by frost. The hole on top is covered with earth and watered with warm water.

Seedlings that have just been planted or recently sprouted from the ground should be covered when there is a threat of frost. Any available material will do - paper cap, spunbond, plastic bottle with a cut-off bottom.

Vegetable unpretentious care, its cultivation does not require special conditions and special knowledge. All actions - watering, feeding, weeding, loosening - are well known to all gardeners. The main thing - the regularity of watering and removal of weeds. Under the maturing pumpkins there are planks or other natural materials, which will not allow the fruit to rot on wet ground.

Although watering, the variety is drought-resistant, but demanding: the powerful root system of the plant extracts moisture well from the soil, but large leaves also evaporate it well. The plant is watered only with warm water, the use of cold water from a hose or a well can lead to loss of harvest.

To increase the quantity and quality of fruits, pinch the top point of growth on the main stem. Make it simple: five leaves are counted from the first ovary, everything else is cut off. After this begins the enhanced formation of lateral shoots, the flowers on them will be mostly female type.

After pruning, the pumpkin needs to be fed; fermented herbal infusion is perfect for this, you can add wood ash. If the vegetable is planted on well-fertilized soils, the plant will not need additional nutrition.

It is better to shoot the fruits as they ripen, without waiting for their maximum size: This will provide an opportunity to actively develop new ovaries, and thus increase the yield. Experienced gardeners are advised to handle the pumpkin with care as much as possible so as not to damage the skin.

Pumpkin is grown on almost all land plots, rarely one of the gardeners bypasses this valuable vegetable. The variety "Smile" is ideal for cultivation in the central zone of Russia due to a number of advantages over other varieties:

• high resistance to cold and early ripeness of the vegetable makes it possible to obtain a crop in conditions of sudden temperature changes;
• the excellent taste qualities of the variety, the melon aroma of its pulp have won wide acclaim;
• undemanding care is confirmed by numerous reviews;
• small fruit with a strong peel perfectly suitable for transportation;
• pumpkin can be stored even at room temperature, the taste and benefits are not lost.

To the lack of varieties can be attributed susceptibility to rot in conditions of high humidity.

Learn more about how to grow a pumpkin, you will learn from the following video.