Pumpkin Frank J. Dainello, Extension Horticulturist Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University
VARIETIES Mini (3-4 lbs) Jack-Be-Little, Munchkin, Pro Gold 100 Small (6-10 lbs) Small Sugar, Triple Treat, Streaker, Pro Gold 300, Oz, Spookie Medium (10-16 lbs) Jack O' Lantern, Autumn Gold, Funny Face Large (16-30 lbs) Pro Gold 500,Howden, Happy Jack, Trukster, Connecticut Field, Ghost Rider, Wizzard Mammoth (50-200lbs) Atlantic Giant, Big Max, Big Mac, Howden Biggie, Prizewinner
SOIL PREFERENCE Well drained, sandy loams with pH range 6.5 - 7.5; avoid heavy soils.
OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS Monthly mean temperature 60 - 80oF; day temperature 85 - 95 oF, night temperature 60 - 70oF. Low humidity. Cold sensitive crop.
ESTABLISHMENT METHODS Direct seeded, can be transplanted Optimum time= Soil temperature at 3 - 4" depth > 60 - 70oF or 75 - 120 days (depending upon variety) prior to intended market window. Seeding rate lbs/A= 2-5. Approx seed/oz= 100 - 300 Seeding depth= 0.5-0.75" Seedling spacing= Large vine types- 18 - 24" in-row on 8 - 10' beds. Compact Vine types- 18 -2 4" in-row on 80" wide beds. Raised bed culture advisable.
FERTILITY/FERTILIZATION Rates presented as actual lbs/Acre N 2, P2O5 and K2O (base actual rates on soil test results). Generalized rate lbs/A: 50 - 40 - 40. N- 20 - 80; 10 - 20 lbs applied pre-plant with the remainder side-dressed when vines begin to run. P- 30 - 80; banded approximately 2 - 3" below seed at planting. K- 0 - 80; pre-plant applied when needed.
WATER/IRRIGATION 25 - 30" applied and/or received in 5 - 7 applications. Critical demand periods: establishment, 2 - 4 weeks after emergence, bloom, and fruit set and enlargement.
PEST MANAGEMENT Major Diseases Control Powdery mildew Bravo, Cabrio, Flint, Procure, Quadris Downy mildew Acrobat, Bravo, fixed copper, maneb, Ridomil Gold Bravo, Ridomil Gold Copper Alternaria and Anthracnose Bravo, Cabrio, Flint, maneb, Quadris Gummy stem blight Bravo, Cabrio, maneb, Quadris Ascochyta fruit rot Long rotations (2 years), tolerant varieties Virus None Nematodes K-Pam, Vydate, Telone II, Telone C-17 Major Insects Control Cucumber beetle Asana, Capture, endosulfan, Furadan, permethrin, Sevin Leafminer Agri-mek, permethrin, Spintor, Trigard, Vydate Aphid Actara/Platinum, Admire, endosulfan, Fulfill, Metasystox-R Squash bug and squash vine borer Asana, Capture, endosulfan, permethrin, Sevin Whitefly Actara/Platinum, Admire, Danitol, endosulfan, insecticidal soap, Vydate Mite Agri-mek, Capture, Danitol, Kelthane Weeds Control Preplant incorporated Command, Prefar Preemergence Prefar, Sandea, Strategy Postemergence Poast, Sandea, Select, Treflan (shielded layby application)
* NOTE--The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Failure to do so may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
HARVEST Days after planting= 75 - 120. Normal method= Hand, when rind and stem harden and skin is bright orange. Containers= Bulk wagons, pallet boxes. Grades= Uniformity of size, shape, color. Packaging/Handling= Do not stack more than 4 layers of fruit high. Anticipated yield lbs/A= 15,000 - 25,000.
TRANSIT CONDITIONS 50 - 55oF at 70 - 75% RH
COMMENTS/PRODUCTION KEYS Cucurbita pepo and C. maxima species grow well in Texas. Appearance is critical (size, shape, color), consumers prefer intact stems; handle with care to avoid bruising skin. Do not plant into cold soils, weak slow growing non-productive plants will result. Leaving pumpkins in field after foliage dies reduces quality by causing shoulder bleaching. Thorough foliage coverage with fungicides is necessary for good disease control. Windbreaks (Elbon Rye, TAMU 105 and Tascosa Wheat, Triticale) planted in early-mid fall is beneficial in areas prone to prevailing winds. Three to five year crop rotations between pumpkins any other curcurbit) should be followed to avoid disease buildup in soil, always use fungicide treated seed. Fertile soils are necessary to obtain maximum yield and fruit quality. To obtain extremely large fruit, constantly good soil moisture and pruning to 1 - 2 fruit per plant is required. Always arrange for markets prior to planting. Shallow rooted, therefore uniform moisture required. Use of bees enhances flower pollenation and yields. Responds well to plastic mulch culture. Extended exposure to temperature below 50oF in the field results in chill injury.
Texas Cooperative Extension, Horticulture Crop Guides Series Revised November, 2003 http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/vegetable/cropguides/pumpkin.html Prepared for Web delivery by Brooke Bludau, Amanda Zan, and Dan Lineberger