Your seedlings are ready to transplant once the true leaves have formed. The true leaves are responsible for supplying vital nutrients for plant growth to the seedling through photosynthesis. They will look like a miniature version of the leaves you'll expect to see once the plant is fully grown. The second group of leaves to show are called the "true" leaves. Those are the leaves waiting inside each seed. The first leaves from the sprouts are called "cotyledons" or seedling leaves. It's time to transplant seedlings once they outgrow their original seed starting container. Tip: for a refresher and a schedule for hardening off your seedlings, click here. The process of planting out your seedlings can be the final buffer between your plants and transplant shock! The tips below will allow your plants to thrive right from the beginning of their time in the garden. Slugs and snails can be an issue - lay Tui Quash slug and snail control around young plants.Your seeds are started and seedlings perfectly hardened off, all ready for their new home outside. Place in a dark, dry place to store.īe vigilant and stop unwanted insects and diseases from ruining your plants. Another indication they are ripe is when the leaves die away.Ĭut pumpkins from the vine with a sharp knife, leaving the stem on the fruit. If the skin of the pumpkin is hard and doesn't leave a dent when knocked, it is ripe. If you live in a mild climate, pick them once they have coloured up and sound hollow when you knock the shell. Remove excess leaves to aid ripening, but don't be tempted to remove too many as this will reduce the amount of photosynthesis.Ī general rule is to harvest pumpkins after the first frost. While your pumpkins are growing regularly apply a dose of Tui Organic Seaweed Plant Tonic to give them a welcome boost. Mildew can be an issue - control with a suitable fungicide if it becomes an issue. Lift off the ground in some areas if the ground is cold and wet. Well watered, well nourished pumpkins will have a better chance of keeping insect pests and diseases at bay. Avoid getting the foliage wet when watering. Select a fertiliser specially blended for your crop like Tui Vegetable Food. Pumpkins use nutrients from the soil as they grow, so replenishing the nutrients ensures your plants grow to their full potential. Press soil gently around the base of the plant.įeed your plants and they will feed you.Gently loosen the root ball of your plant and position the plant in the centre of the hole.Partly fill the hole with Tui Vegetable Mix.Dig a hole, approximately twice the depth and width of the root ball of your plant.Water plants thoroughly before planting and allow to drain.To encourage large pumpkins, allow only two to three to develop on each plant. Pinch out the main stems once growth starts this will encourage more lateral stems and give you a heavier crop of fruit. Always water plants well before and after planting. The best times to plant are early in the morning or late in the day, so the plants aren’t exposed to the hot sun straight away. Then you can add a layer of Tui Vegetable Mix. If you are starting with an existing garden bed dig in organic matter like Tui Sheep Pellets and Tui Compost to your soil. The better the soil, the better your plants will grow. Refer to our Planting Calendar for when to plant pumpkins and squash in your region. If growing from seed, germinate seeds in late winter or early spring in sheltered areas, or after the frosts have finished in cold areas. Popular pumpkin varieties include Butternut, Crown, Kumi Kumi, Queensland Blue and Triamble. Plant out as soon as frosts are over and keep well-watered while the plant is establishing itself. Pumpkins need a long growing season of approximately four to six months depending on where you live. Choose a smaller-grown variety and a large container and place it in a sunny position. If space is an issue, you can grow pumpkins in containers. Choose a sunny position to plant your pumpkins. If left to their own devices pumpkins will happily scramble almost anywhere, and sometime even sprout up by themselves in the compost heap. Pumpkins are easy to grow and will provide even gardening novices with hassle-free success. Pumpkin vines can also be trained up a strong fence, tree or trellis to save on space. Pumpkins are happy trailing along the ground. Tasty, sweet and versatile, pumpkins (or otherwise known as squash) are a crop the whole family can enjoy growing.
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