PUMPKIN

INTRODUCTION

 Scientific name of the pumpkin is Cucurbita.

The seeds and pulp are usually contained in a thick, orange, or yellow shell that is folded from the stem to the bottom.

Pumpkins are widely farmed for commercial purposes and are utilized in both culinary and recreational activities.

Pumpkins typically weigh 9–18 lbs (4–8 kg), with the biggest (of the species C. maxima) weighing more than 75 lbs (34kg).

 The form of the pumpkin varies widely, ranging from oblate to oblong. The rind is normally smooth and faintly ribbed.

Pumpkins are often orange or yellow, although they can also be dark green, pale green, orange-yellow, white, red, or grey.

REQUIREMENTS

Soil: Well-drained loamy or sandy loam

pH:- 6.0–7.5

Climate:- Warm-season crop

Ideal temperature: 18°C to 30°C.

Rainfall: Requires 500-700 mm of rainfall; sensitive to waterlogging.

IRRIGATION

 Irrigation Schedule Based on Growth Stages

Growth Stage Water Requirement (mm/day) Irrigation Frequency
Germination (0–10 days) 3–5 mm Light irrigation every 2-3 days
Vegetative Growth (10–30 days) 5–7 mm Every 4–5 days
Flowering & Fruit Setting (30–60 days) 7–10 mm Every 3–4 days (critical stage)
Fruit Development (60–90 days) 10–12 mm Every 5 days
Maturity & Harvest (90+ days) 4–6 mm Reduce irrigation to prevent cracking
CULTIVATION

Land Preparation:

  1. Deep plowing (2-3 times) to remove weeds and aerate the soil.
  2. Form ridges and furrows or raised beds for better water drainage.

Sowing Time (Season-wise):

  • Kharif (Monsoon): June – July
  • Rabi (Winter): November – December (for frost-free areas)
  • Summer: February – March

Seed Rate & Sowing Method:

  • Seed Rate: 1.5–2.5 kg per acre
  • Spacing: 1.5–2 m between rows & 60–90 cm between plants
  • Sowing Depth: 2–3 cm deep
  • Method: Direct sowing in pits (2–3 seeds per pit, later thinned to 1 plant per pit).
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY

NITROGEN DEIFICENCY

Both vegetative growth and fruit production are severely restricted plants appear pale and spindly.
New leaves are small but remain green, whereas the oldest leaves turn yellow and die.
The yellowing spreads up the shoot to younger leaves. Yield is reduced and fruit are pale, short and thick.

TREATMENT :                                                                                                                                                             

Use

NITROKING

2-3 ml per litre

of water

Use

SPALL90

0.5 ml per litre

of water
POTASSIUM DEIFICENCY
Potassium deficiency causes yellowing and scorching or older leaves.
These symptoms begin at the margins of the leaf and spread between the veins towards its center.
Large areas of tissue around the major veins remain green until the disorder is well advanced.
A brown scorch develops in the yellow areas and spreads until the leaf is dry and papery.

TREATMENT :                                                                                                                                                             

Use

NITROKING

2-3 ml per litre

of water

Use

SPALL90

0.5 ml per litre

of water
CALCIUM DEIFICENCY
Emerging leaves appear scorched and distorted and may cup downwards because the leaf margins have failed to expand fully.
Mature and older leaves are generally unaffected.
With a severe deficiency, flowers can abort, and the growing point may die.
Fruits from calcium-deficient plants are smaller and tasteless, and may fail to develop normally at the blossom end.

TREATMENT :

Use CALCIUM EDTA

0.5gms per litre of water

   Calcium EDTA 

Use BLOOM

2 ml per litre

of water

          

Use SPALL90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

         
MAGNESIUM DEIFICENCY
Magnesium deficiency causes yellowing of older leaves.
The symptom begins between the major veins, which retain a narrow green border.
A light tan burn will develop in the yellow regions if the deficiency is severe.
Fruit yields are reduced.

 TREATMENT : 

Use NITROKING

2-3 ml per litre

of water

   

Use Grow

2 ml per litre

of water

   

Use SPALL90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

   
BORON DEIFICENCY
Distortion of newer leaves (in severe cases the growing point dies) and the appearance of a broad yellow border at the margins of the oldest leaves.
Young fruit can die or abort; abortion rates are high.
Stunted development and mottled yellow longitudinal streaks.

 TREATMENT : 

Use NITROKING

2-3 ml per litre

of water

   

Use Grow

2 ml per litre

of water

   

Use SPALL90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

   
IRON DEIFICENCY
Iron deficiency causes a uniform pale green chlorosis of the newest leaves; all other leaves remain dark green.
Initially, the veins remain green, which gives a net-like pattern.
If the deficiency is severe, the minor veins also fade, and the leaves may eventually burn, especially if exposed to strong sunlight.
Good drainage and soil aeration favor iron availability.

 TREATMENT :

Use Ferric EDTA

0.5-01 gm per litre

of water

Use NITROKING

2-3 ml per litre

of water

                   

Use SPALL90

0.5ml per litre

of water

                   
 
DISEASES

1.  FUNGAL DISEASE: CONTACT-BASED FUNGAL DISEASE

i)  ANTHRACANOSE 

Figure 1. Lesions of anthracnose on pumpkin fruit often consist of round, dark rings on the fruit surface.   Figure 3. Anthracnose lesions of differing ages on pumpkin.   Figure 2. Anthracnose lesion on pumpkin in comparison to a quarter.

TREATMENT :

Use PPFC

2-3 gm per litre

of water 

   

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

               

1.  FUNGAL DISEASE: CONTACT-BASED FUNGAL DISEASE

ii)  Bacterial leaf spot

Figure 1. Lesions of bacterial leaf spot on a pumpkin leaf are often a light brown and maybe somewhat angular in shape.    Figure 9. Typical lesions of bacterial spot can be observed on this pumpkin along with one that has been infected by secondary fungi causing it to rot through the pumpkin rind.  Figure 3. The bacterial spot lesions on the leaf in the foreground are a darker necrotic shade than the lesions in Figure 1 and 2.  Figure 2. Close up of lesions on pumpkin of bacterial leaf spot.

TREATMENT :

Use PPFC

2-3 gm per litre

of water 

   

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

               

1.  FUNGAL DISEASE: CONTACT-BASED FUNGAL DISEASE

iii)  Cercospora leaf spot

Figure 1. Cercospora leaf spot of pumpkin. Figure 2. Cercospora leaf spot of pumpkin.

TREATMENT :

Use PPFC

2-3 gm per litre

of water 

   

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

               

1.  FUNGAL DISEASE: CONTACT-BASED FUNGAL DISEASE

iv) Downy mildew

Figure 1. Downy mildew of pumpkin. Lesions tend to be angular and are initially chlorotic. Note older lesions have turned necrotic.  Figure 2. Downy mildew of pumpkin.  Figure 3. Under moist conditions, the causal fungus for downy mildew of pumpkin can be observed to sporulate on the underside of the leaf.  Figure 4. Sporulation on the underside of a pumpkin with downy mildew. Note pumpkin leaf is wet.

TREATMENT :

Use PPFC

2-3 gm per litre

of water 

   

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

               

1.  FUNGAL DISEASE: CONTACT-BASED FUNGAL DISEASE

v) Plectosporium blight

Figure 1. Plectosporium blight of pumpkin. Lesions are most common on the handle or lower stem.  Figure 2. PlecPlectosporium blight of pumpkin on stem.  Figure 3. Plectosporium blight of pumpkin.  Figure 4. Plectosporium blight of pumpkin.

TREATMENT :

Use PPFC

2-3 gm per litre

of water 

   

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

               

1.  FUNGAL DISEASE: CONTACT-BASED FUNGAL DISEASE

vi)  Powdery mildew

Figure 1. Powdery mildew of pumpkins can be easily recognized by the talc-like lesion on the upper and lower surface of leaves.   Figure 2. A fungicide trial for products for powdery mildew of pumpkin. The untreated row on the right has significant symptoms of powdery mildew. The adjacent row to the left has been treated with a systemic fungicide and has relatively mild symptoms.    Figure 4. Powdery mildew lesions can be observed on the lower leaf in this photo. The upper leaf has light colored variegation that are sometimes mistaken for powdery mildew.    Figure 3. Severe symptoms of powdery mildew on a pumpkin leaf.

TREATMENT :

Use PPFC

2-3 gm per litre

of water 

   

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

               

2. FUNGAL DISEASE: SYSTEMIC-BASED FUNGAL DISEASE

Fusarium fruit rot

Figure 1. Fusarium fruit rot of pumpkin. Note gray/white sporulation.  Figure 2. Fusarium fruit rot of pumpkin. Note sporulation in center of lesion.  Figure 3. Fusarium fruit rot of pumpkin.  Figure 4. Fusarium fruit rot of pumpkin.

TREATMENT :

Use Fungohit

2-3ml per litre

of water

      

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

      

2. FUNGAL DISEASE: SYSTEMIC-BASED FUNGAL DISEASE

Gummy stem blight / black rot of pumpkin

Figure 1. Gummy stem blight lesion on a pumpkin leaf.  Figure 2. Black rot of pumpkin. Note target spot-like pattern of lesion.    Figure 3. Close-up of black rot lesion on pumpkin.                

TREATMENT :

Use Fungohit

2-3ml per litre

of water

      

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

      

                                                                                                                                                                            

2. FUNGAL DISEASE: SYSTEMIC-BASED FUNGAL DISEASE

Phytophthora fruit rot

Figure 4. Phytophthora blight of pumpkin on crown.  Figure 5. Phytophthora fruit rot.  Figure 6. Phytophthora fruit rot.  Figure 3. Phytophthora damping off of pumpkin.  

TREATMENT :

Use Fungohit

2-3ml per litre

of water

      

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

      

3. VIRUS

i) Yellow Vine on Pumpkin

  Light-brown discoloration of outer crown area is an internal symptom of yellow vine.  Yellow-vine on pumpkin.

TREATMENT :

Use Virohit

2-3 ml per litre

of water

         

Use virosol

2-3 ml per litre

of water

           

Use PPNP

1 ml per litre

of water

         

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

           

3. VIRUS

ii) Watermelon mosaic virus 

his pumpkin test positive for Watermelon mosaic virus 2 and zucchini mosaic virus, both poty viruses. Note the sunken, gray, mostly circular lesions.  Figure 2. This pumpkin test positive for Watermelon mosaic virus 2 and zucchini mosaic virus, both poty viruses. Note the sunken, gray, mostly circular lesions.

TREATMENT :

Use Virohit

2-3 ml per litre

of water

         

Use virosol

2-3 ml per litre

of water

           

Use PPNP

1 ml per litre

of water

         

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

           

3. VIRUS

iii) Poty virus on pumpkin

Figure 3. Poty virus on pumpkin.  Figure 4. Poty virus on pumpkin.

TREATMENT :

Use Virohit

2-3 ml per litre

of water

         

Use virosol

2-3 ml per litre

of water

           

Use PPNP

1 ml per litre

of water

         

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

           

3. VIRUS

 iv) Papaya ringspot virus

Figure 5. Pumpkins affected by papaya ringspot virus, a potyvirus.  Figure 6. Pumpkins affected by papaya ringspot virus, a potyvirus.

TREATMENT :

Use Virohit

2-3 ml per litre

of water

         

Use virosol

2-3 ml per litre

of water

           

Use PPNP

1 ml per litre

of water

         

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

           

3. VIRUS

V)  Pumpkin leaf virus

Figure 7. Pumpkin leaf with a poty virus.  Figure 8. Pumpkin leaf with a poty virus.  Figure 9. Pumpkin leaf with a poty virus.

TREATMENT :

Use Virohit

2-3 ml per litre

of water

         

Use virosol

2-3 ml per litre

of water

           

Use PPNP

1 ml per litre

of water

         

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

           

4. PEST : CHEWING PEST

1. Armyworm

Beet_armyworm_1.jpg

TREATMENT :

Use Pestohit

2-3 ml per litre

of water

        

Use PPNP

1 ml per litre

of water 

       

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

      

2. Melon looper

Cabbage_looper.JPG

TREATMENT :

Use Pestohit

2-3 ml per litre

of water

        

Use PPNP

1 ml per litre

of water 

       

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

      

3. Cutworm

Cutworm_2.jpg  Cutworm_1.jpg

TREATMENT :

Use Pestohit

2-3 ml per litre

of water

        

Use PPNP

1 ml per litre

of water 

       

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

      

4. Squash vine borer 

Squash_vine_borer.jpg

TREATMENT :

Use Pestohit

2-3 ml per litre

of water

        

Use PPNP

1 ml per litre

of water 

       

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

      

5. Squash bug

An Adult Squash bug of a dull brown and tan coloration sits on a pumpkin.  A close up photograph of white squash bug nymphs along the stalk and leaves of a squash plant.  Yellow vine disease symptoms pictured on a pumpkin plant in Arkansas  A zoomed in photograph of small red brown squash bug nymphs clustered together on a leaf.

TREATMENT :

Use Pestohit

2-3 ml per litre

of water

        

Use PPNP

1 ml per litre

of water 

       

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

      

6. Melon worm

Melonworm moth on a mature pumpkin. These moths are easily observed on fruit or leaves during daytime hours and are easily disturbed.   Feeding damage caused by melonworm which is usually characterized by “skeletonized’ leaves that only have veins remaining (pictured right) or by rolled leaves (pictured left).  Melonworm larvae feeding just under the handle/stems of pumpkins. Look for webbing or excrement, as shown in this picture, as an indication that larvae are feeding underneath.

TREATMENT :

Use Pestohit

2-3 ml per litre

of water

        

Use PPNP

1 ml per litre

of water 

       

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

      

5.  PEST: SUCKING PEST

Aphids

Melon Aphids on the underside of pumpkin leaves following a pyrethroid spray.

TREATMENT :

 Use Orgomite

2-3 ml per litre

of water

     

Use PPNP

1 ml per litre

of water

     

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water

    

Thrips

Western_flower_thrips.jpg

TREATMENT :

 Use Orgomite

2-3 ml per litre

of water

     

Use PPNP

1 ml per litre

of water

     

Use SpAll90

0.5 ml per litre

of water