Pumpkin Seeds

A part of the Cucurbitaceae family of plants just like cucumbers, squash, and cantaloupes, pumpkins are widely cultivated and consumed all over the world. Though not everyone’s favorite veggie, they are extremely healthy to eat1! Wait till you know of the nutritional value it carries. Pumpkins are an excellent source of Vitamin A, E, C, iron, folate, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. Its consumption can greatly help you with lowering the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and breast cancer, while fighting fatigue, boosting the immune system, maintaining optimum weight, and improving vision and digestion. A water-rich vegetable, pumpkins will keep you feeling refreshed and hydrated sufficiently too.

Pumpkins are generally cooked after removing the seeds with spices. Also generously included in stews, soups, and even desserts. You can even steam, boil or bake it for a delicious savory dish.

Note: Used as seeds only and not for consumption. Seeds to be sown before the expiry date.

Planting And Care:

• Pumpkin seeds can be grown in containers or on raised beds.
• If you opt for a growing pumpkin in a container, choose a circular pot or grow bag with 16” diameter and a minimum depth of 8-10 inches.
• Make sure your container has proper drainage holes at the bottom.
• Fill your container with the growth medium of your choice. Sow 2 seeds at the center of a pot.
• On raised beds, sow two seeds per pot in a spacing of 3 x 3 ft.
• Place your seeds on the surface of the medium and use the inside with the tip of a pencil and cover the surface with a growing medium.
• Water the sown seedbed immediately by a light shower with a watering can.
• Before sowing the seeds, add good quality organic manure in the soil with 2:1 ratio. Organic manure can be well rotten cow dung manure, farmyard manure, Compost or Vermicompost.

Bottle gourd Special Pride Care:

• Bottle gourd seeds will germinate within the first 6 – 8 days. You will notice tiny sprouts growing at this stage.
• The second week onwards, seedlings will start growing into a small plant.
• After the second week, keep only a single seedling at one spot, Cut off the weak, small & lagging seedlings with a pair of scissors.
• Bottle gourds require full sunlight to grow. Make sure that your raised beds and containers get sufficient sunlight.
• Water your potted Bottle Gourd plant every day in summer.
• For an even shower use a watering can to water your plants or use a drip irrigation system.
• Being an aggressive climber, pumpkin needs a lot of space to grow. So develop strong trellis support up to a height of 5-6 ft, by using locally available material like pipes, bamboo, ropes, wires, etc. for your Bottle Gourd plant.
• When your bottle gourd plant is more than 45 days old, provide one tablespoon of 15:15:15 (NPK) Fertilizer per plant or mix a handful of Vermicompost in the soil around each plant.
• Keep an eye out for early signs of any insect/fungal/ any other infections and spray appropriate medicines.
• By the end of the second month ( 50-60 days after sowing ), the bottle gourd climber will start flowering.
• Raw pumpkin can be harvested 2 months after sowing the seeds. Harvesting season can continue for the next 3~4 months.

Common Problems

The bottle gourd plant is not growing fruits?

Insufficient pollination is a big factor that can hamper the growth of pumpkin. If sufficient pollination does not take place, the female flower will grow initially but will die and fall off eventually. To increase pollination you can opt for hand pollination using a brush.

Why are my pumpkin seedlings wilting?

Overwatering is the main cause of wilting. Too much water can drown your seedlings and deprive their roots of air, which leads to wilting and your seedlings might eventually die.

Why are my pumpkin seeds not germinating?

Growing conditions like moisture, improper soil temperature, overwatering or under watering can all be a reason why your seeds are not germinating.