Watering pumpkins in open ground: how often and how to do it right

Watering pumpkins in open ground should be carried out according to a special regime at certain times of vegetable growth. Irrigation rules are simple, but only if they are followed, gardeners’ mistakes will be excluded, then it will be possible to grow a juicy sweet pumpkin in a summer cottage.

What water to water

Not all water can be used to water pumpkins. Water should be clean and not cold. The recommended temperature for irrigation is +20⁰C. If watered with ice water, the plant will get stressed and will slow down its development. Irrigation water should not be cloudy or dirty to prevent the development of fungal diseases in the plant.

According to the source of formation, water is divided into several groups:

• rain;
• plumbing;
• well or key;
• river, lake, from a pond.

Rainwater is considered the most desirable and favorable, but on condition that there are no sources of chemical emissions into the air in the vicinity of growth. Rainwater for irrigation can be prepared in advance by substituting containers in the form of barrels and buckets under the downpipes to collect it. And then, using a pump or watering can, use it to irrigate the garden.

Tap water is the most affordable – just open the tap and water. But in this case, it should be noted that it has a low temperature for a pumpkin. To water from the pipe network, it is recommended to collect it in a tank and leave it to heat in the sun.

Spring water is good for irrigation not only because of its purity, but also because it contains natural elements necessary for the plant for its rapid growth. However, it also needs to be allowed to warm up before watering.

To use water from an open source for watering pumpkins in open ground, it is necessary to defend it for some time in order to weed out excess particles and pay attention to whether a film is formed on the surface – evidence of the presence of toxic substances in the liquid.

Watering methods

Gardeners use several ways to water vegetables, each of which can be applied to watering pumpkins:

• manual;
• semi-automatic;
• auto.

The most common and simplest is manual watering using a watering can or hose. It is most suitable for small summer cottages with small beds. This method must be applied carefully so as not to destroy the young shoots and not to erode the soil, exposing the roots. To do this, put a nozzle on the watering can, and clamp the edge of the hose so that water is sprayed out of it, and does not flow out in a strong stream. There are special nozzles for the hose, with which you can adjust the strength and shape of the jet.

It is better to organize semi-automatic watering of pumpkins in large dacha areas. The gardener only turns the faucet on and off. He does not need to manually water each bush. To do this, the garden pipeline is looped and hoses are laid from it along the plot of beds where watering should take place. Small holes are made in the pipes through which water flows in thin streams to the root system of vegetables. It is necessary to ensure that during such irrigation there is no washing out of the roots of the pumpkin.

The automatic system turns on and off independently according to the set mode. To do this, it has a timer that controls the watering time. And this means that this method is the least labor-intensive, but more expensive.

How to water a pumpkin in the open field during a drought

In hot weather and lack of rain, the pumpkin especially needs abundant watering. At this time, you need to monitor the plant and the condition of its tops. If the leaves have a wilted, drooping appearance, or they have begun to turn yellow and dry out, then this means that the vegetable lacks moisture.

In hot, dry weather, the pumpkin is watered more often than usual – once every 1 days, in the evening after sunset. During the night, the moisture will moisten the soil well and the plant will have enough time to absorb moisture.

Features of watering during flowering

The greatest care for the pumpkin should be shown during its flowering and formation of ovaries. At this time, the fate of the future harvest is being decided, a lack of moisture can lead to the fall of flowers and ovaries. The plant becomes sensitive and demanding to environmental conditions:

• water should not be cold;
• before watering, it is recommended to make the first loosening of the soil around the bush and remove all weeds;
• watering should be plentiful.

During this period, the first feeding of the plant is carried out, excess and weak ovaries are removed. Leave only healthy and strong. If flowering coincided with rains, then irrigation is not required or it must be reduced so as not to harm the crop with excess moisture.

How to water a pumpkin during the formation of fruits

At the time when the fruits begin to grow, the pumpkin needs abundant watering. It is carried out once a week. In hot weather more often, judging by the condition of vegetables and soil. Such watering occurs at the beginning of August.

When the pumpkin has fully formed its fruit, watering should stop. This time comes in central Our Country, approximately in the second decade of August. During this period, the fruit should be actively saturated with sugar and vitamins, as well as the formation of a dense crust, which will help to significantly increase the shelf life of the vegetable.

Periodicity

To understand how many times to water a pumpkin, you should take into account the climatic conditions in which it grows. If the weather is rainy, then they begin to irrigate the vegetable only when the soil is completely dry.

It is rarely necessary to moisten the soil under the pumpkin, but abundantly, since the roots can reach a length of 2 to 3 m, and the leaf plates are large and evaporate a lot of moisture.

An approximate pumpkin watering scheme is as follows:

• the first 10-15 days after planting pumpkin seedlings in open ground, it does not need to be watered at all in order to create conditions for growth and better formation of the root system;
• then watering must be done once a week, in the amount of 1-6 liters for each bush, taking into account the weather conditions and the condition of the plant;
• during flowering and fruit growth, the vegetable should be watered abundantly, increasing the amount of water to 10 liters per bush, but waterlogging of the soil should not be allowed at the same time so that the roots and stems do not rot;
• 3-4 weeks before harvesting, you can forget about watering the pumpkin, leave it filled with useful substances and only slightly loosen the top layer of soil.

When to Water: Morning or Evening

Experienced gardeners recommend watering the pumpkin in the morning or evening. You can not water garden crops during the day, when direct sunlight can burn wet leaves, and moisture from the soil will quickly evaporate without nourishing the plant.

In hot weather, it is wiser to water the pumpkin in the evening. There will be a whole night ahead for the moisture to do its job, flowing through the soil into the plant. If you water in the morning, then there is little time left before the rising of the burning summer sun, and watering will not be effective enough. In this case, there is also a risk of burns on the leaves and rapid drying of the soil.

How to water properly

There are two most common ways for gardeners to water pumpkins, each of which has its pros and cons:

1. Hole irrigation is used if the plants are planted on the site in a mess. Then each bush sits in its hole, where water is poured. The roots receive almost all the water intended for them. But this process takes a lot of time and work.
2. Irrigation in furrows is widespread in vegetable gardens and dachas with a slope, where crops are planted on the beds in a straight line. Water is directed along the grooves made parallel to the rows of plants and saturates their roots with water. This method of watering is less laborious, but not all water is delivered to its intended purpose. Some bushes receive less moisture, others more.

It is not recommended to use irrigation in furrows if the site has a strong slope. In this case, the water will drain, not having time to moisten the roots.

When organizing pumpkin irrigation, you need to ensure that water gets under the root, but at the same time does not overmoisten it and does not expose it. Irrigation of the leaves is also not recommended. You can completely water the entire bush in the evening, when direct sunlight does not fall on the plant.

What are the most common mistakes gardeners make?

When growing a pumpkin in a country house or garden, you should be aware of what can weaken the culture and even destroy the crop. The following actions must not be allowed:

• watering during the day during solar activity can lead to foliage burns;
• the use of muddy or cold water creates conditions for plant disease and inhibition of its development;
• insufficient or excess water will dry the vegetable or lead to rotting;
• the pressure of water, injuring the sprouts and roots, will destroy the plants;
• watering the bushes until harvest will not allow the fruit to become sweet, fragrant and capable of long-term storage.

It is necessary to monitor not only the state of the plant itself, its leaves, flowers and ovaries, but also the soil in which it grows. The soil should not be dry or covered with a hard crust. Weed growth weakens the pumpkin, taking away nutrients and moisture. They need to be removed in time.

Conclusion

Watering pumpkins in open ground should be carried out in a certain mode, subject to certain rules. These rules are simple and easy. But their observance will allow you to get excellent results of your work – a plentiful harvest of sweet and healthy fruits.