GROWING THE BEST PUMPKINS

"Autumn Herald is a nutrient-rich", "Vital Substance Miracle" and "Low-calorie vitamin bomb with superfood potential": Health magazine is full of praise for pumpkin. Since Halloween is celebrated throughout the world, the fruit of the Cucurbitaceae family has increased in popularity. And not only in the form of lanterns and carved masks but also as nutritious food, especially soup, or only as a diced vegetable. When it comes to edible pumpkins, not only precious meat, but also seeds, oil, and even leaves. There are many reasons to take a closer look:

Pumpkin between traditions and hype

Popular popularity at this time in Central Europe is still very young from a historical perspective and hence is actually a fashionable phenomenon. Until the 20th century, bulk pumpkins were mainly considered animal feed. But like most cultivated plants, pumpkin has a very long global tradition. In Central and South America it has been known for at least 5,000 years. Pumpkin came to Europe and Asia during Central and South American occupation from the end of the 15th century. Columbus was said to have found it in Cuba in 1492. Pumpkin planting also came to North America with the early occupation and was carried out voluntarily from the start.

The world is pumpkin

Today the edible pumpkin grows on the six continents, but the best conditions are found in warm climates with rainfall and abundant minerals, humus, and nitrogen. Such conditions are found especially in higher tropical areas in Central and South America, pumpkin fruit place comes. In Central Europe, they are developing the best during the summer, when they germinate from mid-June and are ready to be harvested at the beginning of the fall.

Pumpkin breeding in the industrial era

Demand for pumpkin is very high in the country - Western industrial countries, especially in the fall, which is why many countries cultivate - especially in the Mediterranean and subtropical climate zones - compete for the market. Cultivation there is often industrial. When pumpkin grows very fast, they can drain the soil in a short time and also need permanent humidity. Therefore, their cultivation can cause land washing, dryness, and other deficiencies. The land is then chronically supplied and fertility must be maintained artificially by fertilizer. Excessive use of fertilizers, however, continues to affect the land - cycles of demons.

The use of humic acid offers a way out. They increase groundwater retention capacity and thus reduce the need for irrigation. In addition, they maintain important nutrients available for plants in the root area, which increases plant growth and health on the one hand and reduces the need for fertilizer on the other side.

In an Iranian study, scientists investigated the influence of humic acid on pumpkin seeds exposed to stress cadmium. Since the introduction of artificial fertilizers, cadmium has accumulated in many agricultural lands, because entering the soil along with phosphate - which is not only bad for plants but in the end for consumers who have contaminated food on their plates. Humic acid can help pumpkin:

"Applying humic acid causes pumpkin seeds to be tolerant to environmental pressures such as heavy metals, especially cadmium", he said in this study. Increased root development (up to 85 percent compared to the control group) and generally increased plant growth was also observed. (cf. Study)

Ideal cultivation

In nutrient-rich soil, which can be obtained by providing humic acid-based soil conditioner, for example, most pumpkin varieties can be planted quickly and easily. This also applies to winter pumpkin which is used as food and decoration. Space requirements are not excessive despite the size of each fruit, cultivation can also occur in a smaller hobby park in a few square meters.

Simple - but demanding

However, pumpkins have certain demands: we have learned about the right water supply and high soil nutritional content. Another important factor is soil temperature: it must reach at least twelve degrees Celsius for a good harvest.

Buying or breeding yourself?

If you plant your own plants and use organic methods, you can also avoid potential pesticide residues and fertilizers. Incidentally, the positive effects of humic acids also exist in small areas. When used correctly, they make sure plants and fruits are healthier and bigger. For all those who do not have space for pumpkin beds, but still do not want a product that is mass-produced, it is better to see the next organic farmers. Organic farmers even offer many older pumpkin varieties that are no longer conventionally traded. Unlike other organic foods, the price per kilo in most countries in the world is not far from the price of conventional goods.

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