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Liz Maynard emaynard@purdue.eduDepartment of Horticulture and Landscape ArchitecturePurdue UniversityJanuary 8, 2019Illiana Vegetable Growers SymposiumSchererville, IN

Basics of Pumpkin Production

•Site Selection•Soil Fertility•Stand Establishment•Weed Management• Irrigation•Harvest/Postharvest

Today’s Topics

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mwveguide.org

•Well-drained•Good air movement•Unshaded•No history of Phytophthora capsici•At least 2 years since other cucurbits

Site Selection

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Maintenance Zones •pH 6.0 – 6.8•Phosphorus (P): 45-80 ppm•Potassium (K): •CEC 4: 85-105 ppm•CEC 12: 105-135 ppm

Calcium (Ca): if pH is ok, Ca level is probably ok

Soil Fertility – pH and Nutrient Levels

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Report Number

F16200-0303Account Number

98487

To: PURDUE UNIVERSITY600 VALE PARK RDVALPARAISO, IN 46383-2545

Farm: PPACField: HT1-C, HT2-C

Date Received: 7/18/2016Attn: LIZ MAYNARD SOIL TEST REPORT Date Reported: 7/20/2016 Page: 1 of 1

Organic Phosphorus Potassium Magnesium Calcium Sodium Percent Cation SaturationSample Lab Soil Buffer CECK Mg Ca NaMatter Bray-1 Equiv Bray P2ID Number ppm ppm ppm ppm pH pH meq/100g% ppm-P ppm-P % K % Mg % Ca % H % Na

1607131C 14183 1.7 214 VH 133 M 220 VH 850 M 14 VL 6.8 6.7 5.1 27.4 63.6 3.0 0.9 1607132C 14184 1.8 110 VH 120 M 195 VH 800 M 14 VL 6.7 7.0 6.0 5.1 27.1 66.7 1.0

VL = Very Low L = Low M = Medium H = High VH = Very High

Sulfur Zinc Manganese Iron Copper Boron Soluble Nitrate Ammonium Bicarb-PSample S Zn Mn Fe Cu B Salts NO3-N NH4-N P CommentsID ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm ppm mmhos/cm ppm ppm ppm

1607131C 16 H 5.8 H 44 H 97 VH 1.9 H 0.3 VL 0.1 VL 1607132C 15 H 4.7 M 52 VH 53 VH 1.7 H 0.2 VL 0.1 VL

A&L-R

Warncke et al. 2004

pp. 12-23

Per ton of fruit, pumpkins contain about 4 lb. N1.2 lb. P2O56.8 lb. K2O

•Magnesium (Mg): None needed if•Sandy soil: >35 ppm•Fine soil: >50 ppm•≥ 3% of exchange capacity•Mg saturation more than K

•Sulfur (S): deficiency most likely on sandy soils low in organic matter•Manganese (Mn): if soil pH>6.5 apply

foliar manganese at 0.5 to 1 lb. Mn/A

Soil Fertility – pH and Nutrient Levels, cont.

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pp. 14-15

•Total 40 to 80 lb./A of Nitrogen• Take credit for previous crop, compost,

manures, soil organic matter•Apply 40 lb./A before or at planting•Banding at seeding

•Apply remainder in one or more applications beginning before vining•Presidedress nitrate test can help

determine need for sidedressing•Sources: Urea, UAN, Legume green

manure

Nitrogen Recommendations for Pumpkins

Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.Warncke et al. 2004

p. 114

•Plant Population

•Vine size•Cultivation equipment• In-row : affects fruit size more

•Planting Date

Stand Establishment

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Row In-rowFt2/plt Plts/A4 2 8 54455 2 10 43566 2 12 36306 3 18 24206 4 24 18157 4 28 15568 4 32 1361

p. 114

Soil temp > 60°FAir temp > 50°FLate May to Mid-June,

depending on harvest dateEarly July transplant for Oct. harvest?

Stand Establishment – Planting Date

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Pumpkins after Wheat in N. IndianaPlant July 13, Harvest Oct. 28. 2004

Pumpkin Yield by Planting Date

b b

b

a

a a

a ab

Uniform depthGood soil contactClosed furrowMoisturePrevent crustingEven spacingManage rodents

Stand Establishment – Direct Seeding

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Young seedlings• 1 true leaf• 3 wks old• 50-cell trays work wellCover root ball wellWater in

Stand Establishment – Transplanting

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Magic Lantern and Gold Medal, 3 irrigation treatments, Wanatah, IN Planted June 4, 2004

Weed Management

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p. 129

p. 132Stale seedbedHerbicides•Burndown or Directed/Shielded: glyphosate, gramoxone, Aim•Pre-emergence: Curbit, Dual Magnum*, Strategy, trifluralin*,

Sandea•Post-emergence broadleaves: Sandea•Post-emergence grasses: Poast, clethodim

(Select Max, etc.)CultivationMulch

Flowers open for less than a dayPollinators necessary:

Honey beesNative squash beesBumble bees

Minimize stress:Weeds (shade)High temperatureLack of waterHerbicide injury

Avoid too much nitrogen

Fruit Set

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female

male

Critical Periods• Establishment• Flowering, fruit setHot and sunny: pumpkins use 0.25

acre-inch/day, or 6,788 gal.Irrigate before

50% of AWCHis gone

Irrigation

p. 28

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Monthly Ave. Temp (°F, top) and Rainfall (in.), June-Sept. 2004

Yield increase ~ 10% with frequent irrigation(irrigate when 12 in. depth at 20 kPa)

0 to 18% increase in average pumpkin weight, depending on cultivar

Drip Irrigation - N. Indiana Trials on Sandy Loam Magic Lantern and Gold Medal direct-seeded,

and transplanted Wanatah, IN 2004

a a a

c bc b

b b a

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Harvest fully mature fruitHarvest from healthy vinesCut stems longStand fruit uprightBrush off soilWash only if necessary

Storage:Dry, off ground if possibleProtect from frostProtect from hot sun

Harvest and Postharvest

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Thank you. Questions?

Liz Maynardemaynard@purdue.edu219-548-3674