How often and correctly to water a pumpkin in open ground and is it necessary?

Pumpkin is a frequent visitor to household plots; it is grown for food and as food for pets. How often to water pumpkin in open ground? The pumpkin root system is designed in such a way that it is able to accumulate liquid. Properly organized care, first of all watering the plant, guarantees a rich harvest in the fall.

What should be the water for irrigation?

At first glance, it seems that you can water cultivated plants with any water, but this is far from the case. Do not use cloudy or icy water. Muddy water can contain fungi and bacteria, and cold water promotes the development of fungal diseases. You should use only clean, sun-warmed water without debris, without an unpleasant odor or a large amount of salts.

Watering pumpkins is carried out with the following types of water:

• Rainy.
• Tap water (heated in the sun).
• Water from springs or springs.
• Lake, river.

Rainwater has the best chemical properties for irrigation. It is softer and suitable for all cultivated plants. Moisture may not be suitable if plants or factories are located near the site. By placing empty barrels under the gutters, you can collect moisture for irrigating the soil.

Tap water is too cold for irrigation, so it needs to be poured in the evening and allowed to stand. During the day in the sun it warms up and is then suitable for pumpkin.

Grow pumpkins in open ground It’s easy, the main thing is to pay attention to caring for it. Water from natural sources is also heated and used for irrigation only when warm. It is rich in nutrients and plants receive the necessary elements for active growth.

Before watering the beds with liquid from natural sources, it must be checked for the presence of fungi and bacteria.

What methods of watering are there?

The type of irrigation depends on the planting area. Small beds can be easily watered by hand, but large plantings will have to be irrigated automatically.

It is necessary to leave fairly large gaps between plants. This makes it more convenient to water the plants, and they will not interfere with each other.

There are several types of watering pumpkin bushes in open ground:

• Auto.
• Semi-automatic.
• Manual.
• Rain.

The most labor-intensive type is manual. This is done using a watering can or hose. Before watering, be sure to put the nozzle on the watering can, especially if the watering can is used for young sprouts. A large jet will damage fragile sprouts.

It is allowed to irrigate adult bushes using this method.

The same applies to the hose. If you irrigate the soil with one stream, the roots may be washed out. The end of the hose must be pressed with your finger or purchased a special nozzle. The jet is directed at the root system, not the foliage.

The easiest way is automatic. For this purpose, special sprinklers are placed on the beds. Turning the water jet on and off is controlled by a timer, which is set by the summer resident. This method is convenient because you don’t have to spend a lot of time on watering and the beds will always be moistened as needed.

The rain method is one of the least practical and is suitable for those summer residents whose plot is not near the house. But there is a risk here: it may not rain for a long time, and the soil will dry out. And during prolonged rains, the soil is heavily flooded, and it does not have time to dry out.

How to water a pumpkin in the heat?

Pumpkins especially urgently need irrigation during drought. You can tell that a plant is lacking moisture by the appearance of its leaves; they become wilted and drooping. On such days, the amount of water for irrigation is increased and the condition of the crop is monitored.

How often should you water your pumpkin when it’s hot and sultry? In this case, it is advisable to water the beds every 2 days. Watering is carried out in the evening, when the sun's rays are not so bright and the bushes can become saturated with liquid overnight. It is not recommended to irrigate the beds during the day, since the leaves get burned when moisture hits them and the sun bakes them.

Some gardeners water their beds early in the morning, but this method is not always successful. In summer, the sun begins to get hot early, and the water does not always have time to dry by this time. Also, under the influence of sunlight, liquid from the soil evaporates, and the root system does not have time to absorb it.

How to water pumpkins during flowering?

The beginning of the flowering period is a crucial moment during which the foundation of the future harvest is laid. Therefore, it should be given special attention. Pumpkin becomes capricious during the formation of inflorescences and any wrong action can destroy the harvest.

Features of irrigation at the stage of ovary formation will include several rules.

How to properly water and fertilize a pumpkin:

• The water must be warm and not ice-cold.
• Once a week before irrigation, the soil is loosened and weeds are removed from the beds (only excess ovaries are also removed, leaving the healthiest and largest ones).
• The amount of water should be large.
• Fertilizing is applied once every 2 weeks.

A lot of liquid is required during the formation period, but the main thing here is not to overdo it. Excessive humidity leads to the appearance of fungal diseases and rotting of the stems. If it becomes noticeable that the soil does not have time to dry out before the next watering, then it should be postponed for a while. Also during this period, only the excess ovary is removed, leaving large inflorescences.

Watering pumpkins during fruit formation

From the beginning of fruit formation, watering should be plentiful. During this period, the plant requires more moisture, as it is used for the growth of pumpkins. It is recommended to water pumpkin beds once every 10 days. In extreme heat, it is recommended to increase the number of times.

Do I need to water my pumpkin in August? This question interests many summer residents.Watering pumpkins in August is only necessary at the beginning of the month. When the pumpkins are fully formed, you can stop doing this. Cultivation care in August is minimal.

Frequency of watering pumpkins

Water is an integral element of the life of any plant crop. Plants obtain oxygen, nutrients and trace elements from water. Pumpkin is a moisture-loving vegetable crop that requires watering at all stages of the growing season. But the lack of water must be replenished regularly so that the plant does not dry out.

How often to water a pumpkin in open ground? The frequency of irrigation depends on the climate where the crop grows and weather conditions. If it rains heavily for a long time, then you can forget about watering for a long time. And renew after the soil is completely dry. To preserve the harvest and protect the fruits from rotting, you must not overdo it and not overwater the soil. If the stems begin to rot due to waterlogging of the soil, then it will not be possible to save them, so you must always take precautions.

Watering should be plentiful but rare. Their frequency depends on the climatic conditions in which the plant grows.

Frequency of watering pumpkins in open ground:

• After planting in the soil and before the first hilling, water the pumpkin 1 or 2 times a week. The required amount of water is 8–9 liters.
• For 3 weeks after the emergence of seedlings, the plants stop watering for a while.
• Watering is resumed when the ovaries begin to form and the bushes are watered once every 10 days.
• 30 days before harvesting from the plot, the pumpkin is completely stopped being watered. By observing the frequency of soil irrigation in pumpkin beds, the yield can be doubled. This aspect is especially important during prolonged heat.

You can tell that bushes need water by their appearance.

The bushes are especially in dire need after planting before hilling. Watering is carried out several times a week. When sprouts appear, watering is needed only if it is very hot outside. The second period when pumpkin needs water is the formation of fruits. And a month before harvest, watering is stopped.

How to water a pumpkin correctly?

Future productivity depends on proper watering. Many gardeners use a hose to water their garden beds with cold tap water because it is quick and convenient. It is advisable to use other containers. Saving time increases the risk of crop loss.

Features of irrigating pumpkins in open ground:

• The optimal time for watering is in the evening after 6 o'clock. The sun's rays are not so aggressive and if moisture gets on the leaves, they will not get burned. Which is very important, since burns lead to the death of bushes.
• It is recommended to pour water into barrels in the evening. During the day, the water will warm up and be at the optimal temperature for the pumpkin. It is strictly forbidden to use cold water to avoid the development of fungal diseases.

• Once a week, before watering, weed the soil and remove weeds. Organic and mineral fertilizers are also applied.
• You should not irrigate the pumpkin at the root. The soil will be washed away, and the root system will begin to poorly adhere to the soil.
• Young sprouts are watered with a small amount of water using a watering can with a fine nozzle if they begin to dry out due to the heat.

Watering is the main part of caring for any cultivated plant, on which the success of cultivating crops on the site depends.

Gardeners' recommendations for watering pumpkins using the hole method and furrows

Hole irrigation and irrigation of beds along furrows are the most common.But these two methods have advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage of hole irrigation is that the rhizome receives a lot of moisture and water consumption is minimal, the disadvantage is that the process takes a lot of time.

Furrow irrigation is used primarily in sloping areas. The downside is that a large amount of liquid is used, but the bushes do not receive some of the liquid.

6 common mistakes gardeners make when watering pumpkins

It is necessary to water the soil in open ground according to all the rules. There are several common mistakes that it is advisable to avoid.

• Irrigation of crops in the morning and afternoon, when the sun's rays are bright.
• Use cold tap water.
• Over-moisten the soil or allow it to dry out.
• Irrigate young, immature shoots.
• Water the bushes with a watering can or hose without a nozzle.
• Direct streams of water at the root system of the bushes.

All these errors lead to decreased yields and plant death.