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How to Grow Pumpkins
By Rachel Caine on February 20, 2009 |
Total Viewed: 377 |
| Post by : Nataliya Piterova |
| Category: House |
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To prepare seed potatoes for planting, first slice off and discard the end of each potato on which there is a cluster of eyes-little depressions from which sprouts will rise (other eyes are scattered, not clustered, over the rest of the potato). Then cut the potatoes into blocks about the size of small eggs.
The variety to plant depends upon where you live and whether you want early potatoes for eating in summer and fall or late potatoes for storage.
Pumpkins are unusual among vegetables in that they grow well in light shade as well as in full sunshine. They do best in soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Sow seeds outdoors when night temperatures are expected to stay above 55 for about four months. For vine and bush varieties, prepare hills by digging holes 1 foot deep and 2 feet across; space the holes for vine types 8 to 10 feet apart, for bush types 4 feet apart.
Put into each hole a bushel of compost or well-rotted cow manure, then return the soil, forming a mound about 4 inches high. Plant four to six seeds 1 inch deep in a circle on top of each hill. When seedlings appear, cut off all but one or two of the strongest plants.
Harvest young potatoes whenever the tubers are large enough to be worth digging up-usually about the time blossoms appear, seven to eight weeks after planting. Do not dig up entire plants-instead, dig carefully around the plants and remove some of the larger tubers, leaving the smaller ones to continue to grow.
Potatoes for winter storage should be dug two to three weeks after the tops have died to the ground. Dig potatoes in dry weather, and take care not to bruise the skin. Dry potatoes for winter storage for two to three hours, then store them in a cool dark place, preferably at 40 to 45, to keep them from turning green and developing an unpleasant flavor. Before cooking, cut out all eyes and any greenish or spoiled parts. Potato tops, sprouts and green sections contain the poisonous substance solanine. |
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