PUMPKINS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 27

PUMPKINS

To grow large pumpkins a hole should be dug, about two feet deep and three rfeet squara, and well-rotted manure to a depth of two or three feet placed in it. A four-inch drain tile-should be placed in an upright pbsition in the centre and the manure and soil piled up round the tile to form a hill. When .the soil is thoroughly warm seed may be so-vyn round the tile and later the seedlings should be reduced to three of the strongest. Each week several buckets of water should be poured into the tile—this will percolate through the hill'and keep the manure moist. When the fruit sets reduce to one or two to each vine.' The leading shoots should be pinched to keep them within bounds as they are rampant growers, and also to encourage lateral growths upon which the fruit usually sets. Animal manures are hard to procure, but good results may be obtained by utilising lawn clippings arid vegetable refuse, weeds, etc., in plaice of tbe manure. light;sprinkling Of sulphate of ammonia- oyer the green stuff before adding the Isoil will im^ prove it. Although the above is the best method to obtain extra large pumpkins, quite satisfactory returns may be had by growing in ariy good garden soil on the level. It must be remembered that it'is useless to atteriiptto start these vegetables until the weather has become hot and the ground is thoroughly warmed up. [ Trouble is sometimes experienced in getting fruit to set. This is usually due to imperfect polliriisation. To insure success in this, pollen should be lifted froni the anthers of the male flower and applied gently to the stigma of the female flower. A small camel's hair brush or a feather may be used for-this."1

It is easy to distinguish between male and female flower by the embryo fruit showing at the base of' the latter.