To create an interesting composition on your site, you do not have to make garden figures yourself , you can simply cultivate decorative pumpkins. With their help, it is easy to decorate the gazebo, canopy and even an old cart or stump. From this article you will learn what kind of decorative pumpkins there are and how to grow them correctly.
Varieties of decorative pumpkins
Most often planted among decorative pumpkins are varieties that look similar in appearance to the fruits of other plants: "Orange", "Mandarinka", "Arbuzik", "Grusha", "Lemon". Since the Halloween feast is becoming increasingly popular, its symbol of the little white-thinned pumpkin "Baby Boo" is also a success.
An unusual form of ornamental pumpkin is particularly distinguished chalmoid ("Little Red Riding Hood"), star, warty and bottle-shaped. In any variety, the fruit itself rarely exceeds the size of 15 cm in diameter.
Often in the horticultural stores are sold mixtures of seeds of decorative pumpkins, combined according to a certain feature (shape or color). As a result, you will get a lot of interesting small fruits.
Planting and care of decorative pumpkin
Despite the strange shape of the fruit, the cultivation of the decorative pumpkin is the same as the usual one. In the southern regions, it is possible to sow it in the middle of May directly into the soil with 2 seeds every 50-60 cm. For better germination, they must be germinated in advance. As a result, only one plant will remain in the hole - a stronger one. The place where you want to plant a pumpkin should be very sunny and have a good support, and the soil should be fertile, the harvest will depend on it. Crafty varieties can be planted in flowerpots, but they are rare in our country.
If in your area even the smallest frosts happen in the second half of May, then such a pumpkin should be grown only through seedlings, which are recommended for planting in the open ground in June.
Whatever method the pumpkin has been planted, it is necessary to care for it as follows:
- often and abundantly watered;
- regularly feed;
- loosen and then mulch the soil around the stem.
To keep the unusual fruits longer, they must be collected before the first cold.
Children will be especially interested in growing seeds of decorative pumpkins. They grow quickly, they do not require complex care, and the resulting fruit of an unusual shape can be used later for making an autumn craft or decorating an interior for Halloween .