Pumpkins take a lot of space, but many gardeners plant one or two clumps, or hills, of them for fall decoration and pies. Some save space by sowing a few seeds in a row of corn, combining two plants in the same area. Others train the vines to grow on supports. Still others plant bush pumpkins, only 3 feet across.
Each block should weigh 1 to 2 ounces and contain one to three eyes. Spread the pieces out in a single layer in a well- ventilated and well-lighted place for four or five days before planting. To minimize loss from rot, dust the pieces with captan.
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.
If it becomes necessary to cultivate, penetrate the soil no deeper than 1 inch. When the plants become 8 to 10 inches tall, use a hoe to pile the soil up around the stems to a height of 3 to 4 inches; this hilling-up with soil protects the potatoes and keeps them from turning green. Do not fertilize.
From late summer on, remove any blossoms or new fruit to channel the plants' energies toward the fruit that have already formed. For a huge exhibition pumpkin, allow one fruit to develop on each vine, and water heavily. To train vine varieties to grow upward, follow the directions on page 30. To grow pumpkins with corn, sow single seeds every 10 feet or so in the rows of corn.
Potatoes are grown from pieces of seed potatoes, which are specially developed for planting; be sure to buy those labeled "certified" - they are relatively free of diseases and often produce double the crop obtainable with noncertified potatoes. Do not plant potatoes bought at a food store - they may have been shipped in from another part of the country and may not grow well where you live. They may also have been treated with a chemical that inhibits sprouting and will prevent them from growing.
Each block should weigh 1 to 2 ounces and contain one to three eyes. Spread the pieces out in a single layer in a well- ventilated and well-lighted place for four or five days before planting. To minimize loss from rot, dust the pieces with captan.
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.
If it becomes necessary to cultivate, penetrate the soil no deeper than 1 inch. When the plants become 8 to 10 inches tall, use a hoe to pile the soil up around the stems to a height of 3 to 4 inches; this hilling-up with soil protects the potatoes and keeps them from turning green. Do not fertilize.
From late summer on, remove any blossoms or new fruit to channel the plants' energies toward the fruit that have already formed. For a huge exhibition pumpkin, allow one fruit to develop on each vine, and water heavily. To train vine varieties to grow upward, follow the directions on page 30. To grow pumpkins with corn, sow single seeds every 10 feet or so in the rows of corn.
Potatoes are grown from pieces of seed potatoes, which are specially developed for planting; be sure to buy those labeled "certified" - they are relatively free of diseases and often produce double the crop obtainable with noncertified potatoes. Do not plant potatoes bought at a food store - they may have been shipped in from another part of the country and may not grow well where you live. They may also have been treated with a chemical that inhibits sprouting and will prevent them from growing.
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Once your vegetable seedlings are up and growing in the garden, they will have to compete for moisture and nutrients with weeds, which will flourished in the rich, well-prepared soil every bit as well as the vegetables in the vegetable garden.
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