pumpkin vine on a joint is actually an edible type of Solanum melongena that also makes a fun capitulation decoration .
While the yield of these fantastical plants might appear like tinypumpkins growingalong an just stem , they are , in fact , atype of eggplant . Believed to herald from Africa , they have been grown for hundred of old age ( if not longer ) for their edible fruit , leaves , and stems . Aside from being edible , the bright colored fruitsmake first-class gloam laurel wreath .
Denny Schrock
Credit:Denny Schrock
Where to Plant
Plant Cucurbita pepo on a pin in a garden location with full Dominicus and give it plenty of space for air circulation . broadly speaking , these plant do not get especially bombastic ( about 3 pes tall by 2 feet wide ) , but they may profit from usingtomato cages . plant life on the south side of a construction , fence , or other construction in cooler clime to aid bear on additional solar heat .
How and When to Plant
Pumpkin on a stick is cold sensitive and should be planted outdoors after thedanger of hoarfrost has passed in natural spring . Like tomatoes , these plants also benefit from fertile , loamy soils with effective drainage and pile of wet .
Plant Care Tips
Light
Like most yield crops , pumpkin vine on a stickrequires full sun(8 + minute ) for best growth and fruit production . If plant are lead off indoors before planting in the garden , artificial lighting can be beneficialand will help avoid etiolation ( lengthening of the stem in search of light ) , which can conduce to thin , weak plants .
Soil and Water
Sow your industrial plant in rich , loamysoil with fantabulous drainagebut good water keeping . Add compost to the soil before planting , and if needed , amend with lime , phosphoric , and atomic number 20 about three weeks before planting .
Pumpkin on a stick needs logical wet to acquire large , fully formed fruits , but it does n’t do well in sloppy soil . When it ’s very spicy , give it 1 to 2 column inch of urine per week or more if the soil feels dry .
Temperature and Humidity
Like its relatives , tomato , pumpkin on a stick thrives in the summertime heat and grow quickly in the right conditions . Whilenative to the tropics , these plant do not take high humidity and might yield to fungous and bacterial infections in especially humid location without decent airflow .
Fertilizer
While these plants will thrive when fed , avoid using a plant food with large amounts of atomic number 7 ( N ) . supernumerary nitrogen will leave in overly leafy plant life and fewer fruit . Like tomato plant , pumpkin on a control stick may also benefit from a fertilizer mixing containing calcium toavoid blossom end rot . Tomato fertilizers typically make a sound choice for use .
Pruning
Pruning is not usually necessary for Cucurbita pepo on a stick . However , broken subdivision , excess side shoots , and otherwise unsuitable growing can be crop off at any fourth dimension .
Pests and Problems
While generally insensible by important disease , pumpkin on a stick can succumb to a variety of pests . distinctive pests might include aphid , whiteflies , mealybugs , tomato hornworms , and scale . Because pumpkin vine are edible and used as ornamentation , always use an organic pesticide . A worldwide - purpose insecticidal soap or pyrethrin can control most dirt ball pestilence , while BT can be good against hornworms .
Fungal infection can take delay in areas with gamy humidness . Use a copper - establish antifungal agent and / orneem oilto thoroughly drench plant in the evening or early morning . bump off any leave-taking or other organic matter from around the base of the plant life as well to avoid reinfection by spores .
How to Propagate Pumpkin on a Stick
Cucurbita pepo on a stick is well propagate from seeds .
To get a school principal bulge out on the develop season , startseeds indoorsin containers about 6 - 8 weeks before your last frost escort . Seeds take about 5 - 10 days to sprout . After they have produced their third or fourth set of leaves , carefullytransplant seedling into the gardenafter hardening them off .
Due to their eventual tumid sizing , pumpkins on a stick should be planted in the ground , but they can be grown successfully in containers . produce only one works per muckle since they get 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 groundwork broad . habituate large pots at least 24 to 36 inch cryptical and wide to ensure plentiful growth and fruiting . Any material is fine as long as there ’s copious drain .
Companion Plants for Pumpkin on a Stick
Whether grown in pots or in the garden , Cucurbita pepo on a stick canbenefit from fellow traveler plantingwithFrench marigoldsto help to deter nematode and roundworm from aggress the plants ’ theme .
Harvesting Pumpkin on a Stick
Once the fruit have fully matured to their burnished orange tree colouring , pumpkins on a control stick are easy toharvest for medal . Simply use a brace of pruners / shearers to cut the stem well below the yield and attend in a cool , dry position . Eventually , the green stem will dry out , and the fruits will remain orange . Alternatively , individual yield can be swerve from the main stem .
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes , as a member of the genusSolanum , Cucurbita pepo on a stick is toxic to some mintage and should be kept aside from pawl , computed tomography , and horses .
human being have been dish up up pumpkin vine on a stick and other types of garden egg for hundreds of years . The shoots , leave-taking , and yield of pumpkin on a stick are all edible .
autumn pumpkin on a joystick raise proficient with plenty of sunlight and way to scatter their roots in the soil , which can be challenging conditions to meet indoors . To get as a houseplant , pumpkin on a stick demand a big wad andartificial grow lightsfor proper fruit yield .
