Planting and harvesting paper pumpkin
In the past, pumpkin seeds from paper eggs were traditionally used to repel pumpkin worms. Later research showed that the seeds of this plant and its oil contain valuable active ingredients such as peponen, prostaliquid, gronfing, which play a major role in the treatment of prostate gland and the treatment of urinary tract inflammation and atherosclerosis.
Consumption of the seeds of this plant strengthens and resists the body against pathogens. Paper squash is very important in the pharmaceutical industry today and is widely grown in Germany, Austria, Hungary and Romania.
Pumpkin belongs to the genus Pumpkin. It is a herbaceous plant, annual, with hairy and creeping stems, strong roots and five-lobed leaves, where the male and female flowers are placed separately on the plant. The flowers are yellow and The female flowers are shorter than the male flowers. First the male flowers appear in clusters and then the female flowers appear separately.
The fruit is fleshy, large and spherical or more or less elongated. It is yellow or green in color. Inside each fruit there are 400 to 500 seeds in dark green or olive color. The seeds are surrounded by a clear and delicate coating. The weight of one thousand seeds is 100 to 300 grams.
It is a plant with a long day and the temperature required for seed germination is 12 degrees Celsius, but the optimum temperature for germination is 25 to 35 degrees. The growth of this plant stops at 14 degrees Celsius. The leaves are so sensitive to cold that the plant freezes and dries at a temperature of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius. This plant is able to tolerate drought. In case of prolonged drought, the roots will be able to absorb moisture from deep in the soil. The growth period of this plant is between 120 to 140 days, depending on the cultivar and climatic conditions.
Paper squash does not need special soil to grow, but soils with medium texture and rich in nutrients are suitable soils for cultivation.
Cultivation in acidic soils and cold areas is not suitable. Also, it should not be cultivated in lands with high groundwater levels. Paper squash is sensitive to most herbicides.
Planting date and intervals:
In autumn, after adding animal and chemical fertilizers to the soil, deep plowing is done. At the beginning of spring, the land is ready for seed sowing.
Once the risk of frostbite is eliminated, cultivation can be done. Because this plant is sensitive to cold, it is better to plant it late. The best time for planting in Yazd is early April to the first half of May. Seeds of 6 to 9 kg should be sown in rows at a distance of 100 to 150 cm and the distance between two plants on the row is 40 to 50 cm. It is better to cultivate in the form of barley and stacks, and at the same time the seeds are planted on top of the stacks due to the sensitivity of the plant to the plant.
Because the seeds are uncoated, they must be disinfected with suitable fungicides. Put 3 to 5 seeds in each hole.
Maintenance:
After emergence, weak plants are thinned and only one strong plant is maintained. Proper irrigation is necessary after planting and the irrigation period is 7-10 days before flowering and every 6 days after that in the climatic conditions of Yazd province. Because the stem of the plant is creepy and weeds can overcome them, it is necessary to fight weeds.
Harvesting:
The time of harvest depends on the climatic conditions of the plant. The fruits ripen gradually from mid-August. As the fruits ripen, the leaves and stems dry out. When 70 to 75% of the fruits are ripe, they should be harvested. After collecting the fruits, they break them and remove the seeds inside. They are then dried at a suitable temperature of 30 to 35 degrees Celsius. The permissible moisture content in dried seeds is 12%. Dried seeds should be packed in 40 to 50 kg bags and stored in a cool, dry place.
Seed yield, depending on climatic and soil conditions, is usually 80 to 150 tons of pumpkin fruit per hectare, from which 900 to 1500 kg of seeds are obtained.