How to grow pumpkin ( Kaddu) from seeds at home

Pumpkin 

(Kaddu)

Growing, caring, harvesting, nutritional facts and health benefits

Pumpkin (kaddu) is also known as butternut pumpkin/ sweet pumpkin gramma. It can be grown at home in pots. Its very easy to grow butternut squash at home.

Best season for growing pumpkin

(monsoon/summer)

The best season for growing pumpkin begins when all risk of frostbite is eliminated. In warmer climates, it can be in middle of spring, and in cold climates, you may have to wait until the end of spring. If you plant this too early, it will not survive.

Optimal soil temperature

 If it is a little cold, the seedlings will freeze because pumpkin plants are very soft and seeds only grow in warm soil. Seeds will not germinate in cold soil.  So, your soil should be well warmed by sun about 50-80 F at a 4-5-inch depth.

Indoor kitchen gardening

Requirements

• Wooden/ plastic container
• Potting soil
• Trellis/fence
•  Organic compost
•  Pumpkin seeds

First step

Take a large wooden/ plastic container and make holes at its bottom for proper drainage of water. Fill it with mixture of half soil and half organic compost to provide the plant with nutritious environment.

Second step

Pour water in it. Add enough water into soil until enough water absorbed by soil. Soil should be well amended and well fertilized because pumpkin plants are heavy feeders.

Third step

Take pumpkin seeds and place it in that wet soil in the following way.

Its broader edge should be inside the soil and narrower edge should be above.

Fourth step

Place this container near the fence or trellis, so that pumpkin grows in vertical direction instead of spreading out of container. And container should be exposed to sunlight at least 6-8 hours per day.

Fifth step

After every two to three days, water the seeds a little until seeds germinate. And apply water soluble fertilizer after every two weeks to nourish the plant during growing season.

What is the best time to harvest?

When plant is tall, support it with trellis/ fence. And at the end harvest it when it will be ripened.

Nutritional facts of pumpkin (Per 100 gram)

Calories 45%

Health benefits of pumpkin

If you eat butternut squash, it helps to protect the body from sun exposure and dehydration.

It is a source of vitamin A, E, C and B. Vitamin A works as a potent anti-oxidant in body and protects the cells from damage that may be caused by free-radicals (unstable molecules). It is important for human eye health and vision.

Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant in body, it’s a water-soluble nutrient needed for immune system for proper functioning and in process of wound healing. It also protects the body from free-radical damage and prevents lines, wrinkles, sagging and hyper pigmentation.

Vitamin B-6 plays an important role in red blood cell formation.

Vitamin E is important in delaying the process of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer disease.

Magnesium, potassium, manganese plays an important role in bone health.

It helps in lowering blood pressure and also helpful in several diseases as cancer, asthma.

So, let’s grow pumpkin and eat more and maintain your health

Author: Yaseen. A