Pumpkin is a major vegetable crop in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. It’s not only tasty but also packed with health benefits—helps to lower blood pressure, improves vision, and acts as an antioxidant.

Pumpkin grows best in loamy to sandy loam soils with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted manure. Avoid waterlogging by ensuring good drainage—pumpkin roots are sensitive to excess water.

Temperature: 25–30°C. Rainfall: 600–1000 mm annually. Pumpkins can handle a range of climates but thrive in warm, moderately humid conditions.

Popular varieties across India include: Arka Suryamukhi, Arka Chandan, Pusa Vishwas, Pusa Akshay, Pusa Vikas, Ambili, CO1, Kashi Shishir (VRPKH-01), and Kashi Harit.

Plough 2–3 times, followed by harrowing. Prepare ridges/furrows with spacing of 2–3 meters row-to-row and 1–1.5 meters plant-to-plant. Ensure fine tilth for proper root development.

Spring/Summer: April–May Rainy Season: June–July Winter (North India): November–December (in frost-free areas) Irrigate immediately after sowing for good germination.

Apply 10–12 tons/acre of well-decomposed FYM during final ploughing. Use neem cake enriched with bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides. For better fruit development, apply two foliar sprays with 5g/litre of a multi micronutrients containing Calcium, Magnesium, Sulphur, and micronutrients like Iron, Manganese, Boron, and Zinc.

Keep soil moist, especially at flowering and fruit setting stages. Avoid overhead irrigation to prevent fungal issues. In surface irrigation, water every 4–8 days, depending on season. Ensure proper drainage in rainy season, especially on heavy soils.

Major Pests & Diseases in vegetable and their management In vegetables Fungal Diseases are most common and requires immediate attention. For better control of downy mildew in vegetables Spray Infinito @ 600 ml/acre using 200 L water. For powdery mildew control in vegetables use Nativo @ 120 g/acre during early stages , followed by Luna Experience @ 200 ml/acre during fruiting stage using 200 l of water. Viral Diseases: Pumpkin Yellow Vein Mosaic Disease (PYVMD), spread by whiteflies. For control of sucking pest like whiteflies and aphids in vegetables, spray Solomon @ 200 ml/acre in 200 L water. Before applying the chemicals, please check the product label for proper usage in different crops.

If you see leathery white patches on fruits, it’s likely sunscald. Prevent this by covering fruits with straw or maintaining strong vine growth.

Harvest when fruits turn yellow/orange-yellow and stems dry up. Cut the stem leaving 2–3 inches for better shelf life. Cure in a warm, dry place for 10 days. Store in a cool (10–16°C), dark area to preserve for longer.

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