Fun fact: This vegetable isn’t really a pumpkin
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The most intriguing fact about these miniature pumpkin-look-alikes is that they are ornamental eggplants.
They grow moderately fast, usually ready for harvesting about 75 days after sowing from seeds.
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Solanumspecies are also callednightshades.
Three feet apart is ideal; 30 inches is the minimum planting distance.
Soil
This plant requires rich, well-draining soil.
Pumpkin on a stick@bluehillflowerfarm
Mixcompostinto the soil before planting.
Water
This plant needs moisture but does not like wet, soggy soil.
Generally, a5-10-10 NPK fertilizeris good for tomatoes and eggplant.
Pumpkin on a stick ripening.Marco Schmidt/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.
It is low in nitrogen, keeps the foliage healthy, and allows the plant to focus on fruit-bearing.
Pruning
Like tomatoes, pumpkins on a stick rarely need pruning.
Propagating Pumpkins on a Stick
The best way to propagate pumpkins on a stick is by seeds.
Pumpkin on a stick in bloom.Agnieszka Kwiecień/ Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license
Because they closely resemble eggplants, label the pots at seeding time.
A heat mat helps speed germination.
Potting and Repotting Pumpkin on a Stick
you could grow only one plant per pot.
You will need large pots, about 24 to 36 inches deep and wide.
it’s possible for you to use terra cotta, plastic, or ceramic pots with ample drainage holes.
Expect each plant to grow 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.
If the fruits are not yet ripe, cover the plants if an early frost hits.
Frost will kill the leaves.
Particular pests gravitate to nightshade plants at different parts of their growing cycle.
As the leaves grow, common invaders include aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and leafminers.
Once fruiting occurs, you might see hornworms and stinkbugs join the buffet line of insects.
To control an insect invasion, tryorganic measureslike insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils that are non-toxic if consumed.
The plant might be affected by fungus in humid weather, which you could treat with a general fungicide.
They are attractive to pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Flowers do not need deadheading.
Disappearing Seedlings
One day your seedlings are there; the next, they’re gone.
If your seedlings have mysteriously disappeared overnight, there’s a good chance you have cutworms.
They chew through the stems of young seedlings at the soil line at night.
Hornworms are fat, hard-to-miss larvae that are a common culprit.
Flea beetles jump far and quick.
Flea beetles lay their eggs near the soil line, usually around the start of summer.
The larvae eat plant roots.
Use neem oil, organic insecticide spray, or diatomaceous earth to curb an infestation.
To prevent flea beetles and other common pests, use row covers during the growing season.
Check the water level and give more water on particularly sweltering days.
If you notice webbing, it could be a sign of spider mites.
Use insecticidal soaps or neem oil on mites.
Insufficient air circulation usually causes powdery mildew.
If it’s all over, you might need to start over.
As the fruit dries, it turns a pumpkin-orange hue.
The dried fruit lasts for years, and its color will darken over time.
Pumpkins on a stick are often used in stir-fry dishes.
They have a mild taste when green, but they develop a bitter, peppery flavor as they redden.
They are ready to harvest when the skin is very shiny.
Also, you will have to hand-pollinate these plants to ensure they bear fruit.
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