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Y9490 - CURCUBITA PEPO, SMALL-FRUITING ORNAMENTAL GOURDS
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'Small Warts'
Globular shape, rough-textured warty surface.
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TECHNICAL INFORMATION |
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| Life Cycle: | |
Annual
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| Familiy, Origin: | |
Curcurbitaceae, Southern USA
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| Sitelocation: | |
Full sun
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| Garden Height: | |
12,5 cm
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4,92 inch
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| Crop Time: | |
Plug crop: 2-3 weeks; Green pots: 4-6 weeks
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| Sell Period: | |
May-June
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| Seed Form: | |
Raw Seed
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| Seed Count: | |
18 K/g
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| Sowing Time: | |
Indoor forcing: April-Mai for green pots, Outdoor forcing (frost free): May
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| Sowing Method: | |
1 seed per plug
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| Germination: | |
5-10 days at 18-22 °C in media with low soluble salt levels and pH: 5.8-6.5. Before sowing treat substrate with fungicide. Cover seed with vermiculite, sand or substrate after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. The roots are sensitive to wet substrates.
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| Plug Culture: | |
From Stage II* reduce the moisture, but the plug should not dry out and reduce the temperature to 16-18 °C. Do not let soluble salt level rise above 0,75 EC. Start fertilization at 50-75 ppm nitrogen in a well balanced formula. During Stage III and Stage IV fertilization levels can be increased up to 200-300 ppm.
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| Growing On: | |
2-3 weeks after sowing transplant 1 plant into a pot (8-12 cm): Plant plants (frost free) in 100x100 cm space. Protect the plants with cover (fleece or mulch) against weed and drying out. In autumn the cover helps to keep the fruits clean.
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| Media: | |
Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 15-30 % clay, 0-15 % parts (e. g. perlite, sand), 3 kg/m³ complete balanced fertilizer, iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.8-6.5. Field: moist and with high nutrition level garden soil. Standard fertilization: 80-100 g/m² of a slow release fertilizer.
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| Temperature: | |
Grow at 12-17 °C or outdoors. Gourds do not tolerate temperatures below 4 °C. Therefore protect the plants against cool night temperatures. The plants for early selling should be hardened.
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| Fertilization: | |
High fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 300-400 ppm nitrogen, using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. High nitrogen levels are the cause that the foliage gets too large. Take care of a good phosphate and iron supply. Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times.
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| Cultural Hints: | |
Cultivate as bright as possible. Keep constant water and nutrition supply, because nutrition and water deficiency is cause that the fruits remain too small.
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Hint
The cultural recommendations are based on results from trials conducted under Central European conditions. Different conditions in other parts of the world may lead to deviations in results achieved.
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