Ornamental pumpkins – varieties, plants, care and preservation

The domestic ornamental gourd is an annual climbing plant that has an enormous growth performance. Once the plants have stretched out their long tendrils, nothing can stop them and they spread quickly. But even if you can’t do anything to the original fruits so quickly, they still need a certain amount of care and now and then a little attention for a splendid growth.

• Pumpkins are heavy eaters,
• Season July to September,
• Harvest time at the beginning of August,
• prefer a sunny location,
• love humus, deep soil,
• Cultivation temperature 20 to 24 degrees Celsius,
• Plants need a lot of moisture,
• large space requirements,
• Growth up to 8 meters in height.

Biodiversity that impresses and enchants

Ornamental pumpkins, which come from the Latin name Cucurbita pepo, are becoming more and more popular and are increasingly found in our home gardens. There are only a few species that are edible and suitable for cooking in the early stages of growth. Otherwise the pumpkin is usually not used on the menu. Apart from the bitter substances already mentioned, the ornamental pumpkin also contains relatively little pulp compared to table pumpkins. In the meantime, countless types of decorative pumpkin are available in specialist shops and many hobby gardeners find it difficult to make a choice. The name is sometimes as fascinating and bizarre as its appearance and ranges from gooseneck to UFO.

Shenot Crowns

• very decorative, colorful, claw-shaped fruits
• Fruit size from 10 to 15 centimeters
• climbing plant
• color shades of green, white, yellow and orange
• The seeds ripen for about 100 days
• Use for decoration and handicraft purposes

Autumn Wing

• Fruits with pronounced wings and neck,
• Fruit size 10 to 15 centimeters,
• high number of fruits: 6 to 8 fruits per plant,
• Creeping plant
• Maturing time 110 days
• color shades of green-yellow, white, yellow or orange
• Use for decoration and handicraft purposes

Flat striped

• Fruits robust and flat-round,
• Fruit size 5 to 10 centimeters,
• high number of fruits: 10 to 20 fruits per plant,
• Creeping plant
• Maturing time 85 days
• color shades: two-tone green with cream-colored vertical stripes,
• Use for decoration and handicraft purposes

Gourd Verruqueuse

• Fruits round with a wart-like surface,
• Fruit size 8 to 12 centimeters,
• high number of fruits: 8 to 12 fruits per plant,
• Creeping plant
• Maturing time 100 days
• Color shades: yellow-greenish when young, orange when ripe
• Use for decoration and handicraft purposes

Mini Ball

• Nice round mini fruits,
• Fruit size 5 to 8 centimeters,
• Number of fruits: 6 to 8 fruits per plant,
• Creeping plant
• 90 days maturing
• color shades: discoloration with increasing ripeness from green to orange
• Use for decoration and handicraft purposes

Pear bicolor

• Pear-shaped shape,
• Fruit size 7 to 10 centimeters,
• High number of fruits: 10 to 20 fruits per plant,
• Creeping plant
• 90 days maturing
• color shades: subdivision into green-yellow with vertical stripes or monochrome
• Use for decoration and handicraft purposes

Wild crossings of the ornamental gourds can be particularly attractive. To get these great mixes, the seeds are collected and sown again the next year.

Propagation and sowing, planting

Ornamental pumpkins are relatively easy to propagate from seeds. These can be purchased from specialist retailers or taken from the fruits from the previous year. Pricking out is not an advantage due to the sensitivity of the roots. To accelerate plant growth, it is worth sowing the seeds in pots. With this method one is also safe from voracious external enemies such as snails or birds. To use a preculture, the seeds should be sown in April. For this, the seeds are placed in pairs in pots up to nine centimeters in size with humus-rich potting soil, which are stored at a temperature of 20 to 24 degrees Celsius. True to the motto: “The strongest wins”, ultimately only the plants that have grown vigorously remain in the pot. When no more frosty nights are to be expected, From around mid-May, the pre-cultivated little plants are then put in the field. It is also advantageous to harden the plants bit by bit before exposing them and thus get them used to the outside temperatures and the weather. It is important that the pumpkin plant has developed a few leaves in addition to the usual cotyledons at this point. Furthermore, the root ball should have good roots. This is the only way to guarantee rapid, vigorous growth in the open air as well. The planting distance between the individual seedlings should be around 80 centimeters. But it is also possible to sow the seeds directly outdoors in the merry month of May. It should be noted that the more space the plant is allowed to call its own, the larger and lush its growth. the precultivated little plants are then placed in the field. It is also advantageous to harden the plants bit by bit before exposing them and thus get them used to the outside temperatures and the weather. It is important that the pumpkin plant has developed a few leaves in addition to the usual cotyledons at this point. Furthermore, the root ball should have good roots. This is the only way to guarantee rapid, vigorous growth in the open air as well. The planting distance between the individual seedlings should be around 80 centimeters. But it is also possible to sow the seeds directly outdoors in the merry month of May. It should be noted that the more space the plant is allowed to call its own, the larger and lush its growth. the precultivated little plants are then placed in the field. It is also advantageous to harden the plants bit by bit before exposing them and thus get them used to the outside temperatures and the weather. It is important that the pumpkin plant has developed a few leaves in addition to the usual cotyledons at this point. Furthermore, the root ball should have good roots. This is the only way to guarantee rapid, vigorous growth in the open air as well. The planting distance between the individual seedlings should be around 80 centimeters. But it is also possible to sow the seeds directly outdoors in the merry month of May. It should be noted that the more space the plant is allowed to call its own, the larger and lush its growth. to harden the plants bit by bit before exposing them to get used to the outside temperatures and the weather. It is important that the pumpkin plant has developed a few leaves in addition to the usual cotyledons at this point. Furthermore, the root ball should have good roots. This is the only way to guarantee rapid, vigorous growth in the open air as well. The planting distance between the individual seedlings should be around 80 centimeters. But it is also possible to sow the seeds directly outdoors in the merry month of May. It should be noted that the more space the plant is allowed to call its own, the larger and lush its growth. to harden the plants bit by bit before exposing them to get used to the outside temperatures and the weather. It is important that the pumpkin plant has developed a few leaves in addition to the usual cotyledons at this point. Furthermore, the root ball should have good roots. This is the only way to guarantee rapid, vigorous growth in the open air as well. The planting distance between the individual seedlings should be around 80 centimeters. But it is also possible to sow the seeds directly outdoors in the merry month of May. It should be noted that the more space the plant is allowed to call its own, the larger and lush its growth. that at this point in time the pumpkin plant has developed a few leaves in addition to the usual cotyledons. Furthermore, the root ball should have good roots. This is the only way to guarantee rapid, vigorous growth in the open air as well. The planting distance between the individual seedlings should be around 80 centimeters. But it is also possible to sow the seeds directly outdoors in the merry month of May. It should be noted that the more space the plant is allowed to call its own, the larger and lush its growth. that at this point in time the pumpkin plant has developed a few leaves in addition to the usual cotyledons. Furthermore, the root ball should have good roots. This is the only way to guarantee rapid, vigorous growth in the open air as well. The planting distance between the individual seedlings should be around 80 centimeters. But it is also possible to sow the seeds directly outdoors in the merry month of May. It should be noted that the more space the plant is allowed to call its own, the larger and lush its growth. But it is also possible to sow the seeds directly outdoors in the merry month of May. It should be noted that the more space the plant is allowed to call its own, the larger and lush its growth. But it is also possible to sow the seeds directly outdoors in the merry month of May. It should be noted that the more space the plant is allowed to call its own, the larger and lush its growth.

Care instructions for perfect growth

Ornamental pumpkins love the warmth and should therefore have a sunny spot in the garden. When the first small fruits show up, the plants need additional watering. The plants must never be watered from above, but always only on the root stem. Ornamental pumpkins love humus rich, deep soil with a high nutrient content and should be pampered with fertilizer from time to time during the growth phase. To do this, the soil can be enriched with ripe manure or quickly fertilized with blue grain, horn shavings or rock flour. The use of nettle manure can also be very promising. However, caution should be exercised when chopping or loosening the earth, as the shallow root system of the ornamental gourds is very sensitive and easily injured. The tendril formation of the pumpkins can be kept in check with a climbing aid and brought in the desired direction of growth. The tendrils can also be shortened from time to time, depending on the space required and growth. If the outside temperatures fluctuate or are still too cool, the ornamental gourds need protection, as they cannot tolerate a harsh climate. Hoods made of transparent film with air holes provide a remedy here, as they create a warm, humid microclimate.

Preservation options

As beautiful as ornamental pumpkins are to look at, unfortunately they don’t last forever. Over time, pressure points or unsightly stains develop that are eventually covered with mold. If you want to enjoy the decorative autumn fruits a little longer, you should try some life-extending tips and tricks.

1. Perfect harvest time
If you want to prevent the ornamental pumpkins from turning too quickly into a degree of rot, you should definitely pay attention to the correct harvest time. The size of the fruit alone does not say anything about the degree of ripeness. Ornamental pumpkins should only be harvested when the stem is lignified or woody and the skin is firm and hard. The degree of ripeness can also be recognized by tapping the bowl lightly. If the knocking sounds rather hollow, the pumpkin can be harvested.

2. Correct storage is what
counts If a use for the decorative pumpkins is not found straight away or the occasion for decoration is not yet in sight, then the sensitive pumpkins must be optimally stored. A wooden box lined with styrofoam is best for this purpose. The styrofoam gently embeds the fruit and pressure points don’t stand a chance. The wooden box should be placed in a room with an ambient temperature of 15 to 20 degrees Celsius.

3. Gentle care from the outside
Spraying with hairspray has often proven its worth for preservation. In order to preserve the pumpkins optimally, they should be sprayed completely. Then let the spray film dry and the fruits can be used for decoration purposes. The advantage of this method is that it not only prevents the pumpkins from going moldy, but also gives the fruits a wonderful shine and fragrance that lasts for a long time.

4. A shiny finish
Another effective method of preserving decorative pumpkins is to embalm them with floor polish or beeswax. The waxy shell protects against moisture, pressure points and mold and gives the decorative fruits a great shine.

Pests and diseases

The plant with its fascinating fruits is considered to be very robust, but it is not immune to diseases or pests either. These can have an immense impact on growth or, in the worst case, mean the end of the plant’s life. Yellow speckled, curled leaves often indicate a viral disease that can be transmitted by aphids, for example. In this case, removal is the only solution to prevent spreading to healthy plants and fruits. The common powdery mildew also has a preference for ornamental pumpkins. The fungus can be very persistent and you can face it with effective pesticides that are sprayed on the infected area. Black mulch film, which is applied to the beds before the plants are planted, can provide effective protection against pests. However, a film-free area of ​​approximately one meter must remain free between the rows. In addition, the plants can also be protected with a fleece.

Conclusion
Even if ornamental pumpkins are not used in culinary terms, they are more and more a sought-after object of gardening art. Their fascinating variety of colors and the sometimes obscure shapes make the fruits something very special. At the same time, they are extremely undemanding and get by with minimalist maintenance. Especially in late summer, the viewer is really aware of the blaze of color when the ornamental fruits create an incomparable garden ambience. The decorative pumpkins are mainly used in autumn decorations. But that’s not all. With a lot of creativity, some types can be used to make instruments.