Pumpkin farming is among the crops grown in Kenya for consumption and sale. Pumpkins are used as a breakfast snack, cooked with other ingredients, and consumed with any meal. But how do you grow it? This post illustrates how to grow pumpkins successfully in Kenya.

Pumpkins are grown from seeds, and the following is a guide on how to grow pumpkins successfully in Kenya:

1. Select Suitable Land for Pumpkins 

You need to select land that gives good pumpkin production. Pumpkins are grown in lowlands up to 2500m above sea level. The land should be fertile and well-drained with neutral soil PH. Also, the area to be planted should receive adequate sunshine for at least six hours, and the ground should be moist.

2. Determine Pumpkin Variety to Plant

There are different varieties of pumpkins growing in Kenya. These varieties are categorized according to shape, color, ridges, spots, and stripes, and the popular ones include white giant, Israel giant, Egyptian giant, Squach, and Dola.

You can select the best pumpkin variety to plant, which is of good quality, to maximize the production of pumpkins.

3.  Preparation of Land

Remove all types of weeds from the land and plough it to a fine tilth. This will ensure proper root penetration as well as the incorporation of organic manure to improve soil fertility while cultivating.

4. Planting of Pumpkins

During planting, it is important to prepare mounds of soil to help improve drainage and make it easier for the sun to penetrate the soil to encourage germination. Before planting pumpkin seeds, soak them overnight to make the sprout a little smoother. 

Pumpkins are planted in two-by-two-foot holes that are one foot deep, and after placing seeds in holes, cover them to protect them from birds and allow for easier germination.

5. Application of Fertilizer

The application of fertilizer is good because it makes pumpkins of high quality and increases soil fertility. Therefore, you can apply organic fertilizer such as rotten cow dung and chicken manure, whereby this manure will be mixed with topsoil before you plant.

6. Weed Control 

Weed control is another vital way to reduce competition for nutrients, sunlight, space, and water. Weeds can be controlled by carefully uprooting them or digging them out with a hoe to avoid damaging pumpkin vines. 

Also, you use herbicides, either organic or chemical. Weeding should be done at most three times per year to keep the farm free from weeds.

Alternatively, you can intercrop pumpkins with okra, moringa, sunflower, or pawpaw to prevent the growth of weeds.

7. Irrigation of Pumpkin Plants 

Water the plant regularly to promote nutrient uptake and proper fruit formation. It is done to reduce waterlogging and direct water to roots and vines but not to leaves.

In dry weather, it is good to irrigate your plants at intervals of 3 days. When the plants are in the flowering and fruiting stage, irrigation should be increased.

8. Control Pests and Diseases Affecting Pumpkin Plants

Pumpkins are affected by pests and diseases, which lower yields. The common pests that attack pumpkins are aphids, moles, mice, squirrels, stray rabbits, white flies, the African melon ladybird, and fruit flies, and you can control them either by trapping or spraying.

Also, common diseases include bacterial wilt, downy mildew, and powdery mildew, which are controlled by spraying fungicides, watering only roots and vines in the morning or during the day, and removing affected plants.

9. Harvesting 

The harvesting of pumpkins will be determined by the variety planted and how the farm is managed.  They are harvested when the pumpkin skin reaches its full colour and hardens.

Pumpkins are plucked from vines, leaving stalks on fruit to enhance the fruit’s shelf life. After plucking them, you wash them to remove dirt, allow them to dry, and store them in a cool, dry place.

Pumpkins take about three to five months to grow to maturity and are ready for sale or use, depending on the variety planted.