Influence of Mulches on Crop Establishment and Yield of Direct Seeded and Transplanted Pumpkins (1997-1998) - 4 pages
Pumpkins are a high-value warm-season crop that should respond well to the benefits supplied
by soil mulches. Pumpkins can be established by either direct-seeding or via transplanting.
Direct seeding represents a lower cost option however, soil temperatures in the spring are rarely near the optimum for germination of pumpkins. Soil mulches should enhance the germination of pumpkins as they increase soil temperatures. Higher soil temperatures under mulches should also accelerate crop development, increase yields and/or accelerate crop maturity. The benefits of mulch should be most apparent when slow-developing cultivars are grown or when growing conditions are less than ideal.
In 1997 and 1998, the influence of mulches on two cultivars of pumpkin established from seeds
or transplants were evaluated at the Plant Science Department Research Station in Saskatoon.
The cultivars tested were;
“Spirit” -a relatively early maturing cultivar which produces excellent yields of medium
sized fruit.
“Howden” - a later maturing cultivar that produces large fruit with excellent colour
The mulch treatments were; a) bare ground, b) black plastic mulch and c) clear plastic mulch.
