Pumpkin Trial in Namibia
Planted outside the normal planting season, Namibia, May 2004.   

The above photo is that of a pumpkin plant 6 days after it has been planted. The very fast growth, and high % of successful germination was due to the following applications

Soil preparation before planting

The treatment of the soil was started 1 month before planting when trenches were dug, about 20 cm deep.

100 kilos per hectare of super phosphate (P2O5) was then placed in the trench and left open for 1 month.

Application 1

Just before planting, the whole trench was sprayed, using a knapsack sprayer, with 2.0 liters of Monty's 4-15-12 diluted with 180 liters of water per hectare. After this, the trench was then refilled with soil.

Application 2

The seed was moistened (NOT soaked) with Monty's 4-15-12 at the rate of 1:1 with water, then planted. After planting, the soil was then watered thoroughly and (depending on the average air temperature) the seed was left up to 10 days without being watered again. This then forces the roots to extend deep, more than 15 cms, into the soil to reach Monty’s plant food, and to escape the higher temperatures in the upper layers of soil

Figure 11 Pumpkin field on 21 May 2004

In the above photo, the pumpkin plants on the left hand side at 75 days can be observed to be exactly the same as the pumpkin plants on the right hand side at 45 days. In both cases the plants received the same treatment as in the above mentioned 30 day old crops.

Figure 12 Pumpkins from the 45 day old field on 21 May 2004

Figure 13 Pumpkins from the 75 day old field on 21 May 2004

The pumpkins from the 75 day old field will receive their last treatment of Monty’s 8-16-8 within the following week. (around 28 May 2004). Harvesting should start at 100 days.

Comments:

Expected yields from pumpkin and melon plants:

Melons: 3.5 melons per plant with an expected mass of 2 – 2.5 kg per melon

Pumpkins: 3 pumpkins per plant with an expected mass of 20 – 25 kg per pumpkin

In the case of both crops, Mr Prins expect to harvest 14 days earlier than the planned harvesting date.

It must be stressed that all of these crops have been planted outside the normal planting season. 

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