BIG PUMPKIN – बड़ा पेठा (10 Seed)

🌱 Crop Name
Pumpkin (Petha / Ash gourd)
Botanical name: Benincasa hispida

📅 Best Sowing Time
February–March (summer crop)
June–July (kharif crop – best for big size)

🌞 Climate Requirement
Warm climate
Temperature: 25–35°C
Full sunlight (minimum 7–8 hours/day)

🌍 Soil Requirement
Well-drained loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5
Avoid water-logging ❌

🌰 Seed Selection (MOST IMPORTANT)
Use desi / open-pollinated seeds
Avoid hybrid seeds if you want very big fruits
Seed rate: 800 g – 1 kg per acre

🌱 Sowing Method
Pit Method (Best for BIG size)
Pit size: 2 × 2 × 2 feet
Distance: 10 × 10 feet
Fill pit with:
8–10 kg well-decomposed FYM
1–2 kg vermi compost
A handful of wood ash
👉 Sow 2–3 seeds per pit, later keep only 1 healthy plant

💧 Irrigation
First irrigation: Immediately after sowing
Later:
Summer: Every 5–7 days
Rainy season: As required
Avoid excess water after fruit set (prevents cracking)

🌿 Nutrition for BIG Fruit
Organic Feeding Schedule
15–20 days after sowing
Jeevamrut / Vermiwash drenching
At flowering stage
Panchagavya spray (3%)
After fruit set
Banana stem extract / Seaweed extract spray
👉 High potassium (K) = bigger fruit size 🍈

🐝 Pollination (SECRET for BIG SIZE)
Encourage bees
Do hand pollination early morning (5–7 am)
Male flower pollen → Female flower
This alone can increase size 30–40% 😲

✂️ Pruning & Fruit Selection
Allow only 1–2 fruits per plant
Remove extra flowers & fruits
Keep fruit on dry straw or wood plank (avoid rotting)

🐛 Pest & Disease Control (Organic)
Fruit fly:
Neem oil spray (3–5 ml/L)
Powdery mildew:
Buttermilk + turmeric spray

⏳ Harvesting
Ready in 90–120 days
Harvest when:
Skin turns hard
White ash layer appears
Bigger fruit = longer maturity

🏆 Expected Yield
Normal fruit: 4–8 kg
With proper care: 10–15 kg
Some farmers get even 18+ kg 💪