Cucurbita pepo 'Jack Be Little'
Pumpkin
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Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo 'Jack Be Little') - Description
Adorable, miniature pumpkins, just 3" across and 2" high, for fall/winter decorations. Each plant bears 6 or 7 fruits. Plant 4-6 seeds in groups 6-8' apart, or sow in rows, thinning to one plant every 2-3'. 25 seeds per packet. Plants about 5 groups.
Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo 'Jack Be Little') - Blooming
Pumpkins produce separate male and female flowers. Thus, cross-pollination needs to occur. Pollination is usually conducted by bees or other insects. If you live in an area with a low bee population, or if you use insecticide or are only growing a couple plants, there is a high chance that your pumpkins will not get pollinated. The best solution is to pollinate the flowers yourself, a process known as hand pollination.In midmorning, find a male flower--they have long thin stems behind the flower and no small fruits--and remove it from the plant. Rid of all the petals so that the stamen with the pollen remains. Then, locate female flowers that are open and run the stamen across the insides of the flowers. Try your best to hit all segments of the female flower with the pollen.Pollination is successful if the female flower dies and the tiny pumpkin starts to grow. If pollination did not occur, the baby pumpkin will shrivel and die.
Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo 'Jack Be Little') - Growth
Pumpkins are warm-season annuals that need sufficient amounts of heat to grow well. You can let pumpkins run across a lawn, or trellis smaller-fruited varieties on a fence or other substrate. Make sure to use mesh bags or netting to support the fruits though.
Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo 'Jack Be Little') - Planting
Sow seeds directly into the ground in spring when the temperature outside is 70°F. In areas with cool summers, it is best to start the seeds indoors about 4-6 weeks before the last frost date. Transplant the seedlings only after the threat of frost has passed.Before planting, work in a 2-3" layer of compost into the soil. Where summers are cool, it is recommended to lay black plastic mulch over the beds 2 weeks before planting as to preheat the soil. Poke holes in the plastic and set the transplants into the holes.Sow the seeds 2-4' apart in rows spaced 5-8' apart.You may want to plant your pumpkins away from other squashes as members within the squash family are able to cross-pollinate.
Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo 'Jack Be Little') - Pest
Watch out for cucumber beetles that like to feed on young pumpkin plants and flowers. These beetles are also known for spreading harmful diseases such as mosaic and bacterial wilt. Rotating your crops and covering the plants are two good ways to prevent infestation. Applying a thick mulch around the plants will deter egg laying by the beetles and will also hinder larvae from climbing from the soil to the fruit. Handpicking is also an option when it comes to removing these pests. You can also spray insecticides like spinosad or carbaryl to rid of cucumber beetles.Aphids can also be troublesome to pumpkin plants. Be certain to remove feeding aphids with high-powered water sprays or insecticidal soap.Pumpkins are vulnerable to fusarium wilt and powdery mildew disease. Protect your pumpkins from these diseases by maintaining proper spacing, removing all weeds, and choosing disease-resistant varieties.
Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo 'Jack Be Little') - Interesting facts
Pumpkins are members of the squash family, along with the winter squash, summer squash, and gourd. Squashes are part of the ancient Native American "three sisters" garden, which contains the vegetables-- squash, beans, and corn. Iroquois legend states that corn, bean, and squash are three inseparable sisters that will only thrive when grown together--typically on a rounded mound of soil. Corn is the oldest sister, planted in the center and stands tall. Squash is the next sister who grows over the mound, protecting the other sisters from the growth of weeds and shading the soil with her leaves to keep it cool and moist. Bean is the third sister that climbs over the squash and up the corn, binding the three sisters together as she reaches for the sun.
Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo 'Jack Be Little') - Soil and irrigation
Needs rich, fertile soil and plenty of water to thrive. Provide 1-2" of water per week. Increase dose during dry periods. Enhance water retention by providing a mulch after the soil has warmed in warm-summer areas. In cool regions, make sure to apply the black plastic mulch described above before planting.
