Cucurbita pepo var. ovifera
Ornamental pumpkin
Common names: Decorative pumpkin
Photo: Public Domain · Source
This description was machine-translated.
Description
The ornamental pumpkin is a trailing decorative variety of garden pumpkin that bears small, often brightly patterned and slightly bitter fruits. It is not intended for consumption, many cultivars contain bitter cucurbitacins and are inedible or even poisonous. As an autumn decoration for tables and wreaths, it can be kept for months.
Care instructions
Sow from May directly into the garden or start indoors in April and transplant to a sunny fence or trellis where it can climb. Water at the roots during dry periods and allow the fruits to ripen to full color in October. Cut them off with a stem stub, then dry and store them over winter.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
humus-rich, loamy, well-drained, nutrient-rich
Feeding
Heavy feeder
Companion planting
Good neighbors
legume family (Fabaceae)
Beans and peas enrich the soil with nitrogen, which cucurbits, as heavy feeders, can make good use of.
For example PeaPole beanBroad beanMarker peaSugar peaRed bean and 30 more species in the catalogue
Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)
Rather not
nightshade family (Solanaceae)
You should avoid planting potato and cucumber together because they share disease pathogens such as leaf and brown rot and stand in each other's way as strong feeders.
For example TomatoSweet pepperCocktail tomatoEggplantCape gooseberryChili and 8 more species in the catalogue
Source: basic crop-rotation rule
Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.
Some of these explanations were machine-translated.
Notes from real gardens
What other gardeners have written down about this variety, anonymous and voluntary.
No notes shared yet. Will you be the first to write one down?