Dis-Chem Catalogue - 2019/10/01-2019/11/30 (Page 63)

underside of leaves and can be sprayed off with water or organic pesticide did you know? • pumpkins were recommended to tade freckles • they were used as a remedy for snake bites • the guinness record for the heaviest pumpkin was set in 2016 door mini motorcar • pumpkins are actually fruit they are 90% water • flour can also made from pumpkins • pumpkin halves were used as guides for haircuts in colonial america pumpkin with the top sliced off seeds removed and filled with milk spices and honey and baked in hot ashes harvest time pumpkins keep best when they are harvested when mature; soft ones won't press a finger nail into the fruit's skin; it's ripe if it resists pressure another indicator that pumpkins are ready for harvest is that the vine shears so a few centimetres remains pumpkin in the sun for a week before will keep for months and don't need the pumpkins at the edges of your garden and direct them to grow over lawns or paths prepare the soil with plenty of compost and aged are hungry plants that need rich soil that is well drained water after heavy no clay soils plant the seeds directly into the soil but remember the pumpkins are very sensitive to cold so the soil needs to be warm pumpkins flourish when planted in rows better drainage and allows the sun to heat the soil quicker and so speed up germination plant the seeds about 5cm deep and plant two or three seeds just apart in case one doesn't matter which way the seeds point when the plants are about 7-10cm least 60cm apart to allow them enough space to grow well water the plants when the soil dries waterings are ideal so that water reaches the roots of the plant - and water especially well when the fruit is setting don't wet the leaves of the plant when you water it as this encourages powdery mildew and pests which can kill the plant on the leaves can dry out in the sun reduce watering when the pumpkins turn control weeds with mulch or weed gently potted pumpkins it's best to plant pumpkins directly into the pot needs to be positioned in full sun and the soil should be prepared with plenty of compost and dry mature can be tied softly with stockings if necessary or trailed up a trellis meal or sweet treat feeding pumpkins regular feeding with manure or compost fertilizer high in phosphorous don't be concerned if the first flowers female blooms need to open and the the fuzzy ends of each vine to stop the vine growing and redirect its energy into vines to save space and let the plant's turn it very carefully to get even growth piece of heavy cardboard under the fruit to protect them from insects and decay check the leaves and blossoms for beetles and scrape them off pumpkin health facts in fibre the seeds are said to help prevent prostate cancer in men • there are omega 3 fatty acids in pumpkin seeds • they are low in calories • pumpkins are gluten free benefits 61