Kalabasa (Cucurbita maxima L.), known as squash in English, is rich in vitamins and minerals such as A, C, B1, B6, B3, and potassium. It also has beta-carotene, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The crop thrives well in any soil but requires a temperature between 18 to 30 degrees Celsius. The planting dates depend on the area’s elevation. Plant the kalabasa between October and December for flat locations and between May and July for hilly spots.
Although kalabasa can thrive in any soil, it prefers loose soil before planting, so cultivating it twice or thrice at one-week intervals can work wonders because it helps prevent weed growth. After the last tilling, create furrows to plant seeds. When it’s sunny, make the grooves 2.5 meters apart and three meters apart during rainy days.
There are two ways to plant kalabasa seeds. The first is through direct planting. Start by planting one kalabasa seed in every mound at a one-meter distance before covering it with soil. During the rainy season, plant above the seedling atop the furrow to keep it from going bad due to flooding.
In the meantime, the other way to plant kalabasa is by transferring it to the soil after growing it in a separate container. This method requires a medium of loose earth, carbonized rice hull, and organic fertilizer at a 1:1:1 ratio. Place in plastic bags, potlets, or seedling trays, then water. Plant one seed per outlet or seedling tray hole, then place in a shaded area and water frequently when needed. Transfer to a garden or farm 15 days after it sprouted. Ideal planting hours are during the afternoon or on cloudy days.
When adding fertilizer in lowlands, use animal manure or compost in the soil before planting the seeds. On the other hand, use 100 grams of organic fertilizer and one tablespoon of complete fertilizer in every spot before planting in highland areas.
Place one tablespoon of urea in every furrow every month after planting or when the kalabasa plant reaches one meter. Add 10 grams of potash and 60 grams of solophos per plant two weeks after the first application. Fertilizing with urea or potash every 15 days, depending on the plant’s condition, is also advisable.
Water the kalabasa plants once weekly using one liter of water per mound. It’s also vital to water the plants after adding fertilizer. Avoid watering when it reaches its fruiting stage.
Aphids and the 28-spotted lady beetle are the primary insects frequent in kalabasa. On the other hand, powdery mildew and mosaic virus are the usual diseases that cause significant damage. Avoid these pests and diseases by regularly keeping the farming or gardening area clean and removing weeds seven to 14 days after they sprout and play lucky jet casino.
Kalabasa plants can be harvested in 30 to 40 days after pollination. Harvest those without any signs of pests or diseases.
This information is from the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI)