Regulate insomnia and anxiety states
Pumpkin seeds contain a high level of tryptophan (22 mg/gram of protein per pumpkin seed), the precursor amino acid for serotonin – which in turn converts to melatonin, the “sleep hormone,” at night. Research published in 2007 in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology found that when pumpkin seeds are taken in combination with glucose, there is an effect that helps you fall asleep.
A 2005 study published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience found that pumpkin seeds, in combination with carbohydrates, are as effective as the pharmaceutical tryptophan in reducing the time we stay awake at night.
How to consume pumpkin seeds
According to the EAT CLEAN Food Philosophy, these are some ways you can consume these delicious seeds:
The ideal is to consume the seeds raw since they lose some properties when roasting or cooking them.
-You can mix it in your favourite salads or add them crushed in soups, creams and spoon dishes.
-They can be eaten added to vegetable yogurts, oatmeal porridge, smoothies.
-One way to benefit from the properties of pumpkin seeds is to consume them in the form of flour that you can easily add to your green or protein shakes.
In short, pumpkin seeds are a great help to keep us cheerful, both inside and out. The most surprising thing is to think about how many benefits to our health we lose by discarding them when we cook pumpkin
Sow properly
sowing pumpkin
Accommodate the earth by making piles and make the top hole of 5 cm and a minimum of 2.5 cm deep, this will allow the water to run more, and the sun’s rays will heat them more.
Then add the seeds (2 to 3 per hole) through the end you want.
Plant in wide rows depending on the pumpkin variety. If they are of the Bush type, they need 2.5 m of space in all directions, and if they are vines, a space of 3.5 m is necessary between the mounds in the same row and 2 meters away from the rest.
Prune it to limit its overgrowth and promote successful fruit growth.
Water
The pumpkin plant needs enough water, not to the point of waterlogging the soil because it will cause the roots to rot. Therefore every time you see that the soil is dry, you have to spray it.
Be careful not to pour the water on the leaves because you can cause the appearance of a fungus.
It is recommended that you water them during the day; in this way, if waterfalls on the leaves, they dry with the sun they receive.
You have to stop watering it a week before harvesting.
Take care of the pumpkin plant from diseases and pests.
Cut the weeds before they exceed 5 cm in height; remove the stones surrounding it and other plants’ possible roots.
Visit the greenhouse or garden frequently to see if it is plagued by an insect or attacked by a fungal or bacterial disease.
Diseases and pests include:
Powdery cinderella: first, they stain the leaves with a yellowish and angular shape, then the center of it is necrotic.
Whitefly: its scientific name is Bemisa argentiifolia. The yellowing and weakening of the leaf is an indicator that the pumpkin has been infected with this virus. It is difficult to fight because it reproduces quickly and creates immunity to different chemicals. Causes malnutrition
Red spider: its scientific name is Tetranychus urticae, and it is known that way because they spin webs even without being spiders. They come out in dry climates. They are small and measure up to 0.5mm. It attacks the stem, the ripe fruit, and the leaves’ underside, causing defoliation and dissection. It also hinders photosynthesis.
Mildew: is a disease caused by a fungus that arises from moisture on the plant’s leaves. You can identify it by the spots that follow the sequence from white to purple until it ends up rotting the leaf.
Powdery mildew is a fungus located in the stem, in the fruit and the leaves, mainly in the latter. You can identify it by the white spots that appear until they become a powder of the same colour or grayish. The hot and humid climate is what attracts it and can thus hinder photosynthesis.
Dusty blight: attacks the leaves causing them to wither early. Powdery white mould is an indicator of its presence.
Paratrioza or psyllid fly: this insect also attacks the leaf, making it curly. Chlorosis is also an indicator of this pest.
Snails and slugs: these mollusks tend to eat the pumpkin as it grows when the shell is softer. The trace of the baby can detect their presence what they are leaving. They come out preferably at night because of the humidity.
Vine borer: this insect attacks the plant from the base and damages it from the inside out. Their eggs are black, and their larvae are black and white on the head. Adults are those who consume the nectar of the pumpkin all day.
Cucumber beetle: despite its name, it not only attacks cucumbers but all cucurbits, including pumpkin. It is easy to identify it by its yellow colour and black spots. It is very dangerous because it can transmit bacterial diseases and viruses. The adults feed on the leaves.
Mosaic virus: it is a virus that attacks the nerves of the leaves, causing their curving and discoloration. It is also a transmitter of aphids.
There are other pests such as louse fleas, other mites, caterpillars, and the squash worm.
Pumpkin Harvest
harvest of pumpkins
Harvest the pumpkin when you see the colour change from green to orange, the skin is hard, the end is drying, and it measures approximately 12 or 15 cm in length, which indicates its maturity.
Use a fairly sharp pruning knife or scissors to remove the squash, leaving 3-4 inches of stem. Gloves are recommended to protect yourself from stem thorns.
It must be stored at a maximum of 100 C and a minimum of 50 C and with 95% humidity.
