Grade 3 RLA
Page 20
3 In spring, when the weather has warmed up and the
ground is no longer cold, four or ve seeds can be planted in the
middle of the garden plot. If the ground is dry, the seeds should
be watered, but not too much, since soggy soil might make
them rot.
Sprouts and Vines
4 About a week after planting, a seed emerges from the
soil and becomes a sprout, and the tiny pumpkin plant begins
to grow. The roots grow down into the soil, seeking water. Two
leaves push up from the soil. These seed leaves are green and
smooth. They make food for the plant using sunlight, water,
and air.
5 After another week, new, larger leaves appear. These
leaves are jagged, rough, and scratchy. They take over the job
of making food for the plant, so the seed leaves dry up and drop
off. The pumpkin plant grows quickly. Long vines stretch over
the ground. Thin, twisty stems wind around other stems. They
may reach up onto fences or other plants in the garden.
Pollination
6 When the pumpkin plants are about 10 weeks old, bright
yellow owers bloom on the vines. In the center of each blossom
is a feathery part covered with powdery pollen. Bees are
attracted to the pollen, which they take back to their hive for
making honey. Once the bees have found the pumpkin plants,
they come back again and again.
7 Other blossoms open later. Each pumpkin ower lasts only
one day. The bees land on one pumpkin ower after another.
Pollen sticks to and falls off the bees as they move. In this way,
pollen is spread among the pumpkin plants. The pollen makes
new pumpkins grow. To make new pumpkins, bees have to visit.
Pumpkins
8 After the bees have delivered the pollen, the ower dries
up and falls off, but the little pumpkin grows, and grows, and
grows. It becomes too heavy to hang from the vine. It settles on
the ground, where it continues to grow. The leaves shade it from
the hot sun and keep the ground damp. In very dry weather, the
plant might need to be watered.