There are so many pumpkins that exist in nature! And flat, and round, and elongated, pitcher-shaped or snake-like, pale yellow, bright orange, speckled gray, and striped green. The variety of pumpkin varieties is amazing. The more difficult it is for a summer resident to make his choice.
There are three types of pumpkins common in farms, fields and gardens around the world: hard-skinned, butternut squash and butternut squash. Among them there are pumpkins with large fruits and portioned ones, bush and climbing ones, with a significant amount of seeds or very sweet pulp, fodder ones (used for animal feed), table ones (which we eat as food) and decorative ones. Are you ready to take a closer look at the uniqueness of the most popular varieties?
Hard-bark pumpkins
Hardbark pumpkins get their name from their incredibly thick, woody skin when ripe. Do you remember how difficult it is to peel a large zucchini that has been stored behind the chair all winter? And all this is because both squash and zucchini also belong to hard-bark pumpkins, but now we are not talking about them.
Hard-bark pumpkins are good because they ripen early (late August - early September), and have not the largest fruits, but also the most delicious seeds. Among this variety of pumpkins there are bush varieties, which is incredibly convenient in terms of saving space.
The stalk of hard-barked pumpkins is ribbed with pronounced grooves, the stem is hairy and spiny, and the leaves are pentagonal.
The seeds are creamy and have very pronounced rims.
Large-fruited pumpkins
Large-fruited pumpkins, as you might guess, are the largest. But they are also the sweetest, the sugar content of some varieties reaches 15%, which is much more than in the sweetest watermelon.
The stalk of large-fruited varieties is cylindrical and round. The stem is also rounded and without grooves, and the leaves are kidney-shaped or close to pentagonal.
The seeds of large-fruited pumpkins are milky white, brown or matte. In addition, large-fruited pumpkins tolerate low temperatures much better than others and are stored for a much longer time in an ordinary apartment.
butternut squash
Butternut squash have a pentagonal stalk with a pronounced expansion towards the base.
Butternut squash seeds are brown or dirty yellow in color.
Muscat varieties are recognized as the most delicious and rich in vitamins, but they have only one drawback: they are all heat-loving and late-ripening, that is, they often do not have time to ripen during our short summer. And therefore, most often they are advised to grow them only in the southern regions.
But don’t rush to get upset. It is possible to grow nutmeg pumpkins in the middle zone. Firstly, this pumpkin is grown through seedlings. At the end of April, the seeds are sown, and in the first half of June the plants are planted in the ground. And secondly, nutmeg pumpkins can be removed unripe and left to ripen in the house.
Both large-fruited and nutmeg pumpkins are removed from the garden before the first death.
Which pumpkin is best to plant? And everything, as always, depends on your taste preferences and goals. And if you want to enjoy boiled, fried or stewed pumpkin in the summer, and only store seeds for the winter, plant more summer hard-bark varieties.
If you love pumpkin juice, baked pumpkin and want to preserve the fruits until spring, then choose nutmeg or large-fruited varieties. If you prefer pumpkin fresh in salads, the gray-fruited varieties with sweet flesh are best for you.
The choice, and the choice remains, is yours.
And our list of varieties and varieties of pumpkin will help you with this:
Pumpkin Zorka Large-fruited, table. Medium early. Climbing, powerful, long lashes. The fruit is dark gray with orange spots, the average weight of pumpkins is 5-6 kg. The pulp is bright orange, dense and very sweet (sugar content -12-14%). The variety is valued for its exceptional sweetness and high carotene content (there is more of it in Zorka fruits than in carrots). Used for preparing baby food.
Russian Pumpkin Large-fruited, universal. Early ripening. Climbing, lashes of medium length (1.5 meters). The fruit resembles a bright orange top, the average weight of pumpkins is 2-4 kg. The flesh is orange, tender and sweet with hints of melon. The variety is cold-resistant, high-yielding, has a lot of pulp and few seeds.
Pumpkin Acorn Hardbark, table. Precocious. There are both bush and climbing varieties. The small acorn-like fruit is usually green (Table King and Tabe Queen), black (Ebony), yellow (Golden Acorn, Fordhook) or white (White Acorn). The pulp is light yellow, almost white, slightly sweet. Another name for the variety is “Acorn”; in cooking, this variety is used for baking and stuffing, because when fresh, the taste is reminiscent of zucchini.
Spaghetti squash, hard-barked, table. Early ripening. Bush. In appearance, the fruit resembles a melon, elongated, pale yellow when ripe. The pulp is yellow, sweetish with notes of nut and lemon. When cooked, the flesh of this squash breaks down into spaghetti-like fibers, hence the name.
Marble Pumpkin Large-fruited Marble Pumpkin Large-fruited, table. Late ripening. Long-climbing. Round, tuberculate, segmented fruits of dark green color, average weight - 3.5-4.5 kg. The pulp is rich orange, very sweet, crispy, dense. High-yielding variety, rich in carotene, can be eaten fresh
Pumpkin Freckle Hardbark, table. Early ripening. Bush, the vines are not long, the leaves are not large. Round small fruits (1-3 kg), green mesh. The pulp is yellow or orange, not very sweet (sugar content 6.5%). The seeds are small, the variety is suitable for growing when there is a shortage of space.
Pumpkin Candy Large-fruited, table. Early ripening. Climbing, lashes of medium length (1.5 meters). The fruit is segmented, round, red-orange in color, the average weight of pumpkins is 1.2-2 kg. The pulp is dark orange, juicy, dense, sweet (sugar content - 4.5-6.5%). The variety is cold-resistant, high-yielding, very sweet, rich in vitamin C.
Gribovskaya bush hardbark, dining room. Early ripening. Bushy, grows like a zucchini. Ripe pumpkins are yellow with dark green stripes, not too large (2.5-5 kg), egg-shaped. Dark yellow flesh, ordinary pumpkin taste. It is valued for not spreading around the garden and taking up little space.
Almond Hard bark, universal. Mid-season. Climbing, long lashes. Fruits weighing 4-5 kg, round, orange. The pulp is orange-yellow, very sweet, crispy and juicy. Great for making juices and baby food. Stores well and for a long time.
Volga gray pumpkin Large-fruited, table. Mid-season. Climbing, branched, long lashes (up to 8 m). The fruit is round, slightly flattened, light gray in color, the average weight of pumpkins is 7-9 kg. The color of the pulp ranges from pale yellow to bright orange, the density and sweetness are average (sugar content 6-8%). The variety is drought-resistant, transportable, and can be stored well and for a long time.
Altai Hardbark, universal. Early ripening. Climbing, lashes of medium length. The fruits are round, ribbed, orange with yellow spots, weighing 2.5-5 kg. The pulp is yellow, fibrous, not very sweet, sugar content 5-6%. This pumpkin variety is cold-resistant, productive and long-lasting.
Bush orange Hardbark, table. Precocious. Bush. The fruits are orange, round, large - 4-7 kg. The pulp is yellow, juicy and sweet. Compact plants, the variety is suitable for small areas.
Mozoleevskaya Tverdokoraya, dining room. Medium early. Climbing. The fruits are ovoid, yellow with dark green and yellow stripes, average weight is 4-5 kg. The pulp is pale orange, dense, quite sweet, sugar content 6-7%. The variety is transportable and lightweight.
Winter sweet Large-fruited, table. Late ripening. Climbing, lashes up to 5-6 meters in length. The fruits are oval, tuberculate, slightly segmented, dark gray in color, average weight is 4.5-6.5 kg. The pulp is orange or bright yellow, dense, very sweet. This variety is heat-loving and drought-resistant. Recommended for the production of juices and baby food.
Winter dining room Large-fruited dining room. Late ripening. Climbing. The fruits are flattened, segmented, light gray, and may have pink or green stripes. The pulp is orange, very sweet and dense. Transportable and shelf-stable variety.
Smile Large-fruited, dining room. Precocious. Climbing. The fruits are round, bright orange with whitish stripes, medium-sized - 2-3 kg. The pulp is orange, crispy, very sweet with a delicate melon aroma. Cold-resistant variety, stores well until January at room temperature
Kherson Large-fruited, dining room. Mid-late. Climbing, lashes of medium length. The fruits are flat, smooth, gray in color with gray spots and stripes. Fruit weight is 3-6 kg. The pulp is orange, crispy, very juicy and sweet. Heat-loving, drought-resistant variety, stores well.
We wish you success and great harvests!
Pumpkin began to be grown before our era in America. In Ancient Egypt, this plant was a delicacy. The ancient Romans learned how to make durable vessels from pumpkins. In China, such dishes were placed only on the table of the imperial family.
Nowadays, it is a healthy and beloved product by many, which has become firmly established in the diet of a modern person who cares about their health.
Pumpkin: description
It is an annual plant with a powerful, well-developed root system and creeping herbaceous stem. It is spiny, pentagonal, and forms tendrils in the axils of the leaves, with the help of which the plant clings to supports and stretches upward. The stem can be up to eight meters long.
The five-lobed large leaves also cover small hairs. Pumpkin blooms with orange or yellow large single flowers, which attract the attention of pollinating insects from afar. They are male, unisexual, and have a long peduncle. Flowering begins at the end of June and continues until the beginning of July.
In autumn, thick-skinned fruits ripen. Their shape, size and color depend on the variety grown. Inside, under the thick skin, there is an oily, juicy pulp with many white large seeds.
Flasks, jugs, bottles, and cups are made from tableware gourd (lagenaria). It is believed that such dishes have good energy.
Variety of species
There are many varieties of pumpkin in the world. They differ in size and shape, color and taste, as well as area of application. They can be very small, the size of a pear, or gigantic. They can be spherical and flattened, serpentine and flask-shaped, star-shaped. Some of them are smooth, others are lumpy and rough.
And the fruits also differ in color - orange, yellow. These colors are familiar to most of our readers. Is there a green pumpkin? And not only. Some varieties are colored red, white, brown, gray. There are striped and spotted representatives in this large family.
Popular cultivated species
To date, three of them have gained particular popularity.
Hardbark
It is distinguished by a ribbed stalk, on which grooves are clearly visible. It came to us from Mexico, and three of its types are known: long-climbing (produces small but numerous fruits), bush (zucchini and squash), and decorative.
Muscat
It has a pentagonal stalk, which widens towards the base. The surface is ribbed or smooth, the shape is elongated, at first the fruits are colored green, but as they ripen they become yellow or brown. The seed chamber is small and the pulp layer is thick.
Large-fruited
This species has a rounded cylindrical stalk. The fruits are flat with a bumpy surface and very sweet in taste. In this culture, three varieties are distinguished: gray-fruited, winter and mammoth.
Green pumpkin: varieties
There are a great many varieties of this worldwide popular and very useful plant. Some of them are grown for animal feed, others are famous for their sweetness and juiciness, for which chefs love them, and others are rich in valuable seeds. In recent years, decorative ones have also become popular. In all these varieties, green pumpkin is found (you can see the photo in this article).
Large-fruited crops: “winter treat”
Mid-season, short-climbing variety. The pumpkin is green (dark) with black specks. The fruit has a round shape. Weight - about 5 kg. The pulp is dense, colored
"Miranda"
The plant is semi-bushy and belongs to the mid-season varieties. The fruits are green, have gray specks, and are round. Weight - about 4 kg. The pulp has a pleasant taste and is dense. The seeds do not have a hard shell. The variety is unpretentious in care and produces a good harvest even in difficult climatic conditions.
"Princess Frog"
This is a wonderful mid-late variety with dark green fruits. They are turban-shaped and wrinkled. Weight can reach 10 kg. The pulp is dense, light orange, very juicy. This variety is a valuable dietary crop.
Hard-barked varieties
This group of plants gets its name due to its very dense and rough layer of bark, which gains strength as it matures. This is the earliest ripening species grown in Russian gardens, but pumpkin lovers should be aware that their flesh can be quite coarse, so you need to carefully select varieties for cultivation. Today, many interesting varieties and hybrids of pumpkin are offered, among which you can choose plants of unusual appearance and taste.
"Harlequin"
Green pumpkin of this variety tastes like butternut pumpkin. Its shape is slightly flattened. The pumpkin is not very large. The green skin of the fruit is covered with small spots. The pulp is dense, light orange in color. The taste is very delicate and pleasant.
"Freckle"
Another hard-barked variety that fully corresponds to its name: small round fruits (no more than 2 kg) are colored green and covered with white-yellow spots. This variety is ideal for small areas due to its compactness. The plant has short vines, is bushy, and requires moisture. The pulp is light orange, not too sweet, but has a subtle pear aroma. The seeds are small.
"Acorn"
This pumpkin is often called an acorn pumpkin, due to the similarity of its small fruits to acorns. The pulp is sweet, rich yellow. The peel can have a wide variety of colors - from orange to dark green, as well as combinations of these colors.
"Marble"
A late-ripening variety, characterized by wrinkled, flattened fruits that do not exceed five kilograms. This pumpkin has a very high yield and excellent shelf life. The pulp is sweet, bright orange, juicy. The peel is gray-green with lighter dots and stripes, which form the marbled color. Can be used both in cooking and as a fodder crop.
"Vitamin"
One of the latest varieties - at least one hundred and thirty days pass from the first shoots to ripening. This muscat variety is famous for its wide, oval or cylindrical fruits, with pronounced ribbing closer to the stalk. A ripe pumpkin is brown with a pinkish tint, with a network of greenish round spots. The pulp is dark orange, almost red, crispy, sweet, rich in carotene. The weight of the fetus is about 5 kg.
"Marina di Chioggia"
The fruits of this famous Italian variety, which has taken root well here, are impressive. Questions immediately arise: “The pumpkin is green inside, is it possible to eat it?” Yes, you can, and even need it, because it is very useful.
This variety can produce fruits up to 10 kg, although more often its weight does not exceed 6 kg. The pulp is dense, slightly dry, orange in color. This variety can be stored for up to six months without losing its taste.
Decorative fruits
Now let's talk about a very interesting variety of pumpkins. A vegetable garden today should not only be useful in all respects, but also beautiful. That is why decorative types of pumpkins become more and more popular every season. They have many advantages. Many novice gardeners are interested in: “What is a decorative green pumpkin, is it possible to eat it?”
These species were bred by breeders for beauty, so their taste was not taken into account in most cases. As practice shows, if decorative green pumpkin is suitable for eating, it is only at a young age. When ripe, it has a very hard crust, has no taste and is of no interest to people or even animals.
When purchasing seeds in a store, the manufacturer often indicates on the packaging whether this variety is edible or not. If there are no such recommendations from the company, then nothing will stop you from experimenting. A decorative green pumpkin will not be poisonous, but it will most likely be tasteless, hard, or have a somewhat specific taste.
And yet they can have excellent taste. An example of this is the green Chayot pumpkin. In addition to its original appearance, it has a wonderful taste, reminiscent of an apple, and portion sizes. This is a winter variety. This small green pumpkin has fairly large seeds. Recipes for preparing dishes from it are no different from those for summer varieties. But the main feature of this variety is that this small green pumpkin will also become an original decoration for your garden.
"Lagenaria" and "cucurbita"
And these varieties are grown only for decorative purposes. The fruits of these varieties are distinguished by their unusual shapes and strong skin, which makes it possible to make various decorations for the garden from them. They are the ones used on Halloween. The harvest should be removed from the garden before the first frost, otherwise the peel will be damaged and the pumpkin will simply rot.
After picking, the fruits are wiped with a dry cloth and dried naturally in a cool, dark place. It is important that they do not touch. During the drying process, they should be wiped dry regularly and ensure that mold does not appear. Completely dried fruits are light, and seeds are poured into them, as if in a rattle.
Useful properties of pumpkin
The pulp of the fruit is not only tasty, but also very healthy; pumpkin is a storehouse of vitamins and valuable minerals. It contains pectins, proteins, fiber, carotene, acids, sugars. The seeds contain a large amount of essential oils and zinc. Pumpkin is a low-calorie product, which is why it is included in many diets. Pumpkin seeds are dried and used in folk medicine as an anthelmintic and for the treatment of prostatitis. In addition, when fried, it is simply a tasty delicacy, which is often used in cooking.
Medicinal properties
Pumpkin dishes should be included in every person's diet. This is especially important for people suffering from gastrointestinal and liver diseases. Pumpkin can relieve depression and insomnia. This product must be included in the diet of children from a very early age (porridge, juice). In addition, pumpkin dishes are recommended for everyone who suffers from exhaustion, tuberculosis, hypertension, liver and kidney diseases. You should not give up regular consumption of pumpkin if you have heart disease, increased production of gastric juice, or inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract.
Green pumpkin: what to cook?
Both adults and children love this healthy and tasty product. There are a great many dishes made from it and with it added as one of the ingredients. And don’t let it bother you that our heroine today is a green pumpkin. The cooking recipes are no different from its relatives with any other peel color.
Roasted pumpkin
To prepare this dish you will need:
- pumpkin - 1 kg;
- vegetable oil - 1/2 cup;
- sour cream - 400 g;
- breadcrumbs - 60 g;
- salt.
Remove the skin and seeds from the pumpkin. Cut it into thin slices (about 3 mm). Salt them a little, roll in breadcrumbs and fry on both sides in a frying pan in oil. Before serving, pour sour cream over the pumpkin pieces.
Green pumpkin jam
And now we offer you a very unusual recipe. Throw the pumpkin on the floor to break it. Without touching it with a knife or other metal objects that give a metallic taste, remove the seeds and yellow veins with your hands. Pumpkin pieces are boiled in salted water until the skin separates from the pulp.
Now you need to fill the boiled pumpkin with cold water and remove the peel with your hands. The pulp should be rubbed in water as if you were washing it until foam appears. The water needs to be changed periodically. The pumpkin is then immersed in brine. It is prepared at the rate of 50 g of coarse salt per liter of water, and left in it for a day.
After this time, the brine is drained, the pulp is washed and filled with clean water for another day. After this, you need to let the water drain and weigh the pulp. Mix it with an equal amount of sugar. Two cinnamon sticks are added to this mixture and the container is placed on low heat. It must be stirred constantly to prevent it from burning. The jam is ready when it turns brownish in color.
Pumpkin in a pot
Remove the skin from the pumpkin, cut into small cubes, and place in pots. Add prunes, raisins, dried apricots. A magnificent dessert is prepared under closed lids in the oven for about forty minutes. Children love this dish very much.
Pumpkin with honey in a slow cooker
Wash the pumpkin, remove the seeds, cut the fruit into slices, like a melon, but do not cut off the peel. Place them in the multicooker bowl, skin side down. Add water (half a cup) to prevent the pumpkin from burning during cooking. Place honey on top (two tablespoons) and sprinkle the dish with cinnamon. Cooking time 30 minutes on the “baking” mode. After cooking, remove the dish from the multicooker and remove the skin. Place the pumpkin in bowls and garnish with a mint leaf.
The wide variety of pumpkin varieties amazes any gardener. They differ from each other not only in color and shape, but also in taste. In addition, there are varieties that can be used indoors as decoration. They can be round, flat, grown in the shape of a jug or guitar, and their colors also vary: green, yellow, gray, orange, striped or speckled.
The variety of species makes it difficult to choose, and therefore below are the main varieties of pumpkin with detailed characteristics that will allow you to choose the type of crop that will bring a good harvest.
Features of culture
A crop such as pumpkin was first grown in South and Central America. Only in the 16th century did it become popular in Europe. Today it can be found on almost any continent; it can tolerate different climatic conditions, and that is why it is so famous and widespread. In the climatic conditions of Russia, there are three main types of pumpkin: nutmeg, large-fruited and hard-bark.
As for the structure of the plant, its root system is taprooted and very powerful, capable of penetrating into the soil up to two (sometimes even 4-5) meters deep, while the main roots (adventitious and lateral) are located at a depth of up to 50 centimeters. This characteristic of the plant’s rhizome indicates that it branches over an area of up to 4-5 meters in the soil space, supplying the plant with the necessary minerals and vitamins from the soil.
Pumpkin shoot has different shapes. It can be branching, single-stemmed, creeping. Its maximum length is 10 meters. The vines of the stem can also vary depending on the variety.
The leaves of the plant can reach a width of up to 25 centimeters, which must be taken into account when choosing a place to plant a pumpkin. They are also different in shape, structure and color, and most importantly, their quantity can be very diverse; 1 pumpkin can have up to 30 square meters of leaves.
Many novice gardeners believe that the flowers of a pumpkin plant should have a bright color, however, this is false information. Often, inflorescences are formed under different conditions, which undoubtedly affects their color - it can be bright yellow or pale orange. The fetus itself is formed in the period 30-50 days after fertilization and can vary in weight.
The smallest pumpkins weigh just over 4 kilograms, but large fruits can weigh up to 10 kg. It is also worth noting that you should not be afraid to pick a slightly unripe fruit: pumpkin is a crop that can gradually ripen at home if stored correctly.
Varieties
Pumpkin culture is divided into 2 main types: climbing and bush pumpkins, the structure of which can be easily determined by the growing side loops. Two different subspecies are used in garden plots for different purposes. So, if there is a need to landscape an area in spots, a bush pumpkin is more suitable, while a climbing crop will allow you to form plants up to 2.5 meters in length or height.
The second plant option is usually used to create large living green screens on the site or near the house.
The culture blooms in July; it is in this month that you can observe the incredibly beautiful flowers of the plant. But sweet fruits appear already in the second half of August; as they ripen, they become more and more saturated in color. Below are the most common varieties of pumpkin plants in garden plots, which are very popular among both professionals and beginners who are just mastering gardening or dacha business.
Melon pumpkin
Melon pumpkin is a juicy, aromatic crop that has an amazing taste. It is easy to distinguish from others - its smell is similar to the aroma of ripe melon. This pumpkin firmly ranks second in popularity among summer residents, since its characteristics are impressive: it has a long shelf life, this crop is unpretentious in cultivation and subsequent care, and its taste will surprise even gourmets. The period of full ripening is up to one hundred days, and the fruits have an orange, slightly pink color and a flattened shape.
The weight of one fruit can reach up to 30 kilograms. In the process of caring for melon pumpkin, you will notice that it is very resistant not only to arid regions, but also to light frosts (2 degrees of frost on the soil for such a plant is quite comfortable conditions). Many note that this variety can be eaten even in its raw form.
Butternut squash
Nut pumpkin - this crop is also known under such names as “Moskhata” or “Butternut”. This variety was grown by crossing varieties of several pumpkins: nutmeg and African. The ripening period of the crop is 3 months. The best option would be to leave no more than 5 fruits on one plant, so they can grow as much as possible and be saturated with useful substances. One fruit usually weighs just over 1 kilogram and looks like a large zucchini.
The variety owes its name to its taste characteristics: it has a nutty aroma, but in order to achieve it, it is necessary to properly care for the plant. You can pick the fruits before their final ripening; they will be able to “reach” them at home, especially if cold weather is expected (this variety does not like frost).
Like the previous variety, butternut squash can be eaten without additional heat treatment.
Gymnosperm pumpkin
Gymnosperm pumpkin - despite its unattractive appearance (yellow-green fruits), this variety deserves attention. The weight of the grown fruit is up to 7 kilograms, and the peel is distinguished by the fact that it is quite thin. To prevent the skin from hardening, this pumpkin should be planted separately from other varieties to avoid pollination from them, due to which the skin can become denser.
The first fruits can be collected after 4 months, and they are stored for two months. The pulp of this pumpkin variety can be used not only in cooking; it is widely used in medicine and cosmetology.
"Russian"
“Rossiyanka” is a cold-temperature-resistant crop. Ripens in 3 months, has a beautiful color - orange or yellow-orange. The fruits grow weighing up to 4 kilograms (up to 5 fruits on one plant). Thanks to its bright pulp, this variety is often used to make various candied fruits or jams. The only and very big disadvantage of this variety is its short shelf life, the shelf life is very short, but the harvest is quite voluminous.
"Sweetie"
“Sweetie” is one of the most favorite varieties of all summer residents due to its characteristics, the resulting fruits and storage. After just 3 months, you can collect 6, and sometimes 8 large fruits from a plant. The weight of one fruit is 2-2.5 kilograms, but the largest pumpkin of this variety that was grown weighed about 100 kilograms!
This fruit can be stored until January, and the longer the pumpkin’s shelf life, the richer its taste. This variety must be transported very carefully, since the peel of the fruit can be damaged quite easily. “Candy” is consumed both raw and processed. The biggest fans of this variety are children, for whom you can make excellent puree from pumpkin.
"Bottle"
“Bottle” - this variety is native to America and Africa, and it gained its popularity in Central Europe. The length of the plant's stem is very large - up to 15 meters, the leaves are corrugated, and the flowers hide in the leaf axils during the daytime. The fruits of the plant can have different shapes: pear-shaped, oval, round. This variety is also often called “Lagenaria” or “Dishware” pumpkin. Up to 10-15 fruits are formed on one plant, the weight of each can reach up to one and a half kilograms.
"Hundred Pound"
“Hundred Pound” - this large-fruited crop has a main stem up to 7 meters in size, spherical or oval fruits, each weighing up to 20 kilograms. The slightly sweet taste does not make it very popular, but this variety copes well with pests, and therefore is in demand among novice gardeners and those who grow the plant for feed purposes.
"Matilda"
“Matilda” is another selection variety, the fruits of which appear after 3 months and weigh up to 3 kilograms. Such fruits can be stored for up to 4 months, but it is not possible to use the seeds of the grown plant for subsequent planting.
"Spaghetti"
“Spaghetti” – this variety got its name due to its unusual feature. During the cooking process, the pulp of the fruit breaks down into fibers, which in appearance are very similar to long pasta. A tasty and unpretentious variety that produces up to 4 fruits on each plant.
Honey pumpkin
Honey pumpkin - already from the name it becomes clear that this is one of the sweetest varieties of this crop, which can be consumed in its raw form. This is an early ripening variety that fully ripens in 3 months, has a very pleasant unique aroma, crispy flesh and a beautiful bright juicy color.
Marble pumpkin
Marbled pumpkin is a mid-season variety that produces fruit within 4 months. The shape of the fruit itself is slightly flattened, weighs up to 10 kilograms, which is valued among gardeners. Despite the not very attractive appearance (the skin of the fruit is grayish or green), the taste of this variety is pleasant and rich.
Large-fruited
A giant or large-fruited pumpkin has its own characteristics. Its stems are cylindrical in shape and slightly pubescent (this is immediately noticeable). Kidney-shaped and rounded leaves are also characteristic of this variety of pumpkin. The appearance of the plant is very attractive. Large juicy green leaves are combined with flowers painted in bright yellow shades.
Already based on the name, you can understand that the fruits of such a plant will be larger than those of other varieties, and this is true. The color of the fruits varies, but not much. Pale pink or gray fruits that have a round or flattened shape are formed to a greater extent.
Muscat
This variety of pumpkin is special in that it is an intermediate option between large-fruited and hard-barked pumpkins and has its own specific morphological characteristics. The leaves of this type of crop are slightly softer than those of its analogues, darker and have white spots. The flowers have a subtle orange color and petals that are slightly pointed. Among all varieties, this type of pumpkin has the maximum variety of growing fruits: from yellow to pink and even brown shades.
One of the most interesting subspecies of this variety is the turban-shaped pumpkin, the fruits of which are formed in the form of a turban and can be different even on the same plant. In addition, small varieties of turban-shaped pumpkin also have a different taste - the pulp may be a little bitter, but this is what makes it attractive to gourmets.
Figolifolia
One of the most unusual types of pumpkin. Its peculiarity is that the seeds inside the fruit have an unusual and unusual color for gardeners - black (reminiscent of watermelon seeds, although they are several times larger). Therefore, it is often called black seed pumpkin. And it is called fig-leaved due to the leaves that grow elongated and similar to figs (albeit much larger in size).
Usually the fruits weigh up to 4 kilograms and have the shape of an elongated oval. However, there are specimens grown under special conditions, climate and methods of plant care that reach 20 kilograms! Gardeners love this type of pumpkin for its pleasant and tasty white pulp, which can be eaten not only in thermally processed form, but also raw.
The variety is late-ripening, and harvesting begins only after the very first frost, when the leaves on the plant have completely fallen off. This variety is useful from a medical point of view. Thus, this product is ideal for diabetics, since the pulp is not so sucrose and is saturated with a sufficient amount of minerals and vitamins. Raw pumpkin seeds are used as an anthelmintic.
Wax
In India, Asia, Indonesia, Latin America and China, wax gourd is grown, which is also called “Benincasa”. Despite such widespread distribution, this variety is not very popular among gardeners in the Russian Federation. Although it has its undeniable advantages over other varieties.
Thus, the fruits of this plant can be stored for a fairly long period if you choose the right place: it must certainly be dark and cool (from 15 to 18 degrees Celsius). If these conditions are met, the fruit can be stored from a year to a year and a half! No other variety can boast of this characteristic.
A little experience in growing wax pumpkin in Russia allows us to draw the following conclusions: the maximum weight of the fruit reaches 5 kilograms, the fruit itself is covered with a wax layer. The pulp of this culture is often used for medicinal purposes. So, in China, taking the pulp orally is an excellent diuretic, as well as a way to reduce fever and temperature.
It is also used externally; it can anesthetize areas of the body (bruises, contusions, small cuts). The Chinese believe that consuming raw seeds promotes calm, relaxation, relief from insomnia and stress, and, moreover, can prolong human life.
Often this pumpkin is prepared in a very unusual way - it serves as a baking dish for various dishes, which during the cooking process are imbued with a unique pumpkin aroma.
Decorative
Due to the fact that there are so many varieties of pumpkin and they all differ in color, shape, and texture, experienced gardeners often use them not only as a culinary dish, but also as a unique decorative element. Among those who like to use this crop in everyday life, the following types and subspecies are popular.
- Warty varieties– have an uneven surface, thanks to which they are very textured and unusual. In some varieties the roughness is so strong that the fruits resemble various figures.
- Orange– bright, juicy, spherical, even in shape, orange and yellow – attract attention and make the decor more creative and unusual.
- Watermelon– indeed, they resemble a ripe summer watermelon in their texture and shape. Striped fruits will become a bright decorative accent in any room where they are used. And in a dacha or garden plot, they will definitely become a source of pride for their owners.
- Brindle– have a similarity to a tiger due to the characteristic pattern across the entire surface of the fruit. Typically, these beige or yellowish varieties of pumpkins are often placed at the entrance to the house, decorating them with additional decor (similar zebra-type colors are also especially popular).
- Pear-shaped- perhaps the most popular for use as a decorative material both indoors and outside - in gardens, summer cottages, and cottages.
Which one to choose for different regions?
Since different varieties of pumpkin have different characteristics in terms of resistance to cold temperature conditions, require different amounts of moisture, and grow in different soil conditions, the regions of their presence and distribution are quite obvious. Below is a description of a wide variety of pumpkin varieties that are ideal for growing in a particular region of Russia.
This must be taken into account when choosing a crop for planting, so as not to be disappointed in a poor harvest.
The following varieties are suitable for cultivation in the Urals and Siberia.
- "Smile"– juicy and sweet pumpkin, tolerates cold weather well, can be stored for a long period of time, ripens in August.
- "Freckle"– melon aroma and taste, the plant is very resistant not only to cold temperatures, but also to temperature changes, so you can safely plant this variety in areas of Siberia.
- "Healing"- an early variety of pumpkin that is not afraid of frost or dry weather. Ideal for making porridge.
Growing the plant in the middle zone and in the south is possible if you use all subspecies of nutmeg pumpkin. The most popular is the “Vitaminnaya” pumpkin, whose name was not coined in vain. It really is a storehouse of useful elements, vitamins and minerals that every human body needs.
- "Dachnaya"– ripens early, according to many experts, has a pronounced vanilla aroma, attractive to gardeners, is not afraid of rain, drought and coolness, and can be stored for a long time.
Various vegetable crops have long been used in landscape design. Landscape decoration is an art. The Provence style has become very popular in garden or summer cottage areas, in cottage areas, as well as at home. Pumpkin fruits often become a key figure in such unusual designs.
The variety of their forms allows you to create entire sculptures that attract attention, as well as use them as an addition to your existing garden decor. They are used to create flower pots and use them as a basis for lamps, vases, etc.
In a spacious room or to decorate a courtyard area, vegetable crops are often used to give the design a special atmosphere. The most popular in this case are those varieties of pumpkin that are stored for a long period of time. This ensures a long period of presence of the decor.
The fruits of pumpkin crops are often used as birdhouses. They decorate the area near the house and serve as a feeder for birds that fly to the site in search of food. You can develop a creative approach and decorate the birdhouse, for example, by painting it in colors that will attract birds and look harmonious in the garden or cottage. Many people decorate pumpkin birdhouses with leaves, branches, and other natural attributes to make it as comfortable as possible.
The most popular way to use a pumpkin as decoration is to create a small carriage from it that will organically fit into the landscape of any area. The main thing in this case is that the pumpkin is attractive in appearance. By decorating it with small wheels, fabrics, other materials and even patterns, you can get the perfect result.
Many people make compositions from several pumpkins at once. The pumpkin caterpillar is especially popular. To form it, you will need several varieties and types of pumpkins, which will differ slightly, but in size.
If there are already installed decorative figures in the garden, then such a composition will be a very good addition to them.
Pumpkin can also be used indoors. It is used to make boxes, creative but short-lived vases, and watches. Even a pepper shaker and salt shaker for the table can be made from a small pumpkin. Often in the house you can see a candlestick made with your own hands from a small pumpkin. He looks like a Halloween figure, only without the sinister mask.
Also, the fruits of this crop are used to create attractive, but not functional decorative items. Peculiar figurines in the shape of spiders (for which you need to attach several legs on a spring to the fruit), small molds hung throughout the house - all this allows you to get positive feedback about the interior of the room. You can also use pumpkin vines to decorate your home; they can significantly transform the appearance of the building and give it sophistication.
To learn how to choose the best varieties of pumpkin, watch the following video.
There are a great many varieties of pumpkin. Some of them are more suitable for growing for animal feed, other varieties are preferred by chefs for their sweetness and juiciness, and others are a rich source of pumpkin seeds. In addition, there are decorative varieties of pumpkin.
How to understand this diversity, and which varieties of pumpkin are suitable for your climate and will satisfy your needs? Let's figure it out.
Types of pumpkin
Before we begin describing the best varieties of pumpkin, you need to know that this plant is divided into four types:
butternut squash. Nutmeg pumpkins are recognized as the most delicious and healthy, but also the most demanding of heat. In our latitudes, nutmeg pumpkin varieties have time to ripen if they are planted through seedlings.
Their distinctive feature is a pentagonal stalk, expanded towards the base. The seeds of this type of pumpkin are brown or yellow-brown in color.
Large pumpkin. Very large, very sweet pumpkins with light, tasty seeds. They can be stored for a long time in non-specific conditions, although their storage naturally requires a lot of space. Therefore, summer residents, who will have to somehow drag these pumpkins to the city and store them somewhere, most often refuse large-fruited pumpkins in favor of hard-bark and nutmeg varieties. A distinctive feature of this plant is its rounded stalk and stem, without grooves, and the leaves are shaped more like a kidney than a pentagon.
Hard-barked pumpkins, including squash and zucchini, are loved by our gardeners for their early ripening. If large-fruited and nutmeg pumpkins are harvested just before frost, then hard-bark varieties can be enjoyed already in late summer - early autumn. Hard-barked pumpkin varieties are especially valued for their tasty, cream-colored seeds, although the fruits of this plant are relatively small. A distinctive feature (in addition to the hard skin when ripe) is a hairy, spiny stem and a ribbed, furrowed stalk.
The best varieties of pumpkin
Varieties of butternut squash
Pumpkin Golden Pear– relatively new, but already loved variety of butternut squash original teardrop-shaped orange color. The pulp of the Golden Pear pumpkin is juicy, sweet, dense, with a nutty flavor. The fruits of this variety grow small, up to 2 kg, which is very convenient. Golden pear is an early ripening variety; 2-3 pumpkins grow on one vine. Pumpkins are harvested three months after germination. The disease resistance and preservation of this variety of nutmeg pumpkin are very high.
Arabat pumpkin– perhaps the most common, recognizable and reliable variety of butternut squash. Refers to mid-late pumpkin varieties with a growing season of 115-125 days. Arabat pumpkin can grow up to 20 kg, although on average it weighs 5-8 kg. The pumpkin is long (0.5-0.8 m), thickened towards the top, the skin is fragile, thin, yellow-orange in color. The pulp is bright orange, juicy, sweet, dense.
The Arabatskaya variety of nutmeg pumpkin can be stored for 3-4 months without any problems. It is used for both culinary and feed purposes.
Pumpkin New In appearance, and also in taste, it resembles Arabatskaya. The differences are that the Novinka pumpkin variety is somewhat smaller (4-5 kg), the growing season lasts a little longer (125-135 days), but the fruit is stored very well. Pumpkin has an elongated cylindrical shape, the flesh is dark orange, sweet, dense and very tasty.
Pumpkin Vitamin refers to late varieties of pumpkin, 130-140 days pass from germination to ripeness. The fruits of this muscat pumpkin variety are wide, cylindrical or oval in shape, with ribbing that is pronounced closer to the stalk. Ripe fruits are brown with a pinkish tint with a network of round greenish spots. The flesh of Vitamin Pumpkin is dark orange, almost red, sweet, crunchy, and rich in carotene. Pumpkin weight is 3-5 kg. Stores well in simple home conditions.
Pumpkin Pearl is a powerful climbing plant with 5-7 lateral wattles. The Zhemchuzhina variety pumpkin belongs to the mid-late variety (100-110 days). Pumpkins are round-cylindrical in shape, grow up to 4-7 kg, the skin is orange, soft, the flesh is crispy, sweet, thick (more than 10 cm), bright orange.
This variety of butternut squash is distinguished by a very small seed nest. The fruits are stored well and for a long time even at low temperatures.
Pumpkin Prikubanskaya It is loved by gardeners for its stable yields, good preservation, and excellent taste. The Prikubanskaya variety of nutmeg pumpkin is old, so it will not bring unpleasant surprises. Refers to medium-late ripening varieties (105-115 days). Pumpkins grow small (2-5 kg), faded orange in color, with little or no segmentation, and pear-shaped. This variety of butternut squash has juicy, sweet, bright orange flesh.
Hylea pumpkin refers to mid-season varieties (100-110 days from germination to maturity). The fruits of the Gilea pumpkin can be spherical, cylindrical or oval, orange or brownish in color, with a waxy coating. The skin is thin, the flesh is bright orange, sweet, juicy. This variety of butternut squash grows up to 6-8 kg. The main distinguishing feature of this pumpkin variety is its excellent shelf life; the fruits can be stored for up to 1 year.
Pumpkin Palav Kadu It has excellent taste, extremely juicy and sweet. Belongs to late climbing varieties. The fruits are round in shape, weighing no more than 10 kg, and orange in color.
Pumpkin Marina di Chioggia very unusual in appearance, so it will please not only the stomach, but also the eye. This is an old Italian variety of nutmeg pumpkin that has taken root in our country. Not only is the lumpy surface of the pumpkin impressive, but also the color – matte green, sometimes with a gray-blue tint.
Pumpkin Marina di Chioggia can grow up to 10 kg, but under normal conditions its weight does not exceed 5-6 kg. The pulp is dry, dense, yellow-orange in color, with a small seed nest. This variety of pumpkin can be stored for up to six months without loss of taste.
Pumpkin Butternut– a bright representative of nutmeg pumpkin. So bright that this variety is often called Muscat or Nut - because of its pronounced nutty taste. Butternut pumpkin is a late-ripening, climbing, highly branched pumpkin. Pumpkins are small, weighing about 1 kg, pear-shaped with light orange or brown-orange skin. The flesh is deep orange in color, oily, fibrous and very sweet. This butternut squash variety Stores well in apartment conditions.
Varieties of hard-bark pumpkin
Gymnosperm pumpkin valued, as the name suggests, for its seeds without a shell. That is, no husks, except for a transparent film, no garbage. It is very convenient to use these seeds in baking, make various sweets in oriental style, and simply enjoy them fried. Gymnosperm pumpkin also has some disadvantages - its flesh is not as sweet and juicy as other table varieties of pumpkin, but it is still quite tasty. This variety cannot boast of high yield. Seeds planted directly into the ground often rot due to the lack of a protective shell, so it is recommended to plant the Gymnosperm pumpkin variety from seedlings, and away from other pumpkin varieties, so that unwanted pollination does not occur. This variety, again, does not tolerate drought or high humidity well. Although many are willing to suffer for the sake of seeds without a shell.
Hard-barked pumpkin Gymnosperm refers to mid-ripening, medium-climbing varieties, the color of the fruit can be dark green or with yellow “mesh” splashes. The weight of the fruits of this pumpkin variety is 2-7 kg; they are stored well all winter.
Pumpkin Bulgarian, she is also pumpkin lady's nail, is the most popular variety of pumpkin for seeds. The seeds themselves have a beautiful, oblong shape, truly reminiscent of an elegant lady's marigold. This hard-barked pumpkin variety is a bush variety and ripens in 95-105 days. Bulgarian pumpkin is characterized by slightly flattened round smooth fruits, the skin is light gray or yellow, the flesh is quite tasty, light yellow, the weight of the fruit is 3-5 kg.
The Bulgarian has a large seed chamber, the seeds are yellow-cream in color. Suitable for short-term storage.
Pumpkin Gribovskaya bush refers to early ripening varieties (85-100 days). The plant is powerful, although bushy. The fruits rarely grow more than 4.5 kg, the skin is yellow-orange, with a green pattern, the shape is cylindrical, thickened at the end. Pulp hard-bark pumpkins Gribovskaya bush quite sweet, not very dense, yellow or orange in color. The variety belongs to the table variety, but is not impressive in taste - just a good pumpkin. This variety of pumpkin is distinguished by its good shelf life, and also by the fact that it does not spread throughout the entire garden.
Spaghetti squash (noodle squash)– a very original early-ripening variety of hard-barked pumpkin. The growing season is 70-80 days. The plant is climbing, the fruits resemble a melon - oval, creamy-yellow in color, the skin is very hard. The pulp of the Spaghetti pumpkin is beige, not juicy, has a light vanilla aroma, and when cooked it breaks down into individual fibers (hence the name). Spaghetti pumpkins They grow small - around 1 kg.
The variety is exotic, but there are no problems when growing Spaghetti pumpkin in our conditions.
Pumpkin Almond Among the varieties of hard-bark pumpkin, it has very tasty pulp. The Almond pumpkin variety is a long-climbing plant with a growing season of 110-120 days. The fruits weigh 3.5-5 kg, smooth or slightly segmented, round, orange in color, sometimes with brown-green stripes.
Pumpkin Danka Polka It is usually grown for seeds. This hard-barked pumpkin variety is a medium-climbing bush with round pumpkins that are orange-green or white-green in color. The fruits grow in the range of 2-3.5 kg. Not only are there a lot of seeds (up to half a thousand in one pumpkin), they are also very tasty. The pulp is not very dense, starchy, and is mainly used as animal feed.
Pumpkin Country refers to early ripening varieties - the first fruits can be harvested after 70-85 days. The pumpkin pulp of this hard-skinned variety is juicy, aromatic, sweet, up to 4 cm thick, the seeds are quite small. The pumpkin is oblong, yellow-orange with longitudinal green stripes, weighing about 3-4 kg.
Dachnaya pumpkin is a short-climbing and cold-resistant variety, so it is well suited for growing in the northern regions. Pumpkins can be stored without problems for up to four months.
Pumpkin Freckle- a hard-barked variety that fully corresponds to the name: round small pumpkins (0.8-2.5 kg) of green color with white and yellow “freckles”. Valued for its compactness. The plant is bushy, with short vines, demanding moisture. The rind of the Freckle pumpkin is leathery, the flesh is yellow-orange, not very sweet, but with a subtle pear aroma. The seeds are quite small. The hard-barked pumpkin variety Vesnushka is grown mainly when there is a shortage of planting space.
Varieties of large-fruited pumpkin
Pumpkin Titan- one of the largest pumpkins that you can grow in your garden. Manufacturers claim that the weight of average pumpkins reaches 120-180 kg, and record holders reach up to half a ton. In our conditions, with conventional agricultural technology, large-fruited pumpkins of the Titan variety grow up to 50 kg, which is also very impressive. This is a mid-season variety (120 days from germination to ripening), characterized by long vines, huge orange round pumpkins with clear segmentation. The pulp of the Titan variety pumpkin is yellow, thick, quite sweet, but not incredibly tasty.
Titan is the best pumpkin variety for those who want to grow a record holder, and not get a tasty fruit for the farm.
Pumpkin Russian won the hearts of gardeners for stable yields, ease of care, shelf life of fruits and excellent taste. In general, it’s a reliable pumpkin, and also very beautiful. Rossiyanka is a medium-climbing, early-ripening plant (900-100 days) with a rounded fruit, sharply narrowed towards the stalk, weighing 2-4 kg. The pulp is tender, sweet, with a melon flavor, the seed nest is small. This large-fruited pumpkin variety is characterized by high yield - up to 20 kg of harvest can be obtained from one plant. Pumpkin Russian- cold-resistant variety.
Hundred Pound Pumpkin– a very old, time-tested variety of large-fruited pumpkin. Pumpkin of the Hundred Pound variety belongs to to mid-season (vegetation period - 120 days) plants, with powerful long vines. The fruit can grow up to 15-20 kg, more often - 7-10 kg, round or oval in shape, with weak segmentation, and the skin can be yellow, white, orange, gray or pinkish. The pulp of the Hundred Pound Pumpkin is loose, slightly sweet, light orange or yellow in color.
This variety of large-fruited pumpkin is resistant to diseases. Typically, Hundred Pound Pumpkin is grown for animal feed.
Marbled Pumpkin- an excellent option for those who like to nibble on raw pumpkin, although baked Marble pumpkin will not disappoint - even the skin turns out tender and tasty when baked. The pulp is orange, crispy, very sweet, rich in carotenes. This large-fruited pumpkin variety is late-ripening (130-140 days), the plant is long-climbing. The average weight of pumpkins is 2.5-4 kg, the fruits are gray-green or green, segmented, sometimes with a speckled pattern or a wrinkled surface, flattened. Marbled Pumpkin gives high yields and is well stored.
Pumpkin Smile- a real find for pumpkin lovers with a small plot of land. This is a compact, climbing, cold-resistant plant, which breeders originally bred as an ornamental plant. Therefore, the Smile pumpkin is both beautiful and tasty. And it is productive - from a bush you can collect up to 10, or even more, small portioned pumpkins weighing from 0.5 to 2 kg. The pumpkins themselves are orange with white stripes, flat, and sometimes with a bulge at the base. The pulp is sweet, dense, with a light melon aroma. Large-fruited pumpkin variety Smile belongs to early ripening (vegetation period 85-90 days), stored in apartment conditions for up to 4 months.
Undoubtedly, any type of pumpkin has a rich vitamin composition and other valuable properties. However, it is the nutmeg variety that is especially popular among culinary experts due to its nutritional and high taste qualities. Some compare the taste of the pulp with melon juice, and in our article we will look at the sweetest varieties and varieties for growing in Russia, including large-fruited ones.
This article describes the main characteristics of different varieties of butternut squash. This will help gardeners decide on varieties when choosing seeds for the new season. With the modern assortment, it is wrong to give preference to one type, because the merits and taste can only be assessed by comparison.
Butternut squash differs from other types of fruits even in external features. The fruits are formed elongated in the form of a cylinder or pear, and five sides are visible on the cut of the stalk.
The vegetable got its name thanks to noticeable nutmeg aroma, which is heard when cutting. The peculiarity of the variety is also visible on the seeds; they have a dirty yellow or brown tint.
Varieties of butternut squash
Late-ripening culture, the growing season lasts about 130 days. The lash forms long with a wide oval fruit, the weight of which reaches 4.5-6.8 kg.
The structure of the pulp is crispy, but tender, with a sweetish taste. The skin is thin, the thickness of the bright orange edible part is about 10 cm.
Planting is carried out by seed or seedlings; it is better to plan the location of the holes in rows. Features of care include pinching the side branches of the lash and the main stem. Harvest in September-October.
Medium ripening variety with growing season 91-136 days. The length of the lash reaches 3-4 m, the weight of the fruit is pear-shaped from 2300 to 4600 grams.
The thickness of the pulp is about 4 cm, the skin is thin, creamy when cut. Pumpkin retains its quality and presentation for 3 months after harvest.
A plant with an average ripening period, the growing season is 115 days. The cylindrical fruit is characterized by a slight thickening at the end; the weight of a mature vegetable reaches 6-7 kg.
The skin is thin, the edible part is tender, juicy, and sweet in taste.
The culture is resistant to drought. Used fresh and processed.
A plant with an average ripening period, the weight of an average-sized pumpkin is 4.5 kg. The growing season lasts 115-127 days.
The dense skin of a gray shade (light and dark) contributes to a long shelf life, until the next season. The bright orange sweet pulp does not contain any additional flavors; the nutmeg aroma adds a delicate taste to any dish.
Hardbark
An early ripening variety, from germination to harvest it takes only 65-80 days. Fruits are densely tied on a long vine, the weight of which before being removed from the garden is 800-1500 grams.
The pumpkin crust is quite dense, the flesh is low-juicy, breaking down into individual fibers, which is how the plant got its name. There is little sweetness in the vegetable, but it absorbs seasonings well. Sometimes the pumpkin flavor in a dish is not immediately recognizable.
Muscat de Provence
A high-yielding, low-maintenance variety whose fruits reach weight 8-10 kg. The skin is thick, which extends the shelf life of the vegetable without losing valuable properties.
The pulp is aromatic with a honey taste. The lash of the plant is compact in size, its immunity resists various diseases and pests. Growing season – 120 days.
It is characterized by high yield and long shelf life (up to a year).
Young shoots intensively form long vines on which pumpkins weighing 6-9 kg. The growing season lasts 100-110 days.
The skin of oval-oblong vegetables is covered with a waxy coating. The layer of pulp is thick, sweet in taste, and has medicinal and dietary properties. The plant is tolerant to bacteriosis and powdery mildew.
Polyanin
Mid-season crop with a growing season 110-125 days. The weight of the vegetable reaches 4000 grams, the skin is smooth with barely visible ribs.
The pulp has a dense structure, tastes sweet and juicy. The lash is formed up to 4 m long, so when planting, the following scheme is used: 70x70 cm. Polyanin is resistant to diseases and adverse weather conditions.
Popular varieties of large-fruited pumpkin
The ripening period is late, the growing season is 118-127 days. A cylindrical vegetable with a thickening at the top hangs when ripe up to 9 kg.
A thick layer of bright orange pulp after processing is incredibly juicy and sweet in taste. Storage duration is about 4 months.
The variety is characterized as high-yielding, resistant to diseases and drought.
Big Moon
The growing season lasts 115-130 days. A powerful vine is formed; to obtain a large pumpkin, only one ovary is left. The weight of such a specimen reaches 70-80 kg. During normal cultivation, the weight of the vegetable is about 20-30 kg.
The peel is of medium density, the flesh is tender, but retains its structure well during heat treatment. The use of pumpkin is universal.
A plant with an early ripening period, the growing season lasts 90 days. The weight of the pumpkins reaches 20 kg with conventional agricultural technology.
The crop is responsive to fertilizers, so removing a giant vegetable from a bush is quite possible. Young shoots cope well with adverse weather conditions, in particular drought. Diseases and pests are not dangerous.
The shelf life of the crop in winter under proper conditions is 4-6 months.
The weighty fruit hangs up to 20 kilograms, although records of up to 200 kg of one specimen have been recorded. Late ripening plant with a growing season 125-140 days.
To obtain giants, you will need to fertilize the soil well and maintain moderate humidity. The culture forms a long vine; when planting, a distance between holes of 100x150 cm is maintained.
The bright yellow flesh has a dense structure, the delicate taste is filled with sweetness.
The variety is tolerant to various diseases and pests and can withstand adverse weather conditions.
For growing in summer cottages in Siberia and the Urals
The growing season of the Russian woman lasts 90-100 days, the fruits are characterized by juicy sweet pulp and melon aroma. From 1 m2 more than 20 kg of crop is harvested with the weight of the vegetable 1.9-4 kg.
The plant is medium-climbing; when planting, an interval of about 60 cm is maintained between the bushes. For 5-6 months, the pumpkin retains its taste and commercial qualities in a dry and ventilated room. The pulp is used universally.
Cold-resistant early-ripening plant with a ripening period 85-90 days. The Smile culture is a bush culture, forms up to 6 small shoots, on which 8-10 pumpkins weighing 0.8-1.2 kg.
The bright orange flesh is crisp but not juicy. The vegetable is incredibly popular among chefs due to its sweetish taste and melon aroma. The harvested crop retains its flesh quality until March. Planting is carried out according to the scheme: 60x60 cm.
Michurinskaya
Table variety, suitable for fresh and processed consumption. The growing season lasts 96-105 days. The average fetus weighs about 5 kg.
The seed nest is small, which indicates a thick layer of pulp.
The plant tolerates unfavorable weather conditions (drought, cold, heavy rainfall); even frosts down to -5 degrees are not scary.
Early ripening up to 105 days and strong immunity allows you to grow the crop in the conditions of Siberia and the Urals. The plant is medium-climbing; when planting, the following pattern is used: 60x70 cm.
Pumpkin weight reaches 3-5 kg. Main taste characteristics: juicy, sweetish with a pleasant honey aroma.
For the Moscow region and central Russia
The growing season lasts 100-110 days, one hundred corresponds to the average ripening period. A bush of compact size with a large number of ovaries, from which pumpkins weighing 7.5 kg.
A small seed nest is located in the upper part of the elongated fruit, the rest is orange with a red tint.
It is planted by seed and seedlings with an interval between bushes of at least 60 cm. The crop is responsive to organic fertilizers and is characterized by cold resistance.
Golden pear - early ripening 95 days. On each lash, about 3 fruits are formed, the weight of which reaches 1.8-2 kg.
The taste has a chestnut note. Harvesting begins in August; up to 10 kg of vegetables are harvested from 1 m2.
The culture is responsive to fertile soil and organic fertilizers.
Mid-season crop with a ripening period 115-125 days. The plant forms a powerful lash, the weight of the fruit reaches 3-4 kg.
Strong immunity manifests itself in resistance to diseases and cold climates.
Mid-season variety with a growing season 110-125 days Perfect for growing in open ground at a summer cottage in the Moscow region or central Russia. Elongated fruits weighing up to 3 kg.
The peculiarity of pumpkin is its unique taste, sweetness and delicate structure of the pulp.
For gourmets
The elongated shape of the fruit is more reminiscent of a zucchini. The greenish-yellow peel is of medium density, the flesh is juicy and sweet with an apricot aroma.
The weight of the vegetable reaches 5 kg. The harvest is stored for about 4-5 months. Cooks often use the edible part to make purees and freshly squeezed juices. The product, rich in vitamins and minerals, is prescribed for dietary and therapeutic purposes.
Popular for our latitudes, Gribovskaya pumpkin with early ripening 85-90 days. The bark of the fruit is smooth and slightly ribbed, the color varies from dark green to yellow with greenish splashes. The dense orange pulp has a high taste.
The weight of the vegetable is 2.5-5 kg. When planting, use the following scheme: 60x70 cm.
Butternut (nut)
The productive variety was bred by Italian breeders; the growing season, as described, lasts 90-100 days. Oblong fruits gain weight 5-9 kg, the small seed section is located at the bottom of the pumpkin, so the layer of pulp is thick.
The taste of the vegetable is appreciated for its tenderness, sweetness and juiciness. The product contains an increased amount of carotene and other vitamins. The vegetable is used for therapeutic and dietary nutrition.
Mid-season variety with ripening period 110-115 days. The powerful plant forms a large vine, so when planting, the following scheme is used: 100x150 cm. The skin is thin, the flesh is dense and incredibly sweet.
Fetal weight reaches 3-4 kg. The culture is characterized by good immunity, manifested in the form of resistance to diseases and adverse weather conditions.
Each variety has its own taste characteristics. Ideally, in addition to your favorite species, annually plant a new hybrid, which will give your favorite dish a unique note and aroma.