Pumpkin Atlant: description of the large-fruited variety, photo of the harvest, instructions for growing it

Atlant pumpkin is suitable for planting for those who like to grow giant pumpkins weighing several tens of kilograms on their plot. This variety is capable of producing record-sized specimens, which you are not ashamed to show off to your acquaintances and friends. Atlas impresses not only with its mass, the flesh of this pumpkin is sweet and tender. Summer residents enjoy eating it, and use the surplus to feed livestock and poultry or process it.

Description of the pumpkin variety

Atlant is an amazing variety with the largest fruits in the world. In some cases, the weight of the pumpkin reaches 100-150 kg! The vegetable is excellent for processing; tasty and healthy dishes are prepared from it for the winter.

Distinctive features

Belongs to late-ripening varieties, ripens in 110-130 days from planting. The vegetable is grown in open ground.

The bushes are spreading and powerful. Thanks to its thick peel, the vegetable can be stored for a long time without losing its properties.

Fruit characteristics and yield

The fruits are oval-round, bright orange in color. The surface is slightly ribbed. The average pumpkin weight is from 10 to 30 kg. The pulp is juicy and sweet, yellow in appetizing color.

Pumpkin is used fried, boiled and steamed. The seeds of the variety are large and light beige in color. Productivity is stable, from 1 sq. m on average, 10-15 kg of fruits are collected.

Interesting ! 100 g of pumpkin contains only 25 kcal. The vegetable is often used as the main ingredient for preparing dietary dishes.

Pumpkin "Long from Naples"

The Naples Long pumpkin is a butternut squash, unlike most pumpkin varieties with giant fruits, which belong to the large-fruited pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima). They are oblong in shape, like a zucchini, and most often have the shape of a guitar or pear. The average length of the fruit is 40-100 centimeters, the longest fruits are usually twisted in the shape of a horseshoe. They also reach significant weight - from 15-20 kilograms.

The skin is dark green, but these pumpkins turn brown when stored in winter. The flesh is bright orange and the flavor, like most butternut squash, is rich and very sweet.

This attractive pumpkin is heat-loving and best suited to regions with hot, long summers (to pick up enough sugars). It can also be used in cooking when unripe, as an alternative to zucchini. The ripening period is late - 125 days. Great for juices and baking. Sets 2-3 fruits on the plant.

Pumpkin “Long from Naples”, or “Naples Long” (Naples Long)

How to grow

In the north of the country, pumpkin is grown in seedlings so that the plants quickly adapt to difficult climatic conditions. In warm regions, the vegetable is planted with seeds in open ground. Let's take a closer look at each method and rules for caring for the Atlant variety.

Planting by seeds

Experienced summer residents purchase seeds from trusted manufacturers. When purchasing, pay attention to the integrity of the packaging and the expiration date of the material. At home, the seeds are inspected for external defects, and damaged specimens are thrown away.

It is advisable to check the seeds for germination. To do this, they are placed in a jar of water and stirred. Those seeds that sank to the bottom are used for sowing.

They are first disinfected using one of the proposed methods:

soak for 20 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate;
leave for a day in aloe juice;
treated with a solution of hydrogen peroxide;
leave for 7 days on the veranda or loggia to warm up.

To plant pumpkins, choose the early morning of a windless day. The culture prefers sunny and spacious beds, away from underground groundwater. The soil is first cleared of debris and weeds and dug to a depth of 15-20 cm.

To make the soil more nutritious, the beds are sprinkled with a mixture of lime and wood ash. This procedure reduces the acidity level and saturates the earth with beneficial properties. Next, make grooves at a distance of at least 80-100 cm. Place 2 seeds in each hole, sprinkle with earth on top and water generously with warm water.

Planting seedlings

For seedlings, in addition to disinfected seeds, a suitable container is required. Summer residents advise planting pumpkins in large containers or cassettes to avoid diving in the future. The container is pre-washed and treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Many people prefer to use ready-made soil mixtures as seedling soil. Simply pour the soil into a container, make small holes and cover the seeds with soil. Grow seedlings on a sunny and bright windowsill. If there is a lack of sun, additional illumination is provided with phytolamps, which can be purchased at any gardening store.

Important ! Caring for seedlings involves regular watering and fertilizers. Moisten the seedlings as the soil dries out. It is important not to over-water the bushes, as excess moisture can lead to the development of diseases. Under no circumstances should you water the pumpkin with cold water - use clean water from a filter at room temperature. Feed the sprouts after the first leaves appear. Plants respond well to fertilizing with liquid bird droppings or infusion of burdock leaves.

Care

Rainwater is best suited for irrigation. It is softer than any other, all vegetables “love” it. To ensure that there is always a supply of rainwater at hand, gardeners connect a drainpipe to a tank or collection tank.

If this is not possible, the beds are moistened with tap water, after keeping it in the sun for at least two hours. About 2-3 liters are consumed per bush. The interval between watering is approximately 4-5 days. If the summer turns out to be rainy, the number of procedures is reduced.

Before watering, it is recommended to weed the beds and loosen the soil . These procedures improve the quality of the soil, making it lighter and airier. Removing weeds is necessary to maintain healthy microflora in the beds. If this is not done, the risk of diseases and insect pests increases significantly. Also, healthy care is impossible without regular feeding.

Gardeners use the following methods:

During the flowering period, the bushes are watered with a solution of Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate. The products protect plants from germs and bacteria.
2 weeks after the first feeding, wood ash or liquid manure is added. Fertilizing has a beneficial effect on the development of the root system.
During the fruiting period, ammonium nitrate or superphosphate is added. The drugs improve the taste of vegetables.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

To speed up the ripening of the fruits of the Atlant variety, summer residents advise forming bushes and pinching their tops. To do this, a month after planting, remove excess ovaries, leaving 2-3 fruits on one bush. If this is not done, many small fruits will form that will not have time to gain weight and ripen. If the fruits are formed correctly, there will not be many fruits, but the pumpkins will grow large and sweet.

Important ! To prevent vegetables from lying on the ground, additional supports are built. For example, they place a wooden board under the fruit. Such a simple structure prevents damage and rotting of the pumpkin, which can occur from contact with wet soil.

Particular attention is paid to the lashes. In the Atlant variety they are long, so they are regularly untangled and neatly laid out on the garden bed, sprinkled with earth. Additional roots sometimes appear in places where the powder is applied. This allows you to increase productivity.

Growing tips from experienced gardeners

Let's study tips and recommendations from experienced gardeners, with the help of which even beginners will be able to grow a tasty and beautiful harvest:

before planting in the garden, seedlings are hardened in the freezer for 3-4 days;
the best predecessors for the crop are legumes, greens or potatoes;
to obtain the highest yield, vegetables are planted according to a 2x2 pattern;
before sowing, water and fertilizers are added to the holes;
water the plants in the morning or evening to avoid sunburn;
the water temperature for irrigation must be at least +20 °C;
for convenience, when watering pumpkins, use a drip system or hose;
The bushes are sprayed with manganese or whey 2-3 times per season, this protects against pests.

Diseases and pests

Bacteriosis occurs in pumpkin patches. The causes of the disease lie in improper care, waterlogging or contaminated soil. The infection can also be carried by insects, birds, and the remains of old plants. Bacteriosis manifests itself in the wilting of the bushes, the fruits become soft, the leaves become covered with small spots. For preventive purposes, sprays based on onion peels are used. For treatment, use 0.4% copper oxychloride or Bordeaux mixture.

Another disease is powdery mildew. It appears as a white coating on the leaves, which disrupts metabolism in the bushes. The leaves gradually dry out, the stems and petioles are affected. Powdery mildew progresses with an excess of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and poor watering. Affected specimens are sprayed with a solution based on colloidal sulfur. For prevention, treatment with soapy liquid is used.

Important ! Among the insect pests in the beds, mole crickets or wireworms are noticed. They destroy the root system, which is why the entire bush soon withers. To prevent their appearance, the beds are sprinkled with dry eggshells or the drugs “Prestige” or “Provotox” are added to the soil.

Growing conditions

Soil composition. Loose fertile soil is required. To grow the variety, it is advisable to prepare the soil mixture yourself from humus, garden soil and coconut briquettes in a 2:1:2 ratio. If the soil in the area is clayey, you can add a little sand.

Drainage. When planting in open ground, coarse sand should be poured into the bottom of the planting hole in a layer of at least 10 cm. Stagnation of water at the roots leads to diseases and loss of the plant.

Soil moisture. Butternut squash is considered a demanding plant. She definitely needs timely moderate watering. The soil should be constantly moderately moist, but not wet.

Note! To regulate soil moisture, you can use vermiculite or coconut briquettes. Watering must be stopped after the fruits reach the size of a small apple, otherwise the pumpkin will be watery. Temperature

Sugar butternut squash is a southern heat-loving plant. The temperature for active growth and development should be at least +25°C during the day, and at night at least +15°C

Temperature conditions. Sugar butternut squash is a southern heat-loving plant. The temperature for active growth and development should be at least +25°C during the day, and at least +15°C at night.

Sufficient lighting. It is necessary to choose the sunniest place on the site. Protection from cold northern winds is desirable. To do this, sometimes a pumpkin is planted near the southern wall of a house or building, with a trellis arranged there.

Maintaining a distance between bushes of at least 70 cm will help to grow a good harvest. The climbing variety requires a larger area provided it is grown horizontally.

Butternut pumpkin in the garden

Feeding. The first fertilizer is placed in the planting hole. Planting is carried out with the addition of humus. When watering, potassium humate must be added to the water weekly. When the ovary forms, it is necessary to feed it with a 1:3 solution of mullein or a complete mineral fertilizer such as Fertik.

The third feeding is needed when the fruit reaches the size of an apple. It is carried out only with organic fertilizer followed by abundant watering.

Garter. The climbing variety Butternut can be grown horizontally. If there is no necessary free space on the site, summer residents use trellises. Summer residents really like the Moscow experience of growing it as a hedge, as it saves space and decorates the fences.

Protection from diseases. Disease prevention consists of proper planting, maintaining an interval for access of fresh air to the plant. Once every two weeks it is necessary to spray with a preparation such as “Fundazol” or “Abiga-pik”.

Protection against pests must be carried out without waiting for them to appear. To do this, plants are sprayed once every two weeks with Aktara or Iskra.

Additional Information. You can't use all the pumpkin at once. If you cut a piece from it, the rest can be stored without compromising the taste.

Harvesting and application

Atlant pumpkin is harvested from the garden in early or mid-September . To keep the fruits as long as possible, they are cut off along with the stalk. Before storage, pumpkins are not washed with water, but wiped with a dry and clean cloth.

Store the fruits in a cellar or basement. The optimal humidity temperature for storage is no more than 80%. Summer residents put vegetables in wooden boxes and cover them with newspapers or thin polyethylene.

Part of the harvest is processed immediately. The sweet and buttery pulp is great for making porridges and side dishes, salads and pureed soups. Pumpkin makes excellent sweet dishes: the product is added to pies, cakes and muffins are made from it.

Pumpkin gives the dish not only taste and benefits, but also an appetizing appearance. Due to the high content of beneficial microelements, the vegetable is suitable for a dietary and healthy diet. Pumpkin goes harmoniously with other vegetables and is used when making jam or jam.

Interesting ! In addition to the pulp, seeds and even flowers of the plant are used for cooking.

Tim Matheson pumpkin, 921 kg

Tim Matheson is not only a timber merchant, but also a farmer living in the United States. In 2013, he participated in the annual competition, which was held in California. There he presented his pumpkin weighing 921 kg.

Tim said that this huge vegetable grew in 105 days. Matheson did not attribute this success solely to his efforts. He was sure that his pumpkin had reached such a gigantic size thanks to the moderate temperatures that year.

The 56-year-old farmer was rewarded for his efforts; he was given $14,000 for his victory. And, of course, success inspired him, he continues to do it.

In 2022, the man again won the competition in Northern California, but the harvest was slightly smaller - 819 kg. In his homeland, his vegetables are called “flying saucers”, because... in shape they really resemble a UFO.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The size of the Atlant pumpkin is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Some gardeners appreciate the large size of the fruit, while others, on the contrary, do not know what to do with such large vegetables.

The advantages of the variety include a sweet and juicy taste, a pleasant aroma. Pumpkin does not require special growing rules for care, but difficulties may arise with the formation of bushes. Otherwise, Atlant pumpkin is a high-yielding vegetable with excellent external and internal characteristics.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the advantages are the following:

excellent yield and keeping quality;
increased transportability;
wonderful taste characteristics;
sweetness (allows you to make juices and cook dishes without adding regular sugar);
pulp juiciness;
ease of cultivation and care;
storage duration.

Pumpkin has practically no disadvantages, except that the fruits are excessively large and the need to form bushes.

Farmer reviews

To find out what summer residents think about the Atlant pumpkin variety, let’s study several reviews from popular Internet forums.
Alina, Chelyabinsk: “On the recommendation of a friend, I planted an Atlant pumpkin. There were no problems with care, the harvest ripened on time. The fruits have grown beautiful and tasty, I will definitely grow them again.”

Evgeniy, Omsk: “I love Atlant pumpkin for its large pumpkins, which are stored for a long time and are great for processing. I make snacks for the winter from the pulp, and I also freeze some of it. The taste after defrosting is excellent and does not change.”

Pavel, Moscow : “The Atlant variety is not bad, but it is too demanding on soil and care. A lot of lashes are formed, which makes it difficult to shape the bush. I rate the taste as good.”

Features of cultivation

Atlas is usually planted in open soil, but when planting the variety in the northern regions, preference is given to the seedling growing method. Before sowing, the seed material is prepared. This is a prerequisite for obtaining a high level of productivity. What do we have to do:

Hand sort the grains, discarding hollow seeds. If you don’t have time for this, just put the seeds in a container with water, wait 15-20 minutes and remove the elements that float to the surface of the water. These will be empty grains that will not sprout.
To disinfect the seeds, which will protect against infection in the future, it is necessary to prepare a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate). Soak the grains in it for half an hour.
It is advisable to soak the seed material before planting, which will speed up the process of sprout formation. To do this, moisten gauze folded in several layers with water, place the seeds inside, and roll them up. Place the fabric on any container (plate, bowl) and leave at room temperature until the seeds hatch (about 2-3 days). Be sure to monitor the moisture level of the gauze - it should not dry out.
When sprouts appear, they can be planted in the soil, depending on the method. It is recommended to first harden the seeds, which will increase resistance to cold and allow them to quickly adapt to the garden plot. To do this, place the grains in the refrigerator (not freezer) for 24 hours.

Pumpkin "Early Giant"

Early Giant pumpkin is one of the earliest varieties among large-fruited pumpkins, and is also very resistant to powdery mildew. The fruits are elongated (oval-shaped) of a very beautiful dark orange color. They have a uniform shape and slight ribbing in the form of shallow grooves. The weight range of this pumpkin is from 6 to 18 kilograms. They have thick, strong stalks that can be used as handles to make transporting the crop easier.

The variety adapts well to various growing conditions and is quite reliable. Large oval pumpkins of rich color look attractive and serve as an excellent decoration for autumn holidays and are in high demand for Halloween. Productivity - one or two large fruits per plant. Ripening period is 95 days.

Early Giant pumpkin. Siegers Seed

Pumpkin "Early Giant"

Early Giant pumpkin. Siegers Seed

Origin of the giant pumpkin

The Pumpkin genus includes about 20 species of herbaceous plants, but not all of them are popular among gardeners. In the CIS countries, the most popular is the common pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo), but in South America, the USA, Europe, South Africa, India and the Philippines, the giant pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) takes the lead in popularity. To say that these pumpkins are large is to say nothing, because this species produces the largest fruits in the plant world.

Growing wild, the giant pumpkin was found in the mountainous regions of the Andes and was actively cultivated by local Indian tribes. During the Inca Empire, the large pumpkin began its journey to the northern regions of South America, and in the 18th century it reached New England and the USA.

Pumpkin in open ground

Pumpkin in general is a heat-loving plant, like all melons. Therefore, seedlings can be planted when the threat of return frosts has passed (the soil warms up to 12-13°C) or earlier in warm beds.

Pumpkins grow well in compost heaps

Pumpkin seedlings should be planted in open ground according to the following scheme: an interval of 2 meters between bushes of climbing varieties and 1.3-1.5 meters between bush varieties.

Some gardeners plant pumpkins on compost heaps, but here you need to take into account the size of the variety; if the bush is very dense, it will cover the entire heap and you won’t be able to reach it.

In fact, whole heaps of compost are not required; when planting, you need to place a scoop of rotted manure and 50 g of superphosphate in the holes, and feed them with a bioadditive during growth. For example, this: for 5 liters of water, take 1 packet of Saff-moment yeast, add 5 tablespoons of sugar or 0.5 liters of molasses. Allow to ferment and water at the root during the period of active seedling growth.

Pumpkins respond well to feeding with green slurry (mown grass is placed in a barrel 1/2-1/3 full, filled with water and left to ferment for 7-10 days).

At the moment of fruit set, pumpkins need to be fed with a solution of universal fertilizer, for example, Fertika Lux, or wood ash - about a glass per bush before watering.

If the weather is changeable and cool, pumpkin seedlings should be protected. It is convenient to use cut 5-6 liter water bottles. And bush pumpkins planted in rows should be covered with film material, i.e. like a greenhouse.

Do not allow the soil under the pumpkin bushes to cake and form a crust - loosen the surface layer to a depth of 5-10 cm, mulch if necessary so that it does not dry out in the heat and more adventitious roots are formed.