The most delicious and sweet varieties of pumpkin
The most popular in cooking are aromatic and sweet pumpkins. They are suitable for fresh consumption and processing. They can be baked, added to dough, and used to make salads, candied fruits, purees, soufflés, porridge, and compote jam. These pumpkins are also suitable for freezing, as they retain their consistency, sweetness and aroma when defrosted. Types of crops that contain sugar from 8 to 13% are considered sweet.
These include:
- Sweetie;
- Honey crumb;
- Medical;
- Winter sweet;
- Michurinskaya;
- Marble;
- Orange honey.
Sweetie
Characterized by a red tint of the peel, the fruits are segmented. The pulp is thick, dense and sweet. The fresh harvest, if all conditions are met, can be stored for up to 10 months.
Honey crumb
Pumpkin is characterized by flat-rounded fruits, which become light gray in color when ripe. The pulp is thick, bright yellow with a high dry matter content.
Medical
Forms fruits weighing 3-5 kg, the juicy, sweet pulp of which has a honey aroma. The species is cold-resistant and mid-season in terms of ripening.
Winter sweet pumpkin
Suitable for long-term storage and resistant to anthracnose. Its fruits weigh more than 7 kg. When ripe, the peel becomes mottled gray, and the flesh is orange-yellow and elastic.
Michurinskaya
The variety is characterized by flattened, rounded, segmented fruits that have a thin gray peel and bright orange juicy pulp. The variety is considered early ripening; pumpkins, weighing 4-7 kg, ripen in 3 months.
Marble
A distinctive feature of the Marble type of crop is the spotted contrasting pattern on the peel. The fruits are flattened and round with slight ribbing, do not crack, and the flesh is juicy and has a delicate consistency.
Orange honey
It is a hybrid of medium ripening, the weight of the fruits is from 2 to 4 kg. The flesh of this species is bright orange and the peel is striped. The shelf life of Orange Honey is about 5 months.
Butternut squash varieties
These types of crops almost completely lack a peculiar pumpkin flavor. They are rich in carotene, sugars and exude a nutmeg aroma. A distinctive feature of these pumpkins is their solid pentagonal stalk, expanding downwards. At the same time, the pulp is thick, bright orange in color, and the seeds are small, in a yellowish shell with an uneven rim.
The most popular muscat varieties:
- Nutmeg pearl;
- Vitamin;
- Prikubanskaya;
- New;
- Guitar;
- Trombone;
- Miracle Yudo;
- Barbara.
Nutmeg pearl
It is characterized by round-cylindrical fruits, weighing up to 5 kg. They have juicy, fleshy, soft flesh and thin skin. The plant is powerful with 4-7 vines and easily tolerates temperature changes.
Vitamin
This pumpkin is a mid-season crop with oval dark green fruits weighing up to 7 kg. The pulp inside is almost red, 5-10 cm thick. The variety is light-loving and needs fertile soil.
Pumpkin Prikubanskaya
It has pear-shaped fruits weighing up to 4.5 kg. The skin is thin, the flesh is creamy, up to 4 cm thick. The shelf life of Prikubanskaya is 3 months.
New
Belongs to the category of mid-season species, the duration of the growing season is 110-115 days. The fruits are cylindrical, thickened at the end, weighing up to 7 kg. They have thin skin and juicy, sweet flesh.
Guitar
The variety has elongated fruits, widened at the bottom with bright orange pulp, which occupies 90%. The length of the pumpkins reaches 70 cm, and the weight is 7-8 kg. They are characterized by thin skin and excellent taste.
Trombone
This type of nutmeg has long, original rounded fruits, which ripen during storage and achieve a balanced taste. The variety is widely used in cooking and for decoration; it requires fertile soil.
Miracle Yudo
Butternut squash Chudo-Yudo is valued for its high content of sugars and carotene, so it is ideal for fresh consumption. Its fruits are oval, weighing 6-8 kg, orange in color with a mesh pattern and a gray tint.
Barbara
It is a universal hybrid of nutmeg pumpkin, which has high yield, disease resistance and low maintenance. Its fruits are covered with a hard striped skin, and the pulp is light, of excellent taste and of medium thickness.
Description of butternut squash
This pumpkin grows as an annual plant with branched, pubescent shoots of varying thickness. The alternate greenish leaves are attached by petioles to the vines. The elongated “bell-shaped” flowers are painted in a bright “sunny” color.
The fruits of this species with small nests for seeds have different shapes, but most often they are elongated-cylindrical with a thickened end.
Varieties
| Photo and title | Description |
| Augustine | The early variety "Augustina" was proposed for cultivation in 2011 ("Aelita"). It grows in the form of a long-climbing bush with dark green, neat leaves, on the surface of which many small whitish spots are scattered. The fruit has a smooth surface, similar to an elongated, narrow cylinder, slightly stretched in the middle, and has a thickened end. The thick greenish waxy bark with a pattern of spots covers the yellowish, rather strong, crispy flesh with an excellent taste and delicate aroma. Small seeds, covered with a cream-colored peel, ripen in the thickened part of the pumpkin. |
| Arbatskaya | The late-ripening Arbatskaya nutmeg pumpkin was created quite recently in 2014. It can be cultivated throughout our country. An annual plant with long, branched shoots covered with short and harsh hairs, there are green, large leaves with small cuts along the edges and whitish spots of various sizes. The fruit is small, club-shaped, and covered with smooth, orange-brown bark with a waxy coating. The weight of the pumpkin varies from 6 to 6.5 kg, but sometimes it can be 20 kilograms. Orange, juicy pulp with excellent taste and intense nutmeg aroma has good density. The medium-sized, brown-colored seeds ripen in a neat nest located at the widened end of the pumpkin. |
| Pearl | The mid-late, universal variety “Pearl” was bred in 2000. A powerful herbaceous bush with long vines, the main shoot reaches a length of 6-8 meters. Pentagonal, medium-sized leaves with grooves along the edges are on long petioles. The dark green leaf surfaces have many whitish spots of varying diameters. Small fruits, similar to an elongated cylinder, can have both a smooth surface and a surface divided into lobes (segments). Under the orange bark, covered with a bluish coating, as well as orange spots and a mesh, there is a sweet, thick orange, strong flesh. Oval seeds with a dense, dark cream skin ripen in a narrow nest. Butternut squash "Pearl" is liked for its excellent taste, drought resistance, high and regular yields, and thick flesh. |
| Matilda | The Dutch variety "Matilda" is a mid-season hybrid. It was created for cultivation in dachas and gardens located in the central part of Russia. On the elongated, branched shoots of the herbaceous bush, they are not very large; the green leaves are held in place by pubescent petioles. The weight of the fruit, which resembles a small guitar, can vary from 3.5 to 4.5 kg. Under the thin yellow bark there is tasty, strong, orange pulp. Small seeds, covered with a white skin, are formed in a compact nest with loose, orange tissue. Nutmeg pumpkin "Matilda" is liked for its excellent taste and pleasant aroma, high yields, transportability, and tolerance to both high and low temperatures. |
| Barbara | The mid-early variety "Barbara", created in Russia, was presented to the public in Russia in 2022. It can be cultivated in almost all regions. On the elongated and branched shoots of the annual plant there are a large number of small leaves, colored in a dense green shade, with numerous white spots of various diameters. The compact pear-shaped fruit has a slightly curved neck, the diameter of which can vary from small to medium. Under the smooth, dark green bark, on which a pattern of brown stripes is visible, is dense, juicy tangerine-colored pulp with an excellent taste. The weight of the Barbara pumpkin ranges from 1.6 to 2.5 kg. Creamy-brown seeds ripen in a neat, spherical seed nest filled with loose orange tissue. Butternut squash "Barbara" stands out for its excellent taste, portability and fairly powerful yields. |
| Grand slam | The “Grand Slam” variety was developed in 2015 (“Aelita”). It belongs to the mid-season hybrids. On the elongated, well-branched vines of the annual bush there are quite a lot of densely green leaves with a solid surface on pubescent petioles. On wide fruits, colored in an intense green tint, you can see segments (lobes). The weight of the Grand Slam pumpkin varies from 3.5 to 4 kg. The dense bark protects the crisp, tangerine-colored, wide flesh with a pleasant taste. The seeds, covered with a creamy skin, ripen in a round, rather compact nest. The “Big Slam” hybrid is loved for its good yield, excellent taste, and storage of the crop for 3.5-4.5 months. |
| Vitamin | The late-ripening variety “Vitaminnaya” was bred in 1952 for cultivation in the North Caucasus. Fully ripened pumpkins begin to be harvested after 124-130 days. Herbaceous, strong plant has shoots up to 6 meters long. Greenish-gray pentagonal leaves with numerous whitish spots are attached to the shoots by short, thin petioles. Small, wide, round-oval or round-cylindrical fruits have a surface with prominent lobes. The stalk has harsh ribs. The color of the fruit changes greatly during ripening. At the very beginning it is dark pink with a slight orange tint. A fully ripe pumpkin has a brownish-brown color with a pink tint. Coffee stains and a network formed by green stripes are also visible on the surface of the fruit. Under the thin, durable bark there is moderately sweet, tangerine-red pulp, 5 to 10 cm high. The size of the seed nest can vary from medium to large. Butternut squash “Vitaminnaya” has good resistance to anthracnose. This hybrid is highly valued for its high vitamin A content, as indicated by the bright color of the pulp, as well as for its high yield and excellent taste. |
| Guitar | The mid-season, Russian variety “Gitara” was presented to the public in 2013 (Aelita). It is offered for cultivation in all regions. On a strong plant with an elongated main shoot, there are rather wide leaves, colored in an intense green shade, with small notches along the edges. Neat, elongated cylindrical fruits, resembling a guitar in shape, have a smooth surface. Narrow segments are visible on the orange-pinkish bark with a waxy coating. The weight of the Guitar pumpkin can vary from 3 to 3.5 kg. The thick bark covers the crisp, yellow, good-tasting flesh, which is 5-10 cm high. Narrow seeds with a creamy skin ripen in a round, compact nest completely filled with loose yellowish tissue. The muscat variety “Gitara” is loved for its regular and high yield, transportability, and the shelf life of the fruit, which is 90-100 days. |
| Honey Tale | The mid-season variety “Honey Tale” was bred in 2015 (“Gavrish”). The annual, herbaceous plant with a medium-vigorous main shoot bears large spotted leaves, colored green. The fruit is medium or large in shape and resembles an elongated pear. The waxy surface of the pumpkin, painted in various shades from brownish-brown to dark brown, usually has a faint marbled pattern. The weight of one pumpkin can vary from 3 to 3.5 kg. The thin bark protects the crisp, thick, great-tasting flesh. In a small spherical nest filled with loose orange tissue, fairly large seeds covered with a creamy skin ripen. Butternut squash “Honey Tale” stands out for its excellent taste, high yield, the possibility of long-term transportation, and the preservation of the crop for 3.5-4 months after harvesting. |
| Muscat Provence | The French mid-late variety “Muscat de Provence” passed variety trials in 2013. It is proposed to be grown in all regions of our country. On the branched vines of the annual plant there are narrow leaves with small cuts along the veins, colored green. On the waxy surface of the round, flat-compressed fruit, the lobes are sharply distinguished by grooves. The orange-brown bark covers thick, moderately juicy, tangerine-colored pulp with excellent taste. The medium-sized seeds, covered with a creamy skin, ripen in a compact nest filled with loose orange tissue (placenta). The Muscat Provençal variety is valued for its good taste, drought resistance and high yield. |
| Prikubanskaya | The mid-season variety "Prikubanskaya" was obtained in 1998 in the Krasnodar region. It is proposed to be cultivated in regions located in the North Caucasus and the Urals. The growing period from germination to harvest can vary from 91 to 131 days. On a medium-vigorous plant, branched shoots reach a length of 3-4 meters. The narrow, dark green, spotted leaves, shaped like a pentagon, are located on petioles covered with a harsh down. On a smooth, elongated cylindrical fruit with a slight thickening at the end, segments (lobes) can be seen. The thin, orange-brown bark with brownish-orange spots and a net-like pattern protects the tender, reddish-tangerine pulp with a pleasant aroma and excellent taste. The weight of the Prikubanskaya pumpkin can range from 2.3 to 4.6 kg. Oval, elongated, light grayish seeds with a creamy ridge fully ripen in a compact, orange nest with loose placentas (tissue). The Muscat variety “Prikubanskaya” is not very resistant to diseases, but its high and regular yields, good transportability, and preservation of fruits for 100 days are liked by many pumpkin lovers. |
| Scheherazade | The Russian late-ripening variety “Scheherazade” was released in 2022. It can be cultivated throughout Russia. On a herbaceous bush with long, well-branched shoots, there are neat dark green leaves with small cuts along the edge. Along the surface of the elongated, cylindrical fruit with a slight bend there are small grooves indicating segments (lobes). The weight of the Prikubanskaya pumpkin varies from 6 to 8 kg, but in rare cases it can reach up to 12 kg. The color of the bark during ripening changes from dense green to orange with rather wide interrupted green stripes. The crispy and juicy pulp, colored tangerine, is tasty and very pleasant to the taste. The seeds, covered with a creamy skin, ripen in a reddish-orange nest filled with loose tissue (the placenta). Nutmeg pumpkin “Scheherazade” is loved for its high yield, good transportability and preservation of the crop for 3-4 months. |
| Tsukatnaya | The mid-season variety “Tsukatnaya” was bred in 2010 in Timiryazevka. On the long and branched shoots of the annual bush there are neat green leaves with many whitish spots of various sizes and small cuts along the veins of the leaf blade. On the surface of the round, flat-compressed fruit there are grooves that define the segments. The brown bark covers the crisp, tangerine-red flesh, which is quite high in vitamin A and sugar. Good taste is emphasized by sufficient juiciness. Small, brown-colored seeds ripen wrapped in loose, orange tissue in the center of the pumpkin. The Tsukatnaya variety attracts with its ability to adapt to different climatic conditions, high yields, transportability, and the preservation of fruits for 7 months. |
| Havana (Havana) | The Dutch mid-early variety “Havana” underwent variety testing in 2015. On a herbaceous plant with branched elongated vines, there are whole compact leaves, colored green, on long petioles covered with rather stiff hairs. Long, narrow, cylindrical, elongated fruits have a small spherical thickening. The weight of one Havana pumpkin can vary from 1.6 to 1.9 kg. The bark, painted in a light cream color, protects the dense, medium-thick pulp of a tangerine color and pleasant taste. The seeds, colored a light cream color, ripen in a neat nest among loose, orange tissue (the placenta). Havana butternut squash is loved by vegetable lovers for its excellent taste, shelf life of the fruit for 6 months and high yield. |
| Tiana | The Dutch mid-early variety "Tiana" underwent variety testing in 2018. Herbaceous bushes with elongated, slightly branched shoots bear neat green leaves with small dissections along the veins. The medium-sized, elongated, cylindrical fruit has a small constriction in the middle and a short neck. The weight of the Tiana pumpkin varies from 1 to 2 kg. The smooth, creamy bark protects the crisp, moderately juicy, orange-hued flesh, which has good to excellent taste characteristics. Creamy, small seeds ripen in a small seed nest. The Tiana variety is distinguished by its ability to produce high yields without artificial watering, transportability and long shelf life of fruits (6 months). |
| Stradivarius | The mid-season variety “Stradivari” was created in 2015 in Moscow. It can be cultivated in all regions. On the elongated, branched shoots of a powerful bush there are medium-sized green leaves with neat notches along the veins. The medium-sized cylindrical fruit has a slight expansion towards the bottom and a constriction in front of it. The smooth, brownish-reddish bark with a waxy coating and marbled pattern protects medium-thick, firm, tangerine-colored flesh with excellent flavor. The weight of the Stradivarius pumpkin varies from 2 to 3 kg. The seeds, colored blue-gray, ripen in a compact nest filled with loose tangerine-colored tissue. Stradivarius nutmeg pumpkin is liked for its long-term storage of fruits for 6-7 months, excellent taste and transportability. |
| Avalon | The American mid-season variety "Avalon" passed varietal tests in 2013. On a herbaceous bush with a main shoot of medium length, there are light green, large leaves with a solid edge and small notches. A small fruit, shaped like a cylinder, with a barely noticeable constriction in the middle, has an average diameter. Creamy, smooth bark with a waxy coating covers tasty, quite juicy, orange pulp with a high content of sugar, solids and carotene. The seeds, covered with a creamy skin, are located in an orange nest in the lower expanded part of the pumpkin. The Avalon variety gives good yield per square meter. The fruits are well preserved for three months after harvesting. |
| Annushka | The mid-late variety “Annushka” was bred in 2009 in Astrakhan. The herbaceous plant with long branched vines bears medium-sized dark green leaves with white spots of varying diameters. The long, cylindrical fruit, shaped like a guitar, can weigh between 3.5 and 4.5 kg. Smooth brown bark, painted with small spots and wide stripes of a light coffee shade, covers thin, orange-reddish, juicy pulp of good taste. Small, light brownish seeds with a small scar ripen in a small, orange-reddish nest. Butternut pumpkin “Annushka” attracts attention with its good yield, excellent taste and long shelf life of the fruit (6-7 months). |
| Ariel | The mid-early variety "Ariel" passed variety testing in 2015. It was created internationally. A climbing plant with a medium-sized main shoot has small, whole, green leaves, completely covered with white spots of varying diameters. The short, cylindrical fruit with a slight widening at the bottom is covered with a smooth, light cream bark. The weight of one pumpkin can vary from 1 to 1.3 kg. Tasty, dense, yellowish-orange pulp has sufficient juiciness. The cream-skinned seeds are located in a small nest filled with loose reddish-orange tissue. The Ariel variety is famous for its long-term preservation of fruits (6-7 months), good yield and transportability. |
Green pumpkin - varieties and their descriptions
Among the variety of species, there are also pumpkins of an unusual green color, which is not typical for this crop. However, in terms of taste, they are in no way inferior to the orange and yellow varieties. The green tint predominates on the skin of pumpkins, and it is present during the formation of the fruits, as well as after they ripen. Despite this, the flesh has a different shade: cream, orange, yellow or reddish.
The most popular green pumpkins:
- Freckle;
- Gymnosperm;
- Zorka;
- Farmer;
- Barn;
- Princess Frog;
- Baby.
Freckle
Freckles have rounded small fruits, weighing up to 3 kg, with a round, slightly flattened shape. The peel is light green with creamy patches, and the flesh inside the pumpkin is juicy, tender, and light yellow. A characteristic feature of Freckles is the pear flavor that appears when ripe.
Gymnosperm
The gymnospermous pumpkin has a round shape and yellow-green striped color, weighing 3-7 kg. Inside the pulp is orange in color and has a traditional taste. Most often, the variety is grown to produce high-quality seeds.
Zorka
The Zorka variety of green pumpkins belongs to the category of mid-early varieties. The fruits are flattened and round, with a segmented surface of a green-gray hue, on which pink spots are clearly visible. Zorka's pulp has excellent taste, dense, orange, and low in juiciness.
Farmer
Pumpkin is characterized by cylindrical fruits that, when ripe, acquire a dark green uniform hue. Inside they have crispy, juicy flesh of a rich yellow color. The variety is well stored, transported and is considered cold-resistant.
Barn
A characteristic feature of Ambar pumpkin is its small fruits, weighing up to 4 kg, which are rounded and flattened in shape with dark spots on the skin. The pulp of the variety is bright orange, medium juicy, soft. The harvest does not lose its consumer properties for up to 10 months.
Princess Frog
Pumpkin Tsarevna-Frog belongs to the category of mid-late varieties, the duration of its growing season is 125-130 days. The fruits are segmented, turban-shaped with wrinkled, tuberous skin, color varies from dark to gray-green.
Baby
The Malyshka variety is early ripening, as it begins to form fruits already 1.5 months after emergence. Pumpkins are flattened, dark green, weighing up to 3 kg. The pulp inside them is juicy, crispy, medium-density, sugary.
Diseases and pests
The most common butternut squash diseases include:
- Anthracnose. The first sign of the disease is that the fruits and stems of the plant become covered with brown spots. If nothing is done, the pumpkin will begin to crumble and dry out. Plantings are treated against anthracnose with a solution of Bordeaux mixture.
- Bacteriosis. Appears as dark green spots. Then the pumpkin leaves begin to dry out and the fruits become deformed. Treat plantings with a solution of copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. Affected areas of the plant must be cut off.
- Root rot is a disease that first affects the underground part of the plant, causing cracking of the roots. Then the fruit stops growing, and the leaves turn yellow and dry out. Plants are treated with Fundazol and Previkur. Wood ash has proven itself well in the fight against root rot.
Of the pests, butternut squash is most often damaged by the following insects:
- spider mite;
- melon aphid;
- slugs
Against aphids and spider mites, the beds are treated with “Karbofos” and an infusion of onion peels. In order to repel slugs, plants are sprinkled with ash and sprayed with garlic infusion. “Groza” copes well with slugs.
Prevention of diseases and pests implies compliance with the following rules of agricultural technology:
- Under no circumstances should plants be flooded during watering;
- it is important to adhere to crop rotation;
- planting varieties are planted according to the recommended scheme;
- It is advisable to weed out weeds from time to time;
- plants must be regularly inspected for diseases and pests;
- It is better to place crops with other typical diseases next to pumpkins.
Orange pumpkin varieties
This is the most common type of pumpkin. Its characteristic feature is the orange color of the peel, which can be of varying intensity. It is great for preparing various dishes and obtaining seeds.
The most popular orange pumpkins:
- Honey;
- Hundred Pound;
- Russian;
- Merchant's wife;
- Golden Pear;
- Hylea;
- Yellow quintal.
Honey
The variety series includes several species, the distinctive feature of which is a pleasant sweetish taste. Their fruits are round, weighing from 3 to 5 kg, with an orange peel, and yellow juicy pulp, the thickness of which is 3-4 cm. Their fresh shelf life is 3.5-4 months.
hundred pound
The variety fully lives up to its name, as its productivity is time-tested. The fruits are spherical or short-oval, weighing up to 20 kg. The peel is thin, flexible, the flesh is light cream up to 4 cm, the seed nest is large.
Russian
Russian pumpkin is small in size, early ripening, pear-shaped, weighing up to 3.5 kg. The variety is high-yielding, cold-resistant, and the delicate pulp of the fruit has a melon flavor.
Zhemchuzhina pumpkin is a mid-season table crop. Its fruits are flattened and round, when ripe they acquire a light orange hue, weighing more than 15 kg. The harvest retains its consumer properties for more than 5 months.
golden pear
Early ripening variety. It is characterized by small fruits weighing up to 2 kg, teardrop-shaped, bright orange in color. Pumpkin pulp is dense, juicy, with a pleasant nutty aroma.
Hylea
A mid-season nutmeg variety with cylindrical-oval fruits of orange color with a pink tint, the weight of which varies from 6 to 9 kg. The pulp is thickened, dense, crispy, red-orange in color. The variety is suitable for dietary nutrition.
Yellow quintal
The difference between the variety is the huge flat-round fruits of golden-orange color, the weight of which reaches 50 kg. The pulp is thick, sweet orange, and is characterized by a high sugar content.
Description of the plant and biological features
Butternut squash is a variety of butternut squash (Cucurbita moshata), which belongs to the genus Pumpkin, which has about 20 species. Wild plants are common in America, Asia and the African continent. Only three species are widely cultivated: large-fruited, hard-barked and nutmeg, which do not cross-pollinate with each other.
Nutmeg is the most heat-loving and has the best taste. It comes from Central America, where it has long been grown by the local population. It is an annual herbaceous plant with a stem creeping along the ground and pubescent leaves on long petioles. The flowers are large, yellow, heterosexual.
Female flowers are usually located on the side branches, and male flowers are located on the main stem.
The fruit is pumpkin, the pulp has a pleasant nutty aroma. In butternut-type hybrids, pumpkins are usually medium-sized, elongated: pear-shaped or guitar-shaped, with a small seed chamber.
Removable ripeness is reached 100-140 days after emergence. They can ripen during storage, and the flesh acquires a brighter color, becomes sweeter and tastier.
The plant is not frost-resistant; for germination the seeds need a temperature of at least 15…16 ℃.
The fruits of nutmeg varieties contain about 11% sugars, many vitamins and microelements. The pulp is especially rich in carotene, which it contains several times more than carrot root vegetables. Data on the biochemical composition are given in the table:
| Substance name | Amount per 100 g of fresh pulp | Percentage of the daily requirement for an adult |
| Vitamins | ||
| Beta-carotene (provitamin A) | 4226 mcg | 39% |
| Ascorbic acid (C) | 21 mg | 25% |
| Pyridoxine (B6) | 0.154 mg | 12% |
| Tocopherol (E) | 1.44 mg | 10% |
| Thiamine (B1) | 0.1 mg | 9% |
| Minerals | ||
| Magnesium | 34 mg | 10% |
| Manganese | 0.202 mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 352 mg | 7% |
The calorie content is low - 100 g contains 45 kcal, which makes it possible to recommend butternut for dietary and therapeutic nutrition. Pumpkin puree is well suited for children's menus, as it does not cause allergic reactions, has a homogeneous structure, and is rich in nutrients.
The fruits are baked, stewed, fried, stuffed, used for making soups, side dishes, salads, purees, pie fillings, eaten fresh and made into juice.
Butternut squashes are considered universal; they are used to prepare all kinds of dishes and can be used in both snack bars and desserts. The seeds are eaten raw, roasted or dried, and oil is squeezed out of them, suitable for dressing salads or frying.
Bush pumpkin - what is its peculiarity and varieties
This variety of crop is ideal for small garden plots. Its peculiarity is that it does not form long lashes, but grows as a compact bush. The fruits of this pumpkin are formed directly at the base of the plant.
The most popular varieties:
- Amazon;
- Sweet early;
- Smile;
- Crocus;
- Gribovskaya;
- Lel;
- Roll.
Amazon
A mid-season type of pumpkin, the harvest of which is stored for 4 months. Its flattened fruits are orange in color, weighing up to 2 kg. The pulp is crispy, dense, aromatic, sweet orange in color. The variety is heat-loving.
Sweet early
Pumpkin has an accelerated growth rate. Its fruits weigh up to 3 kg and ripen in 3 months. The skin is firm but thin, and the flesh is crisp, soft, and orange-red.
Smile
Pumpkin Smile is characterized by bright orange large fruits that are distinguished by their sweetness and pleasant aroma. The variety is cold-resistant, early ripening.
Crocus
Bush pumpkin. Valued for its resistance to temperature changes and good transportability. Its fruits are medium in size, weighing up to 5 kg. The pulp is juicy, sweet, aromatic, suitable for any type of processing.
Gribovskaya
Pumpkin Gribovskaya is characterized by elongated fruits, the weight of which reaches 5 kg. The peel is dense, thin, orange with stripes of a gray-green hue. The pulp is juicy, sweet, ideal for making desserts.
Lel
The variety belongs to the category of early ripening species. The fruits are flattened and ribbed with a light ash striped skin. Pumpkin is not used in cooking, but is used for the green conveyor belt.
Roll
A large-fruited table variety, the gray spherical pumpkins of which reach 10 kg. The taste is average, but pumpkin juice contains many useful components. The variety is not subject to long-term storage and transportation.
Harvest and storage
The exact timing of harvest depends on the variety of butternut squash, but in general it is better not to delay this process. Since this crop is quite heat-loving, it is necessary to remove the fruits before the first frost. Even the slightest cold snap can almost completely destroy the harvest of some varieties that are especially sensitive to heat.
When collecting ripened fruits, the following rules are followed:
- the pumpkin is not picked by hand, but cut with a knife or pruning shears;
- It is advisable to carry out collection in dry, cloudless weather;
- When cutting fruits, you should not touch the peel, as an infection can penetrate through the cut and subsequently spread to other pumpkins.
The harvested crop is placed in a room at room temperature, but it is better to move the fruit to the cellar, where it is dark and cool. The optimal temperature for long-term storage is 12°C.
Advice! Butternut squash fruits can be picked unripe; they ripen well indoors.
Pumpkin varieties for the Moscow region
Pumpkin is one of the heat-loving crops. But thanks to selection, varieties with increased resistance to adverse external factors were obtained, which made it possible to grow it in the central and northern regions. But taking into account the climate of the Moscow region, it is recommended to choose varieties characterized by thick skin and medium-sized fruits, which will allow them to ripen in a timely manner and be well stored in the future.
Recommended varieties:
- Candy (see variety description above);
- Danka Polka;
- Dacha;
- Atlant (see variety description above);
- Matilda;
- Marble (see variety description above).
Danka Polka
Pumpkin Danka Polka belongs to the category of mid-early climbing crop species, characterized by orange-green fruits with white splashes, spherical shape, weighing up to 2.5 kg. The pulp contains a lot of starch and is of medium density.
Dacha
This is an early-ripening variety that produces oval pumpkins with smooth yellow skin and orange stripes. The pulp is dense, juicy, 5-7 cm thick.
Matilda
Matilda pumpkin is a variety of nutmeg that produces long fruits that widen at the bottom with slight ribbing on the surface at the base. The seed chamber is small in the wide part of the pumpkin, the flesh is dense, juicy, without voids.
Pumpkin for the Urals and Siberia
For these regions of the country, it is recommended to choose early and medium ripening pumpkin varieties. In addition, to successfully grow them in open ground, you need to use the seedling planting method to speed up the growing season and fruiting of the plant.
Recommended varieties for Siberia and the Urals:
- Freckle (see variety description above);
- Altaiskaya 47;
- Russian (see variety description above);
- Ufa;
- Smile (see variety description above);
- Gribovskaya (see variety description above);
- Adagio.
Tykvina Altaiskaya 47
An early ripening type of crop, the fruits of which ripen after 3 months. They are orange in color with light spots, heavily ribbed, and are characterized by good keeping quality. The pulp is fibrous, the taste properties are average.
Ufa
The variety is early, the growing season lasts 93 days. The fruits are rounded and flattened, weighing up to 6.5 kg, yellow or gray-orange in color. The pulp is aromatic, juicy, but not sweet.
Adagio
A mid-season type of crop, characterized by round, flattened fruits with a depression at the base. The peel is light yellow with gray reticulation. The pulp is sweet, aromatic, and contains many vitamins and minerals. The variety is suitable for dietary and baby food.
Growing the best varieties of nutmeg pumpkin for open ground
Not only eggplants and tomatoes, but also pumpkin are among the heat-loving root vegetables that prefer hot, but not dry weather with moderate watering.
It directly depends on the region which best varieties of nutmeg pumpkin should germinate, both in the Middle and Central regions, as well as in the Urals, Siberia and the North-West. It is recommended to select varieties of seeds for seedlings depending on the type of soil, speed of fruiting, care, and even the time from sowing to the first shoots.
For the growth of butternut squash in the garden, noble soil fertilized with manure or compost is best suited. As an option, use not open ground, but half-closed ground, insulated with wood on the sides. We are talking about deep barrels and small greenhouses covered with a thin film.
