The best varieties of pumpkin for open ground in the Moscow region, Siberia, and the Urals: photos, reviews

Pumpkin is an annual herbaceous plant of the Cucurbitaceae family. Melon culture. It has a powerful root system, which consists of the main root, as well as adventitious, small root processes. Most of the roots are located at a depth of fifty centimeters; root shoots can penetrate the soil up to 5 meters. The total length of the entire root system is 25 meters. The stem of the plant reaches a length of 8 meters, it is creeping and branches well. The large leaves are covered with many small fibers. The flowers are brightly colored - yellow or orange, large and are an attractive object for insects. At the end of summer, a fruit is formed, the shape and color of which depends on the variety. The pulp is orange and reddish in color, juicy and dense, hidden under a thick peel.

Before purchasing pumpkin seeds, you need to pay attention to the following factors: the plant should not be afraid of temperature changes, drought and viruses, and also taste good - these are the best pumpkin varieties for open ground.

Beneficial features

Our ancestors began to use the fruits of this plant as food; it was presented to the table in Ancient Rome and Greece almost 5 thousand years ago. In the 20th century, detailed studies of the fruit showed that its pulp contains many substances useful for human health:

Vitamins A and E;
Vitamin C;
Vitamins B and K;
Zinc, calcium and potassium, magnesium, fluorine, as well as the rare vitamin T;
Amino acids, pectins and fiber.

For gourmets

Spanish guitar

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.

Spanish guitar

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.

Gribovskaya

The Gribovskaya pumpkin, popular in our latitudes, has an early ripening period of 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, according to the description, lasts 90-100 days . The oblong fruits gain weight 5-9 kg , the seed section is small in size and located in the lower part of the pumpkin, so the layer of pulp is thick.

Butternut

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.

Honey Princess

Mid-season variety with a ripening period of 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.

The weight of the fetus 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.

When starting to grow pumpkin in the Moscow region, you should keep in mind that this plant prefers well-lit areas of the soil. Pumpkin fruiting depends on the length of daylight hours - if it does not exceed 12 hours, earlier and more active fruit set is observed, ensuring high yield.

Muscat species

Muscat species are distinguished by their pear-shaped shape. The fruits are brown with a slight yellowish tint. This species is one of the most delicious, but it will take a long time for the harvest to ripen. Muscat species in Russia are best grown from seedlings.

"Butternut"

Late ripening. The ripening period of the variety is 100 days. It has several other names: “Nut”, “Nutmeg”.

The fruits can grow from 0.5 to 1.5 kilograms and have an elongated shape. Characterized by a nutty smell and original taste. The shelf life is quite long, thanks to the thick skin.

"Vitamin"

Not intended for growing in areas with low temperatures. Late ripening. At least 130 days must pass before ripening. It has a thin skin and oily, juicy flesh of a bright orange color. A ripe fruit can weigh from 4.5 to 6.8 kilograms. This species is recommended to be grown from seedlings. Ripens in September or early October.

"Prikubanskaya"

Ripening period is 91-136 days. A mature fruit can weigh from 2.4 to 4.6 kilograms. It is stored for a very long time and retains its taste.

The pulp is soft and juicy, about 4 cm, creamy when cut, hidden under a thin brown-orange crust.

"New"

Ripens in 116 days, the mature fruit weighs 6-7 kilograms. This species tolerates dry climates quite well, has a thin skin and pleasant, aromatic pulp. The cylindrical fruit can be heat treated or eaten raw.

Watch the video! Butternut squash varieties

Growing pumpkins in open ground in the Moscow region

Pumpkin seeds successfully germinate only in soil heated to at least 12–14 °C, but the seedlings die at 1–2 degrees below zero. The best temperature for the development of pumpkin plants is 20–25 oC. Therefore, the timing of sowing seeds directly into the garden bed must be calculated, focusing not only on long-term climate observations, but also on the current weather. Approximately in the Moscow region, the time for sowing seeds begins after May 15, but at this time each hole with crops should be covered with glass or film. However, you cannot delay sowing: after all, you may not wait for the harvest to ripen.

Sowing seeds is very simple; the holes for this are prepared in advance in the same way as is done for planting pumpkin seedlings.

In the designated places, large holes are dug in the fall or early May, adding fertilizers to them and watering them.
Fertilizers and soil are mixed very thoroughly
Having made a small hole with a scoop before sowing, place 2-3 pumpkin seeds in it at a depth of 5-7 cm.
The seeds are laid out, trying to point the nose down
Cover the seeds with soil, lightly compact them, make low sides of soil along the edges of the hole and cover them with glass or film.

Under normal conditions in May, seedlings in the Moscow region appear in 6–8 days. When real warm weather arrives, the film can be removed. But if summer is delayed, many gardeners cut holes in it for sprouts, and leave the film itself on the bed so that the soil does not cool down. After a few days, the weakest shoots are cut off: it is better not to pull them out, so as not to harm the roots of the plants remaining in the hole.

Large-fruited varieties

Large-fruited varieties are the sweetest and most unpretentious to temperature fluctuations; the species has positive reviews from summer residents. It differs from other species in its size and heavy weight (from 20 to 55 kg). The fruits are large with thick skin, which allows them to be easily transported and stored for a long time.

"Arabatskaya"

Late ripening variety. The ripening period of this variety ranges from 118 to 127 days.

A mature pumpkin can be stored for up to 3.5 months, since it has a dense peel and a wide layer of pulp. The weight of a mature fruit is approximately 9 kilograms. The fruits tolerate dry weather conditions and diseases well. High-yielding variety.

"Big Moon"

A plant with an early ripening period, the growing season lasts 90 days. The weight of the fruits of this variety can reach 70-80 kilograms if one ovary is left on the vine. If cultivation occurs under normal conditions, the weight of one fruit is from 20 to 30 kilograms. The color of the pulp is uniform and rich. The variety is resistant to diseases. During heat treatment, it retains its taste well.

"Parisian Autumn"

This variety ripens quite quickly, in 90 days. The weight of a mature pumpkin is about 20 kilograms. Young shoots cope well with drought.

The variety is resistant to sudden increases and decreases in temperature; ripe fruit can be stored for up to 6 months. The variety is immune to diseases.

"Stopudovaya"

It will take 125 to 140 days for the fruit to fully ripen. The weight of one pumpkin is approximately 20 kilograms, but can, under certain conditions, reach 200 kg.

Large fruits can be obtained with constant moderate air humidity, a large distance between plants of 100x150 cm and active soil fertilization.

The bright yellow flesh has a rich sweetish taste and pleasant aroma.

It is important to know! This variety is resistant to adverse weather conditions and diseases and pests.

Value and features of pumpkin

If you are not mistaken with the variety, you can get a bountiful harvest of pumpkin fruits even in areas where the summer season is short and the weather is not very hot. Based on species, all pumpkins are divided into three groups:

hard-bark is an early-ripening type of crop, the fruits are bordered by a dense yellow-orange crust with stripes, for example, this is the Russian pumpkin;
large-fruited - a late-ripening species, resistant to cold weather, characterized by large fruits and a non-woody crust, sweet pulp;
nutmeg - resistant to heat, thermophilic, the crust remains soft for a long time, the sweet pulp is a source of sugars and carotene.

Pumpkins are also classified according to such a criterion as the growing season, which falls on the period from the moment of growth of full-fledged seedlings to the harvesting of fruits:

early - 90 days;
mid-season - 120 days;
with a late growing season - up to 130 days or more.

Hard-barked species

This group includes not only pumpkins, but also zucchini and squash. A distinctive feature of plants of this species is the rapid ripening of fruits. At the end of summer, even in the middle zone, pumpkins are fully ripe. Another advantage is taste. The pulp of the fruit is very sweet and juicy. The ripe fruit can be stored for quite a long time because it has a thick skin. The pulp of some varieties is well suited for juice, while others can only be grown for seeds.

"Spaghetti"

Pumpkins of this variety have an early ripening period of 65 to 80 days. A large number of fruit ovaries can form on one wattle fence. After ripening, the fruit weighs from 0.8 to 1.5 kilograms. The pulp is not very sweet and has a fibrous structure. Often used to prepare side dishes.

"Muscat de Provence"

This variety is distinguished by high yield; one pumpkin can weigh from 8 to 10 kilograms. It takes a long time to ripen, within 120 days.

The skin of the fruit is very dense, and the pulp is tasty and smells like honey. This species is resistant to various diseases and viruses.

"Gilea"

The fruit ripens in 100-110 days. The weight of one pumpkin is from 6 to 9 kilograms. The pulp is very sweet and juicy, and the skin is covered with a layer of dense waxy coating.

The fruits of the Gileya variety are stored for a very long time; the shelf life of a mature plant can reach 12 months.

butternut squash

Let's consider the best varieties of pumpkin of this type, adapted to the open ground conditions of the non-black soil region and bringing good harvests in the Moscow region.

Muscat is a late ripening plant, the bushes have long vines, the average pumpkin weight is 5 kg. The peel has an orange-cream color, the flesh is sweet, has good density and juiciness.
Candied - has an average ripening period, forms long vines, pumpkins reach a weight of 5 kg, and as they ripen they change color from dark green to light brown. The thickness of the pulp of this variety is about 5 cm, its color can vary from orange to dark red, the variety has excellent taste.
T-7 - bushes are long-climbing, pumpkins ripen later, their weight is small - on average 2 kg, the color is dark green, with a barely noticeable mesh pattern. The pulp is dark orange in color, good sweetness and juiciness.

Growing pumpkin in open ground on a personal plot or summer cottage in the Moscow region allows you to supplement your diet with a product that has high nutritional value and is rich in nutrients and vitamins. The agricultural technology of this plant is simple and can be mastered by every gardener; the ripening bright fruits will provide a good mood in any weather. The main thing is to choose the best pumpkin variety for a given area.

Decorative varieties

Ripe fruits of this type of pumpkin are not used for food, since the pulp is bitter and not suitable for eating. Pumpkins of these varieties are used for decorating and decorating premises and for creating crafts. It must first be well processed and dried.

"Orange"

The fruits of this variety weigh no more than three hundred grams and have a bright orange peel, the shape and color reminiscent of an orange.

"Chalmoid"

The fruits of this species differ in shape and color and are:

pear-shaped;
warty;
tangerine;
star-shaped.

Hardbark

Spaghetti

The variety has an early ripening period, from germination to harvest it takes only 65-80 days . Fruits are densely tied on a long vine, the weight of which before removal 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.

Spaghetti

Muscat de Provence

A high-yielding, low-maintenance variety, the fruits of which reach a weight of 8-10 kg . The skin is thick, which extends the shelf life of the vegetable without losing valuable properties.

Muscat de Provence

The pulp is aromatic with a honey taste. The lash of the plant is compact in size, its immunity resists various diseases and pests. The growing season is 120 days .

Hylea

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 of 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.

Varieties for cultivation in Siberia and the Urals

Several decades ago, only varieties of fodder pumpkin were intended for Siberia and the Urals, which do not have a pleasant taste and smell, but were suitable for growing in such conditions. They are unpretentious to environmental conditions and are intended for animal feed. But science does not stand still, and today there are many varieties that can be successfully grown even in regions with low temperatures. At the same time, they are not at all inferior in taste to their southern counterparts.

Advice! Such species are highly resistant to frost, diseases, pests and early ripening.

"Smile"

The species is distinguished by its high yield and rapid ripening (within 90 days); the fruits are small in size and weigh no more than a kilogram. Resistant to temperature changes and can be stored for a long time until January. Pumpkins look beautiful in the garden bed under large openwork leaves.

From one plant you can collect from 15 to 20 fruits; the pumpkin ripens quickly and tolerates low temperatures well. Suitable for growing in the Urals and Siberia. The fruit pulp is rich orange in color and sweet in taste.

"Russian"

The weight of a mature fruit can be from 2 to 4 kilograms, ripening occurs quickly. To store ripe pumpkin fruits, it is best to prepare a cool and dry room. One plant can produce up to 25 kilograms of harvest. The pumpkin pulp is tasty and has a melon aroma.

To obtain an early harvest, it is necessary to grow seedlings from seeds in advance, and at the end of spring, transplant the shoots into open soil. In the region of Siberia and the Urals, it is better to plant sprouts in early summer, since low temperatures and possible frosts can damage the plants.

"Freckle"

This species pleases gardeners with a rich harvest even with sudden temperature changes. One ripe fruit can weigh up to 3 kilograms. The plant needs regular watering and is afraid of powdery mildew, which a fungicide will help to cope with. The variety brings a rich harvest in regions with a harsh climate: in Siberia and the Urals.

The plant consists of 4-6 vines, in the form of a bush. One pumpkin can weigh up to three kilograms. The pulp of the fruit is tasty and tender, with the smell of pear. The skin color is green with small light yellow spots.

Growing seedlings

Early ripening varieties of pumpkin in the Moscow region can be planted with seeds directly into the ground, and varieties with a growing season of much more than three months are better grown through seedlings.

When to plant pumpkin seedlings

The time for sowing seeds for seedlings is calculated based on the fact that seedlings are transplanted into open ground at the age of about a month, and it takes about a week for seedlings to appear. Seedlings are planted in open ground at approximately the same time as tomatoes, that is, when the threat of frost has passed.

This means that in the conditions of the Moscow region, seedlings are moved to a bed at the border of spring and summer, and sowing seeds at home should be done at the end of April. Later - only not too late-ripening varieties. In case of earlier sowing, the plantings in the garden bed will have to be well covered.

Preparing for growing seedlings and sowing seeds

Pumpkin at any age is extremely painful to transplant. In this regard, sowing seeds in a common box is very risky: it will be almost impossible to remove seedlings from it without damaging the root system. The best choice of containers for seedlings are the largest peat pots available for sale.

For pumpkin seedlings, pots with a volume of about a liter are desirable.

You can buy soil in the store, choosing the one intended for cucumbers; the word “pumpkin” is very rare on the packaging. Suitable and universal, for any vegetables. But you can prepare the soil mixture yourself if you have the right ingredients. The best composition is peat, humus and sawdust (preferably rotted) in a ratio of 2:1:1. To a bucket of such a mixture, you should immediately add a glass of wood ash or a tablespoon of nitrophoska, then mix thoroughly, and then disinfect it by pouring it generously with a pink solution of potassium permanganate.

In specialized stores you can choose seeds of any variety of pumpkin, but preference should be given to those that are zoned, for the Central region or nearby areas. Most of the seeds sold from well-known companies are already ready for sowing, and there is definitely no need to prepare them for seedlings. But pumpkins are most often sown with their own seeds, from the previous harvest, and this makes sense: collecting the seeds is very easy, they are stored well, and summer residents rarely update their assortment.

Only, when collecting your seeds, you need to choose pumpkins that have fully ripened in the garden and grown to normal size. It is better to choose pumpkin seeds after storing it at home for a month. It is easy to extract the seeds, after which they are washed from the pulp with water and dried, immediately removing the unsuitable ones. Store in paper bags at room temperature and low humidity. Shelf life - up to eight years.

Your seeds are often prepared for planting; preparation can include many operations, for example:

germination test;
calibration;
disinfection;
heating in water at (50 ± 2) oC;
germination;
hardening in the refrigerator;
treatment with fertilizer solutions;
treatment with biostimulants.

The need for these operations is not indisputable; The gardener himself chooses the stages that he considers necessary. Good seeds germinate well even without preparation, after which the pumpkins grow well and bear fruit.

Seedling care

To grow seedlings, essentially only heat and light are needed: after the first few days, the temperature is raised again to room temperature. If the owner “overslept” the emergence of the seedlings and they managed to stretch out, you can try to save the seedlings. To do this, part of the stem from the ground to the cotyledon leaves is rolled into a ring, gently pressed to the soil and covered with fresh soil right up to the leaves.

Further care consists of watering and possibly fertilizing. Water the seedlings with warm water (25–30 °C), avoiding either waterlogging or drying out of the soil. It is better to do this in the late afternoon, so that by the end of the day the plants have time to absorb the required amount of water, and the excess water can evaporate or leave the pots outside.

If the soil was composed correctly, the seedlings will grow without fertilizing. But experts still advise to help it with fertilizers twice: the first time 10 days after germination, the second time another week and a half later. It is especially important to do this if it is noticeable that the seedlings have stopped growing or began to change color.

The easiest way is to feed seedlings with special compounds for melons, which are abundantly available on store shelves. If they are not available, you can take any complex mineral fertilizer and apply it according to the instructions on the package.

When growing in greenhouses, you can also use infusions of organic fertilizers (mullein or bird droppings), but dilute them to a safe concentration. So, cow manure is infused for a day, diluted 1:10 with water, then diluted another 5 times, and bird droppings are diluted much more.

Seedlings ready for planting should be at least 20–22 cm high, with at least two large green leaves and a short but thick stem. You should not keep seedlings in pots for more than a month; they will begin to wither due to lack of space for roots. Therefore, in the early days of June in the Moscow region, it is time to move the seedlings into the garden bed.

In good seedlings, the stem is almost imperceptible: it very quickly turns into leaves

Transplanting seedlings into the ground

Transplanting seedlings into beds is no problem for an experienced gardener. Just don’t save space: there should be no less than a meter between the holes, and the optimal pattern for planting pumpkins is 2 x 1 m. If the holes are prepared in advance and according to the rules, on the day of planting the seedlings, a small hole is cut in the center of the hole in the film. Then they dig a hole the size of the pot, pour a bucket of warm water into it, and let it soak. Then they plant the pot with seedlings and water it again. Properly grown seedlings are planted without deepening; overgrown and elongated seedlings are buried down to the very cotyledon leaves.

The film is not removed until truly summer weather sets in. If severe cold snaps are expected, the plantings are covered with spunbond. Watering is carried out every other day until the seedlings in the new place resume their growth.

Video: planting pumpkins in warm beds

The best varieties for growing in the middle zone and Moscow region

For the Moscow region and central Russia, you can use seeds of any type of pumpkin, but the highest yield can be obtained by growing the following varieties:

"Healing"

Productivity, early ripening of fruits, resistance to frost and pleasant taste - all these are the advantages of the “Healing” pumpkin variety, which is especially recommended for central Russia. It is better to plant in June, in a well-lit area of the garden.

The fruits of the “Healing” pumpkin can be stored for 6 months. The fruits of this variety differ from others in their unusual shape and pattern on the skin. You can make healthy juice or puree from the fruit pulp.

In order to get a rich harvest, this species is planted in the soil using seedlings. Seedlings should be sown in advance in April and if it is in a warm place, shoots will appear within 7 days, and in May they can be transplanted into open ground. Before planting the sprouts outside, they must be gradually hardened off.

It is best to plant the plant in areas well lit by the sun and at a sufficient distance from neighboring plants. The variety grows actively after fertilizing or loosening the soil.

"Gribovskaya"

The fruits of the Gribovskaya pumpkin are large, from 4 to 8 kilograms. They are stored for a long time and have excellent taste.

Ripe pumpkins can be stored for a very long time without losing their unique properties. The pulp retains its pleasant taste and aroma, and only becomes sweeter. Pumpkin is a nutritious and tasty addition to baby food. It is recommended to consume fruit pulp for people who care about their health and figure.

“Gribovskaya” differs from others in its yield and large fruits, which can reach a weight of up to 8 kilograms. Thick skin makes it easy to transport ripe fruits. The outer skin of the pumpkin is milky in color, and the flesh inside is bright orange.

"Dachnaya"

Fruit ripening occurs quite early; you need to wait 70 days before the first ripe pumpkin appears. The weight of one fruit is from 2 to 4 kilograms. The plant tolerates low temperatures and frosts well, and is resistant to temperature changes.

To obtain a rich harvest, you need to plant ready-made shoots in open ground. The soil should be warm, a comfortable temperature range from 12 to 15 degrees. After planting, the plant must be watered and loosened frequently.

Growing conditions

Pumpkin is a heat-loving crop, but it cannot be called a southern vegetable: it ripens well in the middle zone. Some summer residents near Moscow plant the latest ripening varieties in the spring in the corners of cucumber greenhouses, and when warm weather sets in, they release the vines outside: occupying greenhouses with such huge bushes is unprofitable. Basically, pumpkins are grown in open ground. In the Moscow region, both seedling and non-seedling methods of cultivating this crop are used equally.

Since most varieties of pumpkins form long vines (up to three meters or more), a serious problem in small areas is choosing a place to place it. Pumpkins, like cucumbers, love to climb vertical supports, including even fruit trees. Using this property, land-poor summer residents often plant a pumpkin near the fence, and then help it send its lashes up. If this is not possible, trellises or even canopies are often specially built so that pumpkins grow on the “second floor” and do not interfere with the planting of other vegetables.

In fact, the problem of lack of space is largely far-fetched: after all, an average family only needs to plant 3-4 bushes, and the feeding area for each of them is about 1 m2. Pumpkins are often planted in unnecessary metal barrels, large bags, and even directly on compost heaps. But in any case, the plants should be well illuminated by sunlight.

To save space, summer residents come up with a wide variety of techniques

The second problem, besides choosing a location, is that pumpkins require a large amount of nutrients, preferably organic. It is impossible to grow a real crop without humus or good compost. And the soils themselves cannot be anything. Pumpkin grows best on dark, light loams and sandy loams with neutral acidity. Before it, zucchini and cucumbers cannot be planted in the chosen place.

The pumpkin patch does not have to be completely dug up. Often pumpkin is planted almost like a bush: large planting holes (almost holes) are dug into which large doses of fertilizer are added. One bush requires about a bucket of rotted manure and a good handful of wood ash. Mineral fertilizers do not need to be used before planting; it is better to apply them later, in the form of fertilizing.

In the conditions of the Moscow region, it is advisable to prepare planting holes in the fall, and in May, water them well with warm water, possibly with the addition of ammonium nitrate (5–10 g per bucket of water), then cover with film and keep it like that until planting the pumpkin: no matter , seedlings or seeds.

Varieties that are recommended to be grown in the Northwestern regions

"Bush greenhouse"

The fruits of the bush pumpkin variety can weigh up to 4 kilograms. Pumpkin pulp has excellent taste - it is sweet and juicy. The fruits are often used to prepare various dishes; they retain their aroma both boiled and stewed.

The fruits of this species ripen very early. The fruit pulp is aromatic and juicy. And the crust is edible - crispy and dense.

"Acorn"

The fruits of this species resemble the shape of an acorn. The inside of the pumpkin is orange and tastes good.

The peel can be green or yellow, or a combination of both.

Rating of the best crop varieties for outdoor cultivation

Most common in our vegetable gardens and orchards are hard-bark varieties, which number about 30 names. The keeping quality of such a crop is excellent, which allows you to eat the fruits immediately or not touch them for some time until they are consumed. For central Russia, the best varieties of pumpkin for open ground are presented below.

Pumpkin with melon notes

Topping the rating is “the sweetest of all” Melon pumpkin with a yellow crust and orange flesh, which has a unique melon aroma. Its fruits are large and round.

Pumpkin variety Smile

Description of the variety: an early-ripening compact plant produces fruits of bright orange color, small in weight (about 1.5 kg). When cutting them, a delicate aroma is immediately felt. The pulp is crunchy and sweet at the same time.

bottle culture

The Matilda bush pumpkin is a member of the nutmeg family. The fruits are pear-shaped and elongated. The orange-colored pulp is aromatic, with a sweetish aftertaste.

Table pumpkin Marble

Table pumpkin Marble large-fruited, pumpkins ripen late. The lashes are elongated, the fruits are dark green in color, and weigh 3.5-4.5 kg. The orange pulp is crunchy and sweet, rich in carotene. It is possible to consume it raw. A variety with excellent fruiting.

Pumpkin Pastille Champagne

The medium-climbing pumpkin Pastila champagne has fruits of an elongated elliptical shape. Ripe pumpkins acquire an unusual pinkish tint with a not very thick-walled peel, complemented by a slight mesh. The bright orange pulp fills almost the entire cavity from the inside, while the seed chamber, commensurate with the length of the fruit, maintains a small size. The fruits are small - 2-3 kg. The pulp has a pleasant aroma with notes of vanilla. The variety is quite extravagant: pink elliptical fruits have exceptional taste characteristics.

Kuban pumpkin

Mid-ripening pumpkin Prikubanskaya forms cylindrical fruits, compacting towards the top, with an orange-brown color. The crust is thin. The pulp has a reddish tint, juicy and tender, with excellent taste. The crop is quite productive.

Apricot Pumpkin

The mid-early Apricot pumpkin is unique for its round-cylindrical fruits with slight ribbing. The ripe fruit is yellowish, but the dark green stripes on it are quite wide, which makes the color interesting and bright. The crust, although thin, is firm. Soft yellow core, low fiber. Apricot pumpkin seeds do not have the typical dense shell; they are covered only with a thin film rich in fiber. The Apricot variety is mainly cultivated for the production of pumpkin seeds.

Almond pumpkin

A universal variety with a medium growing season, the Almond pumpkin produces elongated vines. The orange-colored fruits are round and gain 4-5 kg in weight. The yellow-orange soft center has excellent characteristics - juiciness, sugariness, crunchiness. Used in the production of juices and baby food. Allowed for long-term storage.

Pumpkin variety Zorka

The mid-early Zorka pumpkin bears large fruits intended for culinary use.

The plant forms strong stems and large leaves of uncut shape and dark green color.

Zorka's fruits are flattened and round, with an average weight of 4.5 kg. The outside crust is divided into equal segments. The color of the crust is gray with a whitish mesh and pinkish spots. The thin rind bends well and shows a greenish tint when cut. The pulp is orange, medium-compacted, with coarse fibers, not juicy enough, but demonstrating delightful taste.

The medium-sized seeds are covered with a smooth yellow-brown skin.

Pumpkin varieties Atlant

The mid-late Atlant pumpkin weakly releases elongated lashes. It is distinguished by smooth, round-oval fruits with some segmentation. Their color is yellow-orange, weight is 6-10 kg. The soft core is juicy, compacted, orange in color, accumulating oils and beta-carotene. The Atlant variety is valued for its increased yield (2.7 kg of pumpkins are obtained from 1 square meter) and the ability to be preserved for a long time without losing its nutritional properties. Recommended for eating raw, for home cooking and processing into juices. Atlant is distinguished by its rather large seeds, which weigh approximately 500 g in quantities of 1000 pieces.

The sweetest varieties of pumpkin

The sweetest varieties of pumpkin are the following.

"Chit"

The pumpkin is sweet, ripens very early, the first ripe fruits appear 90 days after germination.

The fruits are small in size, the pulp is sweet and tasty.

"Big Max and Atlas"

This species is well stored; the weight of one fruit can reach 50 kilograms. The fruits take a long time to ripen, have thick skin and sweet flesh.

The plant of this variety is light-loving, therefore, for fastest growth, it is better to plant it in the soil in illuminated areas. A place next to a fence or the wall of a house is perfect. The fruits can be stored for a very long time, while the pulp will remain as sweet and will not lose its beneficial properties.

Hardbark pumpkin

The most popular varieties of this pumpkin in the Moscow region:

Gribovskaya bush - early ripening, fruits weigh on average 3.5 kg, have a light orange color with longitudinal dark green stripes;
Spaghetti - characterized by early ripening and pulp consisting of long fibers that easily separate from each other when the pumpkin is cooked;
Kruknek Scrooge - the fruits are club-shaped, weigh on average 0.6 kg, the flesh is juicy, cream-colored, and tastes like zucchini;
Gymnosperm - ripens in the middle period, the fruits are spherical or pear-shaped, light weight - about 2 kg, the seeds of this pumpkin variety are of particular value (large, without skin and containing a lot of oil);
Mozolevskaya is a mid-season variety, distinguished by its considerable length of vines, large fruits weighing 4–5 kg, their pulp is orange and sweet.

Bush

Varieties of this group are excellent for small areas, because... They do not form large vines and do not take up much space in the garden.

Freckle

Cold-resistant, ultra-early ripening crop - the fruits are harvested 80 days after germination. It is distinguished by marbled leaves, dark green spots on an orange peel.

The plant forms 5-6 ovaries. Vegetables are small - 2-3 kg, sweet, crispy. Maturation is friendly.

Gribovskaya bush 189

The hybrid produces a harvest 3 months after germination. Compact size bushes.

Pumpkins of medium weight - from 2 to 5 kg, ovoid, with yellow skin with dark green stripes. The taste is sweet, the flesh is firm and crispy. The harvest is stored until the beginning of winter.

Dacha

Another unique bush variety that gives an early harvest of vegetables - 90 days from the moment the first cotyledon leaves appear. The fruits are oval-shaped, with a smooth yellow skin and dense lemon-colored pulp. The taste is sweet with a light vanilla aroma. Shelf life – 4 months.

Large-fruited pumpkin and its varieties

The best varieties of pumpkin for open ground related to this type:

Volzhskaya gray is a variety characterized by medium ripening and large fruits, the weight of which reaches 6.5 - 9 kg, the color of the pulp can be yellow or orange, its sweetness and density are moderate;
Gribovskaya winter - a late, long-climbing variety, fruit weight is about 3 kg, the pulp is juicy, has a sweet taste;
Crumb - ripens in the mid-late period, the plant vines are of average size, the weight of pumpkins usually does not exceed 3 kg, their color is gray with barely noticeable pink spots, the pulp is less juicy compared to other varieties, but sweet and quite dense;
Golden Cup is a medium-ripening variety, the fruits are gray, with orange stripes, yellow inside, have a sweet taste and sufficient juiciness;
Big Moon - forms powerful bushes, the lashes can reach 3 meters in length, the pumpkin peel can be divided into segments or have a smooth surface, the average weight of the fruit is 27 kg, especially large specimens can weigh up to 90 kg;
Medicinal - ripens early, the yield is high, the fruits are grayish in color with a mesh pattern, and have good taste.

Ripening pumpkins

To get a good harvest without any problems in the middle zone, early and mid-season pumpkin varieties are used for the Moscow region

To obtain a decent harvest of muscat and large varieties that have a rich taste and aroma, it is important to be able to determine the moment when the fruits are ripe

There are several signs by which you can determine that the fruits are ripe:

The skin becomes rough and durable. It is difficult to damage it with a nail or other rough object.
The stalk becomes like a dry plug.
The bark changes color and a characteristic pattern appears on it. The fruits can be orange, yellow, cream, green or gray.

The most delicious fruits are those that ripen in the sun.
However, the harvest should be completely harvested before the onset of cold weather. The first half of autumn is dangerous because during the day the plant gets enough heat and sun, and at night there may be the first frosts. Therefore, even fruits that are not fully ripe should be removed within the prescribed time frame. Therefore, regardless of the quality of care, at the first suspicion of approaching frost, even unripe fruits should be removed from the garden bed. Even fully ripened pumpkins can be significantly damaged by autumn cold, which will reduce their quality, as well as their ability to be stored for a long time.

Fruits that are intended for long-term storage are cut so that the stalk remains, at least 5 cm long. After which the pumpkins are sorted by size, variety and other indicators, and left to dry. It is necessary to leave the fruits under a canopy or in a dry and warm room. In 10 days, the pumpkins ripen, the skin becomes rougher and harder, and the cut on the cutting dries out. When early cold weather sets in, it is recommended to cover the pumpkins with hay or other material. Unripe fruits are stored at room temperature. This may take from 2 to 6 weeks.

Growing pumpkins in the middle zone is a fairly simple process. Compliance with all standards and recommendations will allow you to get a decent harvest of large fruits that will have a rich taste and aroma, and will also be well stored.

Secrets of successful cultivation

Pumpkins are easy to care for

Successful cultivation of pumpkins in central Russia depends on compliance with the rules of agricultural technology, because The weather in this area is changeable and it is not always possible to get a good harvest. In one small bed you can grow a lot of fruits, which will last throughout the winter.

Deadlines

You can plant pumpkin seeds directly in the garden, but it is better to first grow seedlings and then transplant them to the plot. As practice shows, this makes the bushes stronger and produces a good harvest. The optimal time for sowing seeds is the last days of March or the first ten days of April.

Seeds

To get strong seedlings, you need to collect seeds from last summer's harvest. They are sorted - medium-sized specimens are selected, with a flat and smooth surface, without black and yellow spots, as well as mold.

Purchased seeds do not need preventive treatment against diseases, but homemade ones need to be treated. To do this, they are placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes. Then they are removed and filled with warm water (50-55 ° C). Keep the seeds in it for 3 hours.

To increase the percentage of germination of planting material, you can add ash to the water - 1 tsp. – or one of the growth stimulants (“Epin”, “Kornevin” or “Heteroauxin”).

Before planting the seeds, they are slightly dried so that their surface is not slippery.

Landing capacity

You can grow pumpkin seedlings in any large container with drainage holes. Many gardeners prefer to sow seeds in peat or cardboard disposable pots. You should not plant them in boxes or containers, because... this crop does not tolerate picking (after planting, it may die).

Priming

To grow strong bushes with good foliage and thick stems, you need to use high-quality soil. You can choose one of two soil mixture options:

purchased substrate for growing vegetable seedlings;
prepared independently from rotted sawdust (1 part), peat (2 parts), humus (1 part) and nitrophoska (1 tsp per 1 kg of soil).

Scheme

When planting alone, the containers are filled with soil mixture, leaving a little space on top, a small depression (1 cm) is made, seeds are placed in it and sprinkled with earth, irrigated with a spray bottle and covered with transparent glass or film.

Before emergence, regular irrigation and ventilation are carried out (once every 2 days). The crops are provided with a stable temperature within 20-23 °C and lighting (diffused daylight for at least 5 hours a day).

A week after the sprouts emerge, remove the shelter and fertilize the seedlings with nitrophoska. Dissolve 1 tsp in 10 liters of water. substances.

Ripening and storing pumpkin

Pumpkin harvesting begins depending on the region: in the south, the fruits ripen already in September, and in the middle zone they can only be harvested in October. The main sign of maturity is the dried stalk, which changes color from green to grayish. Pumpkins are cut in dry, cloudy weather.

How to tell if a pumpkin is ripe:

In varieties that are characterized by hard bark, another sign of maturity is a change in the pattern on the surface.
If pressing with your finger does not feel any pressing, then the crop can be harvested.
Tap the pumpkin - if the sound is loud, then the pumpkin is ripe.

If the weather invariably begins to deteriorate, then you can remove the fruits ahead of schedule. In this case, it will be better if they are delivered in a room with low temperature and good ventilation.

Carefully cut off the stem so as not to damage the skin. If there are still cracks and chips on the surface, they need to be treated with brilliant green and the “wound” sealed with an adhesive plaster so that infection does not get inside.

Late-ripening varieties are best suited for storage. But even classic varieties can remain at home for quite a long time without losing their taste.

Mister Summer Resident's Tips for Storing Pumpkins

Our portal https://mrdachnik.com offers you several useful recommendations for storing pumpkins:

If the harvest took place in rainy weather, the fruits must be dried before being sent for storage.
It is best to store vegetables in a cool basement, but an insulated loggia is also suitable.
The optimal temperature to prolong shelf life is considered to be +5...+15 °C with a humidity of no more than 70%.
Pumpkins are wrapped in plastic and stacked upside down on shelves or in wooden boxes.
After cooking, the remaining parts of the pumpkin can be placed in containers and stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

How and when to remove pumpkin from the garden

The timing of harvesting for the winter is influenced by such factors as the duration of the growing season characteristic of a particular variety, the climatic conditions of the region where the cultivation takes place and the weather that prevailed during the season and was established at the time of harvest. Moreover, of these factors, climate is the most important, for the Middle Zone and the northern regions in particular.

Early ripening pumpkin varieties are usually harvested from the garden in the last third of August. It is not advisable to leave them longer, as the pulp of overripe vegetables becomes loose. Mid-season pumpkins can be left in the garden longer, but you need to remember that these vegetables are afraid of frost, so they need to be collected from the garden before they occur. Therefore, they are harvested in the central zone, Moscow region, Leningrad region until mid-late September. In Siberia, the Urals, Tyumen and Altai, it is time to harvest pumpkins at the same time. If not all vegetables are fully ripe, then they are ripened in a warm and dry room for 2-4 weeks. Unripe fruits should be eaten as soon as possible. In the Volgograd region, harvesting can be done a little later.

In regions further north, pumpkins are harvested just before frost, and then brought into a warm building and ripened for 1 month. Such fruits are not stored for long - a maximum of 4-5 months.

Carrying and storing pumpkins is carried out very carefully - any damage to the bark (scratches, cracks, dents from falls) can lead to rotting of the fruit. After drying, the vegetables are reviewed and sorted, damaged and with traces of diseases or pest activity are separated from whole and healthy ones, the latter are sent for storage

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