We grow mid-season “Gitara” pumpkin with large fruits for long-term storage on our plot

Butternut squash Guitar: variety description

All gardeners love these varieties of pumpkins, and other vegetables in general, which are easy to care for, and the harvest is very tasty and can be stored for a long time. Today we will talk about this variety of pumpkin “Guitar”, which fits this description perfectly.

• Sometimes the Guitar pumpkin variety is called “Honey” or “Spanish”. It was bred by domestic breeders from and included in the register in 2013.
• Like all representatives of this culture, the Honey Guitar pumpkin is a heat-loving variety with a development cycle of one year. Most often, the cultivation of Guitar pumpkin occurs in the southern regions, as well as in the middle zone - using the seedling method.
• This variety has a developed root system. The length of the rod reaches 2.5 meters - which easily allows you to nourish any large fruit. Even in a young shoot, which is 10-20 cm long, the roots penetrate deeply to about 40 cm.

An interesting fact is that if the ground is moist for a sufficient amount of time, the pumpkin is able to take root from the stem, germinating in a new place.

• The Spanish Guitar pumpkin has a creeping, prickly and rough stem. It grows very quickly, its length can reach 4-5 meters. The shoots produce tendrils that allow the plant to cling to supporting elements.
• The foliage of the Guitar variety is large, wide, reaching 25 - 30 cm in diameter, and has a rich green color with white spots.
• The flowers of both the male and female types are large, the diameter reaches 11 cm. They are characterized by an orange-yellow color and are formed in the axils of the foliage. Pedicels vary depending on the type of plant. In the male type, the peduncle length is longer, in the female type, the length of the peduncle is shorter.
• The corollas bloom with the sun - early in the morning. And they close at sunset, as the sun goes down. The flowering period of fruitful buds is much longer than that of male - non-fruitful ovaries.
• Pollination of plants occurs by insects. To do this, many leave the windows wide open. Gardeners also very often resort to hand pollination. The maximum level of pollen production occurs in the first part of the day.
• The flowering phase of the Guitar occurs only at the moment when the thermometer reaches +18...+25 degrees.
• As mentioned earlier, Guitar is very fond of light and warmth. The optimal development temperature is +20 degrees. The plant is afraid of even small frosts, which can destroy the entire plant.
• If pumpkin fruits are exposed to sub-zero temperatures, they most often freeze slightly and become covered with soft spots along the contour, in which negative organisms multiply.
• This variety is noted as drought resistant. This is due to its developed root system, which absorbs moisture from the depths.
• Coolness and lack of sun slow down plant development and also create a threat of disease development.
• The yield of the Guitar variety is approximately 2.5 to 4 kg of vegetables per square meter. This certainly depends on the region and climatic conditions. On each shoot, as a rule, 2-3 fruits are left to ripen. This is done in order to give them the opportunity to fully ripen and fill up.

Advantages and disadvantages

The Guitar pumpkin variety has more advantages than disadvantages. That is why gardeners prefer this variety to other species.

Nutmeg Guitar pumpkin - main characteristics of the fruit

Pumpkin Guitar: photo of variety

This Guitar variety was called “Spanish” not by chance, but probably because the fruits of the plant resemble the shape of a guitar.

The length of the ripe fruit is 40 -70 cm, the diameter in the narrow part is 10-15 cm, and in the wide part - 18 -27 cm. Pumpkin seeds are very small and flat. And they are located in a wide area. The average fruit weight ranges from 2 to 7 kg, most often around 4 kg.

The fruits have a thin, soft skin that is smooth to the touch and has a light orange color. The peel is quite easy and quick to peel and cut.

The Guitar has compacted, hard, juicy flesh of a bright orange hue. According to reviews, it is very sweet, tasty and crispy (when only from the garden).

The name “Honey” was not given to the pumpkin by chance either. Fresh fruits have a slightly sweet taste and a light fruit and vegetable aroma. This is why the variety is called that.

After heat treatment, the pumpkin pulp acquires a brighter, more pronounced sweet taste and rich aroma. The taste characteristics of the variety are rated by experts at 4.5 points.

The Guitar pumpkin harvest can be stored for about six months without losing its taste and quality characteristics.

Of the total pumpkin volume, its pulp makes up about 90%, which makes this product very profitable in terms of economics.

On the Internet, in books and magazines, you can find a huge number of recipes from Guitar pumpkin. These include various salads (not requiring heat treatment), boiled, stewed, baked, for making porridge, and as a filling for pies. This variety is also used for making candied fruits.

Harvesting and application

The harvest is harvested in early autumn. The fruits are removed along with the stems, which protects the delicate peel from damage. The pumpkin is placed in a basement or other dark room until fully ripe. The longer a vegetable is stored, the better its taste becomes. During the ripening period, the surface of the pumpkin hardens, and the flesh becomes a rich orange color.

Reference! If maintained at a low level of humidity, the fruits can be stored for 3-4 months.

The vegetable contains many vitamins, is used during a diet, and removes harmful, toxic substances from the body. Pumpkin does not contain cholesterol and is used as a diuretic. Eating vegetables strengthens the immune system and cardiovascular system.

Advantages and disadvantages of the “Guitar” pumpkin

of advantages , thanks to which gardeners choose this particular type:

• sweet, tasty pulp;
• large fruits;
• resistant to dry weather;
• under favorable weather conditions – resistant to diseases;
• unpretentious to soil composition;
• It is stored for a long time, maintaining its taste and quality characteristics.

significant disadvantages were identified in the Guitar variety. One has only to pay attention to the fact that Honey Pumpkin is heat-loving, and any frost, even minor, has a very detrimental effect on the growth and development of the plant.

Varieties of hard-bark pumpkin

This group also includes zucchini and squash.

• This variety can most often be found in Russian areas.
• Hard-bark varieties are characterized by long plant stems - up to 7 m. They are also called table plants.
• But there are also plants with short stems.

Bun

• Early variety. It takes about 3 months to get the first pumpkins.
• The fruits are small - 1.5 kg, colored orange. White stripes divide it into segments.
• The inside is sugary, juicy, and orange in color.
• The variety is suitable for storage. The harvested crop can be consumed fresh, used for making juices, dietary dishes, etc.

Gymnosperm

• Gymnosperm pumpkin is a group of plants whose seeds are not covered with a hard shell. This variety was known at the beginning of the 20th century, but nowadays it has begun to gain popularity again.
• Externally, the fruits are not particularly attractive - they are green and yellow in color. The outside is covered with a dense, hard, but thin peel. Round in shape, with barely noticeable ribbing, weighing 3-7 kg.
• The first harvest is harvested 4 months after emergence. The shelf life of the fruit is about 2 months.
• The pulp is used both in raw form and for preparing various dishes, as well as in cosmetology and medicine. Some sources say the best time to use pumpkins is a few weeks after picking. At this point they reveal their full taste.
• Most often, this variety is grown specifically for seeds. Representatives of gymnosperms are recommended to be planted away from other pumpkin vegetables, as they can cross-pollinate. In this case, the seed will already have a dense shell.

The most famous varieties of gymnosperm pumpkin:

Pumpkin Guitar: growing in open ground

The Guitar pumpkin does not require special growing skills or agrotechnical skills. Even the most inexperienced gardener, subject to general recommendations for cultivation and care, is able to reap a fruitful, tasty harvest.

Planting pumpkin Guitar

You can plant the “Guitar” pumpkin either as seedlings or directly in open ground. But the choice of one method or another directly depends on the growing region. Gardeners in the southern regions sow it directly in open ground, while residents of the middle zone use the seedling method.

Pumpkin seedlings are planted in April - the first half of May. Sowing is planned in such a way that after the seeds are planted, a month later, the seedlings must be transplanted into a greenhouse or open ground. At the same time, the air temperature after transplantation should be consistently above +19...+20 degrees.

Pumpkin seeds, like the seeds of most other crops, must first be sorted and selected as healthy, strong planting material. After which it is disinfected - a solution of potassium permanganate is used for this. In order for the seedlings to germinate faster, the replacements are germinated. To do this, before planting, soak them for 20 hours in warm water.

It is highly recommended to plant pumpkins in peat pots or other disposable containers.

Paper cups decompose in the ground, plastic cups are cut before planting. This is done for the reason that the root structure develops very quickly, and during the replanting process it is very difficult to maintain the integrity of the earth ball in which the roots develop, and as a result, it is difficult to maintain the integrity of the roots. And any impact on the roots has a very negative effect on the plant and the harvest.

• 3 seeds are placed in a container; after germination, weak shoots are removed.
• Guitar pumpkin seedlings are growing very rapidly. Plants should be watered with water at room temperature. After 3-4 leaves appear on the seedlings, the seedlings are transferred outside, thereby hardening them.
• 3 - 3.5 weeks after emergence, the seedlings can be transplanted into a greenhouse or open ground; for this purpose, holes are prepared and watered generously. The distance between the bushes should be at least 90-95 cm, the distance between the rows should be approximately 130 cm, this is done so as not to crowd the plantings and the plants do not get mixed up.

In the greenhouse it is necessary to build a support with a loop. Pollination is carried out by insects or by hand pollination. The ovaries are placed in hanging bags or on shelves.

How to care for the Guitar pumpkin

Subsequent care for pumpkin is identical to caring for other vegetables. And it includes watering, loosening, removing weeds and applying fertilizers.

to water the plant in the evening, only on the soil, without touching the leaves. Because this can provoke fungal diseases. Water for irrigation should be warm. Many gardeners fill barrels or baths with water - and by the evening it heats up during the day.

• Moisturizing should be done a couple of times a week.
• If a pumpkin grows in open ground, then often it only needs the moisture provided by natural precipitation. It is necessary to take care of watering in the period before flowering and in the phase of active growth of the ovaries.
• After the plant has been watered, the next day you need to loosen the soil. It is also necessary to weed the weeds. Pests such as aphids, whiteflies and others often breed on weeds.
• 2-3 weeks after the seedlings are transplanted, as well as at the moment of formation of the ovaries, the plant needs feeding . To apply fertilizing, shallow grooves are made at a distance of approximately 30 cm from the root.
• Organic fertilizers are ideal as fertilizing. Such as mullein, bird droppings, herbal infusions, special complex fertilizers. They also sprinkle the ground near the root with ash.
• As a rule, if all recommendations on agricultural practices are followed, and if the summer is warm, then pumpkins practically do not get sick.
• After several ovaries have appeared on the bushes, they are formed. To do this, the stem is pinched and unnecessary side shoots are removed. This is done to increase productivity and ensure full ripening of the fruit.
• The fruits are ready for consumption after about 100-125 days, this is approximately the end of August. It is necessary to harvest when the vines become dry.

Varieties with large fruits

• Summer residents do not really like varieties that form large pumpkins, since you cannot eat the vegetable at once, and storing it in a city apartment is extremely inconvenient.
• Large-fruited pumpkin includes about 100 varieties.

Pumpkin lantern

• Refers to a variety of large-fruited pumpkin. It takes 3-3.5 months for the fruit to ripen.
• On the outside they are smooth, orange-pink in color, slightly ribbed.
• The shape is round, slightly elongated.
• Each specimen weighs 5-6 kg. The inside is tender yellow-orange, crispy, juicy.
• Picked pumpkin can be stored for 3-3.5 months. The variety is suitable for transportation.
• The harvested crop is subjected to heat treatment. Used for making juices and purees.
• The plant is heat-loving and drought-resistant. Plantings can be affected by powdery mildew and bacteriosis.

Russian porridge

• Belongs to the large-fruited variety. It may take up to 4 months to receive the first fruits.
• The variety is considered mid-season. One bush produces 3-4 pumpkins, weighing 6-7 kg, orange-pink in color.
• Their shape is round, with subtle ribbing.
• The inner part is medium density, painted orange. The taste is good.
• The fruits can be stored.
• From the name you can already assume that the variety is excellent for stewing, baking, and boiling.
• It can also be used for canning and consumed unprocessed.

Diseases and pests, how to deal with them

The Guitar pumpkin, like its other “brothers,” is not resistant to fungal and bacterial diseases and insect pests, such as aphids and spider mites.

The development of diseases is usually caused by unfavorable weather conditions. These include sharp drops in temperature and rainy seasons, as well as sudden changes in temperature between day and night.

To prevent diseases, it is necessary to thin out too dense thickets of foliage and shoots by cutting them off.

For the prevention and control of insect pests, it is recommended to use specialized preparations, the choice of which is huge on the market. Most often, acaricides and insecticides are used for control.

Characteristics of the variety

According to the description, Spanish guitar pumpkin is a light-loving plant that develops at temperatures above 20 °C. The lashes and leaves die after the slightest frost. Fruits that are exposed to even initial sub-zero temperatures can freeze, and soft spots appear on them, where various putrefactive organisms settle. The Guitar variety is drought-resistant: due to its branched root system, it extracts moisture from deep in the soil. Cloudy, cool weather can lead to stunted growth and disease. In good conditions from 1 sq. m, an average of 2.7-3.6 kg of Guitar pumpkin fruits are collected. 2-3 vegetables are left on one root for good, full filling and ripening.

Resistance to pests and diseases

The Spanish Guitar pumpkin plant can get sick in unfavorable summer weather - sudden, prolonged cold snap and frequent rains. In such weather, sharp changes between night and day temperatures cause the spread of fungal and bacterial diseases. Diseases of the table variety can be prevented by regularly thinning out overgrown vines and cutting off leaves that are too densely spaced. Sweet pumpkins are damaged by melon aphids and spider mites. Acaricides and insecticides are used against their invasion.

Advantages and disadvantages

When choosing among different varieties, gardeners often choose the Honey Guitar pumpkin because of the obvious advantages in its characteristics:

• Consistently sweet pulp;
• large fruit;
• long shelf life;
• unpretentiousness to soils;
• drought resistance;
• resistance to diseases in weather favorable to the species.

The variety has no disadvantages as such. When growing, it should be taken into account that the heat-loving crop is not genetically adapted to development in a cool climate zone.

Butternut squash Guitar: reviews of the variety

Svetlana Vasilievna Dontsova, 32 years old, Saratov

My favorite variety is Guitar, or as we call it, Spanish Guitar. It has never happened before that a pumpkin’s flesh was not tasty and not sweet. Stores very well until summer. I plant the seeds when the soil warms up to 10 degrees; I don’t take any risks earlier. The planting depth is approximately 5 cm. I break through the sprouts, no more than two per hole. Every year in the fall we fertilize the garden with mullein, so I don’t fertilize the plot additionally. I field and loosen regularly, watering only if there is a very long drought.

Victor Alekseevich Trotsky, 50 years old, Chepelevo

I grow Honey Guitar pumpkin at my dacha in a polycarbonate greenhouse. My soil is sandy loam, plus I regularly add humus. Pumpkin is wonderful in such conditions - warm, light, healthy. Among the agrotechnical measures, I only water the plants, ventilate the greenhouse and feed them with complex fertilizers. I buy ready-made preparations designed specifically for pumpkin; there are a lot of them on the shelves now.

Farmer reviews

Gardeners who have ever grown the Guitar variety claim that even with minimal expenditure of money and effort, it is not difficult to get an excellent harvest.

Svetlana, Kostroma : “The pumpkin grows in a slightly different shape, not the same as in the photo. I keep pumpkins fresh for quite a long time in the cellar at home, in winter I cook porridge with pumpkin - it tastes like honey, the children eat it with pleasure.”

Irina, Uglich: “Pumpkin Guitar does not require watering, sometimes I don’t go to the garden for a week, it feels great. We don’t eat pumpkin ourselves, but the sweet pulp makes an excellent vitamin supplement for our grandchildren.”

How to grow

Pumpkin variety Guitar is grown in seedlings. However, in regions with a favorable climate, pumpkin can be grown by immediately planting the seeds in the ground.

Planting a plant

Pumpkin seeds begin to be planted in April. Before planting, they must be sorted out and disinfected. It is not necessary to process purchased seeds: information about the preventive measures taken can be read on the packaging.

Self-collected seeds from the previous harvest are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate and water. The seeds are then placed in a damp cloth for several days to allow them to sprout. Sprouted seeds are placed in small pots filled with peat.

After germination, the strongest sprout is selected, the weak ones are removed. Containers with seedlings are left on the south side, as the plant loves warmth and light. To prevent the soil from drying out under the rays of the sun, it is often moistened with water at room temperature.

After 3-4 weeks, the seedlings are planted in holes, abundantly watered. The plant is placed in rows; between the rows leave gaps of 1.3 m, and between the sprouts - at least 90 cm. After planting, the soil is compacted and, if necessary, covered with agrofibre.

Planting with seeds is carried out in the southern regions. Disinfected and germinated seeds are immersed in holes to a depth of 5-10 cm. 2-3 seeds are placed in one hole at once. Plants are watered and covered if necessary. After the sprouts appear, they are thinned out, leaving the strongest ones.

Plant care

This pumpkin variety is easy to care for. However, dense foliage needs thinning. And after 2-3 ovaries form on the stems, the pumpkin is pinched so that the plant is not overloaded and receives full nutrition. Side shoots are also cut off so that the fruits have time to ripen.

16-22 days after planting the seedlings, fertilizing is carried out. The second time fertilizer is applied during the period when the ovaries are formed.

Watering pumpkins is exclusively soil-based. Water should not get on the leaves, as this can lead to the formation of fungal diseases. When grown in greenhouses, pumpkin is watered 2 times a week with warm, settled water. In open ground, the plant needs enough natural precipitation. After watering, the soil must be loosened to ensure an influx of oxygen and kill weeds.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

The culture loves warmth and sunlight. Therefore, when planting sprouts in open ground, the weather should be warm, without the risk of recurrence of frost. When transplanted into the ground, the plant must have at least 3 grown leaves.

When looking for containers for pre-seeding, you need to choose spacious and deep containers so that the pumpkin root system does not experience discomfort. When transplanting, take the earthen ball carefully, since the pumpkin root is very delicate. Even with minimal destruction of the coma, the plant may die.

Growing tips from experienced gardeners

Experienced gardeners advise planting pumpkins on light, fertile sandy loam soils with the addition of humus. It is better to use a greenhouse made of polycarbonate, which allows sunlight to pass through. Moderate watering and ventilation are recommended.

In open soils they are planted when the soil temperature reaches +12°C. The soil is fertilized every fall so that when plants are planted in the spring, the soil is filled with the necessary nutrients.

Diseases and pests

With heavy summer rains and sudden changes in night and day temperatures, the plant is at risk of developing root rot and bacteriosis. For prevention, overgrown lashes are thinned out. If the plant is sick, it is necessary to remove the diseased parts, and after harvesting, collect and destroy the remains of the plants.

From time to time, a pumpkin can be attacked by spider mites or melon aphids. Insects are controlled by spraying insecticides and acaricides.

Peculiarities

Fruits can have different weights, but small-sized vegetables have especially good taste. The weight of the fruits of this variety can range from 1 to 10 kg. There are specimens whose weight has reached 100 kg. The stalk has five sides.

Inside the vegetable is quite dense, there are practically no empty spaces. Despite its impressive dimensions, the shell is thin.

Among the features, it is worth noting the location of pumpkin seeds - they are in one place, which ensures convenience when using the vegetable. There are quite a lot of grains in the fruits. The color of the flesh depends on the variety, but is usually cream to amber in color. The pulp is tender and fibrous and tastes like nutmeg.

The main advantage of using this product is its universal effect on health. Benefits of butternut squash:

• the content of polyunsaturated fats and the absence of cholesterol ensures the removal of harmful substances from the body, so the vegetable is used not only for health improvement, but also for weight loss;
• the product helps improve immunity;
• recommended for use by patients with kidney disease, as it has a diuretic effect;
• a large amount of carotene improves vision;
• Vitamin K contained in the composition inhibits the aging process;
• potassium has a beneficial effect on the condition of blood vessels and blood.

It is worth noting the benefits of vegetables during pregnancy. Expectant mothers rarely have allergies to pumpkin, and therefore its consumption is possible while pregnant. In addition, the product satisfies the feeling of hunger. Ascorbic acid helps heal colds. Pregnant women can drink pumpkin juice no more than 2 glasses per week.

The vegetable also has contraindications, namely:

• stomach and duodenal ulcers;
• violation of acid-base balance;
• diabetes.

These restrictions are due to the high content of sugars and carbohydrates, which are not recommended for the above problems.

You can use the product with caution in case of increased bilirubin, cholecystitis, pancreatitis

What are the benefits of butternut squash?

Butternuts are not only delicious, but also very healthy, containing many vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants while being low in calories. In particular, it contains magnesium, potassium and manganese, and is also a good source of calcium, iron, phosphorus and copper.

This pumpkin is a real storehouse of vitamins! In particular, it is extremely rich in vitamins A and C. Vitamin A is essential for regulating cell growth, eye and bone health, and maintaining immune function. Both vitamins A and C act as powerful antioxidants in our body, protecting cells from free radical damage.

Vitamin E is another antioxidant found in butternut squash. Not only does it help protect our bodies from free radical damage, but it may also reduce the risk of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

This type of pumpkin also contains B vitamins, including folate and vitamin B6, which the body needs to produce energy and produce red blood cells.

Antioxidants are known to help prevent or slow cell damage and reduce inflammation, which may reduce the risk of developing several chronic diseases. Research has shown that a diet high in certain antioxidants found in butternut squash (carotenoid antioxidants and vitamin C) may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, especially lung cancer. The carotenoids found in butternut nuts are also thought to protect heart health by lowering blood pressure.

Finally, 200 grams of cooked butternut squash contains only 83 calories and 7 grams of fiber, making it an excellent choice for weight loss goals.

Popular hybrids

Quite a lot of butternut pumpkin hybrids have now been bred. Some have been known for many years and are widely cultivated in domestic gardens (for example, Matilda F1), and some were obtained recently, have not yet been included in the State Register, but are already sold in specialized stores (Hanna F1, Gilea F1, Liscia F1"). Below we provide brief descriptions of the most interesting new products zoned in Russia.

"Ariel F1" is a modern hybrid of medium-early ripening, bred by Sakata Vegetables Europe SAS (France). Included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2015, it is recommended for cultivation in personal plots in all regions. The fruits are pear-shaped, small (1-1.3 kg), with dense yellowish-orange pulp of good taste, do not crack when ripe. 10-15 fruits are formed on one plant, the yield is 1.6 kg/m2.

The Ariel F1 crop is characterized by high marketability and transportability, the shelf life reaches 6-7 months

"Matilda F1" is a popular mid-season hybrid for table use, bred by Enza Zaden Beheer BV (Netherlands). Zoned for the Central Region in 2009. The fruit is club-shaped, smooth, yellow, weighing 3.5-4.5 kg. The pulp is dense, starchy, with medium juiciness, excellent taste. Shelf life is about 4 months. The plant is resistant to high and low temperatures.

With industrial cultivation, the yield of Matilda F1 can reach 940 c/ha

“Pluto F1” is a mid-early hybrid created by specialists from the French company Sakata Vegetables Europe SAS. Included in the State Register of Russia in 2015 as recommended for cultivation on private farms throughout the country. The fruits are pear-shaped, weighing about 1.2 kg, with crispy, dense yellowish-orange pulp and excellent taste. 7-10 ovaries are formed on one plant, which provides a marketable yield of up to 3.2 kg per square meter. Pumpkins have a beautiful appearance, tolerate transportation well, and are stored for 6-7 months.

"Pluto F1" is characterized by increased heat resistance and drought resistance

Mid-early hybrids “Havana F1”, “Atlas F1”, “Barbara F1” are also well suited for cultivation in all regions

How to grow pumpkin seedlings?

Pumpkin belongs to heat-loving plants. For this reason, the cultivation of annual crops occurs mainly in seedlings. In southern regions, with long periods of high temperatures, sowing seeds directly into the ground is allowed.

Seed preparation

High-quality seed material is the key to a rich harvest.

The selection of seeds and their preparation requires compliance with certain rules:

1. For planting, it is necessary to select large, dense seeds with an intact shell. Dried, cracked and small specimens cannot be germinated.
2. The change must be immersed in a container with water heated to 50 degrees for 2-3 hours. The water temperature should not fall below 40 degrees. To do this, the reservoir is placed near a battery or other heating device.
3. The swollen seeds are placed between layers of damp cloth on a flat surface. Store in a warm room until the sprouts hatch. The fabric is constantly moistened with warm water. The procedure takes 2-3 days.
4. After this, the seeds, wrapped in a wet cloth, are placed in a cool place with a temperature of about 3-5 degrees. Hardening is carried out within 5 days.
5. Sprouted and hardened pumpkin seeds are ready for sowing.

Planting seeds and caring for seedlings

It is recommended to start growing pumpkin seedlings 2-3 weeks before the intended planting in open ground. At this time, the soil in the beds should warm up at least 12-15 degrees above zero.

Strong, healthy vegetable seedlings are easy to grow by following simple instructions.

1. Young pumpkin plants do not tolerate transplantation well, so you should immediately plant the seeds in individual cups half filled with special soil for melons. The diameter and depth of containers for one seedling range from 10 to 15 cm.
2. Each seed is buried 2 cm and sprinkled with light soil. The container is spilled with warm water.
3. As soon as the stem under the cotyledon leaves stretches to the height of the glass, it is rolled up into a ring and sprinkled with soil, leaving both cotyledons on the surface. As the shoots are pulled out, soil is poured into the container.
4. During the growth of seedlings in the room, high illumination and temperature are maintained at 22-24 degrees.
5. Watering is necessary moderately, 1-2 times a week. Feeding of seedlings with mineral fertilizers is carried out twice during the entire period.

It should be borne in mind that growing pumpkin seedlings occurs without picking. This is due to the fact that the root of a young plant is easily injured during transplantation. The survival rate of picked sprouts is extremely low.

Crop seedlings ready for planting in the garden must meet the following requirements:

• the stem is dense, strong;
• internodes are short;
• foliage is developed, green;
• At least 3 true leaves are formed on the stem.

Special varieties for the middle zone

Butternut squash is a southern plant that requires a lot of sun and warmth. Therefore, in the middle zone and northern regions it is recommended to grow it using seedlings or in greenhouses, choosing varieties with a short ripening period. These include:

1. “Vita” is a variety with yellowish-brown fruits and dense orange pulp, characterized by a high content of carotene. This variety can be used as a table vegetable and as animal feed.
2. Pearl. Pumpkins of this variety have a pear-shaped shape, and when they grow, they reach a weight of 5 kg. The high taste qualities of this variety make it possible to use pumpkin in raw and processed forms.
3. "Prikubanskaya". The variety is distinguished by its relative early maturity - it ripens in an average of 100 days, and has sweet, juicy orange-red pulp.
4. "The interception is shortened." A variety that produces sweet fruits weighing up to 3 kg.
5. "Golden Pear" The fruits of this variety are drop-shaped and bright sunny orange in color. The dense flesh of pumpkins has a nutty flavor, reminiscent of roasted chestnuts or hazelnuts.

Butternut squash fruits are harvested unripe, before the first frost.

Planting of nutmeg pumpkin seeds for seedlings is carried out at the end of April, and the seedlings themselves are transplanted to a permanent place in early June. Caring for nutmeg varieties is similar to caring for other types of pumpkins. The fruits are collected unripe, always before frost sets in: in the northern regions - usually in mid-August, in the middle zone - in the first half of September, and the pumpkins are left to ripen for up to 60 days.

The presence of a large variety selection allows each gardener to choose the version of nutmeg pumpkin he likes. Ease of care and the ability to use early-ripening varieties contribute to the spread of this pumpkin even in regions atypical for its cultivation.

Varieties of butternut squash - video

Landing

Most often on sale you can find seeds of such varieties as “Prikubanskaya”, “Pearl” and pumpkin “Vitaminka”. It is advisable to pre-treat seeds intended for cultivation with a fungicide solution to prevent fungal diseases.

Important! It is advisable to plant in the afternoon so that the soil warms up properly. After planting in open ground, the plant needs to be watered, and then carefully loosen the soil so that all the moisture is absorbed.

If planting is carried out in a greenhouse, the greenhouse must be ventilated so that condensation does not accumulate inside

After planting in open ground, the plant needs to be watered, and then carefully loosen the soil so that all the moisture is absorbed. If planting is carried out in a greenhouse, the greenhouse must be ventilated so that condensation does not accumulate inside.

Plants should be planted on a warm, windless day when there is no rain. The planting technology is quite simple. The main thing is not to plant too closely, crowdedly, so that later you don’t have to thin out the young shoots. Butternut squash grows quickly and loves space.

When landing, keep the following in mind:

• In the Russian central zone, it is best to plant not seeds in open ground, but pre-grown at home or purchased seedlings;
• The air temperature during planting of nutmeg pumpkin should be at least 12 degrees, ideally 14 - 16 degrees;
• You need to take plants out of pots and plant them very carefully, since nutmeg pumpkin has branched roots that are very easy to damage;
• Only the healthiest and largest plants should be selected for planting.

Butternut squash prefers medium acidic soil rich in nutrients. The plant does not like drought, so the soil should be moist all the time.

Pumpkin Nutmeg Pearl Planting

What is butternut?

Butternut is a pumpkin that has a characteristic shape: a long, wide “neck” and a rounded base. This configuration is sometimes compared to a guitar, but butternuts can also be found under the name "pear gourd", "fiddle gourd" or "intercept".

The pumpkin, which became the ancestor of butternut, came to us from Mexico and Guatemala, where it was grown by the Indians. But still, modern butternut was the result of deliberate hybridization. This pumpkin was bred by Charles Leggett from Massachusetts in the USA in the mid-1940s.

Initially, the breeder set out to develop a pumpkin that tasted good and was large enough for the fruit to feed a large family. In his opinion, the popular Hubbard pumpkins of the time were too large and thick-skinned, and pumpkins intended for Halloween were more suitable for scaring people than for eating. When the required variety was obtained, it was called “Waltham butternut pumpkin,” and quickly became popular due to its high taste.

It is usually solid in color, light orange or pale brown with a slight orange tint. There are also green-fruited variations or butternut fruits that have longitudinal brown stripes. But usually, as storage progresses, the patterns fade and the green fruits turn red. All seeds are located only in the round part of the fruit and are therefore very easy to remove. The seed chamber of butternut squash is small and there are few seeds. The fruits have a thin skin, they are very easy to peel, and in some dishes the peel does not even need to be removed.

The name of this type of pumpkin comes from the English word “butternut”: “butter” (butter) indicates the oily pulp, and “nut” (nut) due to the presence of a slight nutty flavor. Sometimes the name of these pumpkins is translated from English as “butternut” or “butternut.”

The consistency of the pulp is juicy, elastic, non-fibrous and has a bright orange color. When fully ripened in a fortunately hot summer, almost all butternut squash have a delicious sweet taste with nutmeg notes, since this type belongs to the butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata). The unique pumpkin taste and smell of the fruits is completely absent, but when cutting fresh fruits, you can feel a fresh watermelon aroma.

This versatile squash can be eaten raw or steamed, but when roasted it becomes a truly unique dish with rich flavor. Butternut squash tastes best when its skin is dark orange, which can happen when fully ripened in the garden or when ripening indoors.

Unripe butternut squash often has a green color and clearly visible stripes. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

The ripest pumpkins are dark in color and usually the sweetest. © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

Reproduction methods

You can propagate your favorite variety by preparing seeds yourself, or by purchasing them in a store.

When purchasing, you should pay attention to the production time of the seeds. The older they are, the lower percentage of sprouts will be obtained.

• The seed mass from the fruit is placed in a bowl with a small amount of water.
• The mixture should ferment for 2-4 days. During this time, all viruses will die and good and bad seeds will separate.
• The good seeds will sink to the bottom of the mixture, while the bad seeds and pulp will float to the top.
• At the end of the fermentation period, good seeds are laid out on a net or paper towel to dry completely, otherwise mold will form on them.
• When the seeds are completely dry, they are placed in a paper or cotton bag.
• The bags can be placed in the freezer for 2 days to kill any remaining pests and then stored in a cool, dry place.

Please note that seeds obtained in this way from hybrid varieties will not correspond to the description. Reproduction of hybrids is possible only with commercial seeds, since second-generation plants carry unpredictable combinations of traits

When the seeds ripen, they usually change color to cream, light brown or dark brown. Over time, the viability of planting material decreases, so it should be used within 3 years.