The best varieties of nutmeg pumpkin and rules for growing, planting and care

Features of growing and best varieties of butternut squash

Pumpkin is a favorite crop among many vegetable growers. In Russia there is a tradition of growing it, so beautiful pumpkins can often be seen in almost every garden plot. The vegetable ripens in late autumn and is perfectly stored at room conditions for many months. Mainly 4 species are cultivated. One of them is called nutmeg or Egyptian.

This variety has its own characteristics in cultivation. They are described in the article, as well as the most common varieties of butternut squash. At the end there are reviews that can help in choosing a particular variety.

The content of the article:

Features of nutmeg pumpkin Benefits Growing nutmeg pumpkin When to plant nutmeg pumpkin Planting Growing seedlings Planting seeds in open ground Caring for nutmeg pumpkin Weeding Watering and fertilizing Pollination Formation of lashes Harvesting and storing nutmeg pumpkin The best varieties of nutmeg pumpkin "Arabatskaya" "Grand Slam" "Muscat de Provence" » “Parisian Gold” “Russian” “Pearl” “Butternut (Nut, Walnut butter)” “Spanish Guitar” “Candied” “Marble” “Pineapple” “Neapolitan Giant” “Family” “Augustina” “Nectar” “Vitamin” The best butternut squash varieties - reviews

Reviews from gardeners

Galina, 76 years old, Kurgan region

I plant pumpkins constantly and a lot, since the garden area allows it. I’ve tried both large-fruited and hard-barked ones, but I especially like the nutmeg ones. The harvest, of course, depends on the weather. Often we still have return frosts at the end of May, and already at the beginning of September the first autumn frosts. Therefore, I grow seedlings and plant them around mid-June. Last summer was very dry and hot, so they watered frequently and abundantly. The seedlings quickly began to grow, flowers and ovaries appeared, but then the whitefly appeared. I didn’t notice it right away, but when I saw the scale of the disaster, it was too late to do anything at the melon patch. Almost all the leaves first withered within two weeks, and then turned yellow and dried out. Late varieties, including Muscat Vitaminnaya, have not ripened. I had to feed it to the chickens.

Anastasia, 31 years old, Anapa

I constantly go to the farmers market, since I don’t have my own plot, and a family with a small child simply needs vegetables and fruits. To diversify the menu, I occasionally buy pumpkin, and try to try different ones. The last time I came across nutmeg Vitamin. Round, slightly oblong, orange in color, weighing 4.8 kg. I made pumpkin chips in the electric dryer. They turned out unusually sweet in taste and aromatic.

Svetlana, 44 years old, Belogorsk

Knowing my passion for PP, my neighbor at the dacha literally handed me two pumpkin roots. There was no more free space left on my tiny plot, and I decided to experiment. I stuck one sprout into the greenhouse with cucumbers, the other onto a pile of sand behind the barn. The greenhouse one immediately began to grow and within a month it branched out so much that it began to depress my cucumbers, so I had to get rid of it without even waiting for it to bloom. The other one wasted away all summer, she clearly did not have enough sun. But in the fall, while cleaning the garden, I still found one small pumpkin. It was irregularly round in shape, yellowish-green in color with light spots - apparently not fully ripe. I had it for about a month. When I cut into the hard crust, I was surprised by the aroma - not bright, but pleasant, the flesh was yellowish-orange in color, but most importantly - an unusual sweetish taste. Before, I didn’t even think that pumpkin could be eaten raw. I immediately tried it as an ingredient in my favorite smoothies, together with apple and celery. The taste was amazing!!! It's a pity that it only lasted for a week. I asked my neighbor for the name - it turned out to be nutmeg “Vitaminka”. This year I will try to grow it again according to all the rules.

Features of butternut squash

This variety of vegetable was called nutmeg because of the swing of the nutmeg. It has a rich sweet taste. And, as a rule, it outperforms conventional varieties in terms of taste.

The shape of the fruit can be different: oval, round, and sometimes quite bizarre - curved. There are pear-shaped specimens. The peel most often has a yellow and brown color. Weight and size also vary greatly, from moderate to very large. Ripening time varies. The lashes of plants can be quite long or of medium length.

The main distinguishing property of Egyptian pumpkin from others is the ability of the pulp to be stored for a long time without loss of properties and quality. And even vice versa, the longer the fruits are stored, the brighter and richer the taste of nutmeg pumpkin becomes.

Commercial and consumer qualities of fruits

A plant of medium power with vines up to 6 meters long and pentagonal leaves of a grayish-green color on petioles 20-25 cm long.

Pumpkins are oval or cylindrical, short, wide, segmented, with ribbing at the stalk, sometimes reaching half of the fruit. They weigh on average 5-7 kg. The bark is dense, but thin and leathery. When it reaches technical ripeness, it is colored dark pink; when fully ripe, it can turn brownish-brown. The surface often has a pattern in the form of a green grid ; round and elongated spots of various sizes are possible, lighter than the main background.

The seed nest is quite large, filled with loose placentas

The pulp is bright orange, almost red, 5-10 cm thick, crispy, juicy, with a moderately sweet taste and pronounced aroma. According to the originator (FSC Rice), it contains 8-11% dry matter, as well as:

The yield of pulp reaches 67%, seeds - 1.1% of the total mass of the fruit. The ratio of proteins and fats in seeds is comparable to meat products and is 1.2:1. Vitaminnaya's proteins have a very high biological value - 70.5%, which is confirmed by the results of studies conducted by Krasnodar specialists:

Fruits of universal use - well suited for preparing various dishes, juices, recommended for use in the processing industry

Yields vary depending on the region and growing conditions. On average, about 40 (up to 60) tons of vegetable products are harvested per hectare, with a marketability of 75-78%.

Benefit

Butternut squash is also very healthy, so it is recommended for use in dietary nutrition.

The benefits are as follows:

• There is absolutely no cholesterol in the fruits of nutmeg pumpkin;
• low calorie content;
• it has a diuretic effect, perfectly removes toxins and waste;
• strengthens the body's immune properties;
• due to the presence of carotene, it has a beneficial effect on vision;
• Potassium in the composition has a strengthening effect on the heart and blood vessels.

In addition to being healthy, the vegetable is also very tasty. Both adults and children enjoy eating dishes prepared from this type of pumpkin.

Butternut squash varieties

Main characteristics of the plant

Butternut squash is a member of the pumpkin family native to Mexico. The vegetable is grown in an annual crop. Characteristics of the biological characteristics of the plant:

• bush - weaving;
• stalk - with five sides;
• pulp texture – dense, fibrous;
• taste – juicy, sweet, with nutmeg notes;
• seeds - located compactly in the lower part of the fruit.

Butternut squash can be either varietal or hybrid. For each growing zone, its own variety is selected, zoned in a given area. The fruits vary in purpose and use in cooking.

Growing butternut squash

When cultivating Egyptian pumpkin, it is worth considering that it is the most heat-loving of all types of pumpkins. For this reason, growing butternut squash using seedlings is recommended. Of course, there are options for direct sowing of nutmeg pumpkin seeds directly into the ground, but it is important to focus on the appropriate climate.

When to Plant Butternut Squash

The right time for sowing nutmeg pumpkin seeds for seedlings is mid-spring and early May. Take exclusively individual containers so that when transplanting to a permanent growth site, you do not injure the root system of young plants.

Important!

Planting butternut squash directly in open ground is only suitable for warm areas in late spring and early June.

Planting nutmeg pumpkin seedlings

For seedlings, take small pots with a diameter of 10 cm. Place 1 to 2 seeds in each. Place at a depth of 1 cm. Water only with water at room temperature so as not to injure the planting material. The soil used is suitable for all crops. There are no special requirements for it. At this stage, fertilize twice. A complex mineral fertilizer is suitable.

Features of growing in open ground

Modern hybrids of nutmeg pumpkin are quite unpretentious plants in relation to climate and soil conditions, so even a novice farmer can cultivate this vegetable in their summer cottage. However, often cultivating pumpkins brings a lot of trouble.

In order to get healthy and fruit-bearing bushes, the pumpkin must create an optimal microclimate.

Did you know? South America is considered the homeland of pumpkin; Indian tribes began cultivating the crop in Mexico 5 thousand years ago. But the plant came to Europe only in the 16th century, with the ships of the Spanish discoverers.

Landing

Butternut squash feels best in tropical and subtropical climates at a temperature of at least +20 °C. In warm climates, seeds are sown in the soil in early June; when growing crops in the northern and temperate zones, they necessarily resort to growing seedlings.

Seeds are sown for seedlings in the second half of April; plants are transplanted into open soil in the second half of May or early June. At first, the sprouts are kept under a film cover, which must be removed after warming.

The vegetable is planted on well-fertilized soils with low moisture capacity (loamy, sandy loam soils), since stagnation of moisture in the soil can cause plant death. It is best if the area for the beds is located on a hill, which will additionally protect the plants from excess moisture.

The beds must be laid out in the open, away from the shade. The predecessor is also important for culture. Pumpkin bears fruit best after onions, potatoes, legumes, and various root vegetables.

Important! Pumpkin should not be cultivated after related crops (zucchini, squash, cucumbers, etc.). Grown plants will not only have low yields, but will also be susceptible to specific infections.

All pumpkins love space, so no more than 1 plant should be grown per 1 m². They are grown in rows, with a row spacing of at least 1 m, at a distance of 1.5 m between each bush. Seeds are sown to a depth of 3–4 cm, seedlings - no less than 10 cm deep. To increase the viability of young plants, seedlings and seeds must be treated with an ash solution (400 g of wood ash/10 l of water).

Seedlings are soaked for 1–2 hours before planting, seeds - 10–12 hours before sowing. The soil must be fertilized before planting; the crop responds best to organic fertilizers. Rotted manure or compost is poured into each bed, after which the soil is carefully dug up.

Caring for butternut squash

Egyptian pumpkin requires all the same procedures as other representatives of its culture. He loves watering, fertilizing, and loosening the soil. Additionally, the plants are shaped to produce high quality fruits.

Weeding

At the first stage, you need to pay attention to removing weeds and loosening the soil so that the plants can grow unhindered. This is done systematically, removing weeds as soon as they become visible from the ground. The procedure is not carried out after the bushes have grown sufficiently and the large leaves have closed.

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

It is characterized by high yield and long shelf life (up to a year).

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.

The best varieties of butternut squash

Below are the best butternut squash varieties. Some of them can be grown in the central part of the country, others grow and bear fruit well in Siberia and the Urals.

Butternut pumpkin "Arabatskaya"

A late-ripening variety of Egyptian pumpkin. The first fruits ripen by the 120th day. The shape of the pumpkin is elongated and cylindrical. There is a thickening at the top. The weight of a ripe pumpkin ranges from 20 to 30 kg. The vines are very powerful and in order to get such large fruits, only one ovary is left. The peel has medium density. The rich orange flesh is very tender and sweet.

Photo of nutmeg pumpkin variety Arbatskaya

Excellent taste characteristics remain even after heat treatment. Productivity 36 – 40 kg per 1 m2.

Grand Slam butternut squash

Table variety of late ripening nutmeg pumpkin. The number of lashes is average. Each shoot has up to 4 fruits. It is distinguished by the ribbing of the fruit, which is created by a large number of segments. The color is rich green with a brown tint.

The pulp is reddish-orange and sweet. The weight of a ripe fruit reaches 5 kg. It is perfectly stored, retaining its beneficial properties for up to six months.

Pumpkin "Muscat de Provence" (Muscat of Provence)

Perhaps the highest-yielding variety of nutmeg pumpkin and easy to care for. The fruit ripening period lasts 120 days. Already young shoots have long lashes. The weight of one fruit ranges from 6 to 9 kg. The peel is quite dense and thick. This partly contributes to the long storage period. There is slight ribbing on the surface.

The taste contains honey notes. The shape of pumpkins is elongated oval. The variety is resistant to powdery mildew and bacteriosis. Productivity is from 20 to 30 kg per 1 m2.

Butternut squash variety "Paris Gold"

An early variety of nutmeg pumpkin with a vegetative period of 90 days. With standard care, the fruits grow up to 20 kg. Such gigantic sizes are due to the fact that the crop responds well to fertilizing. Even at a young age, shoots are resistant to bad weather (raininess, drought).

Photo of Parisian golden nutmeg pumpkin

This variety is not afraid of any pests or diseases. The storage duration of the crop is from 120 to 180 days. Up to 24 kg of crop is harvested from 1 m2.

Muscat pumpkin “Russian”

Butternut pumpkin for Siberia is an early ripening variety. Fully ripened fruits are harvested on the 90th day after germination. The fruits have a melon aroma. An adult plant with medium length vines.

It has a very long storage period for the harvested crop, up to six months. The pulp is juicy and sweet. Fruit weight up to 4 kg. The yield is up to 20 kg per 1 m2.

Muscat pumpkin variety “Pearl”

A variety with medium ripening periods. The fruits ripen on the 110th day. The bushes are compact with a huge number of ovaries. The weight of one fruit averages 7.5 kg. An amazing feature is the location of the nest with seeds at the very top of the elongated fruit.

The rest of the space is occupied by juicy orange pulp. Resistant to cold weather. A good variety of nutmeg pumpkin for the Moscow region.

Butternut Squash (Nut Butter)

An ultra-early variety of nutmeg pumpkin with a ripening period of 3 months. During this very short time, many ovaries appear on the lashes. Their number reaches 30 pieces. Some of them should be removed as early as possible. The fruits are small, pear-shaped pumpkins.

Photo of butternut squash

The weight of an individual specimen is up to 4 kg. Their skin is thin and straw-colored. The flesh is orange or red. The variety can be recognized by its nutty aroma. Productivity up to 20 kg per 1 m2.

Butternut squash variety “Spanish Guitar”

The variety received its beautiful, hot name because of its amazing elongated shape. The fruits ripen on the 110th day after emergence. The weight of one copy is 8 kg. The length of one pumpkin is up to 100 cm. The taste of the fruit is similar to the taste of apricots. They keep well.

The pulp is dense with a small number of seeds, which are located in the thickened part. The color is orange inside and outside. The surface is perfectly smooth, without ribbing. Consumed fresh.

Butternut squash "Candied"

Muscat variety for the central region with an average ripening period. The first fruits are harvested on the 120th day after seed germination. The fruits have a light brown color and a round, slightly flattened shape.

The weight of fully ripe pumpkins is 5 kg. The taste is sweet. Often used for the preparation of confectionery, dietary and baby food. The fruits are perfectly stored.

Butternut squash variety “Marble”

A mid-late variety for growing in warm regions of the country. Harvesting begins on the 140th day after seed germination. Round pumpkins. Slightly flattened. The weight of one fruit varies from 6 to 10 kg. The orange, loose pulp has a pleasant taste.

Once the pumpkin is fully ripe, it turns green with a hint of gray. The variety tolerates any transportation well. At low temperatures, the fruits are perfectly stored throughout the year. The yield is about 20 kg per 1 m2.

Butternut squash "Pineapple"

The fruits of this hybrid are harvested on the 110th – 125th day after seed germination. Bushes with long vines. Each plant has up to 5 pear-shaped fruits. The peel is smooth, beige in color. Pumpkin weight up to 2.5 kg. Has a spicy nutmeg aroma. The harvest is ripening smoothly. There is barely a hint of nuts in the taste. From 1 m2 they harvest from 5 kg of crop.

Butternut squash variety "Neapolitan giant"

The most delicious butternut squash with pear-shaped fruits. Ripens in medium terms. The weight of one pumpkin can be from 15 to 35 kg. The color of the peel is rich orange. There are green stripes at the top. The peculiarity is that during storage the amount of sugar in fruits only increases.

After harvesting, the pulp turns light orange. You can immediately feel the light aroma of nutmeg. Salad variety. In India, halwa is prepared from it.

Butternut squash “Family”

Late ripening variety. The plant quickly forms long vines. The fruits are large, up to 100 cm in length. This is a large-fruited variety of nutmeg pumpkin, the weight of one such specimen is 35 kg.

The skin is dark emerald green. There is a waxy coating. The pulp is orange, juicy. Not many seeds. The vegetable makes delicious juices and soups.

Muscat pumpkin "Augustina"

A variety of nutmeg pumpkin for the Urals and other regions. Ripe fruits ripen on the 105th day after germination. Pumpkins are rich green in color with smooth skin. The shape is very similar to a zucchini. Weight up to 12 kg. The skin is thin and easy to remove.

Inside is crispy, tasty pulp with a sweet taste. The aroma is very light and fresh. Despite the large size of the fruit, the seed nest is small. Productivity ranges from 45 to 50 kg.

Butternut squash "Nectar"

A medium-term variety whose fruits ripen on the 120th day. The lashes are very long - up to 3 m. The fruits themselves are orange. There is ribbing on the peel. The weight of one pumpkin is 6 kg. Inside is the same rich orange pulp. The taste is sweet with a pleasant nutty aroma. The fruits make excellent purees and juices.

Butternut squash variety “Vitaminnaya”

Mid-late ripening period. Delicious pumpkins are harvested after 125 days. One fruit weighs up to 7 kg. The lashes are super long - up to 6 m. The fruits are oval-shaped. There is ribbing in the stalk area. The peel is thin. A greenish-brown mesh is visible. The flesh is bright orange. Suitable for wide use in cooking.

Butternut squash is the most delicious of its family. It has an excellent taste and aroma of nutmeg. If you follow simple care rules, it gives a good harvest.

Diseases and pests

This crop rarely gets sick and is affected by parasites; this only happens if it is not properly cared for and the rules of agricultural technology are not followed. Sick plants reduce productivity, taste, dry out and die.

The most common butternut squash diseases:

1. Black mold. First, yellow spots appear between the veins of the leaves; over time, they become covered with a brown fungal coating. The affected parts dry out and holes appear in their places. On fruiting bushes affected by this disease, pumpkins develop small and deformed.
2. Ascochytaosis. The leaf blade, shoots and internodes are covered with yellow spots with black spots. At an advanced stage of fungal infection, plants wither, dry out and die.
3. Powdery mildew. This disease develops in conditions of high humidity and heat. A powdery coating appears on all organs of the bush, which causes the foliage and the entire plant to dry out.
4. Anthracnose. The leaves are covered with large watery yellow spots. In conditions of high humidity, the veins on the foliage become pinkish. The infection multiplies rapidly and spreads to all healthy organs. The affected areas turn black and die.
5. White rot. This disease affects all parts of the plant - from the root system to the tips of the shoots. The fruits develop deformed, the stems are covered with a slimy coating, which turns brown and black over time. The spreader of this disease is slugs and slugs, which parasitize in dense plantings.
6. The melon aphid is the most common and inveterate pest of this garden crop. Microscopic insects damage all organs - flowers, leaves, ovaries, shoots, sucking the juices out of them. The affected parts begin to curl and die.
7. Wireworms. The ideal environment for click beetle larvae is waterlogged soil. Small insects damage the roots of young seedlings, causing the seedlings to wither and die.
8. Slugs. The peak of the invasion occurs in wet and rainy weather. Slugs love to feast on succulent foliage - they gnaw out all the tissue, leaving only veins.
9. Poduras are small white insects, no more than 2 mm long, that eat the aerial parts of young pumpkins. Parasites cause the greatest damage to plantings in damp and rainy weather.

Control and prevention measures

Butternut squash is resistant to diseases, but for prevention purposes it is necessary:

• adhere to the rules of crop rotation;
• observe agricultural practices;
• carry out high-quality selection and pre-sowing preparation of seed material;
• spray the garden bed in spring and autumn with Fitosporin.

At the first signs of damage, the plantings should be treated with copper-containing preparations - Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate.

To combat aphids, the drugs Karbofos or Phosfamide are used; a soap-ash solution helps at the early stage of infestation. You will have to fight slugs manually - insects are periodically collected or beer traps are placed on the site.

Baits will help you catch wireworms - in several places you need to dig holes 0.5 m deep and place crushed and peeled root vegetables, which the parasites love to eat, on their bottom. The top of the pits should be covered with plywood or boards. A simple method will help to destroy the dur - dusting the soil in the garden bed with wood ash.

The best varieties of butternut squash - reviews from those who grew

Reviews about nutmeg pumpkin varieties are not very common on gardening forums, although a sufficient number of gardeners have already tried growing this vegetable and were satisfied.

Victoria Alexandrovna, Voronezh region. My favorite vegetable is pumpkins. I chose the Marble variety for growing in the garden. It ripens late, but it has one of the best tastes and aroma. Easy to care for. The pulp is juicy and sweet. Ideal for making purees, juices, stews. I highly recommend this variety to all vegetable growers.

Ivan Igorevich, Moscow region I have been growing only nutmeg pumpkin varieties for 4 years in a row. I like the Grand Slam. It has good yields and care is not that difficult. The taste is sweet. The fruits are very large. The pulp is juicy and tender with the aroma of fruit. My secret is to plant seedlings on a compost pile. Any grass, branches, leaves are suitable for it. The soil becomes more nutritious, which the pumpkin is very happy about and thanks for its tasty, high-quality fruits.

Evgeny Maksimovich, Barnaul I have a lot of experience in gardening and I’ve been growing pumpkins for so long that I can’t say exactly what year it was. At first I grew ordinary varieties, and then switched to muscat varieties. They have excellent taste and aroma. I don't know anyone who wouldn't like them. The latest samples include the Vitamin variety. I would especially like to note the almost complete germination of seeds and the good immunity of plants already at the seedling stage. The fruits grew quickly. Productivity is good.

Anna Mikhailovna, Irkutsk I have been planting pumpkins for many years, and recently I started growing nutmeg varieties. Last season I planted the variety “Augustina” - I really liked it, it’s productive. I make compotes for the winter from pumpkin with the addition of berry and fruit concentrates for a richer taste. I also store the harvest for several months; the pumpkin retains its taste characteristics very well.

Cook

The Kashevar variety is suitable for cultivation in all regions. Pumpkin is grown both in the open garden and under film cover. It ripens 90 days after the appearance of young shoots or 60 days after planting seedlings.

At home it can be stored for 3-4 months. At a temperature of 2 C, with a humidity of 70%, the shelf life is extended to 6 months:

More on the topic: What care does the Russian pumpkin require?

The Kashevar variety belongs to the nutmeg and large-fruited variety. Gardeners value it for its resistance to many infectious diseases and bacteriosis. During storage, the fruits do not suffer from putrefactive infections.