Description of the variety
Winter sweet is suitable for growing in the northern regions of the country. It has a high immunity to frost and drought, and can withstand heavy rains and fogs without consequences.
Distinctive features
The variety is a late-ripening variety; gardeners harvest the crop 120-130 days after planting. The bushes are spreading, the leaves are wide, dark green. Pumpkin is unpretentious in care; to increase immunity, summer residents arrange feeding and formation of bushes.
Fruit characteristics and yield
The fruits are large, with a ribbed surface.
The shape is round, flattened on both sides. Pumpkin weight varies from 5 to 11 kg. The peel is gray, some vegetables have slight spotting. The pulp is dense, yellow. The taste is sweet and juicy, reminiscent of melon. Productivity is stable, from 1 sq. m, about 25 kg of ripe fruits are collected.
Interesting ! Pumpkin is a low-calorie product; 100 g contains only 25 kcal. The vegetable is rich in fiber, protein and iron, contains vitamins A and B. Regular consumption of the product improves digestion, and a glass of pumpkin juice before bed serves as an excellent folk remedy for insomnia.
Features of sweet pumpkins
A number of varieties such as large-fruited pumpkin (giant, maxima) are famous for the highest sugar content. This is a botanical term, and the fruit size can be small, especially in newer varieties.
In addition to the sweetest varieties of pumpkin, aromatic ones are highly valued, especially varieties of butternut squash. Their sugar content may not exceed 5-6%, but the original smell creates a feeling of a spicy aftertaste.
A number of varieties of another botanical variety, the hard-bark pumpkin, also smell pleasant (their record sugar accumulation is up to 6-8%).
How to grow
For cultivation in the northern regions, the seedling method is used; in the south and in the middle zone, the crop is planted with seeds in open ground. Let's consider the basic rules of planting and care.
Planting by seeds
Large and heavy seeds are selected for planting. The sampling is carried out as follows: pour seeds into a jar of water and stir the liquid clockwise. Those that remain on the surface are not suitable for planting. The sunken seeds are taken out and dried.
Afterwards, the etching procedure is organized. Disinfect the seed with a solution of potassium permanganate or Bordeaux mixture. The seeds are placed in a fabric bag and immersed in the solution for 24 hours. Disinfection destroys pathogenic microflora on the surface of seeds and protects future plants from diseases and insect pests.
After disinfection, the seeds are germinated. To do this, they are wrapped in warm, damp gauze and put in a warm place for 3-6 days. To accelerate growth, add the stimulant “Kornevin” or “Heteroauxin”. Germination allows seeds to quickly adapt to external climatic conditions and show the best yield in the future. Sprouted seeds are placed in prepared beds, covered with soil and watered generously with warm water.
Important ! Pumpkin prefers loose and nutritious soil. It is better to choose a sunny, hilly area for planting. With the arrival of spring, the soil is dug up and fertilized with peat or vermicompost. Experienced gardeners recommend planting Winter Sweet after frost, in early or mid-May.
Planting seedlings
Seedlings are prepared at the end of March. Pumpkins are planted in wooden boxes, plastic cassettes, plastic pots . The main thing is that the container is dry and clean. To be safe, wash the container with running water and a solution of potassium permanganate.
As seedling soil, use a ready-made mixture from the store or soil from the garden. The advantage of the first option is that the soil is already disinfected in advance and saturated with nutrients. You can purchase it at any gardening store. Popular mixtures are “Universal” or “Strong” soil.
Pour soil into the container and make small grooves at a distance of 5-7 cm from each other. 2-3 disinfected seeds are placed in each hole and sprinkled with earth on top. The seedlings are watered with warm, clean water and placed on the sunniest windowsill in the house or near the radiator. If the windows face north, provide illumination with a phytolamp.
Water the seedlings as the soil dries out, approximately every 5 days. After 10 days, liquid organic fertilizing is organized. Bird droppings or manure are great for this. The next fertilizer is applied after another 10 days. Use potassium superphosphate or ammonium nitrate.
Important ! After 2-3 weeks, the seedlings are planted on the plot. The sprouts are watered with water first so that the soil is moist and does not crumble. The seedlings are carefully removed from the container with a lump of earth on the roots and placed on the garden bed. Gently pat around the stem and sprinkle with dry wood ash or sawdust.
Care
The basis of care is timely watering. Moisten the beds in the morning or evening to avoid sunburn. Water the bushes directly at the root; water should not get on the leaves, fruits and stems. Otherwise, the likelihood of fungi and infections increases. About 2 liters of water are consumed per plant, 2.5-3 liters on hot and dry days. Watering is stopped 2 weeks before harvest.
Pumpkin needs root and foliar feeding. The first option includes fertilizers with organic and mineral substances. Fertilizing strengthens the plant's immunity and improves the taste of the fruit. Peat, humus, and manure are used as organic matter.
Among mineral substances, preference is given to potassium and phosphorus fertilizers, as well as complex preparations - “Kimira”, “Zdraven”, “Magic Leika”.
Foliar feeding consists of spraying with nettle solution, Bordeaux mixture, and succinic acid solution. Their main goal is protection from diseases and pests.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
Pumpkin beds need regular loosening and weed removal. Carry out the procedure before watering. Weeding improves the quality of the soil, makes it more nutritious and light, and saturates it with oxygen. At the same time, they monitor the vines of the plant.
When 2-3 long shoots are formed, they begin to form a bush: the small side vines are removed, the top is pinched. Formation promotes healthy fruit development. If the remaining lashes are tangled together, they are straightened out and placed on the ground, sprinkled with earth in several places.
In addition to molding, it is important to monitor the amount of mineral supplements. An excess of nitrogen leads to curling and yellowing of the leaves, an excess of calcium leads to weakening of the roots. If you apply fertilizers incorrectly, there is a risk of disease. For accuracy, experienced gardeners mark the dates of fertilization on a calendar.
Important ! When growing pumpkins in a greenhouse, the structure is ventilated daily. Greenhouses are characterized by heat and high humidity, which promotes the development of dangerous microbes.
Growing tips from experienced gardeners
Simple tips and recommendations from experienced gardeners will help not only protect pumpkin from negative factors, but also increase the shelf life of the product:
- If the soil is highly acidic, sprinkle the beds with lime and dry wood ash before planting.
- Before planting seedlings, the seeds are hardened by placing them in the freezer for 2-3 days.
- It is convenient to grow seedlings in peat tablets. They are made from environmentally friendly raw materials and are easy to use. Purchase tablets at a gardening store.
- After planting the pumpkin in open ground, each bush is covered with plastic wrap. It protects the sprouts from frost and rain. Remove the film after the first leaves appear.
- The optimal water temperature for irrigation is about +20 °C. It is not recommended to use tap water; it is better to water the vegetables with rain or well water, after warming it up in the sun.
- If the fruits are too large and heavy, place a wooden board under each. This prevents rot from occurring.
- When spraying with Bordeaux mixture or succinic acid, use gloves, a respirator and safety glasses.
Wax Gourd Seeds
Benincasa or Wax gourd is of particular interest due to the possibility of long-term storage of its fruits. Under normal conditions (for example, in a room on the floor), wax gourd fruits retain their quality for two to three years.
The fruits of wax gourd have medicinal properties and are widely used in folk medicine, for example, in China. Their pulp is recommended as a diuretic and antipyretic. The internal contents of the benincase fruit, when taken orally and externally, act as an analgesic.
The seeds are also used as a sedative and tonic; They are believed to guarantee longevity, and the roasted benincasa seeds are considered a delicacy. It is convenient to stuff halves of small wax gourd fruits with meat, fish or other filling. Some gourmets compare fried benincasa slices to fish delicacies.
Both young (immature) Benincase fruits and ripened ones are used for food. The former can be eaten without heat treatment, for example, grated in salads. Porridges, casseroles, soups, various vegetable side dishes, candied fruits, and juices are prepared from the ripened fruits of the wax gourd.
Diseases and pests
Downy mildew, or, as people call it, downy mildew, occurs in pumpkin patches. The cause of infection lies in insect pests and weeds, high humidity and improper care. Downy mildew manifests itself in the form of yellow-brown spots on the leaves. As a preventive measure, spraying with ash is used, for treatment - “Planzir” or “Previkur”. If false dew is not detected in time, all the bushes will wither, and the fruits will lose their elasticity and taste.
Another common disease is root rot. It appears mainly at the flowering stage of the plant due to watering with cold water or an excess of mineral fertilizers. The roots become gray-brown in color, the leaves curl and dry out. For prevention purposes, the rules of crop rotation and watering regime are observed. Treatment is carried out with sprays based on zinc sulfate or with the drug “Fundazol”.
Among the pests, the melon aphid attacks the Winter Sweet. A small bug can destroy up to 80% of the entire crop. Aphids appear due to contaminated soil or improper sowing. The pest sucks nutrients from the bushes, causing the plants to slowly die. The product “Consento” or a solution of copper sulfate helps get rid of melon aphids.
In addition to aphids, slugs appear in the beds. The reason lies in non-compliance with crop rotation rules or contaminated soil. Get rid of slugs by spraying with iodine and milk.
Useful tips
Even with good care and maintenance, not every gardener is able to grow this crop and get a good harvest from it. There are several reasons:
- If the seedlings grow poorly and begin to turn yellow, most likely you have overfed them with nitrogen or they suffer from an excess or lack of moisture. Fertilizing is applied strictly according to the specified scheme, and watering is carried out only after the soil surface has dried.
- The absence of ovaries or very poor flowering is a sign of a lack of phosphorus and potassium in the soil, so the plants urgently need to be fed with these components.
- Yellowing and drying of foliage can be caused by insufficient watering or the presence of diseases and parasites. To eliminate these problems, it is necessary to check the condition of the soil and carry out preventive treatments of the plantings.
Harvesting and application
Winter sweet is harvested in September. The fruits acquire a characteristic gray color, the peel hardens.
For long-term storage, vegetables are cut off with the stem removed. The collected pumpkins are wiped with a dry cloth and stored in a cool, dark place, such as a basement or pantry. The harvest is used to prepare vegetable side dishes and salads, sweet dishes and desserts. Part of the harvest is frozen and dried. Pumpkin harmoniously complements winter dishes, enriching the body with vitamins and dietary fiber.
Interesting ! Pumpkin makes delicious cakes and pastries, pies and muffins. The product goes especially well with honey and cinnamon.
Benincasa wax gourd
Benincasa belongs to the wax pumpkins - as its fruits grow, they are first covered with a light fluff, and then covered with a translucent waxy coating, which affects the shelf life. This very picturesque pumpkin also has other names - white Indian, Chinese calabash. It is also called a pumpkin pillow for its resemblance to a traditional Chinese headrest.
The plant has faceted stems, about 4 m long, and decorative lobed leaves with a corrugated plate and jagged edge on long petioles, smaller than those of other pumpkins. Male and female flowers, on the contrary, are larger and more expressive than those of ordinary pumpkins - about 15 cm in diameter, with five orange petals and a fragrant, memorable aroma. The bark is greenish in color.
The flesh of the pumpkin is light, which further strengthens the name “winter squash”. The taste is very sweet, tasty, juicy. Nourishing and at the same time low in calories. The main recipes for preparing benincasa wax gourd are soups; they are very popular in China and Korea. Ripe fruits are the starting material for making sweets and candied fruits, and slightly unripe ones are used for frying or pickling.
Halves of small fruits are stuffed with meat, fish, and vegetables. Some gourmets compare fried benincasa slices to fish delicacies. Unripe fruits can be eaten without heat treatment, for example, they are grated and added to salads. Porridges, casseroles, soups, side dishes, chips, and juices are prepared from ripened fruits. Flowers and ovaries in the initial stage are also tasty and healthy. The Japanese add flowers and young leaves of this pumpkin to salads. Young leaves are used like grape leaves to make dolma, and are also brewed as tea.
The healing properties of wax gourd are appreciated by Chinese healers, who use it to reduce fever, reduce inflammation and metabolic disorders. Pumpkin juice is drunk to remove radionuclides from the body, and is used externally in the treatment of skin diseases.
Wax pumpkin seeds can be purchased at garden centers
Fresh pumpkin seeds are pressed into oil used in cosmetology and cooking. The raw seeds are eaten to calm or invigorate and are also believed to promote longevity. And when fried it is a delicacy.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The advantages of Winter Sweet include a juicy and sugary taste. The dense pulp is universal in use and suitable for dietary nutrition. Gardeners are pleased with the high yield and large fruits. Pumpkin is suitable for growing both in the south of the country and in the northern regions. Does not require special knowledge in care.
Among the disadvantages, the late ripening of the vegetable is noted. If the summer is rainy, the fruits do not have time to gain sugar content. In the middle zone and in the north, Winter Sweet is grown in seedlings.
Wax pumpkin recipes
The fruits of the wax gourd are eaten both in ripened and unripe forms. Its pulp is juicy with a faint sweetish taste. In Chinese cuisine, pumpkin is fried with meat (pork or beef) and used as a soup base. The soup itself is often served in a cup carved out of a pumpkin. Various candied sweets are also made from pumpkin.
Wax gourd is also called kandol, condol or gondol in the Philippines. There they make candied sweets from it and use it as a filling in national buns. They are also components in some national soups and fried dishes.
In North India and Pakistan, Benincasa pumpkin is used to make Petha sweets. In South Indian cuisine it is used in curries. Also in India there is a dish made from wax gourd and cottage cheese or kefir. The fruit is sometimes made into distinctive-tasting drinks, sweetened with caramel sugar to enhance the flavor.
Wax gourd and shrimp soup
In Southeast Asia, you can find iced tea made from wax melon in stores.
Soup with wax gourd and shrimp recipe
Peel the pumpkin and remove the seeds. Cut the pumpkin into slices 5 cm wide and 5 mm thick. Boil water and add a bouillon cube to it. Then put in the pumpkin. Cook for 20 minutes until the pumpkin is done. Add shrimp, onion, vegetable oil to the broth and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and serve hot.
Ingredients for cooking: wax gourd – 250 grams, broth – 250 grams, shrimp – 25 grams, leeks, cut into rings, vegetable oil – 10 grams.
Crystal wax gourd recipe
Remove the seeds from the pumpkin and cut it into rings about 5 cm high. To make the rings more beautiful, like in the photo, you can use special molds. Finely chop the chicken breast, ham, shrimp, mushrooms, carrots.
Place the chopped products in a deep frying pan or kettle with heated cooking oil and fry, remembering to stir, for 3-5 minutes. Add salt, water, wine vinegar and pepper. Stir half the cornstarch in cold water and add to the pan to thicken.
Place the pumpkin rings in a steamer bowl and fill them with the pan-fried mixture. Place the rings in the steamer for 8 minutes. Now remove the pumpkin rings from the steamer and place them on a separate plate.
Pumpkin juice with orange for the winter from wax melon
Place everything inside the rings into a saucepan and let it simmer further, adding the remaining cornstarch dissolved in water. Remove the thickened mixture from the heat and fill the pumpkin rings with it again.
For cooking you will need: wax pumpkin – 500 grams, chicken breast – 20 grams, ham – 20 grams, shrimp – 10 grams, mushrooms – 10 grams, carrots – 10 grams, wine vinegar – 10 grams, cooking fat – 50 grams, corn starch - 50 grams.
Farmer reviews
Despite the presence of positive reviews about the variety, there are also sharply negative ones. What do gardeners say about Winter Sweet?
Maria, Moscow: “I like the sweet Winter pumpkin, it doesn’t cause any trouble in growing, the harvest always grows nice. I use it fresh and make preparations for the winter.”
Alexey, Tyumen: “I planted Winter Sweet for the first time, I was pleased. The maximum pumpkin weight is 12 kg, which made me happy. I recommend it for cultivation."
Natalya, Volgograd: “I planted seeds in open ground, apparently in vain. The sprouts developed root rot and had to be treated. Later, difficulties arose with the formation of the bush; there were a lot of lashes. The taste is, in my opinion, average.”
