Green pumpkin - the most popular varieties with descriptions
There are many types of pumpkins in the world, differing in color, color, shape, size, taste, ripening period and purpose.
There are dietary and gourmet varieties, fodder and even decorative varieties that decorate the garden or vegetable garden with herbs and fruits. In the multiple list, there was also a place for the green variety, which, as it turned out, is very beneficial for the body, tasty and in no way inferior in attractiveness to its relatives. Pumpkin belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and is a herbaceous creeping plant with a powerful root system. The leaves are pentagonal, large, juicy green in color, with fine hairs and thorns all over the surface and on the shoots. The length of the vines reaches 5–8 meters and spreads beautifully along the ground, with the help of tendrils it clings to fences, trellises, tree branches, entwining everything around.
The fruits, depending on the variety, are small - the size of a pear, and large - up to 10-15 kg. The surface is dense, green, smooth, rough or with pimples. The pulp is yellow or orange, fleshy and very healthy, with a high content of vitamins and microelements. In addition, it is recommended to eat seeds; they contain a lot of manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and other minerals.
In gardening stores you can find different varieties of orange, yellow and white pumpkins, and there is also a large selection of green ones. It is difficult for a beginner to understand the proposed options, which ones are better, tastier, when they ripen and what they are intended for, so we offer a rating of the most popular green varieties.
All plants are grown in open ground and do not require special care. The quality of seed germination is high.
Pumpkins are divided into groups: hard-bark, large-fruited, decorative, early-, mid- and late-ripening, delicacy, vitamin, dietary and others. When choosing a variety, you need to take these factors into account and rely on the purpose of the vegetable. To decorate the garden, you should look for small-fruited, decorative species, for food use - large ones, with fleshy pulp and a sweet taste, and forage varieties are suitable for animals. The list offers the best varieties of all directions.
Marbled pumpkin has gained the greatest popularity in cooking because it has excellent taste, juicy, sweet flesh and considerable size. The variety is late-ripening; it will take at least 120-130 days to ripen, but the wait is worth it. The fruits grow up to 6-8 kg and have a gray-green color with streaks, streaks or splashes of light colors, which is how the variety got its name.
When cut, the pumpkin is bright orange in color, very fleshy, dense and sweet in taste, the amount of sugar reaches 13%. The thickness of the pulp is quite large, the seed nest is small, there are practically no voids. The skin is soft, which makes it easier to remove during cooking. The variety has proven itself well and has a lot of positive reviews.
The group of nutmeg pumpkins includes various varieties, but the Muscat Vitaminnaya hybrid turned out to be the sweetest and most beneficial. The composition contains a large amount of sugar and carotene, which makes it a leader in this area. The vegetable ripens late and reaches 7-8 kg; cultivation will require 140 sunny and warm days. The shape is round, flattened, with pronounced ribs, the color of the peel is dark green, monochromatic.
Vitamin nutmeg is stored for a long time, retaining all useful substances and is highly valued in cooking. A variety of dishes are prepared from it, pie fillings, casseroles, porridges, consumed boiled, baked and raw with apples, raisins, honey and other products.
Another popular variety of butternut squash is Mirani di Chioggia. The vegetable has a terrifying appearance with a pimply and not very attractive surface, but the flesh is sweet, tasty, and saturated with sunshine.
The crop is intended for cultivation in the southern regions, where dry summers prevail. The vegetable contains the maximum amount of sugars, ideal for diabetics and lovers of sweet dishes. The red-orange pulp is used to make jams, juices, cereals, puddings, casseroles, desserts and much more.
“Winter” pumpkin ripens 130 days after planting and is small in size - up to 4-5 kg. The skin is gray-green, dense, smooth to the touch. The variety is resistant to fungi and diseases, which allows fruits to be stored for up to 2 years in dry and cool places.
If the previous variety is suitable for the south, then “Vesnushka” is ideal for Siberia and the Urals. Its characteristics are as follows: weight up to three kg, round, slightly flattened shape; the main shade is light green with creamy strokes and splashes; The pulp is juicy, tender, sweetish, with a specific pear flavor.
Freckles can be stored for a long time at home and produce a bountiful harvest with frequent watering and organic fertilizing. It is demanding of moisture and soil fertility and is susceptible to powdery mildew. It tolerates sudden temperature changes calmly.
In addition to the varieties listed, there are also these no less tasty and healthy hybrids:
- Acorn.
- Altair.
- Miranda.
- Barn.
- Magic carriage.
- Arina.
- Winter Sampson many others.
Large-fruited and hard-barked ones are usually used as animal feed and are rarely eaten. The peculiarity of these varieties is their flat leaves and unusual shapes, often found:
Muscadines are usually pear-shaped with a low content of seeds and voids.
An unattractive pumpkin weighing 10 kg is a must-have vegetable on the autumn table. The multivitamin composition, tasty red-orange pulp and a lot of positive qualities make the Frog Princess indispensable in the dietary and medicinal menu.
The medium-late, large-fruited variety has a thick, lumpy, dark green skin, ripens on the 130th day and is well transported. It is not difficult to grow, but loves sunny areas. The vegetable looks like the skin of a frog, which “scares off” gardeners, but in vain. Its pulp is used in preparing dishes, preserves, juices and purees.
Pumpkins, a pronounced green color with an elongated shape, appeared on domestic beds not so long ago, but aroused unprecedented interest and demand. The variety is characterized by a rather hard fruit shell, smooth to the touch with an unusual waxy coating. The bushes are powerful, climbing with thick stems. Vegetables grow up to 10-15 kg in 130 days and reach a length of 50 cm.
The pulp is dense, pale, almost milky in color, the taste is sweetish. It is rarely used for cooking, but it is possible to cook a green vegetable that is fully ripened. If we compare nutmeg and wax pumpkin in terms of sugar content, the first is clearly the leader, but the second can be stored for up to 2-3 years without much effort and specific conditions.
The variety's homeland is Peru and its tropical jungles. Under natural conditions, figleaf pumpkin grows for several years and is considered a perennial crop. The shape of the fruit is similar to an oval watermelon, the color is dark green with cream spots. The taste and aroma are sweet, pumpkin. The pulp is coarse, light, with a yellowish tint; in cooking it is used as side dishes, in sweet and confectionery dishes, baked in pieces, and also used as a raw material for alcoholic beverages. The seeds are hard, black, and resemble watermelon.
The plant is powerful and grows strongly, entwining everything nearby, the length of the lashes reaches 10 meters. The fruits are widely used in food production, and the leaves and seeds are used in folk medicine; ointments, tinctures are made from them, and applied to sore spots.
Not only green varieties of pumpkins are tasty and healthy, but also orange, white, and gray ones. The best orange ones include: Melon, Rossiyanka, Kapitoshka and others. The vitamin composition and high content of carotene and natural sugars puts the vegetable in first place in the list of dietary products for diabetics, those losing weight, and people with problems with the liver, gall bladder, and poor eyesight.
Large-fruited pumpkins
Very sweet, large pumpkins are a favorite among gardeners. They grow on a smooth, round, cylindrical stalk.
Unpretentious in care, many representatives are able to tolerate drought and unexpected frosts. It can be stored for a long time without losing its taste.
Varieties of large-fruited pumpkins
Variety | Description | Weight, kg) | Ripening period |
Gribovskaya winter. | It has long lashes and a flattened gray-green crust. The pulp is orange-red, bright with a characteristic taste and round beige seeds. Can be stored for a long time. | 2-3,5. | 120-140 days. |
Winter sweet. | Dark gray segmented fruits, flattened laterally. Thick, sweetish pulp, orange in color. Able to tolerate prolonged drought. Juices and purees for baby food are made from this variety. | 5,5-6. | Late ripening. |
Altair. | Gray peel with a bluish tint. The pulp is juicy, fibrous, bright orange, with many large seeds. The shape is slightly flattened with characteristic stripes on the sides. | 3-5. | Mid-season. |
Ordinary. | The most popular, grown because of its unpretentiousness and excellent taste. Pale orange skin with greenish flecks, standard orange colored seeds and flesh. | 5-20. | |
Merchant's wife. | A common table variety with a delicate yellow skin and a mild, pleasant taste. It can be stored for no more than 5 months, after which it can be used as animal feed. | 10-20. | |
Sweetie. | Capable of growing strongly with proper care and nutritious substrate. Produces at least 8 fruits at a time. The crust is orange-red with scarlet markings. The pulp is dense, crispy, rich in vitamin C and minerals. | 2-2,5. | |
Kherson. | Climbing with a gray-green crust, on which light gray spots appear. The pulp is juicy and sweet. It survives short periods of drought and light frosts, and can be stored for quite a long time. | 4,5-6. | |
Volga gray. | Characterized by long lashes and bluish-gray rounded fruits. Average taste, bright orange pulp, standard seeds. Tolerates drought and stores well. | 5-8. |
Green pumpkin: properties, varieties
The article presents green pumpkin: benefits, properties, description of popular varieties, growing rules.
Pumpkin contains a lot of useful microelements and vitamins that people need so much, and buying it every time at the market is quite expensive, so we suggest you grow it on your own plot, and besides, it’s not at all difficult. This culture is unpretentious in care, and the taste is excellent. Usually it gives a bountiful harvest, so you can always please yourself with delicious pieces of crispy pumpkin. It is used to prepare porridges, soups, make jams, use it in baking, and the juice obtained from ripe pumpkin is wonderful. I hope we have convinced you to plant this vegetable crop on your plot. However, it is very easy to get lost in the variety of varieties, therefore, before choosing one or another variety, you need to carefully study its characteristics and description. Today we will tell you about green pumpkin, so carefully study the article and get acquainted with this record holder for the content of microelements and nutrients among many fruits and vegetables.
Green pumpkin: varieties, photos and reviews
Pumpkin began to be grown in America before our era. In Ancient Egypt, this plant was a delicacy. The ancient Romans learned how to make durable vessels from pumpkins. In China, such dishes were placed only on the table of the imperial family.
Nowadays, it is a healthy and beloved product by many, which has become firmly established in the diet of a modern person who cares about their health.
Pumpkin: description
It is an annual plant with a powerful, well-developed root system and creeping herbaceous stem. It is spiny, pentagonal, and forms tendrils in the axils of the leaves, with the help of which the plant clings to supports and stretches upward. The stem can be up to eight meters long.
The five-lobed large leaves also cover small hairs. Pumpkin blooms with orange or yellow large single flowers, which attract the attention of pollinating insects from afar. They are male, unisexual, and have a long peduncle. Flowering begins at the end of June and continues until the beginning of July.
In autumn, thick-skinned fruits ripen. Their shape, size and color depend on the variety grown. Inside, under the thick skin, there is an oily, juicy pulp with many white large seeds.
Flasks, jugs, bottles, and cups are made from tableware gourd (lagenaria). It is believed that such dishes have good energy.
Variety of species
There are many varieties of pumpkin in the world. They differ in size and shape, color and taste, as well as area of application. They can be very small, the size of a pear, or gigantic. They can be spherical and flattened, serpentine and flask-shaped, star-shaped. Some of them are smooth, others are lumpy and rough.
And the fruits also differ in color - orange, yellow. These colors are familiar to most of our readers. Is there a green pumpkin? And not only. Some varieties are colored red, white, brown, gray. There are striped and spotted representatives in this large family.
Popular cultivated species
To date, three of them have gained particular popularity.
Hardbark
It is distinguished by a ribbed stalk, on which grooves are clearly visible. It came to us from Mexico, and three of its types are known: long-climbing (produces small but numerous fruits), bush (zucchini and squash), and decorative.
Muscat
It has a pentagonal stalk, which widens towards the base. The surface is ribbed or smooth, the shape is elongated, at first the fruits are colored green, but as they ripen they become yellow or brown. The seed chamber is small and the pulp layer is thick.
Large-fruited
This species has a rounded cylindrical stalk. The fruits are flat with a bumpy surface and very sweet in taste. In this culture, three varieties are distinguished: gray-fruited, winter and mammoth.
Green pumpkin: varieties
There are a great many varieties of this popular all over the world and very useful plant.
Some of them are grown for animal feed, others are famous for their sweetness and juiciness, for which chefs love them, and others are rich in valuable seeds.
In recent years, decorative varieties of pumpkins have also become popular. In all these varieties, green pumpkin is found (you can see the photo in this article).
Large-fruited crops: “winter treat”
Mid-season, short-climbing variety. The pumpkin is green (dark) with black specks. The fruit has a round shape. Weight – about 5 kg. The pulp is dense, colored bright orange.
"Miranda"
The plant is semi-bushy and belongs to the mid-season varieties. The fruits are green, have gray specks, and are round. Weight – about 4 kg. The pulp has a pleasant taste and is dense. The seeds do not have a hard shell. The variety is unpretentious in care and produces a good harvest even in difficult climatic conditions.
"Princess Frog"
This is a wonderful mid-late variety with dark green fruits. They are turban-shaped and wrinkled. Weight can reach 10 kg. The pulp is dense, light orange, very juicy. This variety is a valuable dietary crop.
Hard-barked varieties
This group of plants gets its name due to its very dense and rough layer of bark, which gains strength as it matures.
This is the earliest ripening species grown in Russian gardens, but pumpkin lovers should be aware that their flesh can be quite coarse, so you need to carefully select varieties for cultivation.
Today, many interesting varieties and hybrids of pumpkin are offered, among which you can choose plants of unusual appearance and taste.
"Harlequin"
Green pumpkin of this variety tastes like butternut pumpkin. Its shape is slightly flattened. The pumpkin is not very large. The green skin of the fruit is covered with small spots. The pulp is dense, light orange in color. The taste is very delicate and pleasant.
"Freckle"
Another hard-barked variety that fully corresponds to its name: small round fruits (no more than 2 kg) are colored green and covered with white-yellow spots.
This variety is ideal for small areas due to its compactness. The plant has short vines, is bushy, and requires moisture.
The pulp is light orange, not too sweet, but has a subtle pear aroma. The seeds are small.
"Acorn"
This pumpkin is often called an acorn pumpkin, due to the similarity of its small fruits to acorns. The pulp is sweet, rich yellow. The peel can have a wide variety of colors - from orange to dark green, as well as combinations of these colors.
"Marble"
A late-ripening variety, characterized by wrinkled, flattened fruits that do not exceed five kilograms. This pumpkin has a very high yield and excellent shelf life. The pulp is sweet, bright orange, juicy. The peel is gray-green with lighter dots and stripes, which form the marbled color. Can be used both in cooking and as a fodder crop.
"Vitamin"
One of the latest varieties - at least one hundred and thirty days pass from the first shoots to ripening.
This muscat variety is famous for its wide, oval or cylindrical fruits, with pronounced ribbing closer to the stalk.
A ripe pumpkin is brown with a pinkish tint, with a network of greenish round spots. The pulp is dark orange, almost red, crispy, sweet, rich in carotene. The weight of the fetus is about 5 kg.
"Marina di Chioggia"
The fruits of this famous Italian variety of nutmeg pumpkin, which has taken root well here too, are impressive. Questions immediately arise: “The pumpkin is green inside, can you eat it?” Yes, you can, and even need it, because it is very useful.
This variety can produce fruits up to 10 kg, although more often its weight does not exceed 6 kg. The pulp is dense, slightly dry, orange in color. This variety can be stored for up to six months without losing its taste.
Decorative fruits
Now let's talk about a very interesting variety of pumpkins. A vegetable garden today should not only be useful in all respects, but also beautiful. That is why decorative types of pumpkins become more and more popular every season. They have many advantages. Many novice gardeners are interested in: “What is a decorative green pumpkin, is it possible to eat it?”
These species were bred by breeders for beauty, so their taste was not taken into account in most cases. As practice shows, if decorative green pumpkin is suitable for eating, it is only at a young age. When ripe, it has a very hard crust, has no taste and is of no interest to people or even animals.
When purchasing seeds in a store, the manufacturer often indicates on the packaging whether this variety is edible or not. If there are no such recommendations from the company, then nothing will stop you from experimenting. A decorative green pumpkin will not be poisonous, but it will most likely be tasteless, hard, or have a somewhat specific taste.
And yet, decorative pumpkins can have excellent taste. An example of this is the green Shayot pumpkin. In addition to its original appearance, it has a wonderful taste, reminiscent of an apple, and portion sizes. This is a winter variety.
This small green pumpkin has fairly large seeds. Recipes for preparing dishes from it are no different from those for summer varieties.
But the main feature of this variety is that this small green pumpkin will also become an original decoration for your garden.
"Lagenaria" and "cucurbita"
And these varieties are grown only for decorative purposes. The fruits of these varieties are distinguished by their unusual shapes and strong skin, which makes it possible to make various decorations for the garden from them. They are the ones used on Halloween. The harvest should be removed from the garden before the first frost, otherwise the peel will be damaged and the pumpkin will simply rot.
After picking, the fruits are wiped with a dry cloth and dried naturally in a cool, dark place. It is important that they do not touch. During the drying process, they should be wiped dry regularly and ensure that mold does not appear. Completely dried fruits are light, and seeds are poured into them, as if in a rattle.
Useful properties of pumpkin
The pulp of the fruit is not only tasty, but also very healthy; pumpkin is a storehouse of vitamins and valuable minerals. It contains pectins, proteins, fiber, carotene, acids, sugars. The seeds contain a large amount of essential oils and zinc.
Pumpkin is a low-calorie product, which is why it is included in many diets. Pumpkin seeds are dried and used in folk medicine as an anthelmintic and for the treatment of prostatitis.
In addition, when fried, it is simply a tasty delicacy, which is often used in cooking.
Medicinal properties
Pumpkin dishes should be included in every person's diet. This is especially important for people suffering from gastrointestinal and liver diseases. Pumpkin can relieve depression and insomnia. This product must be included in the diet of children from a very early age (porridge, juice).
In addition, pumpkin dishes are recommended for everyone who suffers from exhaustion, tuberculosis, hypertension, liver and kidney diseases.
You should not give up regular consumption of pumpkin if you have heart disease, increased production of gastric juice, or inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract.
Green pumpkin: what to cook?
Both adults and children love this healthy and tasty product. There are a great many dishes made from it and with it added as one of the ingredients. And don’t let it bother you that our heroine today is a green pumpkin. The cooking recipes are no different from its relatives with any other peel color.
Roasted pumpkin
To prepare this dish you will need:
- pumpkin – 1 kg;
- vegetable oil – 1/2 cup;
- sour cream – 400 g;
- breadcrumbs – 60 g;
- salt.
Remove the skin and seeds from the pumpkin. Cut it into thin slices (about 3 mm). Salt them a little, roll in breadcrumbs and fry on both sides in a frying pan in oil. Before serving, pour sour cream over the pumpkin pieces.
Green pumpkin jam
And now we offer you a very unusual recipe. Throw the pumpkin on the floor to break it. Without touching it with a knife or other metal objects that give a metallic taste, remove the seeds and yellow veins with your hands. Pumpkin pieces are boiled in salted water until the skin separates from the pulp.
Now you need to fill the boiled pumpkin with cold water and remove the peel with your hands. The pulp should be rubbed in water as if you were washing it until foam appears. The water needs to be changed periodically. The pumpkin is then immersed in brine. It is prepared at the rate of 50 g of coarse salt per liter of water, and left in it for a day.
After this time, the brine is drained, the pulp is washed and filled with clean water for another day. After this, you need to let the water drain and weigh the pulp. Mix it with an equal amount of sugar.
Two cinnamon sticks are added to this mixture and the container is placed on low heat. It must be stirred constantly to prevent it from burning. The jam is ready when it turns brownish in color.
Pumpkin in a pot
Remove the skin from the pumpkin, cut into small cubes, and place in pots. Add prunes, raisins, dried apricots. A magnificent dessert is prepared under closed lids in the oven for about forty minutes. Children love this dish very much.
Pumpkin with honey in a slow cooker
Wash the pumpkin, remove the seeds, cut the fruit into slices, like a melon, but do not cut off the peel. Place them in the multicooker bowl, skin side down. Add water (half a cup) to prevent the pumpkin from burning during cooking.
Place honey on top (two tablespoons) and sprinkle the dish with cinnamon. Cooking time 30 minutes on the “baking” mode. After cooking, remove the dish from the multicooker and remove the skin.
Place the pumpkin in bowls and garnish with a mint leaf.
Green pumpkin: basic information about properties
Photo of green pumpkin
During the cold season, we all need vitamins and microelements, so we very often go to the pharmacy for the necessary medications, but many useful substances can be safely obtained by eating pumpkin. It contains a lot of carotene, vitamins and microelements. Green pumpkin seeds are useful for the functioning of the digestive tract, strengthening the immune system; they are also used by hypertensive patients to prepare medical nutrition dishes. Round green pumpkin is a very low-calorie product, so green pumpkin can be used as a vegetable for your diet and you don’t have to worry about your figure.
Of course, pumpkin is familiar to every person since childhood, but do not forget about this vegetable in adulthood; pumpkin is very accessible, easy to grow, and also very healthy and popular. Gardeners often grow it in their garden plots, and some craftsmen plant it directly on the balcony. Of course, it’s much easier to grow in the country, so it’s best to save a piece of free land for it. You should not plant pumpkin next to zucchini, squash and cucumbers, as these plants are cross-pollinated, which means their fruits will not be what you expect.
Pumpkin usually has large fruits and strong roots, so it grows well in different climates. The stems of this vegetable are climbing, so they quickly fill the free surrounding space. It is recommended to plant green pumpkin seeds at a large distance from each other. It should be noted that pumpkin has quite thorny leaves and vines, so you should wear gloves when working with this plant. The pumpkin climbs beautifully both on the ground and over various fences. Therefore, it is often planted near agricultural buildings, clinging to the protrusions with its tendrils; the pumpkin also grows vertically. With the help of this plant you can create a green gazebo in which you will hide from the scorching sun and enjoy a wonderful aroma.
If we talk about fruits, it should be noted that usually the pumpkins of this vegetable crop are both very small and quite large. Their weight can reach 12-15 kilograms. Pumpkins are shaped like round, oval, flattened, and pumpkins are usually divided into segments. Therefore, the outer surface of this vegetable is ribbed. Pumpkins come in yellow, orange, gray and green colors. If we talk about the peel, it is quite dense, smooth or rough. The pulp is elastic, with a characteristic odor.
Varieties of green pumpkin with photos and descriptions. The best qualities of a vegetable
In the autumn slush and winter cold, we need support and protection, but do not rush to go to pharmacies for dietary supplements and vitamins, but turn your attention to natural resources. Undoubtedly, pumpkin is the record holder for the content of nutrients among vegetables and fruits.
Let us tell you a secret that pumpkin is not as common as we think. Familiar to us since childhood, it has many varieties, grows in different countries, differs in purpose, appearance, taste, size, color and smell. But it is similar in one thing - this:
- easy to grow and store vegetable,
- affordable vegetable for purchase in the store,
- a very healthy, tasty and popular product all over the world.
Properties of pumpkin
You can grow green pumpkin both in melon fields on an industrial scale, and at home on a personal plot, and some species climb right on the balcony, impressing passers-by with their tropical beauty.
The principle of pumpkin growth is reminiscent of the cultivation of cucumbers, zucchini, and squash. These are climbing, unpretentious green plants with fruits and strong roots.
The tops consist of long vines with large green leaves studded with thorns and hairs. It also curls along the ground and entwines trees and fences with its tendrils.
Therefore, to create beauty and protection from the sun, some varieties are planted near gazebos.
Depending on the variety, the vegetable crop can reach gigantic sizes, or it can be no larger than an apple. Directly, the average weight of a well-known fruit is 12 kg. It can have a different shape, from round, oval, flattened, ribbed to decorative squiggle.
The color range of pumpkins is also wide. Occurs:
- yellow,
- orange,
- green,
- gray
As you can see, pumpkin is not as boring as it seems at first glance. The peel is mostly dense, smooth, but it can also be rough, with pimples. This pumpkin family is also diverse in taste, pulp and smell. But despite all the differences, there is one common and very important feature - usefulness.
Pumpkin is a natural healer, it is an amazing set of natural minerals, trace elements and vitamins (Manganese, C, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, group B, Magnesium), fiber. Everything about it is useful:
- dense and fleshy pulp,
- fresh juice,
- seeds.
Since ancient times, people have used these products to treat the nervous system, anemia, cardiovascular disease, fight toxicosis, remove toxins, cleanse parasites and insomnia. Pumpkin is rightfully a product with a rare allergic reaction, due to which it forms the basis of children's, dietary, vegetarian, and therapeutic nutrition.
Due to its simple and unpretentious care, pumpkin is a favorite of gardeners. Breeding does not require experience or special conditions, such as greenhouses. The most important thing is to decide for what purpose you plan to use the crop and choose the appropriate seeds.
Green pumpkin varieties
For example, if you like to decorate your yard and plant more flowers than vegetables in it. Then decorative pumpkin varieties are what you need. There is a special variety of green pumpkin that can be used not only for food. This pumpkin is inferior in taste to other varieties, but in beauty it can boast of exotic flowers and birds.
It is recommended to plant this decorative pumpkin variety near hedges and gazebos; you can also decorate your balcony.
Decorative pumpkin variety
This species grows very quickly and decorates the yard not only with green carved leaves, but also with bright, intricate fruits. If you plant the Goose variety in apples, peacocks will soon appear in your yard.
Enjoy the beauty and intricacy of nature and use decorative fruits to decorate the interior, in photo shoots and crafts for autumn competitions. In ancient times, decorative pumpkins were used to make dishes and water bottles.
When fully ripe, this baby becomes tanned and keeps its shape perfectly.
Forage varieties of pumpkin:
Pumpkin with green skin can be used to feed livestock. But here it is important to know the varieties of such a vegetable. Typically, fodder pumpkins, hard-barked and large-fruited varieties are grown for these purposes. They are distinguished from pear-shaped food grades by:
- turban-shaped,
- round or oval shape,
- the presence of voids inside,
- coarser, fresher pulp,
- abundance of seeds.
But despite its rough appearance and taste, pumpkin is also useful and necessary in the diet for animals, just as it is for humans.
Forage varieties of pumpkin
Edible varieties of green pumpkins:
But for culinary masterpieces, the following varieties of green pumpkin are more suitable for you:
- Marble,
- Muscat,
- Barn,
- Freckle,
- Winter sweet,
- Arina,
- Altair,
- Magic carriage,
- Miranda and others.
For gardeners from the northern side, the Urals and Siberia, the Freckle variety is ideal, as it easily tolerates temperature changes and loves watering. This pumpkin has small, round, light green fruits that store well and give a bonus in the form of a pear smell.
Pumpkin variety Freckle
And for residents of the south, it is better to turn to the Winter Sweet variety, which tolerates drought well and is resistant to disease. Like everything southern, this variety has a rich sweet and spicy taste. Naturally, like all pumpkins, it tolerates storage well and retains its taste and medicinal properties.
Pumpkin variety Winter Sweet
Late-ripening varieties of green pumpkin, which are also widely used in cooking, include the Marble pumpkin variety. This variety received this name due to its chic light green color with light specks.
Pumpkin variety Marble
Another late-ripening pumpkin variety is butternut squash. This variety does not have an attractive appearance, but despite this, this pumpkin is amazingly tasty on the inside.
Nutmeg pumpkin variety
Pumpkin pumpkin Mirani di Chioggia or Muscat Vitamin, which is a large fruit that weighs almost 7 kg. In appearance, this pumpkin resembles a dark green ribbed ball with a dense and fleshy structure. There are no voids in this pumpkin. In addition, it has the smallest number of seeds and a decent sugar content.
Pumpkin variety Mirani di Chioggia
Their pulp is well suited for preparing thick pureed soups, porridges, pie fillings, and desserts. Despite the fact that these fruits ripen for about 4.5 months and are intended for long-term storage, their peel does not tan, which has brought them the well-deserved love of culinary experts.
Finally
Our article presented some varieties of green pumpkin with photos and descriptions. In conclusion, I would like to say that pumpkin is a universal product that can be added to absolutely any dish.
On a note! Pumpkin goes well with meat, other vegetables, cereals, and spices.
It can be used to make both sweet and savory dishes. This is a universal base for both dessert and soup. You can simply cut it into pieces, add honey, sugar, cinnamon or spices and bake in the oven.
You can squeeze out the juice, you can wrap the seeds in newspaper or a towel and dry them on batteries. It is very useful to add raw pumpkin to your diet. For example, salad with grated apple and pumpkin.
The most important thing is that everything is very simple, fast, tasty, affordable and healthy.
See also video:
Source: //www.fermeru.pro/kakie-harakteristiki-imeet-zelenya-tikva.html
Green pumpkin: practicality and benefits
Green pumpkin: practicality and benefits
Can you eat green pumpkin? Despite such species diversity, any pumpkin is very useful. Therefore, feel free to plant it on your site. It contains fiber, vitamins and microelements. The fruits contain a lot of phosphorus, iron, zinc, and manganese. Literally everything in a pumpkin is healthy: from seeds to pulp. Therefore, people have been using it for quite a long time to treat cardiovascular diseases, maintain the functioning of the nervous system, and the digestive tract. It should be noted that this product does not contain allergens, so it is often recommended to give pumpkin to children. Green pumpkin can also be used for vegetarian nutrition. Therefore, pumpkins are loved not only because of their ease of growing, but also because of their wonderful, tasty, dietary and healthy fruits. In order to grow a pumpkin, you do not need to have a lot of experience; it is enough to choose the right seed material, prepare the site and provide the minimum favorable conditions for the development and fruiting of this crop.
Green pumpkin varieties
Green pumpkin can be planted both for food and for decoration. If you like to arrange contrasts, then you will definitely like this variety of decorative pumpkin. Currently, there are many varieties of this plant that are used not only for food. Therefore, this favorite can also boast of special beauty, because many gardeners plant these ornamental plants even in flower beds. It is best to plant the pumpkin near some supports so that its stems can grow vertically. Very often, these plants are used to decorate gazebos and hedges, and some craftsmen even decorate balconies. In addition, when decorating a plot with pumpkin, in addition to the beautiful exotic decorative look, you will get an incredible aroma. When flowering, this crop fills the surrounding space with incredible sweetness, and the fruit ovaries can decorate any flowerbed.
Luffa
Among the exotic varieties, Luffa stands out. This is a loofah gourd. It is grown specifically to produce an environmentally friendly hygiene product. The Luffa fruit is long, up to 60 cm, and has a cylindrical shape.
The peel at the early stage of the growing season is green, pimply, and the formation of edges is noted. By the end of the growing season, it becomes brown, hard, and woody, like a decorative pumpkin.
There is pulp inside. It is inedible and fibrous. Seed chambers are formed along the entire length of the pulp. After maturation, the fibers become strong. To obtain a sponge, the fruit is cut from the bush, the peel is removed, releasing the internal contents.
Luffa Pumpkin
The fibers are dried, the seeds are removed; they themselves fall out of the niches. Before use, soak the washcloth in hot water. Use as a body scrub.
More on the topic: How to care for a Guitar pumpkin?
Luffa forms a long stem on which unisexual flowers are formed. They are large, up to 8 cm in diameter, unisexual. One plant produces up to 8 fruits.
It is grown in a humid, warm climate, on fertile soil. The culture tolerates high temperatures well, up to 30 C. Regular watering is required for normal pulp formation.
Luffa seeds are dark in color. They can be sown directly in open ground or in an individual seedling cup. When planting pumpkin seedlings, the harvest is obtained 3 weeks earlier.
To prevent the fruits from rotting on the ground, it is recommended to tie them up. If they are too large, then a garter in the form of a small hammock is provided for them.
When growing, the rules of agricultural technology are followed. Pumpkin needs to be watered once a week. At elevated temperatures, organize more frequent watering 2 times a week. Fertilize with fertilizer, which includes potassium and phosphates.
Popular varieties of green pumpkin
The pumpkin family includes a wide variety of varieties that differ in the size and color of the fruit, taste and ripening time.
Popular varieties of green pumpkin
Green pumpkin is one of the unusual varieties that is preferred to be planted as an ornamental variety. Some of its types are not inferior in taste to classic pumpkin.
Description of green varieties
Green pumpkin is a herbaceous plant. This species often grows along fences and fences, it clings to them by means of antennae.
It usually has large, dark green, pentagonal leaves. There are small thorns on the surface of the foliage and shoots. The length of the lashes creeping along the ground is up to 5-8 m.
Decorative fruits are small, the size of a pear or apple, but in some varieties the weight reaches 10-15 kg.
A characteristic feature is the color of the fruit - it is a contrasting green, but the surface of the pumpkin can be different - smooth or rough. The pulp is a classic yellow-orange color.
Hard-barked species
Hard-bark pumpkin is not capable of providing gastronomic qualities at the proper level, because it is not distinguished by its sweetness.
It is often grown as fodder for feeding livestock.
The shelf life is significantly shorter compared to other types. However, it has a number of advantages:
- fast ripening times, allowing harvests to be obtained by the end of summer - the very beginning of autumn;
- some species are gymnosperms;
- the seeds differ in their taste.
There are several popular varieties.
Gribovskaya-189
The pumpkin is early ripening and produces a harvest 85-95 days after planting in open ground. The appearance is similar to a zucchini.
The pumpkin bush is compact, the vines are short. Vegetables grow elongated, the average weight is 2.5-5 kg.
The color of the peel is dark green, but when stored in a warm room they change color to yellow. Pumpkin pulp is a classic yellow color, without any special taste.
Freckle
Freckle is one of the bush pumpkin species that ripen in a short period of time and produces the first harvest 90-100 days after planting. The shape of vegetables is round and flattened.
The variety will delight you with an early harvest
Average weight – 0.8-2 kg. The color of the bark is light green with pale yellow specks - freckles. Where the variety got its name from. The pulp has a pear-like aftertaste.
Gardeners prefer to plant freckles in regions with an unfavorable climate and frequent temperature changes, because This pumpkin is resistant to low temperatures.
Miranda
Miranda is a hard-barked species with an average ripening period; it produces a harvest 100-110 days after planting in the ground. Semi-bushy variety with medium-length vines.
The surface of the vegetables is covered with gray-light green spots. The shape of the fruit is round. Average weight – up to 4 kg. Gymnosperm, seeds without shell in large quantities.
Acorn
The hard-barked Acorn species is early ripening. Technical ripeness occurs 85-90 days after planting.
Hard-barked varieties
The Latin name for hard-barked varieties is Cucurbita pepo. The variety is characterized by rapid ripening and excellent taste of the seeds, which may not have a peel. Disadvantages include weak sweetness and short shelf life.
Freckle
Bush pumpkin belongs to the early ripening variety. The period for achieving technical ripeness is from 90 to 100 days. It is considered compact (does not take up much space on the site).
Description:
- rounded-oblate shape;
- characteristics of the pulp - light orange, juiciness and tenderness of the structure, with a pear flavor;
- characteristics of the fruit - light green color, freckled spots of a pale yellowish tint on the surface;
- weight from 0.8 to 2.0 kg;
- the preferred growing region is St. Petersburg, Moscow region and other regions with frequent rains and temperature changes;
- application - for all purposes, but if you make juice, you will have to add sugar;
- feature - increased resistance to cold.
Freckle is distinguished by high rates of transportability.
Miranda
The variety is part of the gymnospermous group, a mid-season variety (ripening period 110–115 days). The scourges are long - up to 7 m, spreading along the ground.
Description:
- round shape;
- characteristics of the pulp - orange tint, increased juiciness;
- characteristics of the fruit - rich green color with white specks (reminiscent of marble);
- weight - 3–4 kg;
- preferred growing region - any climatic conditions;
- application - since the variety is sweeter than other hard-barked varieties, it is used for baby food and making desserts;
- feature - increased resistance to low temperatures (down to - 2°C), not used for seedling cultivation (exception only in the Northern regions).
Gribovskaya-189
The variety is early ripening. The harvest is harvested after 80–95 days. The species is bushy (the vines do not spread).
Description:
- elongated shape like a zucchini;
- characteristics of the pulp - a bright yellow hue with a classic pumpkin taste and aroma, the structure is dense;
- characteristics of the fruit - the rind is dark green, but if stored in a room it turns yellow;
- weight from 2.5 to 5.5 kg;
- preferred growing region - Siberia, Ural;
- application - standard;
- peculiarity - it can withstand frost, is planted by seedlings, and resists pests and diseases.
Acorn
Refers to acorn squash. It is characterized as fruity due to its increased sweetness. Equated to potatoes, as it contains a large amount of starch. Considered winter. Ripens in 80–90 days.
Description:
- acorn-shaped shape;
- characteristics of the pulp - orange color, zucchini and nutty taste;
- features of the fruit - the surface is ribbed, the shade varies from light to dark green;
- weight 700–900 g;
- Regions with cold climates are preferred for cultivation;
- application - for desserts;
- peculiarity - it is grown only by seedlings.
Muscat species
Nutmeg varietal varieties are characterized by high taste qualities, having a nutty aftertaste.
Vitamin
Among the green bush varieties is Muscat Vitaminnaya pumpkin. It is classified as late-ripening, fully ripening in 140 days. Heat-loving, requires a sufficient amount of sunlight. The harvest can be stored for a long time.
It has a high content of sugar and carotene, so it is mainly used for preparing first and second courses, cereals and desserts.
The fruits are round, slightly flattened, ribbed. Average weight – 7-8 kg. The peel is dark green.
Mirani di Chioggia
The nutmeg variety Mirani di Chioggia produces large fruits weighing up to 7 kg. However, the vegetables have an unattractive appearance - the ribbed, pimply, dark green rind makes them look like uneven balls.
In this form there are practically no voids, the structure of the pulp is fleshy. The variety is late-ripening, ripening in 4-4.5 months, but compensates for this disadvantage with an increased shelf life.
Augustine
Fruits can be stored fresh for a long time
Mid-season Augustine nutmeg pumpkin produces the first vegetables in 105-110 days. The long-climbing plant has elongated fruits with expansion on one side in the area of the flower scar. The surface of the bark is smooth, dark green in color, with a faint white-gray waxy coating.
The average weight of vegetables is 4-6 kg. It has a short shelf life, providing taste and presentation only for 3 months.
Family
Butternut squash requires 130-135 days to ripen. The fruits are elongated, long, dark green in color with a faint gray-light green waxy coating. Average weight 8-16 kg.
It is resistant to low temperatures and at the same time withstands short-term drought well. Shelf life – 2 months.
butternut squash
They are grown in southern regions with a hot climate and the absence of sudden temperature changes. A rather capricious species, with high taste characteristics and notable for its original colors and shape of fruits, which can be ripened taken from the garden even at home.
Varieties of butternut squash
Variety | Description | Weight, kg) | Ripening period |
Butternut. | The shape resembles a pear, the rind is bright orange, segmented. Very juicy, watery, sweet pulp with a bright aroma. It is widely consumed as food, even raw. Contains many vitamins and minerals. | 0,5-1. | Mid-season. |
Bylinka. | Small bluish fruits, flattened on the sides. The bright orange pulp is consumed raw to achieve maximum taste. | 2-3. | |
Amber. | Long-climbing. The orange peel has a brown tint and a slight waxy coating to protect against pests. Tolerates hot weather well. Classic taste of pulp, large seeds. | 2,5-6,5. | |
Hokkaido. | Table with stunning sweet pulp with a pleasant nutty flavor. The shape is round, slightly elongated, similar to an onion. | 0,8-2. | 90-110 days. |
Crumpet. | Strongly branching with greenish fruits. The pulp is bright orange, very sweet, high in calories, which is why it got its name. Actively used in cooking. | 5-7. | Late ripening. |
Vitamin. | Strongly branched, with long large vines. The fruits are bright green, elliptical with yellow vertical spots. The sugar content in the pulp is quite high: 7-9%, and has a unique component - beta-carotene, which is beneficial for the human body. Recommended for use as baby food and for making juices. | 5-6. | |
Prikubanskaya. | Distributed in the south of Russia. It has unique taste and cylindrical shape. The color is brown with an orange tint. The pulp is tender, sweet and sour. | 2,5-6,5. | 90-130 days. |
Large-fruited species
Gardeners love large-fruited varieties because these species have practically no disadvantages. They produce good yields, vegetables grow in large sizes (from 7-8 kg or more) and perfectly retain their external qualities and beneficial properties for a long time during storage.
Zorka
The large-fruited Zorka matures in 105-115 days and is a mid-season climbing plant. Vegetables are round and flattened. Average weight 7.0 kg. The peel is gray-green, segmented, with yellow and pinkish spots.
Pumpkin pulp contains a high amount of carotene, is low-juicy, and sweet.
Zorka is a species resistant to powdery mildew and bacteriosis.
Farmer
The mid-season variety Khutoryanka gives the first harvest 120-130 days after planting. It is a climbing plant. Vegetables grow in an oblong cylindrical shape with a dark color. Average weight – 7-10 kg.
Gardeners value the plant for its resistance to low temperatures and good transportability.
Hubbard
The Hubbard varietal variety is large-fruited and at the same time nutmeg, produces large fruits weighing up to 10 kg 110-115 days from the moment of planting. Pumpkin pulp is dry and crumbly with a characteristic nutty aftertaste.
Sweet species
Sweet varieties contain a lot of carotene
Sweet varietal species grow small in size, but are distinguished by high gastronomic qualities, inherent sweet taste and high carotene content.
Sweet tooth
The early ripening species Slastena ripens in 85-95 days after planting. It is a climbing plant. Vegetables have a round shape. The bark is smooth, segmented, dark. The average fruit weight is up to 6 kg.
It is characterized by a high content of carotene and pectin in the sweet pulp, which ensures good taste.
Other advantages include an increased shelf life of up to 9 months while maintaining the original presentation. When grown, resistance to drought and elevated temperatures was noted.
Barn
Mid-season Granary produces the first harvests after 110-115 days from the moment of planting. A weakly climbing plant with round-shaped fruits, the bark of which is dark green in color and covered with black spots or white-striped.
The average fruit weight is 2-4 kg.
The main advantage of the variety is the increased content of carotene and the juiciness and sweetness of the pulp inherent in sweet types of pumpkin. It is well stored without losing its beneficial properties throughout the winter.
Azure
Mid-season Azure ripens in 100-125 days. The plant is long-climbing. Vegetables grow 4-5 kg each, the shape is flattened, the color of the bark is gray with greenish and brown. Pumpkin pulp is characterized by increased sweetness.
Why is the pumpkin green on the outside?
In fact, there are more than 800 varieties of pumpkin, about 200 are edible, and among them are the so-called green-fruited ones, about 20 of them. We will consider the most famous cultivated green varieties below.
Gymnosemyanka
Oval, weighs up to 6 kg, has a smooth, dark green peel. The pumpkin pulp is unsweetened, dense and crispy - it is an optimal ingredient for salads, snacks, and marinades, reminiscent of zucchini. The seeds of this pumpkin variety are especially valued. There are a lot of them, they separate easily and can be used to make very healthy pumpkin butter. The oil contains vitamins A, E, K, linoleic acid, phytosterols, selenium, phosphorus, iron, and is used for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the heart and blood vessels, digestion, and intestines.
Gribovskaya bush
Oblong in shape, characteristic spotted color. The fruits rarely reach a weight of more than 6 kg, are distinguished by tasty and juicy pulp, and are excellent for making purees and cereals, juices and other preparations. They are very easy to care for: they ripen in 80 days, produce a high yield, and are stored for a long time.
Acorn
Externally, both in shape and color, it resembles a large acorn. The pulp is sweet, juicy, beautiful orange in color. Juicy pumpkin is delicious in porridges and cream soups, and is used to make candied fruits and desserts.
Freckle
These are small, round, spotted pumpkins. Their weight does not exceed 3 kg, they are suitable for eating raw, making porridges and purees due to their tender and sweet pulp, reminiscent of the aroma and taste of pears. It can be stored for a long time, but when ripe it requires frequent and regular watering.
Dacha
A very visually beautiful pumpkin with dark green skin and contrasting rich orange flesh. It smells like vanilla, the taste is sweet and delicate. The fruits weigh about 5 kg, this variety of melon ripens in 100-110 hers, and is stored for 4-5 months. Dacha produces a high yield and easily takes root in any climate, which is why gardeners love it.
From the very beginning of the ovary and in the process of technical ripening, melons of green-fruited varieties have rich green, dark green or brown-green shades of skin. At the same time, after complete ripening, the pattern appears more clearly on the outside - green stripes or spots are expressed brighter on a yellow or brown background. But there are also varieties that remain completely green when ripe. In this case, ripeness must be determined by other signs, for example:
- The consistency of the pulp and the density of the peel - when you press on the hard peel, there should be no dents left. A soft surface indicates that the melon is unripe or has begun to deteriorate.
- The stalk – the “tail” that connects the pumpkin to the vine – becomes dry, hard, and light brown. Visually and tactilely it resembles a cork.
- Booming sound when tapped. Just like when testing watermelons for ripeness, you can also gently tap the pumpkin on the skin with your knuckles. A fully ripened fruit will produce a booming, deep sound.
If all these signs are present, you can safely harvest and leaf through the cookbook on our website in search of interesting recipes for tasty and healthy pumpkin dishes. If the melon has not ripened, you can speed up and stimulate this process, first on the ground, and then, if you still didn’t have time and the cold weather has begun, at home.
Decorative types
The main purpose of decorative greenfinches is to decorate the garden area.
These plants are part of landscape design and are used to decorate gazebos, fencing and fences.
The fruits are usually unusual in size and shape, and the bark is often covered with patterns of stripes, hatching and speckling. The harvest is harvested before it is fully ripe and dried to later be used as decorative elements.
Apple goose is the most popular variety. It is not used for food purposes.
Green pumpkin dessert recipe
The baked pieces resemble marmalade and have an original sweet and sour taste. If you drain the liquid and dry them in the oven, you will get delicious candied fruits.
- Cut the pumpkin pulp and peeled lemon into 2 x 2 cm cubes.
- Mix the prepared products with sugar and place them in a baking dish.
- Cover the pieces with a lid and place in the oven preheated to 170°C for 30 minutes. Stir the ingredients and return them to the oven for another 10 minutes.
Cool the treat at room temperature and then place it in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Serve the treat chilled with tea or coffee.
Pumpkin varieties for Siberia and the Urals
The temperature in these areas is variable, frosts and droughts often occur, so there are several unpretentious varieties.
Variety | Description | Ripening period | Application |
Therapeutic. | Medium-sized fruits with a bluish color and small greenish inclusions. Can withstand temperatures down to -2 ◦C and can be stored for a long time. Capable of gaining weight up to 5 kg. | Early ripening. | Diet food. |
Smile. | It grows in bushes on which up to 8-9 pumpkins appear. The rind is orange in color with beige longitudinal lines. It can be stored for a long time, even at room temperature it retains its rich taste and aroma. | Precocious. | Salads, soups, stews. |
Pearl. | Quite durable with large elastic lashes. The dark yellow crust is covered with an orange fine mesh and bright markings. The pulp is reddish with an unusual pleasant taste. Gains up to 6 kg. | Late ripening. | Baking, baby food. |
Greek green pumpkin
Basil and garlic give this dish a pleasant taste and aroma. The dish can be served as a side dish with meat or fish.
- pumpkin – 400 g;
- olive oil – 60 g;
- water – 60 ml;
- garlic – 2 cloves;
- tomato paste – 15 g;
- dried basil – 10 g;
- salt and pepper mixture - to taste.
- Cut the pumpkin pulp into large cubes.
- Fry the pieces in olive oil until golden brown.
- Add chopped garlic, tomato paste, basil, spices and salt. Stir the ingredients and cook for another 1 minute.
- Place the pumpkin in a baking dish and add water. Cover the dish with foil and place it in an oven preheated to 170°C for 20-30 minutes.
Before serving, decorate the dish with fresh herbs.
Pumpkin with eggplant
The marinade of soy sauce and spices gives this dish a special taste.
- pumpkin pulp – 200 g;
- eggplant – 1 pc.;
- soy sauce – 90 g;
- sunflower oil – 60 g;
- rice vinegar – 30 g;
- garlic – 2 cloves;
- sesame oil – 15 g;
- coriander – 15 g;
- hot pepper flakes – 7 g.
- Cut the eggplant into half rings and the pumpkin into slices.
- Mix sunflower and sesame oil, add hot pepper, coriander and ginger. Add rice vinegar and soy sauce. Whisk the ingredients.
- Pour the marinade over the vegetables and leave them for 30 minutes.
- Place the slices in a baking dish and bake them for 30 minutes in an oven preheated to 200°C.
This dish can be served as a side dish or cold appetizer.
Green pumpkin is just as sweet and juicy as orange pumpkin. The varieties “Miranda”, “Vitaminnaya” and “Winter treat” are used in cooking.