Proper planting and care of decorative pumpkin Turkish turban

Description of the decorative pumpkin variety Turkish Turban

Turkish turban is a plant with beautiful faceted leaves up to 2.5 meters long . Pumpkin flowers are bell-shaped, bright yellow, and quite large (10 cm in diameter).

The shape of the fruits resembles a headdress from Turkey, a turban or turban. They are miniature and colorful. One plant can bear up to 30 fruits .

The Turkish turban is growing rapidly. The stems reach 6 m or more (if they are not pinched). They quickly climb up a vertical support, decorating the garden and creating cool shade in the area.

Decorative pumpkin is drought-resistant and heat-loving. Reacts well to organic fertilizers. Shoots and fruits do not tolerate frost.

The fruits of the Turkish Turban variety have an unusual turban shape

Growing turban pumpkin

From year to year, every gardener grows pumpkins in their garden plots. Our ancestors also grew pumpkins, and it seems that this issue should be studied like ABC, but it doesn’t always work out that way. First of all, there are different types of pumpkins. In our country, mainly three types are grown: large-fruited, hard-barked and nutmeg. And, secondly, and this is the most important thing, you need to find among the many varieties of each type your own variety that you simply like.

When choosing a variety, taste qualities are usually given first place, followed by large-fruited and decorative qualities. At the same time, the variety is unrivaled in its resistance to powdery mildew, cold resistance, and early ripening. By the way, you can grow pumpkins all your life, but never find your own variety, and spend your whole life thinking that pumpkin is practically a fodder crop, albeit a very healthy one, and it’s pleasant to eat, especially if you add sugar to the porridge.

My variety is Chalmoid pumpkin

. Do you know when a ripening pumpkin, which resembles a fungus, turns red on its cap? This is her. I think you have seen these fabulous fruits in photographs more than once. They are often classified as decorative pumpkins, but this is not entirely true. The hat of this pumpkin really resembles a turban (the headdress of the East). But in fact, this variety belongs to the type of large-fruited pumpkins and has all the signs of the plant structure (leaves, seeds, stems) of large-fruited pumpkins. A little paradox: the fruits are small, but the species is large-fruited. But the most valuable thing is the wonderfully sweet, melon-aroma, taste of the fruit with bright orange pulp, very rich in carotene, tender, crumbly, sugary, like a honey apple.

Over the approximately twenty-year period of growing such pumpkins, I came across different lines of turban-shaped ones: there were plants with fruits weighing 300-500 g, with fruits weighing 1.5-2 kg, and, finally, with fruits weighing 4-5 kg. In fact, these are different lines of the once obtained variety. But more on that a little later, because... I want to say that, in my opinion, the most optimal and effective line is a line with a fruit weight of 4-5 kg. These fruits have a wall thickness of up to 10 cm, and one pumpkin can be used only once or twice, avoiding the storage difficulties that arise with large fruits.

The great advantage of the fruits of this variety is the pleasant possibility of eating the fruits raw as salads and snacks. If you try, for example, to compare the taste of Chalmovidnaya with such varieties of large-fruited pumpkins as Stofuntovaya, Goliath, Titan, then you will not find anything in common. But you will find a very similar taste to the best varieties of nutmeg pumpkins, including the most delicious interception pumpkins, such as, for example, Spanish Guitar. Also in favor of Chalmoidnaya is its high cold resistance, resistance to powdery mildew and early ripening (90-100 days).

Functionally, in terms of consumer qualities, Chalmovidnaya belongs to the so-called small-sized portioned pumpkins. From this series, portioned pumpkins of the Japanese and Chinese selection, Golden Pear and Orange Pear, are also very good, by the way, also belonging to the large-fruited species.

So, when planting turban pumpkin, if you want to get full-fledged seeds for offspring, try not to grow it next to large-fruited ones or, what is most reliable, grow it in complete isolation with hand pollination. Seeds remain viable for 7-8 years or more. The seeds are glossy, large, yellow-orange with a barely noticeable rim. This pumpkin can be eaten raw, like a carrot, grated or cut into slices for salads, fried, boiled, stewed, and salted. It does not have the tart taste that is typical of large pumpkins. I like pumpkin salad with sour cream, butter or mayonnaise, you can add an apple, nut, lemon, carrot, and if you fry it in slices in butter or breadcrumbs, as they do in Bulgaria, then the sticks softened over the fire simply melt in your mouth.

I tried to find information about turban gourds in modern literature, especially about the history of their origin. It was very difficult. I could not find descriptions of the 4-5 kg ​​turban-shaped pumpkins that I grow. They are not in official registers.

But this is the history of the turbaned ones. At the end of the nineteenth century, the American breeder Luther Burbank (1849-1926) received pumpkin seeds sent from Chile. The fruits of this pumpkin looked like an oak acorn enlarged a hundred times, and the flesh of the fruit was unusually sweet. In addition, the Chilean guest grew in dry lands where pumpkins usually do not do well. Burbank sowed the seeds of the Chilean miracle, but he grew such a motley group that at first he gave up. However, we still managed to collect several of the necessary individuals. The seeds from them again produced a lot of offspring that were not like their parents. The pumpkin persisted, and the scientist did not back down. As a result of many years of selection, a resistant acorn variety was obtained. Later, the acorn pumpkin was renamed Chalmoid.

So, this pumpkin is cold-resistant, powdery mildew-resistant, and drought-resistant. It is early ripening, sweet, productive. From one plant I collect up to thirty fruits weighing 3-5 kg, while the plants are quite compact, and the length of the vines does not exceed 3 m. Having reached a certain weight on the vine, the fruits then ripen safely in storage. The bulk of the fruits ripen in December-January when usually stored on the floor in the room. It is during this period that their taste is irresistible. The first fruits ripen much earlier.

Why don't you try this variety? Moreover, during approximately twenty years of cultivation, I also selected the best specimens for procreation. I'll send you the seeds.

Yu. Petrov, experienced gardener

8815

Tags: pumpkin

Growing turban pumpkin

Seedling

In the southern regions of Russia, pumpkin seeds in mid-May . Decorative pumpkin grows quickly. In one season, it manages to grow and bear fruit with proper care.

At a temperature of -1, the sprouts die, so in regions to the north the seeds are planted as seedlings. In addition, the seedling planting method will accelerate growth and maturation.

Before planting, the seeds are soaked for an hour in warm water or in a growth preparation. Then the seeds are transferred to gauze and left warm for 2 days. There they sprout. Seeds are planted in separate containers of 500 ml each.

The soil for seedlings needs fertile, loose and slightly acidic . To do this, take soil from the garden bed and mix it with:

• sod land
• sand
• humus

Before planting, the soil is disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to avoid the development of fungal diseases in the pumpkin.

Pumpkin seeds Turkish turban

The first week and a half the sprouts actively stretch, and after that their growth slows down. Plants are fed with mineral fertilizers and manure, the soil is loosened and watered .

Replanting a pumpkin is unacceptable; stress will destroy the fragile plant.

Two weeks before planting, the seedlings are hardened off - taken out into the open air and left for 15-20 minutes. Gradually increase the time to 2-3 hours.

How to grow such a crop in a summer cottage?

Stages of growing decorative pumpkin:

• We prepare the seeds - disinfect, harden, germinate.
• We sow the seeds in the ground . The end of April or the beginning of May is suitable for sowing seedlings.
• The plant does not like to be transplanted, so we sow one seed at a time in a pot with a diameter of at least 15 cm.
• After 12 days, sprinkle with soil , right down to the cotyledon leaves.
• We fertilize twice ; you can use mineral fertilizers or slurry.
• We plant seedlings at 30 days of age, with five true leaves.
• Before planting, we dig up the soil and apply fertilizer .
• Prepare the holes by pouring at least 1 liter of water into each hole.

Decorative pumpkins will grow well if the seedlings are planted in well-warmed soil.

• You can sow directly into the ground , preferably after frost has passed, the soil temperature is at least 13 degrees.
• We water and feed in a timely manner , as well as loosen the soil and weed out the weeds.
• We install a reliable structure to support the plant.
• We pinch the main shoot , which has grown to 1 meter, so that lateral shoots are formed.
• We get rid of pests in a timely manner .
• We collect fruits only after they are fully ripe, preventing them from freezing.

Planting in open ground

A month later, when 2-3 leaves , the seedlings are planted in open ground. IMPORTANT. Next to the sprouts there should be a strong vertical support, for example a wall or arch, along which they will grow.

Turkish turban is a light-loving plant; the variety requires a lot of sunlight . Before planting, the soil is dug up and fertilized with organic (manure or compost) fertilizers.

Prepare a hole for each sprout and water it generously. Sprouts from seedlings are planted in holes at a distance of half a meter from each other.

The Turkish Turban variety requires a lot of light during cultivation.

How to care?

Caring for the Little Red Riding Hood pumpkin is standard. It needs to be watered regularly, loosen the soil, and weed. If the plant does not develop well enough, then fertilizing is introduced.

Only mineral fertilizers are used. A solution of mullein and bird droppings will provoke intensive growth of tops and deformation of the fruit. It is recommended to treat plants against insects and fungal infections.

Water the pumpkin once every 10 days, but do not allow the soil to become waterlogged or dry out.

Weather conditions are always taken into account. It is easier to arrange watering in a greenhouse. The bed is protected from precipitation

The bed is protected from precipitation.

If the soil is too dry, then heavy watering is not recommended. A pumpkin that receives a large amount of liquid at once may burst. The soil is moistened gradually, bringing the volume of water to normal:

• for young seedlings, no more than 2 liters of water per bush is required. Surface watering is often carried out using a watering can. In this case, 1 m2 will require up to 5-6 liters;
• when the plant begins to bloom, the volume of water is increased to 5 liters per bush;
• if fruits appear on the stems, then the amount of liquid is increased to 12 l;
• 2-3 weeks before technical ripening, watering is stopped, but it is not recommended to overdry the soil.

The dry earthen crust on the soil must be destroyed so that the roots receive air and develop normally. Before 6-8 leaves appear, the bushes are earthed up.

To retain moisture in the garden bed, mulching is carried out. It could be sand, sawdust, hay. The mulch is turned over regularly. Otherwise, slugs will settle in it.

Once a month, plants are treated against infectious diseases. With precipitation and wind, the powdery mildew virus can spread to them. Little Red Riding Hood pumpkin is resistant to this infection, but gardeners recommend playing it safe.

After each rain cycle, use Actellik, 3 ml/l; spraying the bushes. For fungal diseases, it is recommended to treat the pumpkin with Topaz; 1 ampoule is diluted in 10 liters of water, and the plants are irrigated from a spray bottle.

“Aktara”, 1 tsp, helps well against insect pests. for 5 l. To prevent slugs from settling on the bushes, use boric acid, table salt or red pepper infusion.

After each treatment of plants with chemicals, it is recommended to introduce fertilizer from a solution of weeds and yeast. This is a nutrient solution. It is often used to increase the immunity of seedlings and to improve the taste characteristics of the pulp.

Fertilizers with mineral fertilizers are used according to a certain scheme. They must solve specific problems. To better form the root system, use potassium salt, 20 g/10 l and superphosphate, 40 g/10 l. You can introduce mineral complexes, such as “Zdraven”, “Kornevin”.

Before the formation of ovaries, the plants are fed with a solution of weeds and yeast. You can use Iron Hilak, boric acid, magnesia. Boron, iron, magnesium improve fruit development and increase productivity.

If the pumpkin was sown at the end of April, then young shoots will appear at the end of May. With normal crop development, the harvest can be harvested as early as mid or late August.

When planting seedlings at the end of May or mid-June, vegetables are harvested in September. Pumpkin can be stored at home for more than 6 months. Its skin becomes very dense and woody. It prevents the evaporation of moisture from the pulp.

Pumpkin care

Decorative pumpkin is an unpretentious plant. It requires constant abundant watering and loosening of the soil. When the first ovaries appear, the sprouts are generously fertilized.

In addition to loosening and weeding, gardeners sprinkle the soil around the sprouts with sawdust or humus (mulch). It helps:

• fertilize the soil
• retain moisture
• maintain soil looseness
• prevent diseases from spreading from the soil to plants when watering or raining

Topsoil is important for pumpkins because of the structure of its root system. It has a long main root and many small roots that grow closer to the surface.

Mulched plants bear fruit more abundantly and are less susceptible to disease.

To make a “lush hedge” from the Turkish turban, gardeners pinch out the top shoots when they reach a length of one meter.

Fruits must be cut together with the stalk before frost occurs.

The fruits are cut together with the stalk before the first frost, in September . Frozen pumpkins do not last long. To prevent their bright color from fading, after harvesting they are stored away from direct sunlight.

Types and varieties of plants, appearance

It is here that you will see unusual fruits of one-color, two-color, spotted and striped colors. Their skin can be smooth or ribbed, ranging from white to dark red or a deep bottle color. The shape of pumpkins can be round, elongated, flattened or curly. And it is impossible to say which one is the most beautiful. Take a close look at what decorative pumpkins look like, photos and names of varieties depending on their appearance. Often, decorative pumpkin seeds are collected in seed mixtures depending on the shape, coloring or size of the fruit. They can resemble mushrooms, stars, light bulbs, bottles, as a result of which the names of varietal mixtures of the most interesting herbaceous plants of the genus Cucurbita were formed.

• The varietal mixture Crown from Plasma Seeds is multi-colored pumpkins with a star-shaped shape, and Turkish Turban from Article is a turban-shaped form of all fruits of different colors.
• Small orange pumpkins (Orange variety) have a slightly flattened spherical shape and look very much like citrus.
• Silver pumpkins (Baby Boo variety) have an original ribbed appearance, white flesh, and are most often used in interior decor of residential premises.
• A pear-shaped mini-pumpkin (Kleine Bicolor variety) with a contrasting color - a dark green bottom and a bright orange or bright yellow neck with a clear separation of colors, is also of interest to designers.
• But Laginaria, a bottle gourd (Cobra variety), has found its place of honor among landscapers in landscape design.
• Large-fruited pumpkin (variety Cucurbita maxima), shaped like a giant mushroom, is represented by fruits of various colors and shades.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXmZlTxeHQQ

Application of fruits

Skilled hands can make crafts from ripe fruits to decorate the home . Gardeners carve beautiful patterns and compositions on pumpkins and cover them with varnish. They are used to make jugs, cups and lamps.

Children enjoy drawing on the crust with paints. Using plasticine and old things, they make funny characters and cute animals.

Both adults and children can get creative together and assemble an autumn still life from pumpkins, spruce branches and fallen leaves that will remind you of a fruitful year.

Is it possible to eat decorative pumpkins?

The fruits of the Turkish Turban are edible.

The fruits of the Turkish turban are edible, but tasteless

As long as the skin on them is not roughened, they can be eaten and given to animals. The upper part - the cap - is suitable for making soup or stew; it can be boiled. The lower part of the fruit is full of seeds and is therefore not suitable for food.

Pumpkin fruits are tasteless . They are more likely to please the gardener as a decorative decoration for the home and garden than as a tasty treat on the table.

Harvesting and storage

Vegetables are often cut unripe so that they do not become tough. During the ripening process, the gastronomic qualities improve.

Shelf life at home is about 12 months. Proper harvesting allows you to ensure long-term shelf life - cut the pumpkin with a stand at least 5 cm long.

Seeds for subsequent planting are stored in the fall. A suitable place is wet sand. It is permissible to store in the refrigerator or on the balcony loggia.

3. GARDEN Turban gourd

Pumpkin: what they are and what can be made from them. Pumpkin candle – 7 cottages

Pumpkin mushroom "Little Red Riding Hood" in our garden!

Diseases and pests

1. Bacteriosis is the most common pumpkin disease. Its main symptom is the appearance of brown spots on the leaves. If the disease is not treated, it will infect the fruit with cankers. To prevent bacteriosis, gardeners spray plants with Bordeaux mixture. At the first signs of disease, plants are sprayed with a mixture of lime and copper sulfate. Affected and dead shoots are removed from the garden so as not to infect healthy ones.
2. White rot . The sprouts are affected by a white coating and then rot. This happens when there is excess moisture. The source of white rot is marsupial fungus. Prevention of white rot is to water the plants with warm water. Dead leaves are cut off, and the cut area is sprinkled with activated carbon.

v Root rot . Affects stems and roots. The reason for its occurrence is cold water and temperature changes. To avoid this, the sprouts are cared for by being mulched. Affected plants are treated with a mixture of copper sulfate and zinc sulfate dissolved in water.

• Melon aphid . A small (up to 2 mm) insect that causes pumpkin leaves and flowers to fall off. They get rid of melon aphids by spraying the affected plants with a decoction of wormwood or a solution of karbofos.

Growing a Turkish turban on a plot of land is simple and does not take much time. The effort spent on planting it will more than pay off. The variety is unpretentious. While it grows, it will delight you with its beauty for months. Its green mass will make the garden shady and cool in the heat. And the fruits of the Turkish turban are a source of beautiful crafts that will fill your home with comfort.

Why is it worth growing it?

• Firstly.

It is beautiful. Expressive leaves on long, strong vines, bright flowers and unusual fruits - this plant is attractive with its originality.

This plant is attractive for its originality

Moreover, it grows quickly. Canes reaching 4-6 m in length easily master the provided supports, so decorative pumpkins can be successfully used for vertical gardening , decorating gazebos, trellises, pergolas, and so on.

Bush forms are less common; If you come across seeds of just these varieties, use them for planting in flowerpots that can be used to effectively decorate a terrace or recreation area.

• Secondly.

This is interesting for children. Planting large seeds is easy; The pumpkin develops quickly, which is important for the impatient young gardener, therefore, when arranging a children's garden, it is worth setting aside a place for such a funny curiosity.

It's interesting for children

Caring for the plant is not burdensome, and “toy” pumpkins themselves are attractive to children. Moreover, if you buy a mixture of varieties: the result will always be a pleasant surprise.

• Third.

This is an excellent material for crafts and design. Fully ripe and well-dried pumpkins are an endless source of creative ideas.

This is an excellent material for crafts and design.

Country house bathroom design or stylish kitchen decoration; decorative candlesticks or boxes; autumn compositions; original gifts – there are countless possibilities.

Unusual pumpkins of fancy shapes and colors can become a decorative element

Unusual pumpkins of bizarre shapes and bright colors can become independent elements of various decorative compositions.