There are a lot of varieties of pumpkins, but all edible fruits are conditionally divided into three groups - hard, large-fruited and nutmeg. It is believed that the most delicious pulp has nutmeg pumpkin, which has a soft nutmeg aroma, thin skin and a record level of sugar content (up to 15%). What varieties belong to nutmeg pumpkins and how to grow them, we will find out further.
What kind of pumpkin is this?
Muscat gourd or Moshata is a plant of the pumpkin family, whose homeland is America. It differs from other types of pumpkins in the following properties:
- refers to late-ripening varieties, therefore, due to a lack of heat when grown in the middle lane, it can produce neither fruits, nor even ovaries;
- fruits can reach huge sizes, up to 100 kg;
- the shape of the fruit is usually not round, but oblong, and resembles a zucchini, which is somewhat narrowed in the middle and thickened at the place of flowering;
- the peel of the fruit is smooth or ribbed, has a bright orange or tan color and green longitudinal stripes, but is very thin, so it can be easily removed even with a regular knife;
- the fruits have a relatively small family nest, but contain a lot of juicy orange fibrous pulp, which has a sweet taste and a slight nutmeg smell.
In terms of taste, nutmeg pumpkin occupies a leading position in its family.
Energy value and composition
Nutmeg is a universal dietary product that is easily absorbed by the body. 100 g of pulp contains up to 45 kcal, and the energy value of the product is as follows:
- proteins - 1 g;
- fats - 0.1 g;
- carbohydrates - 9.69 g;
- dietary fiber - 2 g;
- water - 86.41 g.
It is important to note that only polyunsaturated fats are part of the fruit, that is, they lack cholesterol.
Pumpkin is also appreciated due to its high content of vitamins, mineral salts, pectins and carotene, which is 2-3 times more than in the same carrots.
What vitamins are present in the fruits of a thermophilic plant can be seen in the table:
Vitamin | Content |
B1 (thiamine) | 0.1 mg |
B2 (riboflavin) | 0.02 mg |
B3 (niacin equivalent, vitamin PP) | 1.2 mg |
B5 (pantothenic acid) | 0.4 mg |
B6 (pyridoxine) | 0.15 mg |
B9 (folic acid) | 27 mcg |
C (ascorbic acid) | 21 mg |
K (phylloquinone) | 1.1 mcg |
E (alpha tocopherol) | 1.44 mg |
Pumpkin contains at least the amount of minerals, a list of which is presented in the following table:
Mineral substance | Content |
Iron | 0.7 mg |
Potassium | 352 mg |
Calcium | 48 mg |
Magnesium | 34 mg |
Manganese | 0.2 mg |
Copper | 0.07 mcg |
Sodium | 4 mg |
Selenium | 0.5 mcg |
Phosphorus | 33 mg |
Zinc | 0.15 mg |
Beneficial features
Due to its rich composition with regular use, nutmeg pumpkin has a positive effect on the human body:
- cleanses the body of toxins, cholesterol and decay products, helps in getting rid of fat deposits (for this reason, pumpkin can be safely included in the diet in the fight against obesity);
- normalizes metabolism and supports the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
- strengthens the immune system, saturating the body with vitamins and nutrients;
- it has a choleretic and diuretic action, helping to remove salts of heavy metals (in this regard, pumpkin is recommended for use in diseases of the liver and kidneys);
- improves the condition with diseases of the urethra, including the dissolution of stones in the bladder;
- increases visual acuity due to the content of a large amount of carotene;
- slows down the aging process with regular use in food, as it saturates the body with vitamin K;
- prevents diseases of the cardiovascular system and favorably affects the state of blood vessels and blood, since it contains potassium (for this reason, pumpkin helps get rid of anemia);
- relieves inflammatory processes in the liver and prostate gland.
To benefit from pumpkin, it can be consumed stewed, baked, boiled and even raw. For therapeutic purposes, it is recommended to drink 1/3 cup of pumpkin juice or decoction from the shoots of the plant several times a day.
Nutmeg pumpkin can not be included in the diet in only one case - with individual intolerance.
The best varieties of nutmeg squash
The group of nutmeg pumpkins includes many varieties that can vary in shape, size, ripening period and many other parameters. The following varieties of nutmeg squash are among the most popular varieties:
Vitamin
The growing season is about 130 days, so it is considered a late-ripening culture. On a long whip grow fruits that have a wide oval or cylindrical shape and a weight of 4.5 to 6.8 kg. The skin is thin, and the thickness of the edible bright orange part reaches 10 cm. It has a characteristic brown color and is covered with small patches of yellow and green hues. The pulp has a sweet taste and a crispy, but delicate structure.
Prikubanskaya
The growing season is from 91 to 136 days. The fruit is pear-shaped and weighs an average of 2.3 to 4.6 kg. The thickness of the pulp is about 4 cm, and the skin is thin, and on the cut it has a cream shade. The pulp is red-orange, tender and sweet, but closer to the stem it is solid and dense. After harvesting, you can store pumpkin for three months. The variety was bred at the Krasnodar All-Russian Rice Research Institute.
New
The growing season is about 110-115 days. Fruits have an elongated cylindrical or pear-shaped shape, and are slightly expanded at the floral part. Their weight can reach 5-6 kg. The skin is thin, colored in orange and covered with dark orange spots and stripes. The pulp is medium density, sweet and juicy. The average yield of the variety is 50-70 t / ha. The novelty is characterized by high keeping quality - 6-8 months.
Epic
The growing season is 115-120 days. The mass of the average fetus is 4-4.8 kg. Productivity - 25 t / ha. Unlike many of its counterparts, Bylinka has a dense skin from light gray to dark gray (corrected in the process of full maturation). The pulp is traditionally bright orange in color, thick, dense, sweet and juicy, but without a characteristic pumpkin flavor. Pumpkin has a long shelf life - until the next season. The variety was bred by Kherson breeder "Southern GSOS".
Pearl
The growing season on average is 115-130 days. Fruits weigh about 2.6-5.6 kg, and reach a length of 50 cm. Their shape is round-cylindrical, but there are round or oval-shaped pumpkins that have a pronounced ribbed structure. The peel is thin and bright orange in color, but during the ripening period, the shade from gray-green can change to greenish-orange. The pulp is thick and juicy, with a characteristic orange-yellow tint. The plant itself is quite powerful - it gives 4-7 side lashes.
Muscat de Provence
The growing season is 110-115 days, so the variety is medium late. The average fruit weight is 4 kg, but can reach up to 8 kg if you sow seeds at a great distance from each other and properly fertilize the soil. The fruits have a rounded and slightly flattened shape. The skin is orange-brown, thin and ribbed. The pulp is sweet and aromatic, containing a lot of sugar and carotene. The variety of French breeders must be stored for 4 months, as it is resistant to many diseases.
Guitar
The growing season lasts from 110 to 120 days. The fruits are distinguished by an elongated shape resembling a guitar. Their weight averages 2-4 kg, but sometimes it can reach 8 kg. The length of one pumpkin is about 70-80 cm, but on fertile soils it can reach 1 m. The skin is thin and smooth, and when the vegetable ripens, it becomes a bright orange color. The pulp occupies about 90-95%, which favorably distinguishes this variety from others.
Trombone
The growing season is about 110 days. The fruits have an original twisted shape and a length of up to 50 cm, so they are often used to decorate suburban areas. On average, their weight is 6-8 kg, but with favorable soil can reach 18 kg. The skin is dense and has an orange or green color. By the time of full ripening, the flesh becomes bright orange in color and becomes very fragrant. You can store pumpkin for more than a year. The variety was bred by Italian breeders and has several names - “pipe from Albenga” (Albenga - a city in Italy), “trombonchino” (small pipe) and “zucchatta”.
Wonder yudo
The growing season is up to 120 days. The fruits are oval and weigh up to 6-8 kg. The skin is colored orange, has characteristic mesh patterns and a gray coating. The pulp has a bright orange color with red veins and can be consumed fresh, because it is very tasty - it has a high content of carotene (25.5%) and sugar (4.25%).
Barbara F1
The growing season is 50-60 days, so it is an early ripe universal hybrid that can be grown in different regions. If it is planned to store the pumpkin, then the collection is best done on 85-90 days after emergence. Fruits gain in weight about 2-6 kg, but with fertile soil this figure can reach 15 kg. They have a cylindrical shape with a thickening at one end. The skin is orange, but covered with dark green longitudinal stripes. The pulp is sweet and tasty, of medium thickness and light color.
Peanut butter
The growing season is about 85 days, therefore, refers to the early ripening varieties bred in Germany. The fruits become pear-shaped and reach a weight of up to 4 kg. The peel has a pleasant cream color, and the flesh is bright orange. It tastes sweet and crunchy with a pleasant musk-peanut flavor. The fetus can be stored for 6-12 months.
Walnut Oil (Butternut)
The growing season is 125-130 days, so the variety is considered mid-early. Pumpkin is portioned - gaining in mass 500-700 g, and up to 30 fruits can grow on one plant. The variety is unique in that in the process of growth a piece can be cut from a vegetable and used for its intended purpose, while the rest of it will not decay, but will be covered with a new peel and continue to grow. Pumpkin has a pear-shaped and creamy beige color. The pulp itself is bright orange, dense, oily and gives a bright nutty flavor. The variety was bred by the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station by crossing wild African and nutmeg pumpkins.
Many varieties of nutmeg pumpkins are thermophilic, but universal specimens that are adapted to a colder climate can be selected, for example, the early ripe hybrid Barbara F1.
Landing Methods
Muscat pumpkin is planted mainly in the seedling method, which is especially true in cool conditions of the middle lane. If the plant is grown in a tropical, subtropical or subequatorial belt, then planting can be done directly in open ground. Each method should be considered separately.
Planting through seedlings
Experienced farmers prefer to grow pumpkins through seedlings, regardless of the temperature of the region. The first days are extremely important for the formation of taste in future fruits, so it is extremely important to exclude the possible impact of negative weather conditions. In addition, when growing pumpkins through seedlings, you can speed up the process of obtaining fruits.
It is necessary to prepare seedlings according to the usual rules of agricultural technology 20 days before transplanting into open ground, that is, in April or May. You need to proceed as follows:
- Seed preparation. Soak the seeds for 3-4 hours in hot water (about 45 ° C), and then wrap them in a damp cloth and keep at room temperature until peeling (as a rule, this will take 2-3 days). Such preparation will accelerate the germination of seeds and protect them from pests. When growing nutmeg pumpkins, experienced gardeners also recommend hardening seeds to increase their cold resistance. So, pumpkin seeds that have already been stuck should be kept for 3-5 days in the same moist tissue on the lower shelves of the refrigerator. Pre-seeds can be sprinkled with ash as micronutrient fertilizer.
- Capacity selection. Pumpkin seedlings do not tolerate transplanting, so it is recommended to plant seeds in separate peat pots of at least 6x6 cm in size. Some gardeners grow seedlings in home-made paper pots. They can be easily cut without harming the root system of the plant. In extreme cases, you can use ordinary wooden boxes.
- Substrate preparation. To prepare the soil mixture for seedlings, you should mix 2 parts of peat, 1 part of overripe sawdust and humus. To add 1 tsp per 1 kg of substrate as a fertilizer. nitrofoski. Mix the mixture thoroughly. It should be noted that the gardener can immediately purchase ready-made soil from the store - universal vegetable or one that is recommended for cucumbers.
- Sowing seeds. Fill the pots with a substrate, and then pour them abundantly and prepare small holes in which to throw the seeds. The optimal planting depth is 4-6 cm. If seedlings are grown in boxes, before filling the soil, sprinkle the bottom of the container with sawdust with a layer of 3-4 cm.
Seedling containers should be transferred to a well-lit window sill, preferably south. In this case, you can grow strong seedlings without additional exposure. It is equally important to provide competent care for pumpkin seedlings, which consists in the following:
- before emergence, cover the surface of containers with seedlings with glass or film to create a greenhouse effect with daytime temperature + 18 ... + 25 ° C and night temperature - + 15 ... + 18 ° C;
- after the emergence of shoots, which occurs on about 6-7 days, reduce the daytime temperature to + 15 ... + 18 ° C and the night temperature to + 12 ... + 13 ° C, and after 5-7 days, raise it again, but not so much intensively, as at first;
- regularly, but moderately water the seedlings, so as not to allow drying out or waterlogging;
- on the 7-10th day of emergence of seedlings, top-dress - nitrophoska (15 g per 10 liters of water) or mullein solution (pour mullein with hot water in a 1:10 ratio, insist 3-4 hours, dilute 1: 5 again and water the young plants );
- one week before landing in open ground, carry out hardening - gradually lower the day temperature to + 15 ... + 16 ° C and the night temperature to + 13 ... + 14 ° C.
Seedlings can be transplanted into the open ground after the appearance of 2-3 real leaves of bright green color. By this time, seedlings will grow up to 15-20 cm. For their cultivation, you should choose the sites on which such crops previously grew:
- potatoes;
- legumes;
- Tomatoes
- any kind of cabbage;
- onion.
The pumpkin should not be transplanted into the ground in which its “relatives” had previously grown, such as zucchini, cucumbers and melons. In addition, the site should be well lit by sunlight, be dry and warm, and also protected from winds.
The transplant itself is made according to the following rules:
- From the autumn to dig beds and fertilize - per 1 square. m add 3-5 kg of humus, 200 g of lime and 30-40 g of complex mineral fertilizers.
- In late May - early June, when the earth warms up to at least + 18 ° C, prepare holes with a depth of at least 5 cm in cloudy weather or in the evening. The distance between them should be between 60-100 cm.
- If seedlings were grown in peat cups, carefully destroy its dense outer walls. If the seeds were sown in boxes, the resulting seedlings should be taken out with a lump of earth, so as not to harm the delicate roots.
- Plant young plants in prepared wells and pour plenty of water.
- Cover the seedlings with foil to protect them from frost. When the temperature returns to normal, the shelter can be removed, and subsequently used only during cold nights.
A properly planted pumpkin produces large and heavy fruits, with 2-3 ovaries ripening on each plant.
Open sowing
In the warm southern regions, seeds can be sown immediately in open ground. It is worth doing this in the first decade of May under a film shelter. The optimum temperature for growing crops is in the range + 20 ... + 25 ° C.
Landing must be done on a well-lit plot of land that is protected from shade and winds. It should be noted that if the soil is rich in groundwater, then it is not suitable for the cultivation of gourds, since its root system goes deep underground and can simply die from an excess of moisture.
The seeds prepared earlier by the described method should be sown along the beds to a depth of 5-6 cm and at a distance of 80-90 cm. 2 seeds should be thrown into each well, and when the shoots appear, then a weaker plant must be removed with the root.
Nutmeg Pumpkin Care
Regardless of the method of planting, the plant needs competent care, which involves the following measures:
- Watering and loosening. Water the pumpkin with plenty of warm water (about 20 ° C), and the optimal amount of water is up to 5-6 liters per plant or 15-20 liters per 1 sq. m of landing area. This is enough to give the pumpkin nutritious moisture, but to prevent cracking of the fruit. Before the formation of the ovaries, watering should be done once a week, and then once every 2 weeks. After each watering, it is imperative to loosen the soil around the plants shallow.
- Top dressing. Helps to increase yield and quality characteristics of fruits. The first nitrofos feeding is introduced after the formation of the 5th true leaflet on plants. The second feeding with a mullein solution is introduced in the lash formation phase. In addition, during the flowering period, the pumpkin can be watered with warm water with the addition of wood ash.
- Weed removal and pinching. Before weaving, it is imperative to remove weeds on time. When the lashes are formed, then the need for this will disappear. At the same time, it is not recommended to move the resulting nodes and whips, especially during the flowering period, since in this case it is possible to damage the flowers and stop the development of the fruits. It is equally important to remember pinching the ovaries.
- Pest and disease protection. As a prophylaxis, the plant should be treated with biofungicides or growth-promoting agents, which purely include Immunocytophyte, Krezacin, Silk and Epin. In addition, the bushes can be sprayed with Acrobat or Kurzat.
Despite preventive measures, pumpkin can be affected by various diseases and pests:
- Powdery Mildew. This is a disease that is provoked by a sharp change in day and night temperatures. Stains appear on the fruits, and the leaves turn yellow, dry and fall away. To prevent powdery mildew, the plant should be covered with a film at night. It is equally important to water the plant abundantly and regularly.
- Anthracnose. The disease often affects the pumpkin, which grows in a closed area or in a greenhouse. Less commonly, it poses a threat to plants grown in open ground. Anthracnose manifests itself in a symmetrical lesion of the leaves, and after the stem and fruits. On the surface ulcers are formed, covered with a pink coating. The plant dies completely when the disease hits the root. Anthracnose develops with excessive humidity. In addition, it can appear in the hot period of summer with intensive watering of fruits.
- Ascochitosis. It affects the ground parts of the plant with excessive soil moisture or frost. In this case, black spots appear on the leaves, stems and fruits. To prevent the development of the disease, seedlings should be covered with a film.
- Melon aphid. These are insects that suck out vital juices from the plant, so the leaves dry out due to lack of moisture and nutrients. In the fight against aphids, you can use special preparations or folk remedies like infusion of chamomile or wormwood. Aphids can be distracted from pumpkins by potato or tomato tops, ashes.
- Slugs. These pests can spoil the crop, because they lay their eggs in the soil, and at night they eat the plant, making holes in the fruits. In the fight against slugs, it is worth fencing the area with burlap and even planting a burdock on it. During the day, slugs will accumulate under the burlap, and in the evening they need to be destroyed using ash.
Adhering to all the recommendations for caring for nutmeg pumpkin, from mid-August to the end of September you can get an excellent harvest of fragrant fruits.
Harvesting and Storage
In mid-August or before the onset of autumn cold weather, you can harvest. To do this, carefully cut the fruit from the peduncle without damaging the bark and leaving a tail up to 5 cm long.
The collected fruits should be dried in a warm place for 14 days, and then put in storage in a dry place. If the pumpkin is planned to be consumed immediately after collection, then it should be given to her for several days so that she can fully ripen, acquire a special taste and orange color.
Nutmeg pumpkin is a dietary product that is easily absorbed by the body, helps strengthen immunity and alleviate the condition in diseases of the kidneys and liver by exerting a choleretic effect. In addition, the fruits of nutmeg pumpkins have a special taste, so they can be eaten fresh, and also used to prepare savory dishes.