Description and characteristics of pumpkin varieties for open ground
There are a wide variety of outdoor pumpkin varieties, which will be described below. For its large size and golden color, the pumpkin is considered the queen of the fields. It is cultivated by many vegetable growers. The vegetable is rich in vitamins and minerals, the taste is preserved during boiling, stewing, baking.
General information and classification
There are three main types of pumpkin:
- firm-mouthed;
- large-fruited;
- nutmeg.
In a vegetable crop, pumpkin varieties in each variety are bush or climbing, portioned or with large fruits, sweet and semi-sweet, with a large and small content of seeds. In addition, fodder, dining and decorative groups of vegetable crops are distinguished.
Any type of pumpkin is suitable for outdoor cultivation. When choosing, take into account the purpose of the future harvest, the size of the land plot, climatic features.
Common pumpkin is an annual herb, with a thin, creeping stem up to 8 meters in length. Along the entire length of the cylindrical or faceted stem, many branches are formed - antennae. The leaves are large, painted in a green-waxy color. The shape of the leaves can be round-triangular, pentagonal, reniform. To the touch, the surface of the leaves is hard with fluff.
The plant blooms from June to autumn. Bell-shaped pumpkin flowers are light yellow or orange in color with a pleasant aroma. Fruits are formed in different shapes and may differ in color. The pulp is yellow or orange, juicy and sweet.
Butternut squash
The fruits of the nutmeg vegetable are round-flattened, with a pronounced expansion at the base, the peduncle is pentahedral. The varieties of the nutmeg group differ in taste, aroma and pulp benefits. All types of pumpkin are thermophilic and late-ripening. Therefore, you need to grow it through seedlings.
Seeds of brown or gray-yellow color are sown in the last days of April. In the first half of June, young shoots are transplanted into open ground. If the fruits have not ripened over the summer, then after harvesting they can be left to ripen in a warm place.
Spanish guitar
A mid-season variety of pumpkin The Spanish guitar is characterized by an oblong shape up to 75 cm, orange flesh and high taste.Ripening begins after 112 days.
The rind is thin, bright orange, the surface is smooth. The length of the plant stems is 4 meters. It also differs from other pumpkin crops in that the mass of the pulp is 95% of the total mass of the fruit. With proper care, the weight of the vegetable reaches 8 kg.
Candied
A popular variety of the butternut table variety is Candied Gourd. Refers to the mid-late group of plants. Full maturation occurs in 140 days. The fruits are broad, flattened. The color changes from green to light brown as it ripens. The pulp is juicy, orange in color with a high content of carotene and sugars. The weight of one vegetable is 5 kg.
Vitamin
The most popular variety pumpkin is considered a vitamin... It is characterized by high yield, good keeping quality and transportability. The pulp is very sweet with a pleasant nutmeg aroma.
The vegetable culture is late-ripening, the pumpkins fully ripen after 130 days. It is recommended to grow in seedlings in regions with a warm climate.
Scourge plants of medium length. The pumpkin fruit Vitamin has an elongated shape, weighing about 6.5 kg. The peel is thin, yellow-orange in color, with a slight ribbing near the stalk. The pulp is firm and tender, bright orange in color.
Marble
Pumpkin variety Marble refers to plants with late ripening of fruits (130 days pass). The fruits are large, flattened. The peel is wrinkled in a gray-green hue, with light gray blotches. The weight of the vegetable reaches 10 kg. The interior is orange.
The harvested crop is distinguished by good keeping quality, does not crack and retains juiciness and sweetness for a long time. The variety is rarely affected by diseases, especially white rot.
Muscat de Provence
The high-yielding variety Muscat de Provence has been developed by French breeders. It belongs to the mid-ripening group of plants, the fruits ripen after 110 days. Unlike other types and varieties of pumpkin, this plant has a powerful stem, high resistance to diseases. Vegetables have a flat-round shape with pronounced edges.
Thick, pale yellow skin. The bright orange pulp is tasty, juicy, crunchy, it contains about 10% sugars. Fruit weight reaches 7 kg.
Nut
Pumpkin Butternut or Nut refers to early ripening varieties and has a long shelf life of the harvested crop. The weight of a pear-shaped vegetable is about 1 kg. A small number of seeds are located in the extended part of the pumpkin. The color of the dense peel is bright orange, the flesh is sweet with a nutmeg aroma.
Judging by the reviews of gardeners, it is not difficult to care for the Nut Pumpkin. The main thing is to ensure abundant watering, regular loosening of the soil. Weeds should not be allowed to grow. It is necessary to periodically carry out hilling, do not forget to pinch the lashes and apply fertilizers.
Varieties with large fruits
Large varieties are considered large-fruited pumpkin. The pulp of the fruit is sweet, some of them contain up to 15% sugar. The varieties tolerate low air temperatures well. Seeds can be cream, white or brown. The peduncle has a rounded-cylindrical shape, the stem is without grooves, the leaves are pentagonal.
Popular types of large-fruited pumpkin for open ground: Titan, Smile, Crocus, Healing, Merchant's wife, Azure. The description will allow you to choose the most suitable variety.
The mid-season Kupchikha variety ripens after 112 days. The plant forms long, powerful whips. The average weight of round fruits is 8 kg, but it can reach 20 kg, the skin is orange-yellow. The pulp is orange, firm, juicy and sweet.
The variety is appreciated for its high yield, good keeping quality and transportability, disease resistance. The pulp is used for making cereals, soups, juices.
Pumpkin Lantern
The pumpkin of the Lanar variety forms large fruits up to 7 kg after 100 days, therefore it belongs to the mid-season groups of plants, for table purposes.The pulp is orange in color, juicy and crunchy. Harvested vegetables are stored for a long time, retaining all the nutritional components and juiciness.
The lashes of the plant are long, so pinching is required. Dusting the stems with soil allows the plant to take out additional roots and get more nutrition for development.
Russian porridge
Mid-season borders are characterized by a pumpkin variety Russian porridge for table use. From the moment of germination to ripening of large fruits, 115 days pass. The stem is powerful, the leaves are elongated, up to 3-4 flat-rounded fruits are formed. The surface is orange with a pinkish tinge and slight ribbing.
The variety shows resistance to diseases, it is well stored. The pulp is orange, juicy and soft. It is suitable for making various cereals, side dishes, mashed potatoes, juice.
Varieties of hard-barked pumpkin
In varieties of hard-bore pumpkin, during ripening, the skin becomes woody and becomes hard. All types of pumpkin that belong to this group ripen early. You can harvest the crop at the end of August. The fruits are not too large, but the cream-colored seeds are large and have an excellent taste.
Acorn pumpkin
Acorn is often referred to as the Acorn, as the small fruits resemble acorns in appearance. Table variety Acorn, with early ripening.
The pulp is light yellow, juicy, soft, with a pleasant aroma. The skin can be of different colors: dark green, orange, orange-green.
Bun
The early ripening variety of pumpkin Bun belongs to the dining group. Fruit ripening occurs on day 87. The lashes are short, up to 1 meter long. Many flat-round fruits with small white stripes, weighing about 1.5 kg, are formed on the stem.
The color of the juicy pulp is yellow, with a high content of vitamins and carotene. The collected large crop is stored for a long time and does not deteriorate.
Gymnosperms
Among the numerous varieties of hard-bore pumpkin, the gymnosperm type is of particular importance; the description indicates many positive qualities. A distinctive feature is that the seeds are not covered with a dense skin, but with a thin film. This film contains a lot of fiber.
Fruits can be round, pear-shaped or cylindrical in shape with light ribbing. The color can be orange, dark green or yellow. All varieties are characterized by early fruit ripening. Already after 3.5 months, you can harvest.
Green pumpkin
In addition to yellow and orange shades, there are also varieties of green pumpkin. The most popular varieties with a green peel include: Princess Frog, Freckle, Acorn, Harlequin, Altair.
Varieties for the Moscow region
The Moscow region is characterized by unstable weather conditions. Summers can be dry or rainy, and frosts can appear in spring. Therefore, the varieties must resist well to unfavorable factors. For planting, you should choose flat areas of land that are well lit by the sun.
Among all types of pumpkin, you can choose the right variety. The main thing is to get acquainted with the characteristics. In the description, you need to pay attention to the yield, the ripening period of the vegetable crop, resistance to cold and disease.
Popular varieties for the Moscow region include: Gribovskaya, Kroshka, Golden bowl, Medical, Muscat, Candied.
Chit
A proven variety in Russia is Kroshka pumpkin with medium early ripening. It takes 120 days from germination to technical maturity. Fruits of a round-flat shape do not grow very large, weighing no more than 3 kg. The color of the dense, woody rind is light gray or even almost white. Light yellow pulp is dense, juicy with a high sugar content.
The plant shows good disease resistance, especially anthracnose. The fruits are well stored for a long time.Care consists in loosening, weeding, pinching, regular watering and mandatory fertilization.
Figurative
In culture, the Fig-leaved pumpkin or in another way the Black Seed belongs to the annual type. Stems are solid, pentahedral in length, can reach 20 meters. The leaves resemble those of figs (figs).
The fruits have an oval-elongated shape of light green or white with dark green spots and stripes. The pulp is juicy, white. Fruit weight is about 4 kg. The fruits can be stored for 3 years. Seeds of an unusual black color, similar to watermelon seeds, but only twice as large.
Sweet pie
Early ripe variety Sweet cake for table use. Fruits, weighing 2–3 kg, are orange-red, round-flattened with pronounced edges. The pulp is yellow, very tasty, juicy and crunchy.
The yield is consistently high in any weather conditions. The fruits are suitable for short-term storage for 3-4 months. The seeds are large enough, white-cream in color with a pronounced rim along the edge.
Melon
Melon pumpkin is very sweet, juicy and aromatic, the smell resembles a ripe melon. Full ripening of the fruit occurs in 100 days. Large pumpkins are rounded, slightly flattened, pink-orange in color, weighing up to 30 kg.
In the description of the variety, unpretentiousness, high frost resistance and drought resistance, good keeping quality, excellent taste are noted. Great for outdoor cultivation. Melon pumpkin can be added to any dishes, as well as eaten fresh.
Champagne pastille
The original variety is Champagne Pastila. The shape of the fruit is in the form of an elongated ellipse, the peel is of medium thickness, pink in color. Juicy and sweet pulp is dense, bright orange in color, occupies almost the entire inner space of the vegetable. A pleasant vanilla aroma emanates from the pulp.
Several fruits weighing 2–3 kg are formed on one stem. The harvested crop is well stored for a long time. The fruits can be eaten fresh or processed.
Dawn
Large-fruited pumpkin Zorka is considered the most delicious, sweet vegetable crop. The pulp contains a record amount of sugar and carotene. The plant belongs to mid-season varieties. The period from emergence to fruit ripening lasts 115 days.
The plant is powerful, the lashes are of medium length, the fruits are formed in a round-flattened shape, weighing up to 7 kg. The surface of the thin skin is smooth, the main color is gray-green with gray-yellow stripes and spots. The pulp is bright orange in color, firm and sweet.
Almond
The Almond Pumpkin variety is characterized by a high yield. The plant belongs to varieties of medium ripening period, the period lasts 115 days. The lashes are powerful, long, up to 8 meters long. The pumpkins are rounded and slightly flattened. The surface is smooth, light ribbing is observed near the peduncle. The weight of the fetus reaches 5 kg.
The surface of the dense bark in an immature state is distinguished by a shade of green; as it matures, it acquires a brown-orange color with stripes and spots of light brown color. The pulp is yellow-orange, juicy, dense, crispy.
Russian woman
One of the most popular pumpkin varieties is the Russian woman. The fruits are characterized by a bright orange color, the shape resembles a whirligig or a pear. It belongs to an early maturing, high-yielding and cold-resistant crop. The period from emergence to ripening of fruits lasts 90 days. Scourges of medium length. The average weight of pumpkins is 3-4 kg with dense, juicy yellow pulp and melon aroma.
The variety is planted by seeds directly into open ground or by seedlings on the territory of Russia and Ukraine. The variety resists cold weather well, but does not tolerate frost well, so this factor must be taken into account during cultivation.
Hokkaido pumpkin
The Japanese pumpkin Hokkaido has early ripening periods, the growing season lasts an average of 90 days.Pear-shaped pumpkins are small, weighing from 1 to 2.5 kg. Thin skin color can be bright orange, red, gray or green. The fruits are stored for a long time, the yellow-orange pulp is juicy, sweet with a pleasant nutmeg aroma.
Varieties for Siberia, the Urals
Siberia is distinguished by the preservation of frosts until the beginning of summer. This factor must be taken into account when choosing the best pumpkin variety for Siberia.
To enjoy the soft, juicy and sweet pumpkin, you need to choose varieties characterized by frost resistance. The most suitable varieties are Smile, Freckle, Rossiyanka.
Therapeutic
An early ripe, large-fruited variety is Healing pumpkin. Fruit ripening occurs after 100 days. The weight is 4.5 kg. Pumpkins are orange in color, flattened, but the most common is a gray-green skin color.
The pulp is orange, juicy, aromatic, with a pleasant sweetish aftertaste. The plant tolerates adverse weather conditions well, continues to develop in cold weather and is slightly susceptible to pests and diseases. The harvested crop is characterized by good keeping quality and transportability.
Pearl
The middle-late variety of pumpkin Pearl belongs to high-yield crops. It will be possible to get a ripe crop after 110 days. The shape of the fruit can be cylindrical, round, oval. Ripe, thin rind of deep orange color. The pulp is orange-yellow, thick, juicy with a nutmeg aroma.
The fruits are large, their weight reaches 8 kg, and they stretch up to 50 cm in length. A small number of seeds are located in the extended part of the pumpkin. The positive characteristics include high productivity, cold resistance and drought resistance. The harvested crop can be stored all winter.
Smile
Another healthy, tasty and nutritious pumpkin is Smile. It is a high-yielding, early-maturing crop. On one stem after 90, up to 7 round fruits of a deep orange color with light stripes ripen.
Pumpkin bark of medium thickness, orange pulp, very sweet, dense with a melon aroma. The weight of one pumpkin reaches 800 g. The culture does not have any special requirements for care. Shows resistance to drought and cold. The harvested crop is stored throughout the winter.
Gray Volzhskaya
The Gray Volzhskaya belongs to mid-season and large-fruited pumpkins. Harvesting can start after 3.5 months. The weight of ripe fruits with a gray skin reaches 9 kg. Round-shaped vegetables, slightly flattened at the base. The pulp is creamy yellow, medium density and sweetness.
The variety resists drought well, the large harvest is stored for a long time and is easy to transport.
Wax gourd or Benincasa
Wax gourd or Benincasa can be stored for a long time. Taste and presentation are preserved for 2-3 years, while it can be stored in a room. The pulp and seeds are widely used in cooking and medicine.
Benincasa Wax Gourd is an annual plant with a strong root system. The scourge can stretch up to 4 meters. The fruits are formed in a round or oblong shape. The average fruit weight is 4–5 kg, the weight of large pumpkins is 10 kg. The unripe peel is covered with a sticky waxy coating. Ripe fruits have a smooth surface with a thick waxy layer and white bloom.
Sweet varieties
It is worth saying that it is not enough to choose the seeds of a sweet pumpkin variety; you also need to plant and grow the culture correctly. Sugar content may decrease due to cold snap, even short-term, lack or excess of moisture, lack of mineral fertilizers.
The varieties that have sweet, juicy pulp include: Atlant, Crumb, Azure, Freckle, Almond. They have a sweet, aromatic pulp that is used to make desserts (jam, preserves, pies).
A porcelain doll
An interesting pumpkin hybrid is the Porcelain Doll variety. Refers to late-ripening plants, the harvest begins after 4 months. Unusual blue skin with pronounced ribbing. The weight of each fruit reaches 10 kg.
The pulp is dark orange in color, contains about 14% sugars. The pulp is often used for baby food. The cultivar is characterized by high disease resistance.
Sweetie
Large-fruited pumpkin of bright orange color, table purpose - Sweetie. It is a mid-season crop, the harvesting of a mature crop begins in 3 months. The average weight of round fruits is 3 kg, with good care and favorable weather conditions, the weight reaches 10 kg.
The variety keeps well. Scourges are of medium length, about 1.5 meters, 6 fruits are formed on each. The pulp is orange, dense with a high content of vitamins and carotene. The seeds are large, cream-colored, very tasty.
Honey
All known varieties are superior in taste to honey pumpkin. It is characterized by early ripening. The crop can be harvested after 85 days. The bright orange bark is thin but very dense. The pulp is dense, crispy, juicy, up to 10 cm thick. The weight of one rounded fruit is about 5 kg, the crop is stored for a long time.
Sweetheart
A high-yielding table variety is Slasten's pumpkin. The plant has early maturity. It tolerates heat and drought well. Scourges are of medium length, leaves are pale green.
Fruits are round in shape, with pronounced segments, weighing 5 kg. The bark is dark green. The pulp is orange in color, crispy, juicy and high in sugar. The harvested crop retains its taste for a long time.
Winter sweet
Sweet Winter Pumpkin belongs to late-ripening, high-yielding varieties. It takes 130 days from the appearance of the first shoots to ripening. The culture is medium-sized, rounded-flat, with pronounced segments, weighing up to 10 kg. The skin is dark gray with light gray blotches.
The pulp is orange, juicy, dense with a pleasant aroma and high sugar content. The variety is valued for its taste, good keeping quality, transportability and high resistance to diseases.
Children's gourmet
Pumpkin hybrid Children's Delicatessen refers to mid-season varieties. Ripening of fruits after sowing the seeds occurs after 4 months. On each lash, many fruits are formed, weighing 3 kg. The shape of the vegetable is flattened, the color of the dense bark is bright orange. The pulp is thick, juicy, sweet, light yellow in color.
Hybrid varieties
Among the pumpkin varieties, the hybrid varieties are prized for their taste and quality. In addition, the plants are characterized by increased resistance to adverse weather conditions and errors in care. The names of popular pumpkin hybrids: Kashtanka F1, Favorite F1, Orange honey F1.
Kashtanka hybrid for table use, refers to mid-season crops. Harvesting begins in 115 days. The plant has long lashes with numerous portioned fruits. The shape of the fruit weighing 2 kg is flat-round, with a slight ribbing. The skin is light green with light gray stripes.
The taste qualities of the Kashtanka hybrid are high, vegetable growers receive a consistently high yield even if agrotechnical requirements and bad weather conditions are not followed, the crop is suitable for long storage.
The hybrid Lyubimitsa is considered a mid-season. The growing season lasts 120 days. Table vegetable. The plant forms long lashes with numerous portioned pumpkins. Fruits weighing 2.5 kg are flat-round, the skin is dark green with light green stripes.
The pulp of the fruit is bright yellow, juicy, firm and aromatic. Suitable for dietary and baby food. The harvested crop is suitable for long-term storage.
