Cucurbita

The genus Cucurbita consists of 27 species of annual and perennial herbaceous creeping or climbing plants with tendrils. The stem is often covered with prickly pubescence and grows to a length of 5-6 m. The special multi-seeded berries that appear on these plants - the so-called pumpkins-are mainly used as edible fruits. But there are also many decorative varieties (usually an abbreviation is used to denote them) with fruits of various shapes and colors. The leaves are simple, large, of various shapes, sometimes separate. The petiole is hollow. Single cross-pollinated plants, they bloom until late autumn. The flowers are yellow, male-bell-shaped, with five bent lobes, on a long pedicel; female is very similar to male, but the pedicel is short. Each species, variety and cultivar have a special shape, size of fruit, color (varieties with brightly colored small fruits are used as decorative), pulp and smell of fruit. Flat seeds are white or yellowish. In the large-fruited pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), the fruits are flattened at the base, sometimes they grow to a huge size. The stem is round in cross-section, heart-shaped leaves are divided from 5-7 lobes. The muscat squash (C. moschata) is similar to the large-fruited pumpkin, but with angular shoots. The leaves are diamond-shaped and rounded. The fruit can be spherical, elongated or curved. The solid-bark or common pumpkin (S. rero) is a species that grows up to 45-50 cm in height. Heart-shaped pubescent leaves at the base are divided into 5 lobes the stems are pentagonal in cross-section. Varieties of hard-core pumpkin-squash and zucchini.

The genus Cucurbita consists of 27 species of annual and perennial herbaceous creeping or climbing plants with tendrils. The stem is often covered with prickly pubescence and grows to a length of 5-6 m. The special multi-seeded berries that appear on these plants - the so-called pumpkins-are mainly used as edible fruits. But there are also many decorative varieties (usually an abbreviation is used to denote them) with fruits of various shapes and colors. The leaves are simple, large, of various shapes, sometimes separate. The petiole is hollow. Single cross-pollinated plants, they bloom until late autumn. The flowers are yellow, male-bell-shaped, with five bent lobes, on a long pedicel; female is very similar to male, but the pedicel is short. Each species, variety and cultivar have a special shape, size of fruit, color (varieties with brightly colored small fruits are used as decorative), pulp and smell of fruit. Flat seeds are white or yellowish.

In the large-fruited pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), the fruits are flattened at the base, sometimes they grow to a huge size. The stem is round in cross-section, heart-shaped leaves are divided from 5-7 lobes.

The muscat squash (C. moschata) is similar to the large-fruited pumpkin, but with angular shoots. The leaves are diamond-shaped and rounded. The fruit can be spherical, elongated or curved.

The solid-bark or common pumpkin (S. rero) is a species that grows up to 45-50 cm in height. Heart-shaped pubescent leaves at the base are divided into 5 lobes the stems are pentagonal in cross-section. Varieties of hard-core pumpkin-squash and zucchini.

Cultivation

Pumpkins, zucchini and squash are often grown in the garden as fodder and vegetable (fruits) and oilseeds (seeds) crops, they can be planted on steep sunny areas. As already mentioned, pumpkins are often cultivated for the sake of decorative catchy fruits. The soil is quite loose, should be well and deeply processed, it is recommended to add peat (5 kg/m2) and dry foliage, even better manure (2-3 kg/m2). In addition, when preparing the soil for planting, complete mineral or phosphorus-potassium (70-80 g/m2) fertilizer. Pumpkin is planted in the ground in the spring. Several times during the growing season, liquid top dressing is carried out - once every 20 days, a complex fertilizer with a reduced nitrogen content is diluted. To get large pumpkins, part of the ovaries is removed.

Pumpkins, zucchini and squash are often grown in the garden as fodder and vegetable (fruits) and oilseeds (seeds) crops, they can be planted on steep sunny areas. As already mentioned, pumpkins are often cultivated for the sake of decorative catchy fruits. The soil is quite loose, should be well and deeply processed, it is recommended to add peat (5 kg/m2) and dry foliage, even better manure (2-3 kg/m2). In addition, when preparing the soil for planting, complete mineral or phosphorus-potassium (70-80 g/m2) fertilizer. Pumpkin is planted in the ground in the spring. Several times during the growing season, liquid top dressing is carried out - once every 20 days, a complex fertilizer with a reduced nitrogen content is diluted. To get large pumpkins, part of the ovaries is removed.

Location

Pumpkin loves an open sunny place. In the shade and even in partial shade, it grows very poorly.

Temperature

Pumpkins are thermophilic, well tolerate high air temperature.

Watering

Water a lot and regularly, because the plant develops quickly and forms a lush aboveground part. Fruiting is usually plentiful, of course, if the growing conditions imposed by the plant for watering are met.

Care

Remove dry and damaged shoots.

Reproduction

Pumpkin seeds are sown in the ground in the spring, when there is no longer a danger of frost, 3-4 seeds per hole. The shoots that appear are thinned out. It is also possible to sow in cellular containers filled with peaty soil mixed with sand (30%), and then the seedlings are planted together with a clod of earth. When planting plants in a row, leave a distance of about 1 m, and between lines - 2 m or more.

Diseases

The most common disease is oidium, or powdery mildew of grapes. A classic whitish fluffy layer forms on the leaves, shoots and fruits, and the plants weaken. Treat especially young plants with appropriate preparations.

Acquisition

Compact seedlings in cellular containers can be found on sale in farms and gardening centers. Seeds are sold in the "Seeds" stores and in the corresponding departments of supermarkets. Check the shelf life of the seeds, which determines their germination.

How to dry a decorative pumpkin In order for the decorative pumpkin to be stored for a long time, the pulp should be removed from it, otherwise it will rot. To remove the pulp with seeds, the "lid" is cut off at the base with a sharp knife and set aside. Make sure that the skin is not damaged, and use a long-handled spoon to remove the seeds and pulp. Next, the empty pumpkin along with the lid is placed in a warm, shaded place, where it should dry properly. Then the pumpkin is closed with the resulting "cork", if necessary, using glue.

How to dry a decorative pumpkin

In order for the decorative pumpkin to be stored for a long time, the pulp should be removed from it, otherwise it will rot. To remove the pulp with seeds, the "lid" is cut off at the base with a sharp knife and set aside. Make sure that the skin is not damaged, and use a long-handled spoon to remove the seeds and pulp. Next, the empty pumpkin along with the lid is placed in a warm, shaded place, where it should dry properly. Then the pumpkin is closed with the resulting "cork", if necessary, using glue.