Features of growing gymnosperm pumpkin and what seeds you should pay attention to
Many people have heard about the benefits of pumpkin oil. Regular consumption of the product removes cholesterol from the body and improves well-being. Pumpkin oil is much healthier than sunflower and even olive oil. It is made from pumpkin seeds.
Gymnosperms are in particular demand in manufacturing varieties, which contain the maximum number of seeds. You can grow such a pumpkin in a regular garden plot. We will consider further how to plant and grow vegetables correctly.
Brief descriptions of the most popular varieties
Gymnospermous varieties have been grown in Russia since 1911. Pumpkin seeds They are even used in confectionery. Most gymnospermous varieties produce the first harvest within 3-4 months. The yield of the gymnosperm crop is excellent.
Vegetables delight not only with their taste, but also with their bright appearance. Let's consider the characteristics and description of the most popular varieties of gymnosperm pumpkin.
Olga
Mid-season variety, characterized by a particularly high seed content. The pumpkins are large, one weighs about 5 kg. It has an unusual green-orange color and medium-sized lashes. The pulp is of medium thickness, the taste is fresh-sweet, weakly expressed. Seeds without skin, green color.
Pumpkin Olga is planted mainly in open ground, even in central Russia. Not afraid of frosts and short summers, resistant to rain and fog. Due to the large size of the vegetables, it requires additional support.
Interesting.What are the benefits and harms of gymnosperm pumpkin? The oil has a beneficial effect on skin and hair. The product is actively used in the manufacture of cosmetics.
The vegetable is contraindicated for people with severe diabetes and sensitive digestion.
Apricot
The variety appeared thanks to the work of Ural breeders, so it takes root well in the Urals and Siberia. Gardeners speak only positively about the variety; they value it for its sweet pulp and easy care. Slightly ribbed pumpkins ripen in 3.5 months.
The main characteristics of the fruit are:
- The surface is yellow, with large green stripes.
- The pulp is slightly fibrous, light yellow in color.
- Seeds without shell, oily.
- It is used both fresh and after heat treatment.
How to use apricot seeds? They are added to vegetable side dishes and salads, and also used as a decoration for dishes. Thanks to seeds, food becomes not only tasty, but also healthy.
Danae
Danae has pleasant orange flesh and a delicate taste. It is grown in greenhouse conditions or greenhouses, but some gardeners also plant it in the open air. It is recommended to plant Danaya in seedlings. - this will make it easier for the plant to get used to climatic conditions.
Danaya is unpretentious in care. Watering, fertilizing and timely formation of lashes are required. The weight of a mature vegetable varies from 5 to 20 kg. The surface is uneven and rough.
The variety is picked carefully, along with the stalk, which allows the pumpkin to retain its freshness and vitamin composition longer. After harvesting, it is not recommended to wash the pumpkin with water; it is better to simply wipe it with a dry cloth.
Store Danae pumpkin in the refrigerator, on the balcony or in a dry, ventilated basement.The variety has good shelf life, so you can enjoy pumpkins even in winter.
Gymnosperm 14
The peculiarity of the variety is that it is difficult to purchase in stores or online. Basically, Gymnosperm 14 is obtained through familiar gardeners or neighbors.
Particularly valuable variety, are large green vegetables with lots of healthy, fiber-rich seeds. The bushes and roots are powerful, the lashes are of medium length. The yield is excellent.
Seeds have a positive effect on the functioning of the entire cardiovascular system. Amino acids have a beneficial effect on blood vessels, improving their permeability and elasticity.
Potassium is good for the heart muscle. It is noteworthy that regular consumption of pumpkin seeds normalizes blood pressure.
Features of growing gymnospermous varieties
For the first time, people started talking about the benefits of gymnosperms in Austria. It was there that farmers and agronomists began to extract pumpkin seed oil. Today these varieties are grown all over the world. Let's learn the secrets of getting a rich harvest.
Growing seedlings
Seedlings are necessary for the plant to quickly adapt and develop on the land. Seedlings are prepared 2-3 weeks before planting in the ground. To do this, high-quality seed material is selected and disinfected. Aloe juice is recognized as an excellent disinfectant.
Just soak the seeds in it for 24 hours, then dry well. Aloe juice rids the surface of the material of dangerous microbes and thereby protects the plant from possible diseases.
After disinfection, the germination stage begins. The procedure shows the overall germination of seeds and helps sprouts appear faster. It is recommended to germinate the material in a warm and dry place.For the most accelerated development, the seeds are soaked not in warm water, but in the “Kornevin” preparation. The product strengthens the immune system and protects against diseases.
Important! For seedlings, prepare the container and soil. Wooden boxes or plastic containers with a pallet are perfect containers. They are affordable and easy to use. It is better to purchase soil for seedlings in a store. Ready-made formulations are already disinfected in advance and are saturated with essential vitamins.
Store seedlings in a dry and warm place. Pumpkin loves sunlight and regular watering. The water temperature must be at least 18 degrees. Do not use cold tap water - this is dangerous for young sprouts.
After 5-7 days, it is advised to organize the first organic feeding. For example, a solution of liquid bird droppings. A week before planting, lower the air temperature by 2-3 degrees every day. This will harden the seedlings and improve their development in the future.
Care in the garden
It is recommended to plant gymnosperms after corn, legumes or potatoes. Choose a well-lit and sunny area. The place should be windless and with fertile soil.
Watering
The amount of watering depends on the variety and climatic conditions of the growing region. On average, water the vegetable every 5-7 days. 1 bush requires about 2 liters of water. If possible, use mainly melt or rain water. During flowering and fruiting, the amount of moisture is increased by 1.5 times. Watering is stopped 2 weeks before harvest.
Important! Often the crop is watered not with water, but with an ash solution. Ash is an indispensable assistant in the garden; it reduces the acidity of the soil and makes it more nutritious for the future harvest.Watering with the solution is carried out once a week.
Loosening the beds
The depth of loosening is about 7-10 cm. The procedure provides oxygen access to the roots and also reduces moisture evaporation. In addition, loosening is useful for destroying weeds and larvae of harmful insects. It is best to loosen the beds after rain and before watering.
Formation of lashes
When the lashes grow more than 2.5 m, they need to be shaped. To do this, leave 2 pumpkins on one, and remove the remaining length of the lash. If this is not done, there will not be enough nutrients for all the vegetables, and the amount of harvest will be significantly reduced.
Gardeners also advise leaving only 3-4 leaves on one vine. Otherwise, too many of them will make it difficult for pumpkins to get sunlight.
Top dressing
The best effect is provided by mineral and organic fertilizers. The first feeding is done after 2 weeks. Excellent products are urea and ammonium nitrate. They are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, which are necessary for the normal development of the plant.
Pumpkin also responds well to the drug “Nutrivant Plus Pumpkin”. The product with an environmentally friendly composition is effective in use and significantly improves the quality of vegetables.
Important! To obtain the most delicious and beautiful vegetables, fertilizing is carried out throughout the entire ripening period. The interval between procedures is 2 weeks. From mid-August, they stop fertilizing the pumpkin, as the ripening stage begins. An excess of fertilizers during this period deteriorates the quality of gymnospermous varieties and makes the pulp hard.
Prevention of diseases and pests
Even if all agrotechnical rules are followed, the crop can become infected with a fungus or virus.Bacteriosis or powdery mildew occurs most often on the plant. To prevent their occurrence, pay special attention to spraying bushes.
Soap solution is recognized as an excellent remedy for diseases. For 5 liters of water you will need 100 g of dry grated soap. Spray the beds with a spray bottle once every 5-10 days. It is best to do this early in the morning so that a protective soap film has time to form on the bushes before the sun appears.
There is also a dangerous disease called white rot. The infection affects the pumpkins themselves: first they become covered with a white coating, and then they rot. To prevent it, it is recommended to water the fruits only with warm water and feed them with ammonium nitrate and copper sulfate. On dry and hot days, it is recommended to remove the affected leaves and sprinkle the bushes with crushed coal.
Among the pests found in pumpkin beds are spider mites, which envelop the leaves with a thin web. Because of it, the leaves dry out and slowly wither. In hot weather, the crop is sprayed with an infusion of onion peels or a solution of keltan. After collection, we advise you to dig up the soil well to prevent the mite from appearing again.
Important! For preventive purposes, it is advised to maintain the hygiene of the beds, regularly fertilize the bushes and spray with Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate solution. It is also important to treat the seeds and soil well before sowing - this prevents the appearance of diseases or unwanted insects.
Reviews from gardeners
The naked pumpkin is quite controversial. Some gardeners do not like it because they believe that the main thing in a pumpkin is the pulp, not the seeds. However, many farmers are ready to argue with them.
Alexander, Rostov-on-Don: “I like to try unusual vegetables in my garden.I decided to plant the Golosemennaya 14 variety and was not disappointed. Although the vegetable does not look like a pumpkin in the generally accepted sense, I was pleased with the harvest. I used some of it for preparation, and some of it I ate fresh. The green seeds also tasted great. I baked bread and tea cakes with them.”
Maria, Ufa: “My favorites are the nutmeg and gymnosperm varieties. I especially love Olga’s pumpkins. They don't turn out to be very big, so they are easy to use in the kitchen. And in my opinion, this variety requires a minimum of attention.”
Valeria, Orsk: “I once planted the Danae variety. The manufacturer promised dense pulp and a large number of seeds. The end result was fibrous, half-empty vegetables. I think this is a manufacturing defect, but Danaya has no desire to try again.”
Conclusion
Gymnosperm pumpkin varieties are indispensable for those who watch their diet and eat only healthy and wholesome foods.
The product has large seeds without a shell, so there is no need to peel them. In addition, these vegetables are easy to grow, and many of them show excellent results even in the north of the country. The main thing is to follow simple rules of planting and care.