Butternut squash “Miracle Yudo”: a unique variety for long-term storage and preparation of delicious dishes

Among the varieties of pumpkins, nutmeg considered the sweetest. It got its name due to the original taste of the fruit. Many housewives use nutmeg pumpkin of the Chudo-Yudo variety to prepare various dishes: pies, porridges, sweet soups. We'll tell you how to grow butternut squash and what to cook from it.

Description of the variety Miracle Yudo

Miracle Yudo has a nutmeg scent. The flesh is sweeter than regular pumpkin. The taste is excellent.

Miracle Judo is widely used for medicinal purposes: The pulp of the vegetable acts as a diuretic, increases the elasticity of blood vessels and cleanses them. Pumpkin has a beneficial effect on the body in case of hypertension, heart disease, cholecystitis, and helps fight excess weight.

Distinctive features

Pumpkin of this variety can be processed into juice, baked, canned, and used fresh in salads. The fruit has a high carotene content - 25.5%. Sugar content – ​​4.25%.

Fruit characteristics

The plant is long-climbing and powerful. The leaves are pentagonal, dark green. The oval fruit is slightly segmented, the bark is orange in color with a gray coating and a reticulate pattern. The bright orange pulp of the vegetable contains red veins.

Did you know? Pumpkin is native to South America. In Mexico, Indians began to grow the crop 5 thousand years ago.

Productivity

It takes 120 days from germination to ripening of the vegetable.The average weight of one pumpkin is 6-8 kg, but with good soil fertilization it reaches 20 kg or more. Pumpkin is perfectly stored in winter.

How to grow

The easiest way to grow pumpkin is by direct sowing in open ground. Only the largest seeds are taken for sowing. The selected seed is properly prepared.

Seed preparation

Germination is the best preparation of seeds for sowing. This procedure is continued until the seeds hatch. To do this, the grains are placed in water at a temperature of no lower than +40°C and no more than +50°C. In this state, the seed is left for 3-4 hours.

Advice. It is best to place the bowl with seeds on a radiator or other heat source.

After soaking grains Wrap in wet cotton cloth and leave at room temperature until the sprouts hatch. The fabric is periodically checked and moistened, preventing it from drying out.

Since pumpkin is a heat-loving plant, it is recommended to harden the seeds before planting. To do this, the sprouted grains are also kept in a damp cloth in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

Sowing in the ground

Before sowing pumpkin seeds in open ground, you need to make sure that frosts are no longer expected. Pumpkin is a heat-loving plant; seeds may not germinate in unheated soil.

Pumpkin is planted after the end of frost, as soon as the air temperature rises to +18 °C. Sowing is carried out in May, when the soil at a depth of 7-8 cm warms up to 12-13 °C.

Growing seedlings

Seedlings are grown to obtain an early and abundant harvest. Not necessarily at home - this can be done in a nursery or mini-greenhouse. But the best place for the plant would be a window sill on the south side of the house.

To grow seedlings, you will need peat humus or ordinary pots measuring at least 10x10 cm. Before planting in a permanent location, the seedlings must spend at least three weeks in the pot.

Sprouted hardened seeds are sown two grains per pot. Planting depth is 2 cm. The seeds are covered with peat. Watering is carried out before and after sowing. For the first three days, the crops are kept at a temperature not lower than +25°C.

On the fourth day after emergence, weak seedlings are removed by simply pinching off the stem. The air temperature is reduced and maintained within +18 °C so that the seedlings do not stretch and grow strong.

Watering the seedlings is carried out regularly, but without excess moisture. Stagnation of water leads to rotting of the roots. Ideal watering and suitable air humidity will make the plant hardy.

Two weeks after the emergence of seedlings, fertilizing is carried out. To do this, mullein is stirred in water (1:10) and the resulting solution is fertilized with 100 ml of each plant after watering. If there is no mullein, it can be replaced with nitrophoska. Fertilizing is carried out according to the instructions.

Care

Regardless of the planting method, the plant needs proper care:

• watering;
• loosening;
• feeding;
• topping;
• weeding.

The pumpkin is watered with warm water (about +20°C), the optimal volume is 6-7 liters per plant or 15-20 liters per square meter. m. Before the ovaries begin to form, watering is carried out once a week, and then once every two weeks. After each moistening, the soil around the plants is loosened.

Fertilizers increase the yield of the variety and the quality of the fruit. After the formation of the fifth true leaf, the first fertilizing with nitrophoska is carried out. In the phase of lash formation, a second feeding is carried out with mullein solution. During the flowering period, the pumpkin is watered with warm water with the addition of ash.

To ensure that the canes form properly, it is important to weed. Once they are formed, there will be no need for this procedure.

For your information. It is not recommended to move the resulting lashes and nodes, especially during the flowering period. There is a risk of damaging flowers and stopping the development of fruits.

Pinching is carried out so that 4-6 leaves remain above each young vegetable. It is recommended to leave 3-4 ovaries. Experienced vegetable growers advise doing pruning in different ways: leaving one plant with one stem, another with two, and so on.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

In relation to climate and soil conditions, nutmeg pumpkin is a rather unpretentious plant, so even a novice gardener can cope with growing this vegetable. However, to obtain healthy fruit-bearing bushes, it is necessary to create an optimal microclimate.

At the seedling stage, the young bushes look strong, but the seedlings do not tolerate picking well. Therefore, the plant is grown in peat cups or tablets.

The time of planting in open ground depends on the climate of the area. In the northern part of Russia, favorable days for sowing are in early June.

Residents of the southern regions plant seeds in open ground in mid-May. Some gardeners in the southern part begin sowing on May 10. Those who live in the middle zone sow pumpkins in open ground from May 25th.

Important! According to popular belief, the best day for planting pumpkins is Yuri's day, in the morning. If circumstances do not allow you to plant seeds on this particular day, do not be upset. Pumpkin planted in moist, warm soil enriched with fertilizers will produce an excellent harvest, regardless of the day of planting.

Growing tips from experienced gardeners

Summer residents recommend planting seeds in small mounds. This way the pumpkin will grow better. Create a mound about 3 cm high for each plant, leaving a distance of about 1 m between them. Plant 4-5 pumpkin seeds into each mound, 1 cm deep. Cover the seeds with soil and press lightly around them.

After the seeds germinate, thin them out so that 2-3 strong sprouts remain. If you are transplanting pumpkin seedlings, plant each plant in a separate mound.

Send the shoots of the crop not on the ground, but on a support. In order for the pumpkin to grow vertically, place a pole at each mound. Once the shoots have sprouted, carefully wrap them around the base of the support or post.

For your information. If the leaves shade the pumpkin, trim them carefully.

To protect the growing plant, mulch the soil. Lay down pine needles or other light mulch to keep the plant away from dirt and to help keep moisture in the soil longer.

Diseases and pests

To protect the crop from diseases and pests for preventive purposes, the plant is treated with biofungicides or growth-stimulating agents - these are “Krezacin”, “Silk”, “Epin” and “Immunocytophyte”. You can also spray the bushes with Kurzat or Acrobat.

Despite preventive measures, the crop can be affected by various diseases and pests.

Anthracnose

Most often, the disease affects pumpkins that grow in a greenhouse. Symmetrical lesions of the leaves and stem are formed. Spots with a pink coating appear on the surface. If the roots are damaged, the plant dies. The disease actively develops at high air humidity. It can also appear during hot periods when watering.

Powdery mildew

Appears due to a sharp change in night or day temperature.Spots appear on the fruits, the foliage turns yellow, dries out and falls off. To prevent powdery mildew, cover the plant with film at night. It is also important to water the crop regularly.

Ascochyta blight

It affects the above-ground parts of the plant due to high humidity or frost. Black spots appear on fruits, stems and leaves. To prevent disease, seedlings are covered with film.

melon aphid

The insect sucks out all the vital juices, subsequently the foliage dries out from lack of moisture and nutrients. To combat aphids, special preparations or folk remedies are used, for example, infusion of wormwood or chamomile. You can also get rid of pests using ash, as well as tomato or potato tops.

Slugs

These pests lay eggs in the soil and eat the fruits at night, leaving holes in the vegetables. To combat them, the area is fenced with burlap and even burdock is planted next to the plant. In the daytime, slugs will accumulate under the burlap, and in the evening they can be exterminated with the help of ash.

Harvesting and application

The harvest is harvested from mid-August until the onset of autumn cold weather. This is done by carefully cutting the fruit, leaving a tail of 5 cm.

The harvested crop is dried for two weeks, then removed to a dry place. If you plan to use the pumpkin immediately after harvesting, give it several days to fully ripen, acquire a special taste and orange color.

Nutmeg pumpkin Miracle Yudo is easily digestible, strengthens the immune system and alleviates the condition of kidney diseases and liver, providing a choleretic effect. The vegetable is used to prepare pies, salads, porridge, various soups, juice and many other dishes.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The nutmeg variety Miracle Yudo is more difficult to grow in open ground than zoned pumpkins. The culture is demanding of good nutrition and length of daylight hours, and does not tolerate shade.

If the growing rules are violated, the fruits will develop poorly, some vegetables may rot, and those that have time to ripen will grow with small, undeveloped seed pods.

Although the variety has its disadvantages, there are many more advantages:

1. The shell is thin but dense; the vegetable is covered with a waxy coating that protects the fruit from bacterial rot. Thanks to this, pumpkins can be stored in a cool room for up to a year.
2. The fruits have a slight nutmeg scent, which distinguishes them from table varieties.
3. The vegetable is equally tasty after heat treatment and raw.
4. The pulp contains a large amount of carotene, mineral salts and sugar, due to which its taste after heat treatment is so rich that it does not require the addition of spices.

Farmer reviews

Many gardeners speak positively about the Chudo-Yudo pumpkin variety:

Daria, Voronezh: “I planted pumpkin seeds from Chudo-Yudo on May 15 under covering material - they all sprouted. The harvest was taken on September 19th. The fruits were of different sizes - from 3.3 to 7 kg. The smallest pumpkins were dark orange in color, while the larger ones ripened at home. At the end of September, I cut the first small fruit, it turned out to be ripe, very juicy and crispy. When I cut a medium-sized pumpkin, it turned out to be very juicy, bright orange (the hands were red). Everyone liked the vegetable baked - they ate it in one sitting. With minimal care, the pumpkin has proven to be very productive; I will grow it again next year.”

Vladimir, Ivanovo: “Of course, Chudo-Yudo is not the earliest variety, but very tasty.I planted seedlings late - in early May. All three seeds sprouted. June was wet and cold. The plant started well, but everything rotted. And in July it was sunny, and then I left 2 fruits on each plant. The harvest was taken on the 20th of September. The pumpkin ripened at home as best it could. The largest one weighed 7.8 kg. The vegetable has a pleasant fruity taste."

Ekaterina, Pskov: “In early April, I sowed Miracle Yudo for seedlings in a liter bag, then on May 5, I transplanted the seedlings under covering material. The fruits grew beautiful, as in the photo of the packaging, the weight of the largest one reached 11 kg. I made candied fruits out of them. It seems to me that of the muscat varieties, Miracle Yudo is the sweetest pumpkin. It smells very pleasant.”

Conclusion

In addition to its excellent taste, Chudo-Yudo nutmeg pumpkin has a long shelf life due to its waxy coating. The vegetable contains a large amount of vitamins and microelements. Pumpkin fruits may vary in shape, but have a thin skin that is easy to cut off.

Growing Miracle Yudo is not difficult, since the variety is not capricious. The main thing is to choose an unshaded place, water and feed the plant in a timely manner, and also carry out prevention against pests and diseases.