A tasty and extremely unusual variety of nutmeg pumpkin “Trombone”: how to grow and where to use the crop
Butternut squash is a real miracle for the gardener. A fragrant, sweet and juicy vegetable that tastes very much like melon. The product is used to prepare soups, casseroles, and stuffed dishes.
In the article we will look at the muscat variety Trombone, which is grown by both novice gardeners and experienced gardeners. The vegetable has an unusual curved shape, which is why it got its name. Let's find out what this pumpkin is famous for and how to get a rich and tasty harvest on your plot.
Description of the pumpkin variety
An unpretentious and cold-resistant variety is cultivated in the south, in the middle zone, in the Urals and Siberia. Butternut squash is grown mainly in seedlings to get the largest yield.
Distinctive features
The plants are compact, two bushes fit on 1 sq.m.. The leaf blade is wide, heart-shaped, rich green in color. The lashes are medium length, thin. The root system is powerful and develops quickly.
Fruit characteristics and yield
Original pumpkins are shaped like a trombone. The length of the vegetable is about 50 cm, weight varies from 6 to 8 kg. The bark is dense and elastic, in the stage of technical ripeness the color is green, in biological ripeness it is dark orange.
The pulp is dense and aromatic, it is actively used in cooking. The yield is good; from 1 square meter, summer residents harvest about 10 kg of unusual vegetables.
Interesting! In China, pumpkin is given magical meaning.Since ancient times, it has been believed that the vegetable is capable of absorbing evil forces and protecting its owner from them. Therefore, they often hung a pumpkin in front of their house; it served as a kind of talisman against troubles.
How to grow
Pumpkin is an unpretentious plant, but when planting it is necessary to take into account basic agrotechnical rules. Let's consider the rules for planting and caring for crops.
Planting seeds in open ground
The first step is to disinfect the seeds. The procedure is necessary in order to destroy pathogens of dangerous diseases on the surface of the seeds.
Disinfection is carried out using the drug “Formalin 40%”. For 300 ml of water at room temperature, 3 g of the drug is required. The ingredients are mixed together, the seeds are placed in a fabric bag and immersed in water. After 5 minutes, remove the bag and leave for 2 hours at room temperature.
Afterwards, the seeds are removed and dried well.. Disinfection of seeds improves their germination and increases immunity to diseases and pests.
Important! After disinfection, the seeds are germinated. To do this, they are soaked in warm water for 2-3 hours, then wrapped in a damp cloth and put in a warm place. The swollen seeds are selected for sowing and undergo a hardening procedure: placed in the freezer for 3 days. After which they begin transplanting into open ground.
Planting pumpkins in hilly, sunny beds. The best predecessors for pumpkin crops are potatoes, cabbage, greens or legumes. It is not recommended to plant pumpkin next to tall, upright plants so that they do not block sunlight.
The best soil for the crop is a mixture of sandy and loamy soil. This composition retains moisture well and warms up quickly.The Trombone variety is planted according to a 70x100 or 80x80 cm pattern. It is recommended to place 2-4 seeds in one hole to achieve better germination.
Planting seedlings
A clean container is required to prepare seedlings. Many gardeners prefer to plant pumpkins in special peat tablets or pots. They are affordable, easy to use and made from environmentally friendly materials.
However, it is not prohibited to plant seedlings in ordinary flower pots., wooden boxes or plastic cups. The main thing is to thoroughly rinse the container and dry it before planting. Gardeners use garden soil or purchased mixtures as seedling soil.
note:
- Garden soil is additionally fertilized with peat or humus, and river sand or dry sawdust is added for looseness. Before planting, the soil is heated in the oven; the hot air destroys pathogenic microflora and protects against the appearance of weeds.
- Ready-made formulations already contain all the elements necessary for healthy development. Manufacturers claim that such land is disinfected and safe, but many summer residents prefer to disinfect the soil themselves.
Pumpkin seedlings require sunlight and heat. If daylight hours are short, then additional lighting is provided using fluorescent lamps. Water the seedlings moderately, once every 5-6 days. Before watering, it is recommended to carefully loosen the soil so that the soil becomes lighter and airier. Transplant the seedlings into open ground after the last spring frosts have passed. When transplanting, you need to be careful not to damage the still weak seedlings or break the fragile leaves.
About other varieties of pumpkin:
Description of pumpkin (hard-bark, pepo)
The most popular varieties of pear-shaped pumpkins
Characteristics and description of the honey pumpkin variety “Kroshka”
Care
During the first week, the seedlings are covered with a thin filmto protect the bushes from wind and rain. Water the plant with warm water at the root. Water should not get on fruits and leaves, otherwise the risk of diseases and pests increases. If possible, periodically use an infusion of onion peels or nettle leaves instead of water. These folk remedies protect bushes from adverse factors. Stop watering 2 weeks before harvest.
Fertilize the beds after watering. Pumpkin culture loves organic fertilizers: manure, liquid droppings, ash or compost. They improve the taste of fruits and accelerate ripening. Organics are alternated with mineral complexes that saturate the pumpkin with nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Excellent balanced fertilizers: “Kimira”, “Zdraven”, “Magic Leika”. Before use, be sure to read the instructions and recommended dosage.
Important! Dry fertilizers are absorbed much more slowly than liquid ones. When contacting the soil, dry food causes burns, so it is recommended to moisten the soil before fertilizing. In total, 2-3 procedures are carried out per season, mineral nutrition is alternated with organic nutrition.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
In addition to watering and fertilizing, the pumpkin needs regular loosening. It is carried out once every 5-7 days. Loosening allows you to get rid of unwanted weeds, retain moisture in the soil and strengthen the root system. The depth of loosening is about 5-8 cm. As a rule, the operation is carried out before watering so that the soil is saturated with oxygen.At the same time, it is necessary to maintain healthy microflora in the beds: remove garbage, weeds, and foreign vegetation.
Bush shaping deserves special attention. The vines of the Trombone variety are long and often tangled. It is necessary to untangle them and lay them on the bed, sprinkling them with earth in several places. As soon as 5-6 leaves are formed, the side shoots are removed, leaving only those on which 2-3 fruits have already formed. The top is pinched so that all the nutrition is spent on the development of pumpkins, and not on the growth of green mass.
Growing tips from experienced gardeners
Summer residents recommend following the feeding regime. An excess of mineral components leads to slow fruit development, the leaves dry out and become weak.
At the first signs, wood ash is sprinkled on the beds and watered with plenty of water. In addition, gardeners We advise you to adhere to the following recommendations:
- follow the rules of crop rotation, do not plant pumpkins in the same bed for more than two years in a row;
- when using water from springs, preheat it in the sun for three hours;
- if possible, install a drip irrigation system on the site;
- remove side shoots and untangle lashes;
- carry out preventive measures to protect against pests and diseases.
Diseases and pests
Among insects, wireworms have the greatest negative impact. Worms live deep underground and eat the root system of the plant. Soon the roots die, causing the stem to wither and the fruits to rot. For prevention purposes, it is recommended to scatter dry eggshells over the garden bed.
During the fruiting period, spider mites, slugs and aphids become active. Pests appear due to improper care and sudden climate changes. Spraying with Bordeaux mixture or Oxychom helps prevent the appearance of insects. Many insects are difficult to notice with the naked eye, so gardeners are advised to regularly inspect bushes and fruits for the presence of uninvited “guests.”
The Trombone variety is rare, but sometimes suffers from powdery mildew.. The disease manifests itself in the form of a white coating, and foliar feeding with whey and iodine helps prevent its occurrence. Another disease, root rot, occurs due to an excess of fertilizers and weeds. They get rid of rot using the drug “Hom”. The product is applied after watering, 2-3 times per season.
It can be useful:
Harvesting and application
Harvest 3-3.5 months after planting. The fruits ripen gradually. First, the densest vegetables that have acquired a rich orange hue are removed. A ripe pumpkin should have a pleasant sweetish aroma. For long-term storage, vegetables are placed in a dark place where the humidity level is no more than 85% and the temperature is no less than +10°C. Pumpkins with damage and scratches are recommended to be eaten immediately.
Delicious and healthy pumpkin juice is prepared from the vegetable.. This drink has not only a vitamin composition, but also a calming effect. The fruits are also used for baking; their sweet taste goes harmoniously with meat dishes, vegetable side dishes and salads. Diet lovers use the vegetable to make muffins, cheesecakes, pies and cakes.
Interesting! The recipe for American pumpkin pie is extremely popular among chefs. It is prepared for special occasions - Christmas or Halloween. Before the advent of electricity, the delicacy was cooked on a stove; today, pumpkin pie is made in a slow cooker or on a special grill. Baking is especially delicious if you add honey or cinnamon to it.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The advantages of the variety include the original appearance of the fruits, pumpkins are often used as a basis for decorative crafts. The taste of the vegetable is excellent, as expected; nutmeg pumpkin has a bright honey aroma and juicy pulp. Trombone rarely gets sick and shows stable and high productivity.
The variety has no significant disadvantages, however, some gardeners believe that other nutmeg varieties have a more pronounced sugar taste.
Farmer reviews
Trombone pumpkin is a godsend for many gardeners. However, some summer residents expected great results from growing these pumpkins.
Alexander, Voronezh: “The unusual pumpkins ripened quickly; I harvested them already at the end of August. The vegetable did not cause any trouble and did not cause any illness. I rate it a solid “4” for taste, I’ll definitely grow it next season.”.
Maria, Sochi: “I’ve been planting the Trombone variety for the third year in a row. Interesting fruits look unusual and decorate the area. I prepare porridge and salads from the vegetable, and put some of it in the cellar for storage. Vegetables keep well until spring.”.
Evgenia, Chelyabinsk: “I plant all pumpkin varieties only in the greenhouse. Trombone is a good pumpkin, but the fruit set is slow and the yield is not the highest. I've seen much better varieties.".
Conclusion
Trombone is an excellent variety to grow in any region of the country.They plant it on hilly sunny beds and water it with warm water. For best development, the bushes are fertilized with organic matter and mineral components, and also sprayed with iodine and milk for preventive purposes.
Vegetables ripen in just 3 months and have an elongated cylindrical shape. The taste and product quality are excellent; pumpkins are used to prepare a wide variety of dishes.