The most popular varieties of pear-shaped pumpkins: how to grow and what is important to know about them
Pumpkins, similar to large pears, are actively used not only in cooking, but also as decorations and decorations. The fruits make fancy lanterns or designer vases. To grow interesting pear-shaped pumpkins, you do not need to have special knowledge about caring for the crop. It is enough to regularly water and fertilize the beds and carry out preventive measures to protect against diseases. Later in the article we will look at the description of varieties of pumpkins that look like pears.
What's good about a pear-shaped pumpkin?
Gardeners love the pear-shaped pumpkin for its interesting appearance (see photo). Attractive and bright fruits look appetizing and look great on any table. Summer residents value these fruits for the following advantages:
- tasty and juicy pulp;
- vitamin composition;
- ease of care;
- versatility in application;
- decorativeness;
- high and stable yield.
Reviews of the most popular varieties
What is the name of a pear-shaped climbing pumpkin? How to fertilize pumpkin patches? Small reviews about the most popular pear-shaped varieties will help answer these questions.
Prikubanskaya
It belongs to the muscat varieties and has a delicate and juicy taste. Prikubanskaya resembles a ripe sweet melon. This variety is mid-season; gardeners harvest it 120-130 days after planting. The bushes are semi-spreading, the length of the vines is about 0.3 m. The pumpkins are elongated, shaped like a thin and long pear.The color is brownish-yellow, with brown spots visible on the surface. The pulp is red-orange, the peel is dense. Prikubanskaya is perfectly stored and transported. Productivity is stable, from 1 sq. m, gardeners collect about 2 kg of ripe and tasty fruits.
Muscat variety used to prepare healthy and dietary dishes. From the fruits you can make puree soup, vegetable stew, vitamin salads and even sweet pastries: muffins, pies, cheesecakes, pancakes. Such tasty and low-calorie dishes are good for the body, saturating it with vitamins A and B, iron, beta-carotene, calcium and magnesium. At the same time, they do not harm the figure, because 100 g of Prikubanskaya contains only 28 kcal.
Pearl
Mid-late variety, pumpkin ripens in 130-140 days. It is recommended to plant in the middle zone or in the south of the country. Fertile and sunny beds are ideal for growing. Before planting, the soil is carefully dug up and fertilized with peat. To obtain a rich harvest, summer residents recommend planting the variety in seedlings. To do this, seedlings are prepared a month before planting: soil and seeds are poured into clean containers and placed on the windowsill. Every 10 days, the seedlings are watered with warm water, and once every two weeks they are fed with organic fertilizers, for example, liquid bird droppings.
The average length of the fruit is about 40-50 cm, weight varies from 5 to 7 kg. The peel is thin, there are few seeds. The pulp is crispy and dense, and has a bright yellow color due to its high carotene content. The variety is sweet, so it is consumed both fresh and after heat treatment. The pearl is highly resistant to diseases and insect pests. It stores well for up to 4-5 months.
New
Another pear-shaped representative of muscat varieties ripens within 110-115 days. Novelty is planted after spring frosts. The distance between the bushes should be at least 60-70 cm. Pumpkins are watered every 5-7 days, about 1.5 liters of warm water are used per bush. If the summer is rainy, then the amount of watering is reduced. Fertilize the variety three times per season. Summer residents advise alternating organic matter and mineral fertilizers. Wood ash, Bordeaux mixture, nitrogen-containing preparations, and mineral complexes are used as top dressing.
The average weight of the fruit is 4 kg, length is about 50 cm. Pumpkin has an orange-yellow color, dense flesh and excellent taste. The new product has good transportability and can be stored for up to 6-8 months. As a rule, wooden boxes and dry, ventilated rooms, such as a cellar or basement, are used for storage. The yield is high, about 5 kg per 1 sq. m.
Sugar mace
The hybrid has high immunity to diseases and pests. However, experienced gardeners still pay special attention to preventive measures. To prevent the plant from getting powdery mildew, it is sprayed with whey 2-3 times a season. To protect the crop from aphids, slugs and spider mites, vegetables are fertilized with Bordeaux mixture or copper sulfate solution. These methods not only protect the beds from negative factors, but also improve the taste of the pumpkin.
The nutmeg hybrid Sugar mace is an early ripening hybrid, ripening in 90-100 days from the moment of planting. The fruits are long and curved, at the stage of technical ripeness they are green in color, and then become light beige. The flesh is rich yellow, the aroma is sweet and nutmeg. The weight of the pumpkin varies from 1 to 2 kg.Gardeners value the hybrid for its high yield, from 1 sq. m they collect about 15-20 kg of unusual vegetables.
Pineapple
The hybrid ripens in 100-110 days, suitable for growing in the south of the country. Pineapple has tasty pulp and contains a large amount of vitamins and microelements. The weight of the fetus is about 2 kg. Pumpkin has a light orange color, dense and crispy flesh. It stores well and is often grown on an industrial scale. The product is consumed fresh, boiled, steamed and even fried.
Interesting! Regular consumption of pumpkin slows down the aging process of the body, improves the quality of skin, hair and nails. In addition to pumpkin pulp, seeds are often used: they contain a high content of copper, zinc and phosphorus.
Butternut
This variety is often called “nut pumpkin”; the taste of the fruit is filled with nutmeg notes. The pear-shaped pumpkin reaches a weight of 1-1.5 kg. It has a dense peel and yellow-orange color. The variety is early ripening, ripens in 2.5-3 months. The vegetable is planted in greenhouses or in the open air. Before planting, seeds, beds and garden tools must be disinfected. When grown by seedlings, seedlings are hardened off.
Variety Butternut needs regular weeding and loosening of the soil. The procedures saturate the beds with oxygen, which has a beneficial effect on the development of the bush. The pumpkin is fed twice a month. In addition, for the best harvest, the lashes are pinched. When 2-3 pumpkins form on one shoot, the shoots are removed.
Reviews from summer residents
Most gardeners prefer to grow beautiful and juicy pear-shaped pumpkins. Many are attracted by the classic orange color and melon aroma.However, sometimes expectations are not met: instead of large and attractive fruits, small and watery pumpkins grow.
Arina, Ufa: “I’ve been growing pear-shaped pumpkins for a long time. My favorites are the Novinka and Zhemchuzhina varieties. They are similar to each other, have juicy and sweet flesh. However, the Novinka variety is more productive. I dry pumpkin seeds and add them to baked goods, and from the pulp I make porridge and sweet jam for the winter.”
Olga, Moscow: “I prefer only muscat varieties. They have amazing taste and aroma. They can be capricious in their care, but if all agrotechnical rules are followed, no problems arise. I especially like making vitamins out of them. juice with ginger and lemon, and also cook porridge for breakfast.”
Milan, Ekaterinburg: “I always plant pumpkins in the greenhouse. I especially love Pineapple. She is easy to care for and rarely gets sick. Before planting, I always disinfect the seeds and prepare the seedlings. I harvest in early September. We eat some right away, and leave the rest for the winter.”
Conclusion
Pear-shaped pumpkins are universal in use. They are used to make Jack-o'-lanterns for Halloween, use them as decorations, and create original crafts.
Pear-shaped fruits are mostly muscat varieties and have remarkable taste and beneficial properties. Regular consumption of the product improves digestion and has a positive effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Pumpkin dishes are an excellent dietary food that is low in calories.