Types of butternut squash varieties: why they are loved and how to achieve a good harvest

It’s hard to imagine, but once upon a time pumpkins were used exclusively as a piece of furniture. People had no idea how tasty and healthy this product is. Time passed, and the wonderful properties of pumpkin became known to the whole world.

Muscat varieties are especially popular, as they have tender and sweet flesh and a mild taste. Even a novice gardener can grow a nutmeg vegetable. Let's consider what qualities sweet pumpkins have and how to care for the crop to get a good harvest.

Useful properties of butternut squash

Butternut squash differs from other types in shape and taste. The vegetable is oval and elongated, and not round, as in most varieties. Its skin is thin and can be easily removed even without a knife. Muscat varieties are the sweetest and taste like melon.

Plus, they have a large number of useful vitamins and elements:

1. Vitamins A, E, B6 and B12 have a positive effect on human vision. They help prevent eye diseases and have excellent healing effects.
2. Vitamin T allows you to get rid of excess weight: it normalizes metabolism, breaks down fats and converts fat into energy.
3. Vitamins C, B1 and B3 are beneficial for men's health. B6 improves the absorption of fatty acids, and vitamin C normalizes the functioning of the prostate gland.
4. Vitamins A and E have an excellent rejuvenating effect.They moisturize the skin, and regular consumption of pumpkin helps smooth out fine wrinkles and prevent the appearance of new ones.
5. Vitamin PP improves protein and fat metabolism, reduces cholesterol levels and has a vasodilating effect.

In addition, pumpkin is recommended for use by people who suffer from peptic ulcers of internal organs. Porridges and soups are prepared from the pulp: they have a healing effect on the digestive organs. The vegetable also restores the acid-base balance in the human stomach, helping to get rid of heartburn and pain.

The product contains a large amount of fiber, which relieves bloating and severe gas formation. It is enough to eat only 50 g of pumpkin every day.

Interesting! The attractive orange color of nutmeg varieties is due to their high carotene content. The longer the culture is stored, the richer the color. However, you should not store the product for too long, since over time the amount of vitamins in it decreases.

Where and when is the best time to grow

The southern regions of the country are best suited for obtaining a good harvest. They are characterized by fertile soil and long, warm summers. As a rule, in the south the crop is grown in open ground.

As for central Russia and the north, in these areas the vegetable is planted in a greenhouse or greenhouse. The structures help muscat varieties survive sudden climate changes and produce a good harvest.

Important! The best predecessors for planting are peppers, potatoes or legumes. It is not recommended to plant the plant after cucumbers, squash or zucchini.

Pumpkins love warm, airy, well-lit areas.Please note that before planting, remove all debris and weeds from the beds, dig up and fertilize the soil. For 1 sq. m of land, it is recommended to plant no more than two bushes. Seedlings are prepared 20-25 days before the intended planting in the ground. The planting itself takes place in early May. It is important that the soil temperature is at least 12 degrees.

How to grow

Pumpkin is a heat-loving crop. Caring for it is simple, although it has some peculiarities. Let's consider what should be done to obtain a tasty and beautiful harvest.

Site selection

Land with a deep arable layer and loose soil is ideal for muscat varieties. Many gardeners grow them in compost because it is warm and nutritious. If there is no compost heap, then prepare the beds.

To do this, find a warm and sunny place. First, the bed is dug up in the fall and all the garbage is burned. With the arrival of spring, the earth is dug up again and disinfected. A solution of copper sulfate is suitable for this. The liquid will destroy dangerous microbes and pathogens.

Farmers are also advised to apply organic fertilizers. Before planting, an excellent option would be to fertilize the soil with an ash-based infusion. It will make the soil more nutritious and beneficial for pumpkin, which will have a positive effect on the quality of the harvest.

Seed preparation

When choosing seeds, pay attention to the integrity and appearance of the packaging. We recommend buying them in specialized stores. Please inspect after purchase seeds and check for germination. Pour them into a container of water and stir in a circular motion. Leave for 10 minutes.

Any seeds that remain on the surface should be discarded because they are empty. Remove those specimens that have sunk to the bottom and carefully dry. They are suitable for sowing.

It is better to disinfect even purchased material. An excellent remedy is boric acid. It is enough to soak the seeds in a solution at the rate of 0.2 g per 1 liter of water for two hours. The solution protects pumpkin from fungal infections and increases yield.

Important! Don't forget about germinating seeds. To do this, place them on a damp cotton pad and place them in a warm place. Farmers are advised to use growth stimulants: for example, succinic acid protects against diseases, and sodium humate accelerates growth.

Care and feeding

Water the pumpkin moderately, with no more than 2.5 liters of water per bush. The optimal temperature for watering is about 18-22 degrees. It is best to moisten the beds in the early morning or evening to avoid sunburn.

In humid and foggy summers, reduce the amount of water so as not to overwater the plant. Sometimes liquid root fertilizers, such as a solution of nettle or ash, are added to watering.

The beds are loosened every week, it is best to do this before watering. Loosening removes the hard top crust of the earth: it makes it difficult for nutrients to reach. Along with loosening, weeds are removed that slow down the development of bushes.

Pumpkin reacts positively to mineral complex fertilizers and organic substances. The most popular among gardeners are:

1. "Nutriflex S" - contains magnesium, zinc and calcium, without which normal development of vegetables is impossible.
2. "Zircon" - increases yield by 10-15% and improves plant immunity to diseases and insect pests.
3. "Mycephyte" - strengthens the root system, making it more developed.
4. Chicken droppings - contains nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, which strengthen the stems and leaves.
5. Ash solution - reduces soil acidity and allows the plant to more easily tolerate climate change. It is especially useful for growing and caring for nutmeg pumpkin. in open ground.

Formation of lashes

How to shape butternut squash? The lashes are formed in mid-August to speed up the ripening of vegetables. They always reach for the sun, so they grow in a southerly direction. On long vines, 4-5 pumpkins are formed at once, which do not have time to ripen in time.

Select the largest vegetables and tear off the remaining ovary. Afterwards, pinch each lash. With the help of formation, the growth of the bush stops, and all the nutrition is spent on ripening the pumpkin.

Important! As soon as the length of one lash becomes more than 1 m, it should be straightened and placed on the bed, sprinkled with earth on top. This is necessary so that long lashes do not injure the leaves and stems.

The best varieties of butternut squash

Butternut squash is indispensable for preparing many dishes. Some vegetables are great for sweet but healthy baked goods, while others make excellent vegetable side dishes. Let's consider how sweet varieties are more popular in cooking.

Pearl

The vegetable performs well both in the south of the country and in the middle zone. It can be grown by seedlings or without seedlings. Pearl - This is a medium-late variety, the ripening period is 115-120 days from the moment of planting. The bushes are powerful, forming about five long lateral vines.

The formation of the plant is mandatory. The pumpkins themselves are bright orange in color and have a cylindrical pear-shaped shape. The peel is moderately dense, but not hard. The pearl has a slightly ribbed and rough texture. The pulp is orange and fibrous, the taste is delicate.

One pumpkin reaches 80 cm in length and weighs up to 4-5 kg. The plant does not tolerate drafts, so it is better to choose a dry and windless area for planting.

Pearl responds well to mineral fertilizers, which are applied once every 2-3 weeks. The harvest is harvested in sunny weather, the vegetable is picked along with the stalk: this way it is stored longer and does not lose its beneficial properties.

Vitamin

Late-ripening pumpkin pleases gardeners with large orange fruits. Sometimes dark green spots and slight ribbing appear on the surface. On average, the weight of one vegetable is about 6 kg. The pulp is crispy, with a pronounced nutty taste.

Vitamin pumpkin needs timely watering and pinching of the side vines. Often, additional support is built for it from stones and boards, which helps the stems not to break under the weight of the vegetable.

Vitamin pumpkin is perfectly stored and can be transported over long distances. Due to its high carotene content, it is used for baby food and dietary nutrition, for example, pumpkin juice is prepared.

It retains a high concentration of vitamins and minerals. One glass of pumpkin juice with honey improves sleep and relieves insomnia. The drink also strengthens the immune system during periods of colds and flu.

Prikubanskaya

This variety of pumpkin has a delicate orange color and an elongated pear-shaped shape. The weight of the vegetable is only about 2-3 kg, the bushes are small.

Kuban pumpkin has a sweet taste and bright red-orange flesh. There are few seeds in it. Ripens in 100-115 days, the yield is stable: from 1 sq. m gardeners receive about 4 kg.

The variety has excellent immunity to common diseases such as root rot and bacteriosis. To improve immunity, gardeners use root and foliar fertilizers. For root crops, watering with yeast solution or ammonium nitrate shows good results. Among foliar feedings, farmers prefer spraying with ash or whey.

Bylinka

One of the brightest and most delicious muscat varieties. Despite the gray-green skin, the inside of the Bylinka pumpkin is sweet and bright. It does not require special skills to care for: the main thing is to form the vines and follow the watering regime. The blade of grass is actively used in cooking; it is especially useful to eat it fresh.

However, housewives also use the product in canned form. For example, they do pumpkin jam with orange and lemon. For lovers of unusual dishes, we recommend adding cloves, pepper or apple.

This delicacy can act as a diuretic and help get rid of urological problems. It will also help relieve inflammation in the intestines and improve the functioning of the gallbladder.

Reviews

Horticultural online forums are full of rave reviews about butternut squash varieties. Gardeners note the taste and sweetness of the vegetable, as well as its ease of care. However, some summer residents were disappointed with the harvest.

Galina, Murmansk: “I planted the Zhemchuzhina variety in the greenhouse at the end of May. There were no frosts, the summer turned out to be excellent. However, the vegetable grew small and the crust was hard. The taste is not bad, but I expected more, after all, nutmeg varieties are the sweetest. Next season I’ll try to plant another muscat species.”

Olga, Cheboksary: “I can’t imagine my garden without pumpkins. I always give culture the best place. I love both nutmeg and regular hard-bark varieties. With minimal care, the yield is excellent.I am especially pleased with the Bylinka and Ananasnaya varieties.”

Pavel, Kazan: “I plant pumpkins and squash solely because of their beneficial properties. I give preference to nutmeg varieties, as they combine well with other products. I love pumpkin soups and porridges - they are easily absorbed by the body.”

Conclusion

Now you know what nutmeg pumpkin is and what its features are. Gardeners are pleased with the ease of caring for the crop, and cooks enjoy the piquant taste. Muscat varieties are rightfully considered the most valuable, because their main advantage lies in their versatility of use and beneficial composition.