Fragrant nutmeg pumpkin variety “Pearl”: what’s good and why it’s worth growing on your property

Eastern merchants brought pumpkin to Russia in the 16th century. The vegetable quickly gained popularity: people appreciated its unusual taste and ease of care. Centuries later, culture has not lost its relevance; every year more and more different types of it appear.

The Zhemchuzhina variety is recognized as one of the most popular. It is characterized by sweet and soft pulp and excellent aroma. From the article you will learn why Zhemchuzhina is so loved by many gardeners.

Description of the variety

Pearl belongs to nutmeg varieties, which got their name due to their strong nutmeg aroma. The fruit has an elongated pear-shaped shape, and the cut of the stalk has 5 edges. The peculiarity of the variety is also visible on seeds: They are usually dark yellow or brown in color.

Interesting. Mexico is considered the birthplace of nutmeg varieties. Sometimes the weight of one pumpkin reaches 100 kg.

Distinctive features

Zhemchuzhina is a medium-late variety, the first harvest is harvested 110 days after planting. The plant is powerful, with many leaves. They have a pentagon shape and are dark green in color.

The culture is thermophilic, so it is best to grow Pearl in regions with fertile soil and a temperate climate.

Fruit characteristics

The shape of the vegetable is cylindrical, but sometimes more rounded versions are also found. Due to the high carotene content, the peel has a bright orange color. The skin is plastic, flexible and thin.

The pulp of the Pearl is sweet and juicy. The structure is crispy and tender. The average weight of one pumpkin is 8 kg. Length - about 50-70 cm. There are few seeds.

Productivity

The yield is high; on an industrial scale, about 36 tons are harvested per 1 hectare. If we talk about growing in a garden plot, then gardeners get 15-20 kg per 1 sq.m.

The following factors influence the yield:

1. Compatibility with previous crops. The vegetable is not planted after cucumbers, squash, and zucchini. It is best to plant Pearl after potatoes, legumes, greens or cabbage.
2. Compatibility of variety and climate zone. The Zhemchuzhina variety gives the richest harvest in warm regions.
3. Choosing a landing site. A sunny, spacious and windless area is allocated for the pumpkin. The soil should be loose, moist and fertile.
4. Compliance with growing rules: regular watering, loosening the soil, removing weeds and applying fertilizers.

How to grow

There are several ways to plant a crop. Let's look at each of them and identify their features.

Planting by seeds

Planting by seeds is suitable for areas with favorable weather conditions and long daylight hours. In addition, the culture loves cleared areas, so the land is prepared in advance. To do this, the beds are cleared of weeds, debris and remnants of last year’s plants, then dug up and loosened.

Sandy and loamy soil is excellent for pumpkin. This mixture retains moisture well and quickly warms up in the sun's rays.

The next stage of planting is to prepare the seed material. It is treated with disinfectants. For example, using a solution of sodium humate and water. The seeds are soaked in the solution for 24 hours, after which they are left for two days in damp gauze.

The procedure destroys larvae and dangerous microorganisms on the surface of the seeds. The quality of seeds and their germination improves, the growth and development of plants accelerates.

For planting, choose a windless, cloudy day. The distance between the seeds should be at least 80 cm. Place the seeds in the soil and water them generously.

Planting seedlings

Experienced farmers advise germinating the seeds before planting. To do this, after processing, they are soaked for 3 hours in warm water. Then wrap it in damp gauze and place it in a warm place. Sprouting has a beneficial effect on the future harvest and reduces the risk of infections.

Then the seeds are hardened: they are placed in the freezer for 3 days. Next comes planting in open ground. To do this, the land is pre-treated with phosphorus or mineral fertilizers. Manure, litter and compost also provide excellent nutrition for the soil.

Seedlings are sown in moist and warm soil. The distance between the beds is about 1.5-2 m. Each seedling is deepened into the hole by 9-10 cm.

The top layer of soil is sprinkled with humus no more than 2 cm thick. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the sprouts to break through the thick layer of humus. To maintain optimal temperature conditions, cover the beds with film.

Important! The best time to plant seeds in open ground is the second half of May. The seedlings are not afraid of frost, and at this time the soil is already warmed up and contains less moisture.

Care

First of all, the bush needs to be formed. As soon as the main stem reaches a height of 1.5 m, it is pinched. The main principle of formation is the removal of additional shoots. If this is not done, then a lot of extra sprouts and small vegetables will form.They cannot develop normally and die after a while.

Water the Pearl only with warm water (at least 20 degrees). It is best to use settled or rain water, avoiding watering directly from the water supply. Abundant watering is contraindicated, since the rapid development of green mass occurs, and not the vegetables themselves.

Don't forget to remove weeds regularly. She feeds on pumpkin, thereby taking away some of its vitamins and minerals. Especially a lot of weeds appear after rains and fogs. Also loosen the beds in a timely manner. Loosening saturates the soil with oxygen, making it airy and nutritious. It is recommended to loosen the soil every 7-10 days.

Important! When growing, pay attention to the pumpkin vines. When they grow to one meter, untangle them and lay them down, sprinkling soil on top. In places where the powder is sprinkled, the lashes take root and the plant receives additional nutrition. Plus, this way the lashes will not break under the influence of the wind.

Fertilizers

Fertilizers must be balanced and contain the optimal amount of vitamins and macroelements.

To obtain a rich harvest, summer residents recommend using:

1. Complex "Zdraven". It has a positive effect on the root system, making it more powerful and developed. In addition, “Zdraven” strengthens the pumpkin’s immunity and protects against pests.
2. The drug "Magic Watering Can" is a liquid fertilizer. Increases the plant's immunity to unfavorable climatic conditions and stimulates the development of vegetables.
3. Biohumus and humus - excellent organic fertilizers. Increase crop yield by 10-15%.
4. A solution of yeast and wood ash. In addition to nutrition, the solution will protect the pumpkin from spider mites and aphids.
5. "Nutrivant Plus Pumpkin" It is an environmentally friendly and safe preparation that improves the quality of vegetables.

Farmers advise feeding pumpkin in 2 stages. The first feeding occurs when five true leaves appear, and the second at the stage of formation of lashes. During the ripening period, feeding with ash and mullein infusion is especially effective.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

If the Pearl turns out to be very large and heavy, then build a special stand for the pumpkin: place a wide board on top of several stones, on top of which place a vegetable. It's best to do this as early as possible to prevent the stem from breaking under the weight of the pumpkin.

The wood ash fertilizer described above will have a greater effect if it is dissolved in water. And dusting with dry ash will help protect the leaves from pests.

It is better to do this after watering or rain. If you use growth stimulants or chemicals, follow the dosage recommendations and instructions for use.

Important! Alternate mineral and organic fertilizers. For the first feeding, liquid manure or herbal infusion is excellent. Nettle infusion is of particular value. For one vegetable use 0.5 liters of infusion.

Tips from experienced gardeners

Here's what summer residents advise to get a richer and better harvest:

1. Soak the butternut squash seeds in a formaldehyde solution for 2 hours. Then dry them in the sun.
2. Do not forget to harden the seed.
3. Check the seeds for germination.
4. The best time to plant seeds is the first half of June.
5. If the ovaries are small, then it is better not to water the pumpkin. Otherwise, the leaves and lashes will grow large and the vegetable itself will grow small.
6. They feed Pearl every two weeks.
7. The beds should be located on the sunny side.

Diseases and pests

During pumpkin growth, insect pests become active.

Gardeners especially often encounter in their garden beds:

1. Medvedka. It destroys the roots of the plant, which is why after a while the vegetable itself withers. To combat mole crickets, gardeners use Medvedox. The drug in the form of granules is placed in the wells in accordance with the recommendations.
2. Aphids. She sucks juice from plants. Subsequently, the leaves and ovaries die. To combat it, use a soap solution that is sprayed on the bushes.
3. Slime, due to which the ovaries and leaves also die. For preventive purposes, an ash solution is used.

In addition to pests, diseases also have a negative impact on pumpkins. The most common is bacteriosis. Brown sores appear on the vegetables, which cause the pumpkin to spoil. Bacteriosis persists on seeds and plant remains. The disease develops quickly with sudden changes in temperature and high humidity.

The crop also suffers from root rot. The roots and stems become brown and their growth stops. Rot can destroy a vegetable. The reservoir of infection is the soil. For prevention, it is advised to remove weeds in a timely manner and maintain the required level of humidity. To treat the disease, use a mixture of copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture.

Harvesting and application

Harvesting of the muscat variety begins in mid to late September. If by this time the vegetable is not yet ripe, feel free to pick it anyway. The pumpkin will “reach” on its own, reaching peak ripeness in 20-60 days. The pulp will become juicy and soft, turning a bright orange color.When harvesting, cut off the stalk so that about four centimeters remain on the vegetable.

Pumpkin makes delicious dried and dried “tongues”. The dried product retains its taste, beneficial properties and vitamins. Dried pumpkin goes well with powdered sugar and makes an excellent travel snack. Rice milk porridges with the addition of pumpkin pieces are especially popular. The vegetable will not only add piquancy, but also decorate the dish.

Many housewives use pumpkin in cooking baking and muffins. For example, they make pumpkin pie with cinnamon, or bake pumpkin and apple pies. Pumpkin cream soup is also popular and is served in restaurants around the world.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The advantages of the Pearl include a rich harvest, excellent taste and sweet juicy pulp. Pumpkin stores well and is resistant to long-distance transportation. The plant rarely gets sick.

The disadvantages of the variety are its demands on soil and growing conditions. That is why it is so important to pay special attention to fertilizing and fertilizers. Otherwise, the Pearl has no downsides.

Farmer reviews

Here's what gardeners say about the Muscat Pearl on online forums:

Irina, Krasnodar region: “Every year I try to grow a new variety of pumpkin. Last season I planted Zhemchuzhina. I really liked the variety, one of the most delicious. I took care of it as usual, fertilized it with droppings and ash. I advise everyone".

Galina, Voronezh: “Pearl exceeded all my expectations. I don’t remember being able to grow such a rich harvest. All the vegetables turned out beautiful, bright, and taste excellent. Part of the harvest ripened in the cellar. The Pearl turned out delicious filling for buns and jam.”

Elena, Kurgan region: “I heard a lot about the Zhemchuzhina variety and decided to plant it. I planted it in seedlings, but in mid-July the vegetable was attacked by a mole cricket. I got rid of it only after 10 days, during which time it managed to ruin part of the harvest. Those vegetables that were saved turned out not juicy. I doubt that I will grow the “pearl” pumpkin again.”

Conclusion

Pumpkin has many culinary advantages: it decorates dishes, adds piquancy and saturates the body with vitamins. The pulp, seeds, and juice are useful in it. The vegetable is unpretentious to grow; a rich harvest can be achieved by following the simplest rules.

Pearl pumpkin belongs to the nutmeg varieties - they are sweeter, unlike the hard-barked varieties. She loves warmth and timely feeding. However, even in the mountains, gardeners get a good harvest of this variety. Neither drought nor disease are afraid of this pumpkin. Therefore, feel free to choose Pearl for your garden!