Honey pumpkin: types, description and characteristics of varieties with photos

Useful properties of culture have been known to everyone for a very long time. Summer residents who grow plants on the site choose the most useful variety that does not require special efforts when growing. Common types of honey are: pumpkin honey dessert, honey crumb, honey princess and others.

Characteristics of species

Variety of honey varieties provide a great choice for summer residents, but it should be noted that only a characteristic honey smell is common to all species.

Brief description of varieties:

1. Honey dessert. Climbing, matures in 3 months. The fruits are very large, round, slightly flattened. Weight ranges from 3 to 10 kg. Pumpkins are stored for 3 months guaranteed, further depends on storage conditions.
2. Pumpkin Honey crumb. Ripens within 3.5-4 months. All pumpkins on bushes of the same size, round shape. Weigh 2.5-3.5 kg. Ash color. Keeps for a long time. Bush view.
3. Honey princess. Ripens in 110-120 days. Rounded flattened shape, weighing 3-10 kg. Unwinds well.
4. Honey beauty. Ready for use 3 months after germination. The fruit weighs from 4.5-6 kg. Keeps well.
5. Honey orange. Ripens within 120 days. Pumpkins weigh 1.5-2 kg, the color is yellow-orange. Unwinds and tastes great.

The choice of variety is always up to the grower, it is important to choose plants that are suitable for the needs of the family.

Features of planting pumpkins on the site

Summer residents recommend taking seeds for planting collected last year, so the yield is higher and resistance to diseases is stronger.

Gardeners who have been growing a crop for a long time know that it does not require much space. Therefore, it is grown along the edge of the site on the boundary or near buildings. It is important to provide supports for weaving if there is not much free space.

The shorter the summer, the less likely it is that the pumpkin will ripen on the bushes. To do this, summer residents recommend growing it in seedlings. Seeds are sown in advance 20-25 days before planting in a permanent place. It should be remembered that the variety Honey crumb and Honey orange categorically do not tolerate transplantation.

Special care for honey gourd seedlings is not required.Gardeners use peat pots as containers for growing seedlings. When transferred to a permanent place, they are a root fertilizer, completely decomposing in the ground and without disturbing the root system of plants.

By the time of transplanting, the soil should be thoroughly warmed up and there should be no threat of return frosts.

Pumpkin seeds are planted in open ground when it warms up to +12-14 ⁰С. The depth of embedding in the soil is 5-8 cm. Humus is added to the wells. The planting scheme depends on the desire of the gardener and the place that he has, it is advisable to maintain 60-100 cm between plants.

Crop care

In general, for all varieties, the requirements are the same, regular watering, weeding, loosening and shaping. Loosening will retain moisture in the soil, and provide the root system with oxygen.

Plentifully water plants before flowering, water is necessary for the formation of lashes. Therefore, the soil must be constantly moist. But after the pumpkin begins to bloom, watering is stopped, so pollination improves.

As top dressing, humus in spring or manure in autumn is used. Plants are watered with diluted mullein after the first few leaves appear, then during flowering and after 10-12 days. After that, it is enough to feed 2-3 times a month.

Removing weeds gives the crop the opportunity to get more nutrients from the soil, helps to avoid the development of diseases and pest attacks.

Formation of bushes. First of all, the region of cultivation should be taken into account. In the northern regions, 2 ovaries are left, the middle regions already have 3-4 pumpkins on one lash. In the southern regions, the growth of the lash is not limited at all. Empty branches, without ovaries, are removed completely. After the last ovaries, 5 leaves are left and the growth point is removed.

Crop volume and storage

Honey gourds differ from each other in the size of the fruit. In addition, the formation of plants is different, depending on the region of residence. Therefore, it is impossible to unequivocally indicate what the yield will be. It is important to follow simple care requirements and the result will surely please the hardworking gardener.

Pumpkin is stored in different ways. The easiest to lower into the basement or cellar. But if this is not possible, they are stored in the apartment. A great place is a glazed balcony or loggia. Provides ventilation and constant air temperature +5-15 ⁰С.

The harvested crop is covered, shading storage racks or fruits stacked in containers. It is desirable to ensure freedom for each individual vegetable. They must not touch each other. If there is too little space, the pumpkins are separated from each other with cardboard. Harvested fruits at room temperature gain sweetness, become tastier.

The vegetable is stored in the refrigerator for 25-35 days, to prevent airing, the cut is lubricated with odorless vegetable oil and wrapped with cling film.

Unused leftover vegetables are stored in the freezer for up to 12 months. Pre-cut as they are used in cooking.

If there is not enough space to decompose large pumpkins, it can be dried. Since autumn, juices, compotes, jams, and other types of preparations are made using these fruits.

Use and beneficial properties of the plant

Pumpkin is used for various purposes. Porridge is cooked, mashed potatoes are used in dietary nutrition. For young children, it is used as the first complementary food. It does not cause an allergic reaction in the body.

Useful not only the pulp of the vegetable, but also its seeds.They are anthelmintic. For men over 40, eating the seeds will help alleviate the symptoms of prostatitis. Prostate adenoma is also treated with the use of seeds of the culture. They are crushed, mixed with honey and eaten on an empty stomach in the morning.

Growing a pumpkin is not difficult at all, if the summer is warm, then it will not require any extra effort and time.

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