The beneficial properties of the culture have been known to everyone for a very long time. Summer residents who grow plants on their property choose the most useful variety that does not require special effort when growing. Common honey types are: pumpkin honey dessert, honey crumble, honey princess and others.
Characteristics of species
The variety of honey varieties provide a large choice for the summer resident, but it should be noted that all types have only a characteristic honey smell in common.
Brief description of varieties:
- Honey dessert. Climbing, ripens in 3 months. The fruits are very large, round in shape and slightly flattened. Weight ranges from 3 to 10 kg.Pumpkins are guaranteed to be stored for 3 months, after which it depends on storage conditions.
- Pumpkin Honey crumb. Ripens within 3.5-4 months. All the pumpkins on the bushes are the same size and round in shape. They weigh 2.5-3.5 kg. Ash color. Keeps for a long time. Bush type.
- Honey Princess. Ripens in 110-120 days. Round-oblate shape, weighing 3-10 kg. Unravels well.
- Honey beauty. Ready for use 3 months after germination. The fruit weighs from 4.5-6 kg. Stores perfectly.
- Honey orange. Ripens within 120 days. Pumpkins weigh 1.5-2 kg and are yellow-orange in color. It unravels and has excellent taste characteristics.
The choice of variety always remains with the vegetable 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, as the yield is higher and disease resistance is stronger.
Gardeners who have been growing the crop for a long time know that it does not require much space. Therefore, they grow it along the edge of the plot at the boundary or near buildings. It is important to provide supports for the weaving if there is not a lot of free space.
The shorter the summer, the less likely it is that the pumpkin will ripen on the bushes. For 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 Honey Crumb and Honey Orange varieties categorically do not tolerate transplantation.
No special care is required for honey pumpkin seedlings. Gardeners use peat pots as containers for growing seedlings.When transferred to a permanent place, they act as a root fertilizer, completely decomposing in the ground and without disturbing the root system of plants.
By the time of transplantation, 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 ⁰C. The depth of embedding in the soil is 5-8 cm. Humus is added to the holes. The planting scheme depends on the wishes of the gardener and the space he has; it is advisable to maintain 60-100 cm between plants.
Cultivation care
In general, the requirements are the same for all varieties: regular watering, weeding, loosening and shaping. Loosening will retain moisture in the soil and provide the root system with oxygen.
Water the plants abundantly before flowering; water is necessary for the formation of vines. Therefore, the soil must be constantly moist. But after the pumpkin begins to bloom, stop watering, this will improve pollination.
Humus is used as fertilizing in the spring or manure in the fall. Plants are watered with diluted mullein after the first few leaves appear, then during flowering and after 10-12 days. Afterwards, it is enough to feed 2-3 times a month.
Removing weeds gives the crop the opportunity to obtain more nutrients from the soil and helps avoid the development of diseases and pest attacks.
Formation of bushes. First of all, you should consider the growing region. In the northern regions they leave 2 ovaries, in the middle regions there are already 3-4 pumpkins on one vine. In the southern regions, the growth of the whip is not limited at all. Empty branches, without ovaries, are removed completely. After the last ovaries, 5 leaves are left and the growing point is removed.
Harvest volume and storage
Honey pumpkins differ from each other in the size of the fruit. In addition, the formation of plants differs depending on the region of residence. Therefore, it will not be possible to clearly indicate what the yield will be. It is important to follow simple care requirements and the result will definitely please the hardworking gardener.
Pumpkin is stored in different ways. The easiest one is to go down to the basement or cellar. But if this is not possible, they are stored in the apartment. An excellent place is a glazed balcony or loggia. Ventilation and a constant air temperature of +5-15 ⁰C are provided.
The harvested crop is covered, shading storage racks or fruits stored in containers. It is advisable to provide freedom to each individual vegetable. They should not touch each other. If there is too little space, the pumpkins are separated from each other with cardboard. When picked at room temperature, the fruits gain sweetness and become tastier.
The vegetable is stored in the refrigerator for 25-35 days; to prevent weathering, the cut points are greased with odorless vegetable oil and wrapped in cling film.
Store unused leftover vegetables in the freezer for up to 12 months. Pre-cut as they are used in cooking.
If there is not enough space to arrange large pumpkins, you can dry them. In the fall, juices, compotes, jams, and other types of preparations are made using these fruits.
Application and beneficial properties of the plant
Pumpkin is used for various purposes. Porridge is cooked and the puree is used as part of the diet. For small children it is used as the first complementary food. It does not cause an allergic reaction in the body.
Not only the pulp of the vegetable is useful, but also its seeds. They are anthelmintic.For men over 40 years old, eating seeds will help alleviate the symptoms of prostatitis. Prostate adenoma is also treated using the seeds of the culture. They are crushed, mixed with honey and eaten on an empty stomach in the morning.
Growing a pumpkin is not at all difficult; if the summer is warm, then it will not require any extra effort or time.
