Pumpkin is valued by many gardeners for its ease of care. With minimal labor input, the crop produces high yields. Pink banana pumpkin is a unique variety bred by breeders that has high taste and is used to prevent a number of diseases.
Description of the variety
Large pumpkin refers to mid-season varieties (90–110 days pass from the first shoots to ripening). The plant is long-climbing with spindle-shaped fruits. With proper care, the weight of one fruit can reach from 5 to 18 kg, length - about 50 cm. The pumpkin bark is thin and pale pink.The pulp is sweet, rich orange in color, dense. The pulp has virtually no fiber, which allows it to retain its taste after freezing.
Externally, the shape of the fruit is elongated and resembles a banana, which explains the name of the variety. In half of the cases, during cultivation, a typical varietal characteristic of the crop appears - the presence of a bluish outline in the place where the flower falls off the ovary.
Growing
You should start sowing pumpkins when the soil warms to 13–14 degrees. At this temperature, the seeds will be able to germinate quickly and not rot. You need to sow the pumpkin crop at a depth of about 6–7 cm. To reduce the risk of damage to the seedlings, it is recommended to plant the seeds at different depths and at a distance of more than a meter from each other.
During the sowing period, the soil is not always saturated with moisture, which can inhibit the emergence of seedlings and subsequent growth. When planting, you must first pour 1.5 liters of warm water into each hole, then add seeds and sprinkle with a nutrient mixture. To increase the yield, the holes should be treated with humus or peat chips after sowing.
Features of care
Rapid seed germination is only possible if additional plant care measures are taken. For this purpose, many gardeners cover the holes with film, creating greenhouse conditions. When shoots appear in the film, you need to cut holes up to 10 cm through which ventilation will occur.
After spring frosts, the slots can be increased to 15 cm in diameter in order to completely release the sprouts from the shelter and spread the film on the surface.
This creates favorable conditions for growth, since the soil temperature is several degrees higher than usual, and moisture evaporation is sharply reduced.
During periods of dry weather, when flowers bloom and when fruits are filling, plants should be watered generously with water at a temperature of more than 20 degrees. Periodically, the beds require removing weeds and loosening the soil. In order not to damage the root system, the soil is loosened first by 8–10 cm, and then by 5–6 cm.
Advantages and disadvantages
The Pink Banana variety has a number of comparative advantages compared to other pumpkin crops. Including:
- Beneficial features. The variety is one of the richest in microelements and vitamins. Regular consumption of pumpkin promotes the normal functioning of the digestive organs of the human body.
- Well preserved. After harvesting, the fruits can be stored for up to 6 months.
- Uniqueness. Unlike other varieties, the crop has an unusual appearance and color.
- Fast maturation. You can grow a crop in 3–4 months if you create greenhouse conditions that promote accelerated growth.
- Taste characteristics. The fruits can be eaten raw due to their sweet taste or used to prepare various dishes.
The disadvantages of growing Pink Banana pumpkin include the need for frequent watering and the possibility of encountering pests. Growing fruit requires compliance with a number of nuances and rules.
Pests and diseases
Of all the diseases characteristic of vegetable crops, bacteriosis poses the greatest danger to pumpkin. The manifestation of the disease occurs in the form of brown ulcers, which cause the fruits to bend and rot. If such symptoms are detected, diseased plants should be picked and the rest of the crop should be treated with Bordeaux mixture.
If pests such as spider mites or melon aphids are found in the beds, you need to regularly spray the seedlings with water or onion peel infusion throughout the day. To prevent the emergence of new pests, it is important to constantly remove weeds from the garden bed and follow the rules of crop rotation (do not plant a pumpkin in one place for 3-4 years).
Harvest and storage
Following the rules of sowing and care will allow you to grow up to 10 pumpkins on one bush. The fruits can be harvested after the first light frost. The primary signs of maturation are a clearly defined bark pattern and hardening.
You can store pumpkin in the refrigerator or in a cool, dark room. One of the important conditions is the absence of excess moisture. Otherwise, the crop may begin to rot and become moldy. If you need to store pumpkin for a long time, you should choose only well-ripened fruits that have no obvious stains or damage.
When placing fruits on shelves or in a box, it is better to make sure that they do not touch each other. Place pumpkins with the stem facing up.
Reviews from gardeners
Ekaterina, Volgograd:
“I really liked this variety; 6 pumpkins grew on one bush at once. Very sweet, I can’t describe this in a review, you have to try it. The flesh is not tough. I only store it in the refrigerator, sometimes I even eat it raw. I will definitely plant it next year.”
Mikhail, Tomsk:
“I heard a lot about this variety, but only this season I decided to plant it on my plot. I reaped a good harvest, many times more than I expected. I haven’t tried it yet, but externally the fruits look very attractive and unusual.”
