Review of the variety of lagenarii "Goose in apples": what is good and why it is worth growing on your site

Cucumber is a familiar green oblong vegetable that adorns various dishes and winter preparations. Have you heard anything about Indian cucumber? Or a Vietnamese zucchini? But in nature there is a plant whose fruits are similar to both of these vegetables at the same time.

The article is devoted to the unique variety of Lagenaria Goose in apples, which is planted to decorate the summer cottage and eat. The variety is named so for a reason: the fruit of lagenaria resembles a goose bent over to nibble grass. Let's get to know him better.

What is Lagenaria

Lagenaria is an annual climbing plant of the pumpkin family. Its homeland is India and Vietnam, therefore it is also called Indian cucumber or Vietnamese zucchini.

Lagenaria fruits are edible only when unripe. They are varied in shape: serpentine, elongated, similar to a huge cucumber or zucchini, pitcher-shaped, bottle-shaped, in the form of a capsule. The color of the fruit resembles a pumpkin or zucchini, can reach 2 m in length.

Lagenaria also performs a decorative function, wrapping around gazebos and fences. Lagenaria fruits are suitable for fresh consumption and after cooking.

reference... Lagenaria stems are used to make baskets and other wickerwork.

Goose variety in apples

Lagenaria of a bizarre shape will decorate the summer cottage, and you can enjoy various dishes made from its fruits.

Distinctive features

Characteristic features of Lagenaria Goose in apples:

• heat-loving and moisture-loving plant - in the southern regions it is grown in the open field with the help of seeds, in other areas it is recommended to use the seedling method;
• the seeds are large, with small "horns";
• a trellis is needed for lagenaria;
• liana-shaped stems;
• high growth rates - the central shoot grows up to 15 m, lateral ones - up to 6-8 m;
• leaves are large, rounded, bright green in color, velvety to the touch, arranged tightly to each other, covering the support with a single carpet;
• the flowers are large, white, similar to bells, located on long peduncles - the first to bloom are male (barren), then female, from which ovaries are formed;
• can bloom and bear fruit at the same time before frost;
• differs in unpretentiousness in cultivation and care.

The fruits of the Goose variety in apples are outwardly similar to the fruits of another Lagenaria - Geese-Swans. However, there are differences in leaf shape and shoot length.

Fruit characteristics

Let's take a closer look at what is characteristic of the fruits of lagenaria:

• resemble a goose gracefully bowing its long neck;
• at the beginning of growth they look like a cucumber;
• after more like pumpkinthan a cucumber or squash;
• when ripe, they look like pumpkins of dark green color with white specks;
• only young fruits are used for food;
• ripe pumpkins are suitable for making decorative vessels - for this, the fruit is cleaned of pulp and seeds, and then dried;
• average fruit size is about 50 cm, weight is from 1.5 to 8 kg;
• the plant is unique in that you can not pluck the whole fruit, but only cut off the necessary part, and the lagenaria will continue to grow further;
• fruits have excellent taste, can be stored all winter at room temperature.

Fruits that have reached a length of 30-35 cm are suitable for eating.

Yield

Given the possibility of lagenaria to bear fruit until the onset of the first frost, the yield of the variety is high. From one bush, you can remove from 10 to 15 fruits. Harvesting begins in late summer - early autumn. Fruit ripening lasts 1.5-3 months after pollination.

How to grow

The variety is suitable for growing in all regions of Russia. In the south, pumpkin seeds are immediately planted in the ground. In other regions, seedlings are first grown in room conditions, then transplanted into the beds.

Planting with seeds

For planting Lagenaria Goose in apples, use slightly sprouted seeds (for this they are placed in growth stimulants - "Epin" or aloe juice). Before planting, the seeds are soaked: they are placed in a cloth moistened with water and removed for several days in a warm place. It is important to keep it wet at all times. After 3-4 days, you can plant the seeds of lagenaria in the ground.

Important! Soil preparation for planting lagenaria is the same as for pumpkins and zucchini. The only difference is that the soil must be neutral or slightly alkaline.

The seeds are planted in mid-April.

One or more seeds are sown in each hole, at least 5-10 cm deep. When several shoots appear, only one plant is left, the rest are removed. The distance between the holes must be 1 m or more.

To obtain new seeds, some fruits are left on the stems until fully ripe. Then the seeds are dried.

Planting seedlings

The process of preparing seeds for growing seedlings is the same as for planting in open ground. Seeds are sown in containers with a volume of at least 1 liter. Peat pots are better: each seed is placed in a separate pot. You can use a common box for landing and then dive into separate containers. However, Lagenaria does not always survive this process successfully.

Young shoots are planted in open ground in mid-May - early June, when night frosts pass.... The distance between the holes should be 1 m, and the diameter and depth of the holes should be at least 30-40 cm. Previously, a mixture of 2 tbsp is poured into each hole. l. ash, 500 g of humus and 2 tsp. superphosphate.

You can pour the well with the Agricola-5 solution (20 g of the preparation per 10 l of water). Planting should be done carefully to avoid damage to roots and stems. After disembarkation, the lagenaria is watered with warm water.

Attention! The size of the lagenaria for transplanting into open ground should be at least 10 cm.

Lagenarii choose a place for growing sunny, well-lit.

A plant that has reached 1 m in height will need support.

Care

Lagenaria is unpretentious, but requires some care:

• regular moderate watering is important;
• lagenaria flowers bloom in the dark, and close in the morning (only night insects pollinate it), therefore, it is additionally recommended to use the manual method of pollination;
• during growth, it is recommended to feed the plant with organic fertilizers;
• to reduce the evaporation of moisture, the soil is mulched with peat or humus;
• regular weeding and loosening of the soil are required;
• plant stems require timely pinching and pruning - this stimulates the growth of lateral branches and limits the growth of the main shoot;
• the plant is liana-like, it requires supports, which are better placed at a distance of 1.8-2 m from each other (trellis, arches, trees).

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

For cultivation, they use fertile land fertilized with organic and mineral compounds. Acidic and too wet soil will not work. Fertilize the soil in the fall.

Lagenaria grows well after legumes, cabbage crops and potatoes. For planting, it is better to choose not a shaded place, but a well-lit place. The plant does not tolerate frost. The optimum temperature is +25 ° C.

The growing season of the Goose variety in apples is about 220 days.

Growing Lagenaria, you may face the following difficulties:

1. You can never wait for the fruits (or there will be 1-2 of them), if you do not use the manual method of pollination. The natural nighttime way is not enough.
2. The fruits dry out after the ovaries. The reason is inappropriate conditions or poor watering.
3. Not all seeds planted in open ground or for seedlings may germinate. This is because the skin of the seeds is very dense.
4. The plant may die if night frosts occur after planting in the ground.

Growing tips from experienced gardeners

Summer residents give the following recommendations for growing varieties of Lagenaria Goose in apples:

• sowing seeds for seedlings can be in a bag designed for composting;
• growing lagenaria requires the sunniest place;
• for planting seedlings, you need to dig a hole 40x50 cm in size, fill it with earth mixed with humus (a glass of wood ash and 50-80 g of Ammofoska mineral fertilizer on a bucket of humus);
• fertilize every 10 days with infusion of chicken manure;
• as a support, you can use a wire stretched along a fence, gazebo or veranda;
• support can be natural - a tree or a bush;
• with the appearance of the first flowers, it is imperative to carry out manual pollination - to pick the male flower, bring it to the female one and touch its stigma with the stamens;
• so that the "neck" of the fetus is not bent, but elongated, the fruits are suspended.

Diseases and pests

Lagenaria is affected by the same diseases and pests as other members of the pumpkin family.

Diseases:

1. Anthracnose... Fungal disease that manifests itself in the form of light brown spots on the leaves and stems. Leads to ulceration of the fruit. High humidity contributes to the development of the disease.
2. Root rot. Refers to fungal diseases. Typical signs are wilting of leaves with subsequent death of roots. The reason is the sharp drops in night and day temperatures.
3. Gray rot. Large brown spots appear on the leaves, a gray fluffy bloom on the fruits, the stems begin to rot.
4. Powdery mildew. Fungal disease. It appears as a white or reddish bloom on the front of the leaves, which leads to their drying out. The reason is excessive moisture.
5. Peronosporosis, or downy mildew. Light, then brownish spots appear on the upper side of the leaves. On the underside, in places of spots, a grayish-purple bloom is noticeable.

Read also:

Causes and treatment of cucumber anthracnose.

Calcium nitrate from top rot.

Why does powdery mildew appear and why is it dangerous on cucumbers?

Pests:

1. Slugs and snails... They feed on young shoots and leaves of plants.
2. Whitefly... Small yellowish insect with white wings, no more than 2 mm in size. Harmful to plants by sucking sap from leaves.
3. Garden scoop larvae... Butterfly caterpillars feed on leaves.
4. Winter moth larvae... Caterpillars harm young shoots and leaves.
5. Aphid. A widespread insect that develops in moderately humid and warm weather. It can be found on the back of leaves, stems, and flowers. It feeds on Lagenaria juice. With significant damage, the plant may dry out and die.
6. Spider mite. Sucks out the sap of the plant. Signs - a thin cobweb appears on the underside of the leaves, the leaves gradually acquire a brown color and subsequently dry out. The reason is hot and dry weather.

Harvesting and application of the crop

Not all types of lagenaria have edible fruits. The Goose variety in apples has young fruits (up to 50 cm) tasty, tender and juicy, reminiscent of a cucumber or zucchini. They can be eaten raw and made into salads. The more ripe fruits are usually used for soups, pancakes, stews and fried foods. You can cook caviar, various snacks from them. Lagenaria fruits are good in baked, salted and pickled form.

Lagenaria Goose in apples is a valuable dietary product. Eating fruits in food helps to cleanse the body of toxins, heavy metals, toxins, radionuclides, salts, improves metabolic processes, lowers blood pressure, strengthens the immune system.

Seeds are used as a folk remedy for the removal of worms.

Ripe fruits can be used in arts and crafts: make vases, jugs and other vessels, use for making crafts, for interior decoration. Original and durable baskets can be woven from the stems.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The main advantages of Lagenaria Goose in apples:

• good productivity;
• disease resistance;
• originality of appearance;
• sophistication of taste;
• nutritional value;
• unpretentiousness;
• the possibility of using for decorative purposes;
• the duration of storage of the harvested fruits.

The disadvantages include the inability to grow a plant without heat and good light, the need for manual pollination.

Farmers reviews

Lagenaria Goose in apples is most often grown by summer residents for decorative purposes.

Iliad, Kaluga: «Lagenaria Goose in apples is an interesting vegetable. Due to the fact that the fruits were initially in a suspended state, they acquired the shape of a club. Young fruits are edible and taste like zucchini, but it is a pity to eat such beauty, it is better to use it for making unusual vases, because lagenaria is a pot pumpkin. It grows quickly, so it is perfect for quick landscaping of the site. She has gorgeous large leaves, fragrant white flowers and funny fruits. I grew the plant in seedlings, but you can also plant with the seeds that have been hatched. It does not require much care, it can drown out weeds itself, but watering and top dressing are desirable, but even without this, the lagenaria grows well and bears fruit. "

Victor, Gornyak-1: “I grew several varieties of Lagenaria, including Goose in apples. I think the latter is the most original. The fruits are like grazing geese. The plant itself is very beautiful. "

Nadezhda, Oryol: “I grew Lagenaria Goose in apples, using rose hips as a support. Grown for the purpose of making bird houses. I bought several bags of seeds from the Gavrish company for planting. Planted many, but not all ascended. I faced such a problem: some fruits, not having time to set, dried up. But all the same, the whole wild rose was strewn with "geese".

Conclusion

Lagenaria Goose in apples is not only an ornamental plant, but also a nutritious and valuable vegetable. Having planted it on your site, you can not only admire the beautiful "geese", but also use the fruits and stems for food and for making crafts.

The main thing is to follow the simple rules of agricultural technology and monitor the plantings. Have a nice and tasty harvest!