Why is the "Marble" pumpkin so popular among farmers: one of the most delicious varieties that give a rich harvest
A glass of pumpkin juice at night helps to relieve insomnia, and regular consumption pumpkin seed oil improves digestion. For these reasons, and not only the vegetable is popular and widespread among gardeners around the world. The Marble variety is recognized as one of the brightest representatives of the culture. Consider why farmers love this vegetable so much and how to grow a rich harvest of Marble pumpkin.
The content of the article
Description of the variety
The Marble variety ripens within 125 days from the moment of planting, therefore it is characterized as medium late. Bushes with long lashes, many dense leaves. The root system is powerful, which is why 1 sq. m planted no more than two bushes.
Distinctive features
The marble variety is not picky about growing conditions, it shows itself well both in the open field and in a greenhouse or greenhouse. They are planted in a seedling or non-seedling way. Vegetables are high in vitamins, as well as potassium, magnesium and fiber.
Marble is distinguished by an interesting color and original fruits.
Fruit characteristics and yield
The pumpkins are large, with a dense skin and strong ribbing. The color is dark green or gray, sometimes white spots appear on the surface. The weight of one vegetable is from 4 to 11 kg. The pulp is rich orange, tender in structure.
The taste is sweet and juicy. The fruits contain a large amount of sugars and saturated acids. The variety is resistant to transportation, has an excellent keeping quality. From 1 sq. m summer residents collect about 6 kg of delicious vegetables.
How to grow
Some gardeners sow the vegetable with seeds in the ground, while others prepare seedlings. The first method is great for the southern regions of the country, and the seedling method is designed for areas with unpredictable climatic conditions. Consider each of the methods and technology for growing the Marble variety.
Planting with seeds
First, choose a quality seed. As a rule, they buy it in a store or borrow it from friends. In both cases, be sure to disinfect the seeds. Warming up in the sun for seven days or a solution of hydrogen peroxide in which the material is soaked for two hours will help. Disinfection is a necessary condition, since the procedure relieves the future plant from diseases and protects from insects.
After the seeds, proceed to disinfect the earth. For this, the chemical "Fundazol" is perfect. It is a quick and effective remedy for any soil. After applying "Fundazol" in a month, treat the soil with "Fitosporin". The tools can be purchased at any gardening store.
Important! Choose sunny and spacious areas for planting. Pumpkin prefers a mixture of loamy and sandy loam soil. At the end of October, dig up the beds and apply fertilizers such as peat or humus. Dig again and apply organic fertilizer before planting. Remember that future beds should not contain weeds or last year's plants, as well as household waste.
Plant the Marble Pumpkin only in prepared soil. When planting, use river sand or sawdust - these materials serve as an excellent drainage layer. The distance between the bushes should be at least 70-80 cm. Otherwise, they will have little room for normal development.
Planting seedlings
Seedlings are planted in a variety of containers. For example, in milk cartons. In this case, the main thing is to wash and dry the container well. If this is not done, then lactic acid bacteria can harm young seedlings.
Small drainage holes are made in the bottom of the boxes and placed on a plastic tray. Gardeners also use wooden boxes, peat pots, or plastic containers.
Seedling containers should be easy to use, affordable and environmentally friendly.
Don't forget to prepare the ground. This can be done in several ways:
- Prepare the mixture yourself. To do this, you will need land from the garden, humus, sawdust and ash (in a ratio of 4: 1: 1: 0.5). Such a composition requires mandatory disinfection, which is carried out using a solution of potassium permanganate. Preparing the soil is not difficult, the main thing is to purchase all the ingredients in advance.
- Buy a ready-made composition in the store. The advantages of such a soil are that it is more nutritious and contains the necessary level of acidity. Also, ready-made compounds are already disinfected in advance and are affordable.
Grow seedlings in a sunny place. Every seven days it is watered with warm, settled water, and after two weeks, liquid organic matter or mineral complexes are added. Experienced summer residents advise using the growth stimulator "Kornevin", which strengthens the root system and increases the immunity of the sprouts. They are also planted at a distance of 70-80 cm from each other in pre-disinfected soil.
Care
About 2 liters of water are spent on young bushes, and about 5 liters on adults... The culture especially needs watering during flowering and fruiting. Pour directly under the root to keep moisture out of the stem and leaves. Before doing this, loosen the soil so that the water gets as deep as possible into the ground.
Important! The best water for pumpkins is rainwater. To collect it, install a drainpipe and a large tank on the site.
In addition to moistening, the beds are weeded regularly. Weeds are detrimental to both young plants and ripe vegetables. They take nutrients from the bushes and negatively affect the microflora of the beds. Combine weeding with loosening - this will have a beneficial effect on the plant. The procedures are especially active after rains or fogs.
Fertilization is a necessary condition for obtaining a rich harvest. The culture responds well to yeast, nettle and aloe juice. Solutions based on these ingredients accelerate plant growth and make the fruit tastier.
Plus, pumpkin is good for fertilizers based on mullein or chicken manure. Also, the vegetable loves foliar dressing, for example, spraying a solution based on onion peels from a spray bottle.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
The Marble variety needs to form a bush and remove stepchildren. As a rule, the vegetable is formed into one stem, leaving about three fruits on one lash.
Flowers and other shoots are cut with garden shears. Next, pinch the top to stop the growth of the plant. You also need to untangle long lashes, lay them on the beds and sprinkle them with earth on top. This is very important for the normal development of the bush.
Do not forget to regularly feed the bushes with mineral fertilizers. Ammonium nitrate, which contains a rich complex of minerals, is recognized as an excellent remedy. In addition, summer residents use fertilizers based on superphosphate or nitrophosphate.
Important! If the fruits have grown large and heavy, then summer residents put boards or stones under them. If this is not done, then the vegetable may begin to rot from contact with the ground. Also, under the weight of the fruit, the stems and shoots may break.
Growing tips from experienced gardeners
Many summer residents share their secrets of a rich harvest. Among them, the most common are the following:
- Plant squash after legumes or onions, avoid planting after squash or squash.
- Prepare seedlings three weeks before planting in the ground.
- If you are growing pumpkin in a greenhouse, remember to ventilate it regularly. The greenhouse has a special microclimate and high humidity; regular ventilation helps to avoid it. Otherwise, the risk of developing fungal diseases increases.
- The ideal water temperature for irrigation should be at least 20 degrees.
- Moisten your garden beds early in the morning or evening to avoid sunburn.
- Water your pumpkin beds periodically with an ash solution, not water. Ash nourishes the soil and helps to get a richer crop.
- The loosening depth must be at least 10 cm.
- If using growth stimulants, watch the dosage. If you add the drug incorrectly, then the bushes will develop exclusively due to internal reserves, because of which the plant will quickly die.
- From mid-August, they stop fertilizing the soil, as the pumpkins ripen.
Diseases and pests
Of the diseases, white rot occasionally attacks the pumpkin beds. First of all, the infection affects the fruits: they acquire a white bloom and rot after 2-3 days. The reason for the appearance of rot lies in improper care and high humidity, therefore it is so important to carry out all agrotechnical procedures in a timely manner.
As a preventive measure, gardeners use a solution of Bordeaux liquid. You can buy the product in the store or prepare it yourself. It is important to prepare protective clothing, goggles and a respirator when using liquid.
Also, a disease such as bacteriosis affects the Marble variety. This is one of the most common and dangerous crop diseases. Bacteriosis also appears due to improper care and weak soil. For treatment, an ash solution is used, which is sprayed on the bushes every seven days in the morning. In addition to the therapeutic function, the solution also strengthens the general immunity of the plant.
From pests, melon aphids attack the beds. Small insects gather on bushes, leaves dry up and curl. Because of this, the yield and quality of the fruits are significantly reduced.
To combat melon aphids, summer residents use:
- copper sulfate solution;
- soap solution;
- aloe juice.
Harvesting and application of the crop
The harvest begins in early September. They pluck the fruits with the stalk, without it the vegetable will quickly fade. Marble can be stored for up to a year, but for this it needs to create ideal conditions. Vegetables are well stored in dark and ventilated areas. Never wash the pumpkin before storing it, just wipe it down with a dry cloth.
The culture is rich in vitamins and useful elements. B vitamins have a beneficial effect on eyesight, and vitamin A is an excellent remedy for skin aging. Also, the product is indispensable for cooking dietary mealssuch as porridge, cream soup, soufflé and juice.
Interesting! Puree soup first appeared in France. In the future, the British began to cook the dish, who fell in love with it for its nutritional value and warming effect. It is surprising that for a long time soups were cooked without broth. The inhabitants of the south used only vegetables, fruits and spices. The inhabitants of northern countries began to add meat or fish broth.
Today pumpkin is baked, boiled and fried. It goes well with both meat and dairy products, and pumpkin seed oil recognized as one of the most useful. Also added to food sunflower seeds and flowers of bushes. For example, they prepare delicious and healthy vegetable salads based on pumpkin, garlic and herbs.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Of the advantages of the variety, summer residents distinguish taste: Marble has a sweet and juicy taste, which makes the product indispensable for the preparation of most dishes.
The useful composition of the vegetable was liked by those gardeners who monitor their health and adhere to proper nutrition. The fruits are well stored and transported.
In general, the plant has a high immunity to diseases and pests, has an original fruit appearance and a dark green color.
Of the shortcomings, some difficulties in care are noted., namely, the formation of a bush and the construction of additional support for the vegetable. As for the rest, the Marble Pumpkin variety has no significant disadvantages.
Farmers reviews
No store-bought pumpkin beats the one grown in your garden. Your own harvest is always tastier and more beautiful. However, not all gardeners were satisfied with the Marble Pumpkin.
Ekaterina, Volgograd: “I prefer only sweet varieties because they make delicious dishes. I tried to grow Marble, and I succeeded. The maximum weight of one pumpkin is 5.5 kg, the fruits are emerald. I prepared part of the crop right away, the rest was stored. We will enjoy the product until spring. "
Elena, Penza: “A neighbor recommended planting the Marble Gourd in a greenhouse. The vegetable turned out to be easy to care for, I just watered and weeded the beds. She also fed the plant with manure and nettles four times throughout the season. The harvest is excellent. "
Marina, Orenburg: “I always plant 2-3 different pumpkin varieties on the site. Last year it was Pearl, Marble and Pineapple pumpkins. Of all three, Marble showed the worst result. The ovaries formed slowly, the pumpkins were small. "
Conclusion
The marble gourd is a beautiful and large emerald green fruit. A vegetable will decorate any vegetable garden, be it the northern or southern region. The plant takes root in any climatic conditions, is characterized by a stable and high yield.
The vegetable is multifaceted in use: it is suitable both as a main course and as a dessert. The product goes especially well with cinnamon, honey and ginger.