A variety with a melon aroma and a high yield - pumpkin "Rossiyanka" and the secrets of its cultivation
The pumpkin variety Rossiyanka is appreciated for its cold resistance and high yield. The fruits are eaten fresh, frozen for the winter, pickles are prepared. In order not to look for high-quality pumpkin on supermarket shelves, many people prefer to grow a Russian woman's crop on their personal plot. Moreover, the plant is unpretentious in care and has a high immunity to unfavorable climatic factors.
Let's consider in detail what a large-fruited Russian pumpkin is and how to grow a healthy and tasty crop.
The content of the article
Description of the variety
The variety is recommended for cultivation in central Russia and the Moscow region. The vegetable is cultivated in greenhouses and in open beds, the ripening period is 90-100 days. It does not require any special care, therefore it is perfect for beginner gardeners.
Distinctive features
Bushes are compact, semi-spreading. The leaf plate is wide, the lashes are of medium length. During the ripening process, many additional shoots are formed, which must be removed. The variety rarely gets sick and is resistant to insect pests. Shows the best yield on loose and nutritious soils.
Fruit characteristics and yield
The pumpkins are small, the weight of one varies from 2 to 4 kg. The pulp is firm, sweet, with a melon aroma. The surface is smooth, orange color. Taste and commercial qualities are excellent, in application the variety Rossiyanka is universal. From 1 sq. m gardeners collect about 6 kg of delicious and beautiful fruits.
Interesting! Pumpkin is 90% water and contains beta-carotene, useful for human health. This powerful antioxidant neutralizes the negative effects of free radicals and protects the body from premature aging.
How to grow
The vegetable is planted in several ways. Let's consider each of them in detail, identify the distinctive features and characteristics.
Seed planting in open ground
This method is suitable for growing vegetables in the southern regions of the country with favorable climatic conditions. First of all, the seeds themselves are prepared. The material is etched by heating at a temperature of + 65 ° C for 2-3 hours. Then the seeds are hardened at a temperature of +1 ° C for a day. Hardening strengthens the plant's immunity and accelerates adaptation to weather conditions.
Further, it is recommended to rinse the seeds with the help of "Formalin" and running water. Only after all procedures is the material ready for planting.
Important! Pay attention to the preparation of the beds. The pumpkin is not planted after cucumbers or zucchini, it is better to give preference to beds from under greens or cabbage. A warm area with a deep arable layer and loose soil is allocated for the culture.
The culture loves cleaned beds, which experienced gardeners take care of in advance. Weeds are removed from the beds, they are dug up to a depth of 30 cm. In order for the soil to retain moisture, it is mixed with light loamy soil and dry sawdust is added.
For reliability, the mineral vermiculite is added to the ground. It saturates the soil with useful properties, which has a beneficial effect on the future harvest. Seeds are planted according to the scheme 1 x 1, 5 m. In the previously prepared holes, 3-5 seeds are placed at once. Sprinkle on top with earth and peat chips.
Planting seedlings
For seedlings requires soil and capacity.Decontaminated soil from the garden or ready-made compositions is used as seedling soil. Experienced summer residents recommend disinfection in any case to avoid fungi and infections. Peat or humus will help to increase the germination of seedlings.
Seedlings are planted in any container, the main thing is that it is clean and dry. Most often, peat tablets and pots, plastic cassettes with pallets, boxes are used as containers. Soil is poured into the container, watered abundantly and pits are made 1-1.5 cm deep. The seeds are placed in the ground, sprinkled with earth and watered again.
For the normal development of seedlings, it is necessary to moisten the seedlings once a week. It is important to avoid excess water - excessive humidity increases the risk of developing diseases.
To accelerate growth, succinic acid or a Heteroauxin stimulant is added to the seedlings. Means increase seed germination by 10-20% and develop increased immunity. Feed the pumpkin several times. For the first feeding, organic liquid fertilizers are used, for example, bird droppings. The second time it is recommended to add mineral components.
Care
Water the beds with a watering can or a hose. When using a watering can, be sure to put on a special nozzle, and when using a hose, clamp the stream so that the water is evenly distributed. It is recommended to water the pumpkin not at the root, but in a special groove near the bush. This technique will help not to wash the roots and keep young stems safe and sound. Before watering, the soil is loosened by 10-15 cm. The soil is moistened in the morning or in the evening to avoid sunburn.
Top dressing plays a special role. After planting on the site, the plant is fed after 15 days. Vermicompost, compost, humus, ash, liquid manure are recognized as excellent top dressing. Organic fertilizing reduces soil acidity, improves microflora. For 1 bush, 2-3 liters of top dressing are consumed.
Of the mineral fertilizers, summer residents prefer to feed the plants with superphosphate or potassium salt, as well as complex mineral preparations such as "Magic Leica", "Juno", "Garden Mix". They are easy to use and promote healthy pumpkin development.
Important! Do not fertilize dry soil, plants may get burned. Before the procedure, the beds must be watered.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
A month after planting in the garden, they begin to form a bush. As soon as 1-2 fruits are formed on the main stem, it is pinched. In this case, the length of the lateral processes should be no more than 50-60 cm so that ovaries form on them. If this is not done in time, then many small fruits appear on the bushes, which do not have time to ripen due to a limited supply of food. During the formation of the bush, watering is reduced.
Experienced farmers always keep track of which mineral fertilizers have been applied and in what quantity. For example, ammonium nitrate and calcium nitrate contain nitrogen, an excess of which can lead to wilting of the fruit. Therefore, it is not recommended to apply these dressings together. Summer residents are advised to alternate organic and mineral nutrition with each other in order to maintain the correct metabolism.
Growing tips from experienced gardeners
To avoid problems with growing, gardeners recommend following the basic agrotechnical rules: water and fertilize the beds on time, timely fertilize and loosen the soil.
In addition, vegetable growers share their secrets of a rich harvest:
- lime the soil to reduce acidity and make it more nutritious;
- germinate seeds before planting seedlings;
- planting crops in hilly beds;
- plant a pumpkin on a site on a calm, cloudy day;
- for irrigation use water with a temperature not lower than +20 ° С;
- periodically spray the bushes with a solution of milk whey;
- untangle the whips and sprinkle them with earth.
Diseases and pests
Diseases usually appear at the stage of fruit formation. The reasons for their appearance lie in contaminated soil, improper care, heat and high humidity.
Most often, the following diseases are found in pumpkin beds:
- Root rot occurs in rainy and hot summers. The roots are covered with bloom, which is why the bush soon dies. For prevention purposes, a solution of copper sulfate or ash is used.
- The tobacco mosaic appears as a yellow pattern on the leaves. Bushes are infected from weeds, debris, the remains of last year's plants. Bordeaux liquid or the drug "Fundazol" helps to fight the mosaic.
- Bacteriosis. Insects and birds can transmit the infection; in case of infection, the bacteriosis instantly spreads throughout the garden. The leaves are covered with spots, the fruits lose their elasticity. The disease is treated with copper oxychloride ("HOM" drug).
Of the pests, the whitefly loves to feast on plants. The small white midge lives in flocks, gathers on leaf plates and sucks out the juice from them, without which the bushes die. Another pest is the spider mite. The bug envelops the plant with its cobwebs, which causes the plant to dry out. Spraying on the basis of iodine and milk, as well as the preparations "Provotox" and "Oksikhom" help to fight pests.
Harvesting and application of the crop
Harvested with the arrival of autumn. The fruits acquire a bright color, the crust becomes hard. They pick vegetables along with the stalk, wipe with a napkin and put away for storage. Gardeners advise eating fruits with scratches and cracks as soon as possible.
Delicious and healthy porridge, puree soup, compotes and jam... The product is used boiled, baked and fried. Part of the pumpkin is frozen in the freezer, pre-cut into small cubes.
Make a pumpkin and honey face pack. Nicotinic acid in the mixture relieves puffiness and restores a healthy color to the skin, while vitamin E accelerates the production of collagen, which is responsible for skin elasticity.
Pumpkin keeps well in a cool place, so it can be used at any time of the year. In addition to masks, refreshing compresses and nourishing lotions are made from it.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The Rossiyanka variety has a lot of advantages and useful properties, but gardeners also note a couple of disadvantages.
Pluses of pumpkin Russian woman are:
- high and stable yield;
- high taste and marketability;
- immunity to diseases and pests;
- long shelf life;
- useful composition.
Among the shortcomings, the fact is that the variety is picky about the composition of the soil, the best harvest grows in fertile and nutritious soil. Also, the plant requires increased attention to itself, since it needs the timely formation of the bush and top dressing.
Farmers reviews
It is interesting to know what others think about pumpkins. Here are the reviews of experienced gardeners.
Ilya, Cheboksary: “I have never grown a pumpkin before, I decided to start with the Rossiyanka variety. The harvest was good, the fruit grew beautiful and even. The taste is excellent, the whole family liked it. "
Alisa, Orenburg: “The Russian is one of my favorite early varieties. It is a pleasure to take care of vegetables, they are unpretentious. The return is excellent, I start harvesting at the end of August. "
Mikhail, Voronezh: “The summer was rainy, so the pumpkin got sick with root rot. It was possible to cure, but lost half of the crop. Next time I will choose varieties that are more resistant to diseases. "
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Conclusion
The orange beauty Russian woman has won the attention of many.They love her for her taste and appearance; the vegetable does not give much trouble in leaving. Compact fruits are perfectly stored, transported over long distances. In cooking, the product is valued for its vitamin composition, appetizing pulp and sweet aroma.
The variety rarely gets sick, which is especially true for regions with difficult climatic conditions. Harvest with the arrival of autumn. Pluck pumpkins along with the stalk to increase their shelf life.