Pumpkin variety "Atlant": we grow record-sized fruits on our site

Pumpkin contains a large amount of beta-carotene and vitamin A, which have a positive effect on the functioning of the nervous system and improve human digestion. Many gardeners dream of growing a wonderful vegetable on their site. Among all the variety of varieties, the Atlant pumpkin stands out.

Let's take a closer look at what properties this variety has and how to grow a tasty and healthy crop.

Description of pumpkin variety

Atlant is an amazing variety with the largest fruits in the world. In some cases, the weight of the pumpkin reaches 100-150 kg! The vegetable is excellent for processing, delicious and healthy dishes for the winter.

Distinctive features

Refers to late-ripening varieties, ripens in 110-130 days from the moment of planting. The vegetable is grown in the open field.

Bushes are spreading, powerful. Thanks to its dense peel, the vegetable is stored for a long time without losing its properties.

Fruit characteristics and yield

Fruits are oval-round, bright orange color. The surface is slightly ribbed. The average weight of a pumpkin is from 10 to 30 kg. The pulp is juicy and sweet, yellow appetizing color.

Use pumpkin in fried, boiled and steamed form. The seeds of the variety are large, light beige. The yield is stable, from 1 sq. m, on average, 10-15 kg of fruits are harvested.

Interesting! 100 g of pumpkin contains only 25 kcal. Vegetables are often used as the main ingredient in dietary meals.

How to grow

In the north of the country, pumpkin is grown in seedlings, so that the plants quickly adapt to difficult climatic conditions. In warm regions, the vegetable is planted with seeds in open ground. Let's take a closer look at each method and rules for caring for the Atlant variety.

Planting with seeds

Experienced summer residents acquire seeds from trusted manufacturers. When buying, pay attention to the integrity of the packaging and the shelf life of the material. At home, seeds are examined for external defects, damaged specimens are thrown away.

It is advisable to test the seeds for germination. To do this, they are placed in a jar of water and stirred. Those seeds that have sunk to the bottom are used for sowing.

They are preliminarily disinfected using one of the proposed methods:

• soaked for 20 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate;
• leave for a day in aloe juice;
• treated with a solution of hydrogen peroxide;
• leave for 7 days on a veranda or loggia to warm up.

For planting pumpkins, choose an early morning of a calm day. The culture prefers sunny and spacious beds, away from underground groundwater. The soil is preliminarily cleaned of debris and weeds, dug to a depth of 15-20 cm.

To make the soil more nutritious, sprinkle the beds with a mixture of lime and wood ash. This procedure lowers the acidity level and saturates the earth with beneficial properties. Next, grooves are made at a distance of at least 80-100 cm. 2 seeds are placed in each hole, sprinkled with earth on top and watered abundantly with warm water.

Planting seedlings

For seedlings, in addition to disinfected seeds, a suitable container is required. Summer residents are advised to plant pumpkin in large containers or cassettes in order to avoid diving later. The container is pre-washed and treated with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Many people prefer to use ready-made soil mixtures as seedling soil. It is enough just to pour the earth into the container, make small holes and fill sunflower seeds earth. Seedlings are grown on a sunny and light windowsill. With a lack of sun, additional illumination is organized with phytolamps, which can be purchased at any store for gardeners.

Important! Seedling care consists in regular watering and fertilization. Moisten the seedlings as the earth dries up. It is important not to overmoisten the bushes, since an excess of moisture can lead to the development of diseases. In no case should you pour cold water on the pumpkin - use clean water from a filter at room temperature. The sprouts are fed after the first leaves appear. Plants respond well to feeding with liquid bird droppings or infusion on burdock leaves.

Care

Rainwater is best for irrigation. She is softer than any other, all vegetables "love" her. To always have a supply of rainwater at hand, gardeners bring a drainpipe to a tank or collection tank.

If this is not possible, the beds are moistened with tap water, having previously kept it in the sun for at least two hours. About 2-3 liters are spent on one bush. The interval between watering is approximately 4-5 days. If the summer is rainy, the number of procedures is reduced.

Before watering, it is recommended to weed the beds and loosen the ground... These procedures improve the quality of the soil, making it lighter and more airy. Removing weeds is necessary to maintain a healthy microflora in the beds. If this is not done, the risk of disease and insect pests increases significantly. Also, healthy care is impossible without regular feeding.

Gardeners use the following methods:

1. During the flowering period, the bushes are watered with a solution of Bordeaux liquid or copper sulfate. The products protect plants from germs and bacteria.
2. 2 weeks after the first feeding, wood ash or liquid manure is applied. Top dressing has a beneficial effect on the development of the root system.
3. During the fruiting period, ammonium nitrate or superphosphate is added. The preparations improve the taste of vegetables.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

To accelerate the ripening of Atlant fruits, summer residents are advised to form bushes and pinch their tops. To do this, a month after planting, remove excess ovaries, leaving 2-3 fruits on one bush. If this is not done, many small fruits are formed that will not have time to gain weight and ripen. When formed correctly, the fruit will not be much, but the pumpkins will grow large and sweet.

Important! To prevent vegetables from lying on the ground, additional supports are built. For example, they put a wooden board under the fruit. This simple construction prevents damage and rotting of the pumpkin that can occur from contact with wet ground.

Pay special attention to the whips. In the Atlant variety, they are long, so they are regularly unraveled and carefully laid out in the garden, sprinkling with earth. Additional roots sometimes appear in places of powder. This allows for higher yields.

Growing tips from experienced gardeners

We will study tips and tricks from experienced gardeners, with the help of which even beginners will be able to grow a delicious and beautiful crop:

• before planting in the garden, the seedlings are hardened in the freezer for 3-4 days;
• the best crop precursors are legumes, herbs, or potatoes;
• to obtain the highest yield, the vegetable is planted according to the 2x2 scheme;
• before sowing, water and fertilizers are added to the holes;
• water the plants in the morning or evening to avoid sunburn;
• the temperature of the water for irrigation must be at least +20 ° С;
• for convenience, when watering pumpkins, use a drip system or hose;
• 2-3 times a season, the bushes are sprayed with manganese or milk whey, this protects against pests.

Diseases and pests

Bacteriosis is found in pumpkin beds. The causes of the appearance of the disease lie in improper care, waterlogging or contaminated soil. Infection can also be transmitted by insects, birds, and the remains of old plants. Bacteriosis manifests itself in the wilting of the bushes, the fruits become soft, the leaves are covered in small spots. For preventive purposes, spraying based on onion peel is used. For treatment, 0.4% copper oxychloride or Bordeaux liquid is used.

Another disease is powdery mildew. It manifests itself in the form of a white coating on the leaves, which is why metabolism is disturbed in the bushes. The leaves gradually dry out, the stems and petioles are affected. Powdery mildew progresses with an overabundance of nitrogen-containing dressings and poor watering. Affected specimens are sprayed with a colloidal sulfur-based solution. For prophylaxis, treatment with soapy liquid is used.

Important! From insect pests in the beds, a bear or wireworm beetles are noticed. They destroy the root system, which is why the entire bush will soon wither. To prevent their appearance, the beds are sprinkled with dry eggshells or the medicines "Prestige" or "Provotox" are added to the soil.

Harvesting and application of the crop

Atlant pumpkin is harvested from the garden in early or mid-September... To keep the fruits as long as possible, they are cut off along with the stalk. Before storage, pumpkins are not washed with water, but wiped with a dry and clean cloth.

Store fruits in a cellar or basement. The optimum humidity temperature for storage is no more than 80%. Summer residents put vegetables in wooden boxes and cover them with newspapers or thin plastic.

Part of the crop is processed immediately. The sweet and oily flesh is great for preparing cereals and side dishes, salads and mashed soups. Pumpkin makes excellent sweet dishes: the product is added to pies, cakes and muffins are made from it.

Pumpkin gives the dish not only taste and benefits, but also an appetizing appearance. Due to the high content of beneficial trace elements, the vegetable is suitable for a dietary and healthy diet. Pumpkin is harmoniously combined with other vegetables, used in the preparation of jam or jam.

Interesting! In addition to pulp, seeds and even plant flowers are used for cooking.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The size of the Atlant pumpkin is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Some gardeners appreciate the large size of the fruit, while others, on the contrary, do not know what to do with such large vegetables.

The pluses of the variety include a sweet and juicy taste, a pleasant aroma. In leaving, pumpkin does not require special growing rules, however, difficulties may arise with the formation of bushes. The rest of the pumpkin Atlant is a high-yielding vegetable with excellent external and internal characteristics.

Farmers reviews

To find out what summer residents think about the pumpkin variety Atlant, we will study several reviews from popular Internet forums.

Alina, Chelyabinsk: “On the recommendation of a friend, I planted an Atlant pumpkin. There were no problems with leaving, the harvest ripened on time. The fruits have grown beautiful and tasty, I will definitely re-grow them. "

Evgeniy, Omsk: “I love Atlant pumpkin for its large pumpkins, which are stored for a long time and are excellent for processing. I prepare snacks from the pulp for the winter, as well as part freeze... The taste after defrosting is excellent, does not change. "

Pavel, Moscow: “The Atlant variety is not bad, but it is too picky about soil and maintenance. A lot of lashes are formed, because of this, difficulties arise with the formation of a bush. I appreciate the taste as good. "

Conclusion

The unique Atlant variety is a real find for gardeners who like to experiment and grow original crops on their site. Large yellow pumpkins require minimal attention and are unpretentious in care.

The quantity and quality of the crop is positively affected by regular watering with warm water and top dressing. 2-3 times per season, the beds are fertilized with manure, superphosphate, ammonium nitrate.The variety rarely gets sick, it is universal in use. Pumpkin makes tender soups and healthy vitamin salads.