What is good about Spaghetti pumpkin and why this variety will not leave you indifferent

All gardeners dream of growing an unusual culture. The Spaghetti pumpkin bred by breeders in North America is just that. This unusual vegetable will not leave anyone indifferent. Today we will tell you how to grow it in your garden. In the article you will find interesting recipes for cooking exotic pumpkin Spaghetti.

Description and distinctive features of the variety

This crop is known as Squash Pumpkin, Pasta Pumpkin, and Spaghetti Pumpkin. The unusual variety got its name from its similarity to boiled spaghetti. The pulp of a ripe orange fruit is broken down into fine fibers that are very similar to pasta. You can clearly see this in the photo below.

The seeds and pulp of Spaghetti have an uncharacteristic aroma of pumpkin. They don't smell like nutmeg or melon, and vanilla or walnuts.

In addition to the interesting look and unusual aroma of the pulp, this pumpkin is low in sugar. 100 g of a vegetable contains only 25 kcal.

Fruit characteristics and yield

The shape of the pumpkin is oblong, divided into segments, reminiscent of a melon. Fruit color is rich, from bright yellow to orange-red. The average weight of one pumpkin reaches 0.8-1.5 kg. The pulp of an orange vegetable in its raw form is dense, light yellow or beige.

The Spaghetti variety has a high yield - 10-15 kg / m². The vegetable bears fruit from the end of July until the very frost.

How to grow

If the climatic conditions allow (enough moisture and heat), the seeds are sown directly into the open ground. But in cold climates, seedlings are first grown at home. They do this in late April - early May. This period is the most favorable for sowing seedlings. The plant is planted in the ground in May-June. The planting pattern is 60 by 60 cm.

Seed preparation

Prepare before planting seed... They are either purchased in a specialized store, or collected in the fall and harvested on their own. They are dried only at room temperature, not in the oven. Store the planting material in a tight cloth bag in a dry, dark place.

Before sowing, the seeds are sorted out, the empty ones are thrown away. Only large seeds are used. They are soaked in warm water and left overnight. Then it is wrapped in a dense damp cloth for 2-3 days. To accelerate seed germination, it is periodically moistened with water. After germination, the planting material is placed in pots with soil or open ground.

Sowing

Gardeners recommend sowing pumpkin seeds in pots 20 days before landing in open ground (approximately in the second half of May). The pots are tightly filled with substrate and watered abundantly. Then they make recesses about 5 cm deep, sow the seeds and cover them with earth.

If the planting material is sown not in pots one by one, but in boxes or other large containers, it is recommended to fill the bottom with sawdust. The layer thickness is about 4 cm. This allows the soil to retain moisture longer.

Priming

As for the soil itself, for pumpkin seeds it is of two types. Namely:

• self-prepared: peat, humus, small sawdust in a ratio of 1: 2: 1 and "Nitroammofosk" (1 kg of soil 1 tsp);
• purchased from a gardening store (cucumber substrate or general purpose).

Growing seedlings

Almost any soil is suitable for the plant. You should only periodically feed it with organic and potash fertilizers. This is especially important for pumpkin grown in poor, dry soil.

The seedlings are quite fragile, so it is better to use special peat pots for growing, and then plant the plants directly in them in the garden. Pots for these purposes are taken with a size of at least 6 × 6 cm.

Care

Spaghetti is an unpretentious variety. Caring for him consists in loosening the soil and timely watering. It is also important to pinch the growing lashes when 1-2 fruits are tied on them. Read more about caring for the Spaghetti pumpkin variety below.

Watering

The Spaghetti variety is drought-resistant and tolerates the absence of moisture. But the yield depends on timely watering. Therefore, as it dries, the soil is moistened. Water the plant at the root, trying not to fall on the foliage. Do this in the evening.

Weeding

Pumpkin does not tolerate competitors - all weeds are removed in a timely manner. It is recommended to mulch the soil - cover the surface of the earth with straw or sawdust. Mulch will also help keep the soil from overheating and retain moisture.

Loosening

It is important to prevent crust formation on the surface of the soil. Otherwise, it will be difficult for oxygen and moisture to penetrate the roots of the plant. To avoid this, the soil is periodically loosened and covered with mulching material.

Top dressing

Spaghetti pumpkins are fertilized with nutrient mixtures. Most often, the plant is fed during watering.

It is important to follow the order of feeding:

1. The first is carried out two weeks after planting seedlings in the ground with wood ash - 1 liter per bucket of water.
2. After a week, add diluted manure - 1 liter per 10 liters of water.
3. In the summer, add 0.5 liters of herbal infusion of nettle for each plant. Previously, the grass is crushed and poured with water for a week, and before use, it is again diluted with water 1:10.
4. Yeast feeding is similarly used (1 liter for each plant): 100 g of yeast and 100 g of sugar are dissolved in 10 liters of water, later the same amount of liquid is added to the solution.
5. When the fruits begin to set, the plant is fertilized with a solution of superphosphate or potassium sulfate - 1 tsp for 5 liters of water. facilities.

Important! Fertilizer is poured into the pre-moistened soil, departing 15-20 cm from the roots.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

Spaghetti pumpkin is grown in the same way as any other pumpkin. But when forming on the plant, all the formed lashes are left and on each of them - 3-4 fruits.

The plant blooms constantly. The stems grow rapidly and reach a length of up to 8 m. A large number of fruits are tied on them, both on the central stem and on the lateral ones. If desired, the liana is formed by pinching the central stem or removing the side shoots. They do this to restrict its growth in a certain direction.
It is convenient to grow spaghetti on a trellis, along which it will trail itself. The fruits are firmly attached to the stem and do not require a special garter. Difficulties arise in cold, rainy summers. Fruits do not ripen in such weather conditions and subsequently rot during storage.

Diseases and pests

In a rainy summer, powdery mildew may appear on the pumpkin. For the prevention and treatment of this disease, the plant is treated with a 70% solution of colloidal sulfur.

In addition, pumpkin suffers from bacteriosis, in which the leaves become stained and dry out. This disease is treated with a solution of copper sulfate (10 g per 5 liters of water and 20 g of urea). The solids are dissolved in a small amount of cool water and then brought to 40 ° C. Prepare a solution of copper sulfate in a non-metallic container. Sprayed twice with a break a week.

Helps against ticks tincture of garlic and onion skins.

Important!Young plants are watered and powdered with ash. It repels spider mites, slugs, whiteflies and aphids.

Harvesting and application of the crop

The first sign that it is time to harvest the crop is the wilting of the green mass of the plant. If the summer was cold and the leaves do not dry, the harvest is harvested by the end of September. The fruits are perfectly stored in a dry, dark, cool place until spring.

Spaghetti pumpkin is used for baking, cooking and frying. People observing diet for weight loss, replace ordinary pasta with this vegetable. Young fruits are used in salads, like cucumbers or zucchini. They are added to cereals, various main courses, desserts. Due to its low sugar content and low calorie content, this vegetable is suitable for diet nutrition.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The variety has many advantages. Pumpkin Spaghetti is packed with nutrients and antioxidants. And even with heat treatment, they are mostly preserved. And the peel of a ripe vegetable is characterized by increased hardness, so the pumpkin is stored until spring. Dieters distinguish this variety for its low sugar content.

For gardeners, the advantage of Spaghetti is unpretentious care. Unlike its large-fruited relatives, this vegetable is less demanding on heat, soil maintenance and watering. And with regular feeding with organic fertilizers, it gives just a phenomenal yield.

Of the shortcomings, vegetable growers note the susceptibility of pumpkin to various diseases. But it is not difficult to deal with them, and it is even easier to follow simple preventive measures.

The dish of the same name "Pumpkin spaghetti"

Pumpkin Spaghetti is prepared in many ways. The finished dish is served with spices, butter, melted cheese, spaghetti sauce or another favorite sauce. Below you will find three ways to prepare an orange vegetable with step by step instructions.

Boiled

Ingredients:

• 1 pumpkin;
• 2 tbsp. l. unsalted butter;
• 1 tsp cinnamon;
• salt and pepper to taste.

Cooking process:

1. Cut the pumpkin in half. Remove the seeds with a spoon and then cut the vegetable into small cubes about 7 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide.
2. Place the sticks in a large saucepan.
3. Cover with water and simmer over high heat.
4. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. When the pumpkin is done, it will soften. Check readiness with a fork.
5. Drain and place the pumpkin on a platter.
6. Season with salt, pepper and cinnamon. Add rosemary and nutmeg if desired.
7. Place unsalted butter on top of the hot pumpkin to melt.
8. Scrape off the flesh with a fork to make the "spaghetti".

Oven baked

Ingredients:

• 1 pumpkin;
• 100 g Mozzarella cheese;
• spaghetti sauce;
• 2 tsp dried basil;
• fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, basil) optional.

Cooking process:

1. Preheat oven to 175 degrees. Cut the pumpkin in half and place the halves on a baking sheet, pulp side down.
2. Pour some water into the baking sheet so that it covers the baking sheet by 5-6 mm.
3. Bake the pumpkin for 40-45 minutes, until tender. After 35 minutes, insert a plug into it and check readiness. Remove the finished pumpkin from the oven.
4. Scrape off the flesh with a fork to create spaghetti-like filaments.
5. Place the mozzarella, spaghetti sauce and basil on top of the pumpkin. Add bacon if desired, and replace Mozzarella with Parmesan.
6. Place the pumpkin in the oven to bake until the cheese begins to bubble. It will take another 3-5 minutes.
7. Sprinkle the finished dish with finely chopped fresh herbs.

Microwave baked

Ingredients:

• 1 pumpkin;
• 3 tbsp. l. butter;
• 1/2 tsp salt;
• 1/2 tbsp. l. pepper;
• 1/2 tsp paprika.

Cooking process:

1. Prepare the vegetable. Cut it lengthwise and then remove the seeds and fibers.
2. Place a tablespoon of oil on each pumpkin half.
3. Season with spices.
4. Before placing the vegetable in the microwave, wrap it in plastic and pierce it in several places.
5. Cook in the microwave for 20-25 minutes or until softened. Check the pumpkin's readiness with a fork - it should be soft.
6. Remove the dish from the oven and scrape out the core. Place the vegetable in a bowl.
7. While the pumpkin is hot, add another tablespoon of butter for a richer flavor.

Farmers reviews

Absolutely all gardeners in this variety are attracted by the unusual structure of the fruit pulp. In addition, Spaghetti is considered the leader among other pumpkin varieties in terms of nutrient content.

Vegetable growers claim that the Spaghetti variety is unpretentious and does not require special care when growing. The main activities are pinching of lateral shoots and the main stem, watering and weeding. Experienced farmers advise to cut off young pumpkin fruits more often so that a new ovary appears faster.

Ekaterina, Chelyabinsk: “A hard-sided, short-leaved (well, at least I had) pumpkin. Delicious, stored well. This is, in fact, a long-term zucchini that breaks down into fibers. Therefore, do not expect orange sweet pulp. The taste is neutral. The pulp is light yellow, transparent. For the second year now I have been planting seeds purchased in the store. "

Anna, G. Novosibirsk: “I chose the Spaghetti variety after reading the description on the seed package: tender pulp in the form of spaghetti, with a vanilla aroma, belongs to thick-skinned varieties, that is, it is stored for a long time. I planted only two seeds for seedlings at the end of April, and after a while the seedlings reached impressive sizes.

And already in open ground, completely adult and strong seedlings planted in the twenties of May. Because of the heat, only male flowers bloomed for a long time, but by mid-July my pumpkins were still tied. Since this variety belongs to short-leafed, the bush did not crawl to neighboring plantings either. And from the middle of August she began to harvest. "

Conclusion

Spaghetti pumpkin is a godsend for the gardener. Even a beginner can grow this unusual vegetable in the open field. And the dishes made from it are suitable for everyone, including people who follow a diet. In addition to the high content of nutrients, this pumpkin has only 25 kcal per 100 g of weight.