Content
Pumpkin Matilda is a variety that belongs to the Dutch selection. It has been included in the Russian State Register of Breeding Achievements since 2009. The crop is recommended for cultivation on private farms and farms in the Central region. Pumpkin Matilda is a medium-ripening table variety. The variety is ideal for making desserts and juices.
Description of Matilda pumpkin
Pumpkin Matilda F1 is an annual, herbaceous plant, belongs to the nutmeg type. This is one of the sweetest and most vitamin-rich varieties. The plant develops as a climbing plant. The stems can reach 5 m in length. When several fruits appear on one vine, it is necessary to limit growth by pinching. Based on the description and photo of the Matilda pumpkin, it is clear that its creeping and powerful stems can withstand the high weight of vegetables. The leaves of the variety are heart-shaped, alternate.
The flowers of the variety are large, but pollinating insects do not always find them, so hand pollination may be required. To do this, pollen is transferred from male flowers to female flowers using a brush. Male flowers of the crop have a longer peduncle.
Description of fruits
The fruits of the variety are large, bottle-shaped, expanding downward. The ribbing is small, more pronounced at the stalk.The skin is thin and can be easily cut with a knife. The size of one fruit is from 3.5 to 5 kg. The seed chamber is small, located in the wide part of the fruit. The seeds of a plant variety may be absent or present in small quantities. The rest of the pulp is dense, fleshy, without voids. Juiciness is average.
In the photo of the Matilda pumpkin you can see that the surface color, depending on the degree of ripeness, can be from mustard yellow to orange. The flesh of Matilda F1 acquires taste, color and aroma only when fully ripe. In unripe vegetables it is pale in color, while in ripe vegetables it has a characteristic orange hue. During ripeness it becomes oily.
Vegetables retain commercial quality for 4 months after harvesting. The taste improves during storage. Pumpkin variety Matilda F1 is highly fortified, with a higher content of carotene than carrots and apricots. The taste of the pulp is sweet with a honey aroma. Pumpkin Matilda F1 can be subjected to various types of heat treatment: stewing, baking. It is also consumed fresh. Used for making pumpkin juices, in mixes with apple and carrot juices. Suitable for dietary purposes.
Characteristics of the variety
Pumpkin Matilda F1 is resistant to low and high temperatures. In the southern regions, the harvest is harvested 3 months after emergence, in other regions - in early autumn. It is important not to leave Matilda F1 variety pumpkin in open ground when even the slightest negative temperatures occur.
The yield of the crop depends on the quality of the soil, planting area, and the possibility of pollination. Female flowers appear when there is sufficient sunlight.When grown in favorable conditions (on fertile and warm soil), the Matilda variety pumpkin produces about 10 vegetables from one bush. In order for vegetables to grow larger and have time to ripen, it is necessary to control the growth of vines. The culture is suitable for industrial cultivation. Matilda pumpkin yield per hectare is 696-940 c.
Resistance to pests and diseases
Pumpkin variety Matilda F1 is resistant to various infections and pest damage. But under unfavorable growing conditions and a small number of sunny days, the crop can be affected by various fungal diseases. At the same time, during the dry period, spider mites may appear on the leaves.
For dense plantings with a large number weed the vegetative mass is affected by the melon aphid. To prevent the appearance of pests, it is necessary to observe crop rotation and not grow pumpkin of the Matilda F1 variety in one place more than once every 3-4 years.
Advantages and disadvantages
Hybrid Matilda is plastic, which means it is highly adaptable to the environment and growing methods. The Dutch selection culture is well adapted to the Russian climate. Resistant to stressful weather conditions. Has stable yield. The positive quality of the variety also includes its low susceptibility to diseases.
The main advantages of the fruits of the Matilda F1 variety are a large amount of pulp and high yield. Vegetables have excellent internal structure and commercial quality. The fruits have high nutritional and vitamin value. Contain large amounts of sugar and mineral salts. Cleanse the body of toxins.
Pumpkin Matilda F1 requires a large planting area. Pumpkins can be picked unripe and grown indoors. Vegetables have good shelf life. Stored for up to 4 months. Matilda F1 is suitable for transportation.
The disadvantages include the fact that the hybrid, designated F1, does not involve growing from its own seeds. The pumpkin variety Matilda F1 shows stable characteristics only when planted from seeds that can be found on sale. Such planting material is obtained through complex selection work, which cannot be done at home.
Growing pumpkin Matilda F1
The culture requires high temperatures for germination. In the first days of growth, the taste of the fruit is established. Therefore, depending on the region of cultivation, it is planted in seedlings and without seedlings.
Planting seeds of the variety for seedlings begins at the end of March and continues until mid-April. It will take about 30-35 days to grow seedlings. Young plants do not tolerate transplantation well. Therefore, it is best to plant seeds in peat tablets. Such planting containers contain all the necessary substances for the initial stage of growth. Seedlings grown in peat tablets are transferred into open ground without removing the shell from the earthen clod.
Only sunny areas are suitable for growing. When planting pumpkin, variety Matilda F1, by direct sowing in open ground, you must wait until the air temperature reaches a constant temperature of +16°C. For cultivation, high, warm ridges rich in nutrients are built, or compost heaps are used.
The soil in the place where melons are grown is prepared in the previous season.Fertilizers are applied when digging the soil in the fall. The seeding depth is 6-8 cm. For growth, the crop requires sufficient area of nutrition and illumination. Therefore, the distance between plants must be maintained at about 1 m.
Melons require regular watering. Before the fruits appear, it is watered once every 5 days, using about 3 liters of water per plant. During the fruiting phase, watering is increased to 1 time every 3-4 days. For irrigation, use warm water, pouring it not under the root, but over the soil around the leaf part.
The growth of the vine must be limited so that the vegetables can gain mass and maturity. To do this, pinch the main stem when 2-3 fruits appear on it. One set fruit is left on the side vines. Leaves are left in the amount of 4-6 pieces. for one fruit. The rest are removed so as to allow light access to the fruit.
Complex mineral fertilizers are used for fertilizing. When fertilizing a young plant for the first time, the dosage is reduced by 2 times. Organic fertilizers are also used:
- manure;
- bird droppings;
- humus;
- vermicompost;
- ash;
- herbal infusions.
To achieve the best results when growing pumpkin, mineral and organic fertilizers should be alternated depending on the initial nutritional value of the soil. When growing melons, it is important to apply fertilizers evenly and regularly.
Harvesting is carried out before frost; the pumpkin can be covered on the soil if the temperature is expected to drop. Vegetables are stored for storage without damage, the length of the stalk is left about 8 cm.
Conclusion
Pumpkin Matilda F1 is a crop created with improved growth qualities, has a fast ripening period, and excellent taste characteristics. Does not lose commercial qualities during long-term storage. In the description of the variety, Matilda pumpkin is indicated as unpretentious in care, resistant to weather changes and a high-yielding crop.
