Content
Zhemchuzhina pumpkin is one of the most popular varieties of nutmeg pumpkins among Russian gardeners. The variety was included in the State Register in 2000 and approved for cultivation in the North Caucasus, Ural and Far Eastern regions for the purposes of commercial production and in private household plots.
Description of the nutmeg pumpkin variety Zhemchuzhina
The plant of this variety is long-climbing, has a powerful bush with a trunk 70–100 cm long, on which 5–7 lateral shoots are formed. Ovaries are formed on each, usually one on each shoot. The leaves are medium-sized, dark green with slight spots of white. The leaf blade is undissected, has a pentagonal shape, and is covered with a small fluff on the outside.
The plant produces male and female flowers, and after pollination by bees, the female flowers form ovaries. The flowers are large, bright yellow, and have 5 petals.
Description of fruits
The description of the ripe fruits of the Pearl nutmeg pumpkin differs significantly in some sources - in the photo of the same variety you can see pumpkins of different sizes, shapes and colors. The appearance of this vegetable depends on the seed manufacturer. Most often, pumpkins of the Muscat Pearl variety are large, elongated cylindrical in shape, reminiscent of a zucchini, with a round or oval thickening at the apical part. It contains a small seed nest, consisting of three cavities filled with medium-sized, wide, oval-shaped seeds. The fruits can be smooth or slightly segmented, 45–55 cm long, in some cases their weight can reach 8 kg, but more often it ranges from 4 to 7 kg. The peel is thin, plastic, greenish-orange or bright orange in color when ripe. In reviews of the nutmeg pumpkin Pearl, you can see photos of fruits that have spots or stripes of a lighter color or a pattern in the form of a fine mesh. The pulp of pumpkins of this variety is dark orange, juicy, crispy, aromatic, with a fibrous structure. The taste is sweet. Many vegetable growers call this pumpkin the most delicious and aromatic variety among all varieties of this vegetable.
The high content of carotene in the pulp (about 14 mg per 100 g), pectin substances and mineral salts gives the pearl nutmeg pumpkin special value. It is also rich in vitamins B, PP, E, K, as well as provitamin A. The low calorie content of this crop makes it popular in dietary nutrition.
This variety of nutmeg pumpkin is a universal table variety; the fruits are widely used in the preparation of soups, vegetable side dishes, porridges, desserts, baking fillings, and juices.It is great for canning and tolerates deep freezing well. Like other varieties with sweet pulp, Zhemchuzhina nutmeg pumpkin is used in baby food.
The medicinal properties of the nutmeg pumpkin Pearl are also known: it has a diuretic effect, is good for the heart and eyes, its regular use improves immunity, and vitamin K slows down the aging process.
Characteristics of the variety
The description of the Zhemchuzhina pumpkin variety notes its resistance to low temperatures and other adverse weather conditions, high yield, ability to safely tolerate drought and good shelf life.
Pumpkin Pearl is considered a mid-late variety. From the moment the seeds are planted until the harvest, 110–130 days pass.
If agricultural techniques are followed, up to 15 kg of fruits can be harvested from 1 m², and the warmer the growing region, the richer the harvest you can expect.
The yield of the nutmeg pumpkin variety Zhemchuzhina directly depends on weather conditions (in particular, air temperature), soil fertility, pre-sowing treatment of planting material, watering and fertilizing regimes.
Resistance to pests and diseases
Butternut squash Zhemchuzhina suffers from the same diseases as other melons. The most common ailments: anthracnose, root rot, powdery mildew, fusarium wilt. The main preventive measures against these and other diseases are compliance with crop rotation and pre-sowing treatment of planting material.
The nutmeg pumpkin variety Zhemchuzhina is susceptible to pest invasion. Most often, she suffers from the following insects: melon aphids, spider mites and mole crickets.
Advantages and disadvantages
The undoubted advantages of the Zhemchuzhina variety include:
- drought resistance;
- cold resistance and resistance to temperature changes;
- excellent taste and aroma;
- convenient fruit shape for storage and use;
- large volume of pulp due to the small seed cavity;
- high nutritional value;
- good transportability, keeping quality.
Although this variety does not have obvious disadvantages compared to other varieties, many vegetable growers pay attention to the following characteristics:
- susceptibility to disease;
- demands on soil quality and care;
- a sharp decrease in taste during long-term storage.
Growing butternut squash Pearl
Butternut squash Zhemchuzhina is a relatively unpretentious variety. Its cultivation will not require additional effort and time from the vegetable grower; in order to get a good result, it is very important to pay close attention to its needs.
As with all pumpkins, for planting this crop, choose a sunny area, protected from strong winds. The plant prefers sandy or light loamy soil. Experienced gardeners know that a rich harvest can be reaped if you plant a pumpkin next to or directly on a compost heap.
To avoid infection of the pumpkin with diseases and pests, it is recommended to plant the pumpkin after potatoes and legumes, but the soil on which cucumbers, zucchini and squash grew is unsuitable for it.
In the southern regions of the country, Zhemchuzhina nutmeg pumpkin is grown using the seedless method, that is, sowing seeds directly into open ground. Planting begins at the end of May - beginning of June, when the soil warms up to +13°C.
The most favorable temperature for bush growth and fruit set is in the range from +18°C to +25°C.
Forcing seedlings begins at the end of April, about a month before the expected date of planting young plants in a permanent place.
Both when sowing seeds in the ground and when forcing seedlings, the seeds are pre-prepared: soaked for 18–20 hours in a weak aqueous solution of potassium permanganate, then washed, dried and treated with a fungicide to prevent plant disease.
In the garden bed, plantings are placed at a distance of 1 to 1.5 m from each other.
When the bushes grow and begin to branch, in order to stimulate the formation of adventitious roots that provide the plant with additional nutrition, the internodes should be sprinkled with moist soil. This procedure is carried out 2-3 times per season.
Water the Pearl nutmeg pumpkin only with warm water and only at the root at the rate of 5 liters of water per plant. Waterlogging of the soil should be avoided so as not to provoke infection of the plantings with rot.
Several times during the season the pumpkin is fed with organic and mineral fertilizers.
Routine activities include weeding and loosening. They not only facilitate oxygen access to the plant’s root system, but also prevent the development of diseases and pest damage.
Harvesting takes place at the end of August - the first half of September. Pumpkins of this variety are cut and stored along with the stalk.
Conclusion
Pearl pumpkin has won the special love of vegetable growers due to its successful combination of unpretentiousness, cold resistance, ability to tolerate drought well and excellent taste. The sweetness and aroma of this variety of pumpkin is liked not only by adults, but also by children, and its nutritional value makes it popular in dietary and therapeutic nutrition.
