If the pumpkin (the so-called pumpkin fruit is officially called) looks somewhat reminiscent of a pear, and inside it tastes like a melon, then this is a Russian pumpkin. One of the most popular pumpkin varieties, its features and methods of cultivation will be described below.

Description and characteristics of the variety

This pumpkin variety is actively grown on rural farmsteads and farms thanks to:

• high productivity;
• early maturity;
• cold resistance;
• large-fruited;
• high palatability.

The characteristic external features of the “Russian woman” can be judged by this table:

Pros and cons of the variety

• In addition to the above advantages, this pumpkin variety also has such positive qualities:
• ease of care;
• low demands on the quality of the soil;
• good keeping quality, ability to be stored until spring;
• transportability;
• universality of use;
• resistant to most pumpkin-related diseases;
• pronounced melon aroma of pumpkin pulp;
• moderation in the growth of lashes.

• The disadvantages of the “Russian woman” are much smaller. She is different in this respect:
• with its cold resistance - a pronounced fear of frost;
• with resistance to most pumpkin diseases - sensitivity to powdery mildew.

Planting and growing

Since the culture belongs to non-capricious plants, pumpkin of this variety requires for its successful cultivation compliance with certain rules and agricultural practices.

Soil and crop rotation requirements

Pumpkin does not show special requirements for the quality of the soil, but it most successfully develops on sandy loam and loam.

It is useful if before it the area data was occupied:

• cabbage;
• potatoes;
• legumes;
• root crops;
• onions.

Did you know? Pumpkin, growing everywhere on our planet, except for Antarctica, along with the classic orange color can also be green, white and even blue.

Pumpkin demonstrates the worst yield if its predecessors were presented:

• zucchini;
• squash;
• cucumbers;
• watermelons;
• melons.

Suitable conditions

The optimum temperature at which this plant feels as comfortable as possible lies between + 22 ° C and + 28 ° C. Pumpkin also loves bright lighting, therefore, for its planting, sunny areas are selected, which must also be protected from strong winds. Best for this are the southern sides of houses, sheds or fences, which can climb pumpkin lashes.

An ideal place for planting this plant is the compost pile located on the south side, near which the pumpkin feels great, directing its lashes to the compost mountain. In this case, the pumpkin does not like high humidity (which can not be said about the soil, which should be watered abundantly at least once a week).

Soil and seed preparation

The most high-quality preparation of the soil for planting pumpkins is that which is produced in the fall by harvesting the predecessors.

The cleared territory is fertilized:

• 5 kg of humus;
• 15 g of sodium chloride;
• 30 g of superphosphate.

Such a quantity of fertilizers is optimal for each square meter of the territory, which is then dug 0.2 m in depth. If it is necessary to give the soil friability, river sand and peat are added to it, and if it is necessary to deoxidize the soil, then it should be sprinkled with wood ash, loosen and pour with heated water.

Did you know? In Japan, an annual pumpkin festival is held, which has the status of a state.

After such an autumn treatment in the spring, digging the soil is not necessary. It only needs to be cleaned of weeds, loosen with a rake and left in this condition until May, when the time comes for planting.

Preparation of seeds for sowing consists in their germination, which is carried out in this way:

1. Pumpkin seeds are placed in water at temperatures from + 40 ° С to + 50 ° С for 3 hours.
2. The seeds in a swollen state are wrapped in a damp cotton cloth or gauze and, while maintaining a constant moisture content, the tissue is left at room temperature until the pecking occurs.
3. To strengthen their cold resistance, germinated seeds are recommended to be kept in the lower compartment of the refrigerator for 5 days, without removing from a damp cloth.

   

Planting seeds

Depending on the geographical location, the seeds are either immediately planted in the ground, or seedlings are first grown from them, which are then transferred to open ground.

In open ground

Usually, when sowing in holes located at a distance of no closer than 0.75 m from each other, no more than 2 seeds are placed at a depth of maximum 5 cm. Crops should then be watered.

In pots for seedlings

In regions where there is a risk of frost in the spring, which the “Russian woman” does not tolerate, for safety, the sprouted seeds are not sown immediately in open ground, but seedlings are grown from them first.

For this:

1. Use peat pots or tablets, as well as cardboard cups with a diameter of 0.1 m. These containers allow you to plant seedlings in the ground, without disturbing the roots of pumpkins, which are extremely painful to transplant.
2. If there is no professionally prepared purchase soil, prepare the soil for seedlings on their ownmixing in equal proportions river sand and peat (or turf land and humus) in a ratio of 1: 4.
3. After watering, 2 seeds are placed in the soil to a depth of 2 cm.
4. Capacities are covered with glass or a transparent film. and kept at a temperature of + 25 ° C until germination.
5. Of the two sprouts, choose the strongestand pinch the second.
6. The temperature is lowered to + 20 ° C and the seedlings are placed in a bright place.watering the soil as its top layer dries.
7. After 25-27 days, seedlings are planted in a permanent place.

Care Features

Emergency care efforts “Rossiyanka” does not require, but still necessary:

• timely and competently watered;
• fully feed;
• loosen the soil and weed;
• form lashes;
• protect against diseases and pests.

Watering and fertilizer

Possessing a powerful, branched root system that can penetrate 3 meters into the soil, pumpkin needs timely and plentiful watering. It must be carried out with warm, standing water at least once a week. Each plant should account for up to 4 liters of water.

During harvesting, irrigation masses become more frequent up to an interval of 5 days. In August, on the contrary, plants are watered less often, as a result of which sugar accumulation is stimulated in the fruits, and the crust on the pumpkin becomes stronger.

After the sixth leaf appears, the pumpkin is fed for the first time with organic fertilizers (for example, humus) and mineral, represented by:

• potassium salt;
• superphosphate;
• ammonium nitrate.

During the most intensive growth, the plant is fed repeatedly, after which they switch to fertilizing once every 2 weeks, alternating organic matter with minerals. During the ripening period of pumpkin, it is useful to fertilize the bushes with wood ash.

Soil cultivation and weeding

Pumpkin bushes respond well to loosening the soil around them, which is combined with the removal of weeds. This operation should be carried out every decade. It is useful to mulch loose soil with organic matter in the form of humus.

Experts recommend planting seeds or seedlings in cross-shaped incisions made in the coating of agrofiber or agrofabric, which shelters the soil. This protects plantings from weeds, saves time on loosening and helps to maintain optimal temperature and humidity conditions.

Bush formation

Pumpkin "Russian woman", which is not distinguished by the excessive length of the lashes, nevertheless needs to pinch the main stem and side lashes, as well as to pinch shoots growing from deciduous sinuses. Without these operations, an excessive amount of green mass and ovaries may form.

Taking nutrients from the plant, they themselves will not give full-fledged ripe pumpkins, and will prevent others from fully forming. Usually, one main stem and one lateral shoot are left on this pumpkin variety.

Important! Pinch the scourges no earlier than they reach a length of 2 meters.

To significantly increase yields, it is recommended to use an agrotechnical technique, which consists in dusting the lashes with soil. The scourges, when they reach a meter length, are sprinkled with soil in 2-3 places. With this operation, the scourges are saved from breaking by a strong wind, and it also allows interstices pressed to the ground to take root, which provide bushes with additional nutrition, contributing to the ripening of a good crop.

Often, lashes of plants planted on the south side of the house, shed or fence, climb onto them. In such a situation, heavy fruits can break the stem. Therefore, they are placed in special nets mounted on a wall or fence.

Protection against diseases and pests

Successfully confronting many pumpkin diseases, the Russian woman is sometimes affected by powdery mildew, which is most often transmitted to her by weeds. This disease is easily detected by white spots of powdery consistency on pumpkin leaves. Under the harmful effects of powdery mildew, the affected leaf dries quickly.

Important! If there are scratches on the skin of the pumpkin, they should be treated with brilliant green and covered with a bactericidal patch.

To prevent this disease, you should mercilessly fight weeds, occasionally spray green mass with cow manure infusion. An infected plant must be sprayed with a solution of 25 g of colloidal sulfur, diluted in 5 l of water.

Harvest Dates

The signal for the collection of pumpkins is their biological maturity, which occurs at different times depending on the region of growth. Most often this happens in September. An indispensable condition is the need to do this before the onset of frost.

The biological maturity of pumpkins is evidenced by signs in the form of:

• yellowed and dried leaves;
• shrunken and stiff stalk;
• bright orange color;
• hardened surface of the fetus.

Collect pumpkins preferably in dry weather, being careful not to damage the surface of the fruit.

The fruits are harvested, leaving the stalk not shorter than 5 cm on them, and dried in a room or in the open air at a temperature not lower than + 25 ° С. They are then sent for storage to a well-ventilated cellar or cellar with a temperature between + 3 ° C and + 10 ° C and a humidity between 65% and 85%.

Pumpkins are stored on straw with the stalks up, not touching each other. At the same time, the proximity of apples, pears and other fruits stored next to them, capable of secreting ethylene, significantly reduces the pumpkin shelf life. If you carefully adhere to all these conditions, pumpkins are able to maintain their valuable qualities until spring.

Video: Sweet and tasty Russian-style pumpkin

Non-capriciousness, high productivity, excellent taste and versatility of consumption allowed the pumpkin of the Rossiyanka variety to pave a wide road to rural farmsteads, summer cottages and farms in the regions in different climatic conditions.