Pumpkin Confetka belongs to a selection variety that was developed in Russia for cultivation in non-chernozem zones. With its unusually sweet taste and caramel flavor, pumpkin quickly gained widespread acceptance. A distinctive feature is the increased amount of sugar, due to which the plant is cultivated for the manufacture of baby food.
Pumpkin Candy has a juicy and sweet flesh
Pumpkin Sweetie is unpretentious in care
Pumpkin Candy
General characteristics of pumpkin Candy
Sweetie is divided into sub-grades - the original and the brainchild, labeled F1, which indicates the impossibility of collecting seeds at home. The main difference between them is the color of the peel. The first has a bright orange color, the second is grayish. The taste is identical.
Candy has a wide range of applications:
- cooking desserts, sweet cereals and dishes;
- production of juices;
- making baby puree;
- cooking first and second courses;
- feeding livestock in animal husbandry (due to high yield and unpretentious cultivation).
The pumpkin is so sweet that no sugar is added during production. This allows you to reduce the cost of production and get more income.
Description of fruits
It is a large-fruited crop with segmented fruits. Contains a large amount of useful substances - vitamins, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, carotene, ascorbic acid. The sugar content per 100 grams of the product reaches 7-8%. Moreover, the total calorie content is 22 kcal. The variety is easy to transport, when stored under appropriate conditions, the pulp becomes softer and sweeter.
Description of fruits:
- the weight of one pumpkin varies from one and a half to 10 kg, but there is evidence of reaching a weight of up to 50 kg;
- the peel is thick and rough;
- the color of the peel is gray or bright orange;
- surface - plain or with green longitudinal stripes;
- pulp - orange, juicy, soft;
- the seed nest is small;
- the seeds are large.
Bush description
Characteristic features of the bush:
- the length of the main stem and lateral shoots is 1.5-1.7 m on average;
- one process forms 5-8 fruits;
- flowers - large yellow tint;
- pedicel - elongated;
- the shape of the leaves is heart-shaped, up to 25 cm in size, green.
Productivity
The yield of Sweets directly depends on climatic conditions - in the southern regions, up to 8 pumpkins are formed on one bush, in the northern regions - 3-5 pieces.
From one bush you can collect from 3 to 50 kg, depending on the climate, weather conditions, region of growth and quality of care for plants.
Pros and cons
Benefits of Candy:
- high productivity;
- early maturity;
- shelf life;
- transportability;
- increased sweetness;
- unpretentiousness;
- wide range of use;
- saturation with useful substances;
- minimum calorie content (can be used for dietary nutrition);
- frost resistance;
- drought tolerance;
- a small seed nest due to which there is a lot of pulp in the vegetable;
- the possibility of cultivation in all regions of the country and under different climatic conditions.
The disadvantages include the following:
- reduced yield in the absence of light;
- the need for fertilizing;
- susceptibility to disease.
Growing features
The variety is not too whimsical, so even a novice gardener can get sufficient yield. The main thing is to adhere to the rules described below.
Soil preparation
In order to grow tasty and juicy fruits, you must correctly select the site that meets the requirements of the variety Candy. Correct soil composition and structure is the key to the stability of fruiting.
Requirements:
- There should be enough sunlight and space on the site.
- The soil can be any, but it is advisable to give preference to light loam.
- Before planting, the soil is dug up to the height of the bayonet of one shovel.
- Organic fertilizer is applied to enrich the soil. For these purposes, slurry or compost is suitable per 1 sq. m 6-7 kg of fertilizing.
- If the soil is too depleted, additional superphosphate and wood ash are added.
- With fertile soil, fertilizers are applied mainly to the wells. One glass of wood ash and 50 grams of superphosphate are needed per hole.
Seed preparation
Seed material must be prepared for planting in open ground and for seedlings. The methods are the same. What do we have to do:
- First of all, select the hollow elements. This can be done manually or put the seeds in water (unsuitable seeds float up).
- Since the variety is exposed to morbidity, the seeds are pre-disinfected. You can use a weak solution of potassium permanganate, aloe juice, or hydrogen peroxide diluted with water. Keep for 6-7 hours.
- After processing, the seed is soaked in warm water. To do this, the liquid warms up to a temperature of 45 degrees, seeds are placed in it for a couple of hours. This must be done 3 days before landing.
- After that, transfer the soaked elements to a gauze patch, which is moistened in water. The material is left in the baking room, wetting the cloth daily.
- When the first shoots appear, the seeds can be transferred to a cooler place, which increases the cold hardiness. You can keep it this way for up to 2 days.
Planting seeds for seedlings
Various containers are used for planting seeds for seedlings - peat or plastic glasses, wooden boxes, etc. The main condition is not to damage the root system during transplantation. A drained substrate is laid in the tank - soil mixed with peat, sawdust.
Rules:
- seed material for seedlings is planted 21-23 days before transplanting into the garden;
- the grains are placed at a distance of 5 / 10x5 / 10 cm from each other;
- seed placement depth is maximum 4 cm;
- during planting, lightly water the soil with water at room temperature;
- the container with the future seedlings is covered with a film and put on a windowsill, where there is a lot of sunlight;
- after the formation of primary shoots, the shelter is removed;
- when 2 or 3 full leaves appear, the seedlings are considered ready for planting.
Planting seeds in the ground
How to plant seed material right in the soil:
- the temperature regime of the soil should not be lower than 12-13 degrees;
- most often, landing time falls on the second half of May;
- on the pumpkin plot, it is necessary to make holes that are watered with water;
- seed is planted in them with a sharp end down;
- bookmark depth - 7-8 cm;
- the distance between the bushes is 90-100 cm;
- the distance between the rows is 1-2 m;
- in one hole should be placed from 2 to 4 grains;
- after emergence, the shoots thin out (only one stalk remains);
- when thinning, it is strictly forbidden to pull out the seedlings from the root, which will damage the root system (excess elements are cut off with scissors).
Watering
The frequency of soil irrigation is determined by weather conditions, climate. To find out if you need to water a pumpkin, just examine the surface of the earth. If dry cracks have formed on it, irrigation is necessary.
The procedure is carried out in the evening. Water should not come into contact with the leaves. Feature - watering stops 7-10 days before harvesting. The liquid should not be cold.
Weeding and cultivation
Loosening is necessary for a sufficient supply of oxygen to the plant's root system. Weeding is needed to remove weeds that feed on nutrients, absorb moisture and spread diseases and insects.
It is possible to loosen and weed the soil only before closing the rows. That is, until the moment the plant begins to intertwine. If planting occurs in mid-May, then the last loosening is carried out in mid-June. It is better to carry out “procedures” after watering.
Bush formation
The candy does not grow much like other pumpkin varieties. Therefore, there are no special requirements for the formation of the bush. Pruning is necessary in such cases:
- crooked shoots;
- the presence of the disease.
Despite this, many experienced gardeners recommend forming a bush, arguing that yield is increasing. It is necessary to leave only 2 shoots, pinch their tops at a distance of 70 cm from the stem.
Top dressing
Fertilizing for the Sweetie variety is a must. How is feeding carried out:
- The first time fertilizers are applied 14-15 days after planting seeds or seedlings in the ground. Nitrophoska is used in the amount of 10 grams per plant.
- The second feeding is done during the formation of lashes. Nitrophoska is used again, but the amount is 15 grams.
- During the growing season, chicken manure or mullein is introduced, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. A prerequisite is to carefully irrigate the beds before top dressing.
- During the ripening period of cucurbits, the plants are watered with liquid manure (1:10 with water). Three bushes need 10 liters.
- Before fruit formation, it is recommended to add ammonium nitrate at the rate of 1 matchbox per 10 liters of water.
Possible difficulties
Quite often, beginners have certain problems that they cannot cope with. To find a solution, you can use the advice of experienced gardeners:
- With a very unfavorable soil composition, it is necessary to make raised beds. For this, new soil is brought in, mixed with fertilizers and local soil and poured directly onto the pumpkin plot.
- It is undesirable to leave many stepsons, as the plant will not have enough sunlight.
- The scourge has the property of entanglement, which reduces yields. Therefore, from time to time they must be unraveled, laying out on the ground in a given direction.
- Pumpkin crops extract moisture and nutrients from the soil through the roots, and then transfer them to the stems and fruits. In order for the plant to receive more of these substances, gardeners dig up shoots to form new rhizomes.
- It is advisable to plant the candy after beans, potatoes and other root vegetables. You cannot plant if last year zucchini, cucumbers, squash grew on the site.
- If the crop grows slowly, for example, in adverse climatic or weather conditions, growth promoters can be used. These are drugs such as Mitsefit, Zircon, Zdraven, Magic Watering Can.
- Sweetie is a large-fruited plant, so the main stem is difficult to hold the fruit. To facilitate this task, you can install a support from the boards next to the bush.
Diseases and pests
The most dangerous pests and diseases for Sweetie:
- Powdery mildew. The disease is characterized by a whitish bloom on the leaves, stems, lashes and fruits. You can get rid of it by spraying the affected parts with different solutions:
- copper sulfate in a ratio of 2 grams per bucket of water;
- potassium permanganate - 3 grams for 10 liters of water;
- Bordeaux liquid 1%.
- Rot. There are different types - black, gray, root, white. Different parts of the plant are affected. For treatment, specialized drugs corresponding to the type of disease are used.
- The mosaic is viral. The ovaries, leaves and fruits are covered with a peculiar mosaic pattern. Treatment is not possible, as eating the infected fruit is prohibited.
- Aphid. The insect sits on leaves, which subsequently wilt and curl. It is recommended to spray with Karbofos or a soap solution.
- Spider mite. Sign - the presence of cobwebs on the leaves and stem. You can get rid of it with the help of the drug Chloroethanol or onion peel tincture.
An important condition is preventive measures, which include timely weeding, proper neighborhood, control of moisture levels.
To protect the plant from fungal and other infections, it is necessary to lay a dense material under the ovary - plywood sheet, slate, glass, board.
Harvesting and storage
You can harvest the fruits after ripening, which is determined by the following parameters:
- dry leaves and stems;
- coarsening of the peduncle;
- surface roughness;
- hardness of the skin.
Collection and storage rules:
- The fruits must be cut along with the stems (at least 5 cm).
- Before storage, each pumpkin is carefully inspected for damage and disease.
- After harvesting, the fruits are placed in the room for a couple of days for drying, after which they are transferred to a cool room for long-term storage (basement, dresser, etc.).
- The average ripening period is 120-150 days.
- Shelf life is 10 months.
- The temperature regime is from + 3 degrees to + 15.
- The humidity level in the room is 70-80%.
Reviews
Marina Kucherova, 48 years old. Has grown Candy several times. A good variety that you do not need to take special care of. I especially liked the size of the fruit - I had copies of 15-18 kg. The fact is that the garden in the country is small, but you want to plant everything. And so it turned out that a pumpkin with such large fruits takes up less space than if I planted a medium-fruited variety.
Victor K., 39 years old. I do not plant Candy every year, but only if a hot summer is foreseen. I planted this pumpkin once and the summer was very rainy. So I didn't really have a harvest, but I put in a lot of energy. Therefore, I recommend that those who want to plant Yummy, first study the forecasts for the summer.
Elizaveta Nikitovna, 42 years old. I liked Sweetie very much, a neighbor in the country recommended it to me. Firstly, it grows without worries, and secondly, the fruits are large. But for me personally, the most important thing is taste. I have many grandchildren with whom I can preserve pumpkin juice, and I just cook often. After all, how much use is in Candy! So when cooking and canning, I don't even put sugar. And I also got the hang of adding a little pumpkin to the jam, especially from sour berries. And this significantly saves sugar. And Yummy's taste is great.
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Pumpkin variety Candy is considered not very whimsical, but has its drawbacks, which more than overlap with the pros. If this is your first time deciding to plant Candy seeds, be sure to study the information on the agrotechnical rules for planting and care. Do not forget to pay attention to the expiration date of the seed, which determines the yield.
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Russia. City: Zheleznogorsk
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