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The genus Pumpkin (Cucurbita) belongs to the pumpkin family. In nature, there are types of perennial and annual pumpkins. Exotic Butternut Gourd is a hybrid of butternut squash and wild bottle gourds. Grown in personal subsidiary plots and on an industrial scale (Mexico). This variety was developed in the USA in the middle of the last century.
Due to the combination of unusual taste, aroma and juicy pulp, the variety has gained popularity in many countries.
The name in English transcription is written as butternut, which literally means "butter nut". There are many versions about the origin of this name. The fruit is attributed to a nutty flavor or nutty flavor. On this basis, Butternut is called "nut pumpkin".
Pumpkin Butternut Cutaway
But, most likely, the variety is so named because of the sweetness comparable to the sweetest nut that grows in the United States - the butternut nut.
The shape of the pumpkin of this variety resembles a pear with an expanded bottom. It is in it that there is a small cavity with seeds. Everything else is sweet juicy pulp.
In the wild, the African pumpkin has this form, which served as the progenitor of the variety.
There are two types:
- bush Bush Butternut;
- climbing Waltham Butternut.
Both varieties differ only in the shape of the fruit. All other characteristics are similar.
Characteristics and description of the variety
Fruit size. The Butternat variety is distinguished by the small size of the pumpkins. The largest of them can reach 2.5 kg. Average weight - 1.5 kg. The variety is considered portioned. One fruit is enough to prepare a multi-portion dish for a small family.
Plant parameters. The length of bush-shaped shoots is about 1.5 meters, for a wandering plant - 2.5 meters. Due to the small size of the fruit, the lashes can be placed on trellises, tied to supports. Powerful stems can support fruit weight up to 3 kg.
The leaves are large, juicy green, typical for the pumpkin family. The largest sheets can be up to 30 cm across.
Productivity. This parameter depends on the growing conditions of the Butternut pumpkin. On average, from one plant, you can collect from 5 to 15 pumpkins.
Under favorable weather conditions, good care and sowing at the end of April, flowering begins in mid-June and lasts about two weeks. The flowers are large, bright yellow.
Ripening terms. The variety is characterized by late ripening. It takes 4 months or more from sowing to full maturity. The Leningrad climate is not very suitable for Butternat, but it all depends on the number of sunny days. Heat and light are needed to store nutrients and sugars.
When sowing at the end of April and planting in open ground in the last days of May, the crop can be harvested at the end of August. If weather conditions permit, the pumpkin is left to ripen in the sun. Such fruits are more aromatic.
The ready-to-harvest Butternut pumpkin has a strong but thin rind that can be easily peeled with a regular knife.
Pollination. To set fruits, insect pollinators are needed. In unfavorable weather conditions (wind, fog), artificial pollination is possible with a brush or cotton swab.
Frost resistance. Growing pumpkins in a temperate climate is possible only by seedlings. The plant does not tolerate temperatures below + 10 ° C.
The color and consistency of the pulp. When fully ripe, the pulp of this variety should be orange, slightly lighter than that of ordinary table pumpkin. The content of the ripe fruit is homogeneous, without any fibers, juicy and aromatic. There is a nutmeg trace in the smell.
Pumpkin pulp Butternut
Taste and aroma. Fully ripe pumpkin pulp is sweet, juicy with a peculiar smell. The pumpkin aroma is absent, which is a feature of the variety.
Growing nut pumpkin in a seedless way is possible only in areas with a hot climate.
Growing conditions
Soil composition. Loose fertile soil is required. To grow a variety of soil mixture, it is advisable to prepare it yourself from humus, garden soil and a coconut briquette in a ratio of 2: 1: 2. If the soil is clayey, you can add some sand.
Drainage. When planting in open ground, coarse sand should be poured into the planting hole at the bottom with a layer of at least 10 cm. Stagnant water at the roots leads to diseases and loss of the plant.
Soil moisture. Pumpkin Butternut is considered a demanding plant. She definitely needs timely moderate watering. The soil should be moderately moist at all times, but not wet.
Temperature conditions. Butternut sugar pumpkin is a southern heat-loving plant. The temperature for active growth and development should be at least + 25 ° C during the day, and at least + 15 ° C at night.
Adequate lighting. It is necessary to choose the sunniest place on the site. Protection from cold northerly winds is desirable. To do this, sometimes a pumpkin is planted near the southern wall of a house or buildings, having arranged a trellis there.
Keeping the distance between the bushes at least 70 cm will help to grow a good harvest. The climbing variety requires a larger area, provided it is grown horizontally.
Pumpkin Butternut in the garden
Top dressing. The first top dressing is placed in the planting hole. Planting is carried out with the addition of humus. Potassium humate must be added to the water weekly when watering. When the ovary is formed, it is necessary to feed with a solution of mullein 1: 3 or a complete mineral fertilizer such as Fertik.
The third feeding is needed when the fruit reaches the size of an apple. It is carried out only with organic fertilization, followed by abundant watering.
Garter. Climbing Butternut can be grown horizontally. In the absence of the necessary free space on the site, summer residents use trellises. Summer residents really like the Moscow experience of growing as a hedge, as it saves space and decorates fences.
Protection from disease. Disease prevention consists in proper planting, observing the interval for fresh air access to the plant. Once every two weeks it is necessary to spray with a preparation such as "Fundazol" or "Abiga-peak".
Protection from pests must be carried out without waiting for their appearance. For this, the plants are sprayed once every two weeks with the preparations "Aktara" or "Iskra".
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The cultivation area of Butternut is expanding every year. This is facilitated by the advantages of the variety:
- Unusual aroma for pumpkin crops and very sweet taste. It is possible to eat fresh pumpkin if it is fully ripe.
- Low fetal weight. The pumpkin can be used all at once for cooking. There is a recipe for baking in the oven whole.The 1 kg fruit is cut in half lengthways, the seeds are removed, cinnamon is added and the two halves are placed on a baking sheet or in a ceramic dish, peel side down.
- Long storage period. It can be stored until March without loss of taste.
- A small number of seeds are concentrated in one place. Everything else is pulp. Each seed is quite large and in general there are not many of them in the seed chamber.
- Thin crust. This feature allows you to effortlessly peel the fruit.
Butternut seed in pulp
The varietal characteristic is the shape of the pumpkins. The plant, thanks to its beautiful fruits, can be a decoration for the garden. Beauty and health in one plant.
There is a possibility of growing on trellises. This saves space in a small summer cottage.
Disadvantages of the variety:
- Demanding to the composition of the soil.
- Careful care is needed, which consists in maintaining moisture, feeding, tying.
- Demanding temperature conditions. In low temperatures, the plant will not develop. For example, the Ural climate for growing Butternat is suitable if it is planted early in a warm bed.
Pumpkins in a warm garden
Growing a fragrant Butternut pumpkin is easy. Its characterization as a capricious plant is greatly exaggerated. Meeting a few growing requirements guarantees a good harvest.
