Pumpkin Pearl belongs to the mid-late varieties, the fruits are juicy and tasty. Designed for open field and greenhouse cultivation. Read more about the characteristics of the variety - below.
Pumpkin Pearl contains a small amount of seeds
Pumpkin Pearl
Pumpkin Pearl Cold Resistant
Description and characteristics of pumpkin
From the moment of planting the seed in the soil and before harvesting the fruits, it should take about 100 days, sometimes even longer (maximum 130 days). The ripening period of the Pearl pumpkin directly depends on the region of cultivation and plant care.
Appearance
The variety has not long lashes, a small plant in size, but powerful. On one bed, from 4 to 7 side lashes appear.
Fruit: size, taste, color
The shape of the fruit is often long in the form of a cylinder, sometimes you can find round, oval and ribbed pumpkins. The most valuable form is pear-shaped with a slight bulge in the upper part. It is in this part that there is a small nest with seeds, and the rest of the vegetable is pulp suitable for cooking.
The fruit is not small in size, almost always the length of the pumpkin reaches 0.5 m, weight is about 6-7 kg. The shade is varied: the color range starts from gray-green and ends in bright orange.
The skin is very thin, it is easy to damage it, so the pumpkin is suitable for transportation, but vegetables must be transported as carefully as possible, otherwise the harvest will deteriorate.
The pulp of the fruit is characterized by a fibrous structure, the taste is juicy, dense, slightly crunchy. You can use the Pearl pumpkin in many culinary dishes. Leaves are small, pentagonal, have no cuts. The color is deep green with small white spots.
Yield
With proper care, as well as compliance with all agrotechnical standards during planting, from 1 sq. m, you can collect about 14 kg of crop. The warmer the germination area, the richer the harvest can be obtained.
Productivity depends on the weather, soil and air temperature. Fertile land, seed treatment before planting, watering and regular fertilization are also important.
Pest and disease resistance
Pumpkin of this variety suffers from the same diseases as other melons and gourds. The most dangerous of them are anthracnose, root rot, powdery mildew. The main preventive measures against these diseases are compliance with the rules of crop rotation and preparation of seeds before planting.
Pumpkin Pearl also suffers from harmful insects, most often its enemies are: melon aphid, spider mite and bear. You can fight them with the help of chemicals, but folk methods also show good results. For example, melons and gourds can be sprayed with infusion of onions, garlic. Ash or soap diluted in water is also used.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
This pumpkin variety, like other plants, has its pros and cons, they must be taken into account when growing a crop.
The advantages of the variety:
- resistance to severe drought and heat;
- resistance to cold and sudden changes in temperature;
- excellent taste of the fruit;
- convenient shape of the fruit for storage and use in cooking;
- few seeds and most of the pulp;
- high nutritional value of the product;
- good transportability and the possibility of long-term storage.
This pumpkin variety does not have especially pronounced disadvantages, but summer residents were able to highlight minor disadvantages of the Pearl:
- weak immunity;
- the need for good care and regular replenishment of the soil with useful substances;
- decrease in taste during long-term storage of fruits.
Growing Pumpkin Pearl
This is not to say that this pumpkin is completely undemanding variety, it needs proper planting and care. Growing a plant does not require much effort from the gardener, but the standard rules must be followed.
Growing period and conditions
It is better to grow the seed first in the form of seedlings, and only then transplant the seedlings into open ground. Forcing begins at the end of April, literally 30 days before the expected day of transplanting the pumpkin to a permanent place.
For plants to set well in open soil, it is necessary to choose the right time for replanting the shoots. The best temperatures for the growth of the bush and the setting of the crop are considered to be from +17 ºC to +24 ºC.
One of the main conditions in the process of growing a Pearl is the right place, which must meet the following requirements:
- lighted and warm area;
- lack of drafts;
- soil with sandy loam or loamy soil.
Preparing the garden
Algorithm for preparing the garden:
- Dig out the recesses, leave a distance of about 1.2 m between them.
- The beds should be about 1.5 m apart from each other.
Seed preparation
Seed preparation is an important stage in pumpkin germination. For seed treatment, follow the following procedure:
- Soak the grains for 20 hours in water with potassium permanganate (proportion - 500 ml of the product per 1 liter of water).
- Rinse the seed under water.
- Dry the beans.
- Treat the seed with special means against diseases and pests; without their use, plants may not sprout or die.
Prepare the seeds just before planting.
Sowing seeds
Pearl pumpkin is planted in two ways:
- For seedlings.
- Directly into open ground.
Plant grain in open ground in early summer, for seedlings - in April.
Seed sowing algorithm:
- Make seed wells.
- Place 2 seeds per hole, approximately 4-5 cm deep.
- After the sprouts appear, thin them out. Leave strong seedlings to grow, and remove weak ones.
- For seedlings growing, one month after sowing the seeds, transplant the plants into open soil.
Features of pumpkin care Pearl
Young sprouts of the plant grow well with high-quality and regular care. If the weather is too cold in summer, then it is necessary to cut off the stems, and leave no more than 3 pieces on the plant.
As soon as the pumpkin reaches 0.5 m, cut off the top, such a procedure will enable the early growth and development of the lateral processes.
How to water properly?
Pumpkin Pearl tolerates drought well, but it is considered a moisture-loving variety. It needs watering about 1 time in 7-10 days - about 0.5 buckets of water for 1 bush.
The main stages when watering is needed:
- During the formation of inflorescences.
- During the flowering period.
- During the formation of fruits.
After the formation of ovaries, the number of watering is reduced by 2 times. With a large amount of water, pumpkin fruits begin to lose their taste and the likelihood of cracking appears.
Top dressing
The first top dressing is applied during planting: mineral dressings and humus are placed in the recess (4 tablespoons per 10 kg). In June and July, fertilizers are applied twice a month, they consist of a solution of cow manure (1: 6) and a complex of mineral dressings - 1.5 tbsp. In August, only potash fertilizers serve as useful substances for pumpkin.
If you plant a pumpkin next to a compost pit, the plant's yield will increase by 2-3 times.
Formation
The formation is carried out in the form of sprinkling of a branching internode. For the development of the aboveground part of the plant, it is necessary to sprinkle the internodes a little with moistened soil. This procedure will help to develop a huge number of adventitious roots, powder should be done twice a season.
Pollination
Pollination takes place normally, subject to the main requirements:
- Preservation of humidity at one level (60-70%).
- Compliance with a stable air temperature (+20 ºC and above).
Collection and storage of pumpkin
Harvest in sunny, calm weather, do not break the tail of the fruit, it should be 6-11 cm long. After harvesting, keep the pumpkin in the sun for about 4 days, so it will ripen better.
Store the pumpkin in your cellar or basement, but try to use it within 5-7 months of harvesting or it will lose its flavor.
Diseases and pests
The most dangerous diseases and pests for pumpkin Pearl:
- Bacteriosis. Brown spots begin to appear on the plants, over time they become ulcers. The diseased plant must be completely destroyed, and the neighboring plantings must be treated with Bordeaux liquid or a copper sulfate agent must be used.
- Root rot. It is a fungal infection of the roots, as a result, leads to a complete cessation of the development of the crop. The disease is fought with the help of a solution of previcur; until new roots appear, the pumpkin is sprinkled with moist soil.
- Powdery mildew. This is a fungus that appears on plants due to too much moisture, low temperatures and an excess of nitrogen. Treatments: sodium hydrogen phosphate and cumulus.
- Spider mite. Appears on pumpkin during dry season, is afraid of contact with water. Destroyed by isophene solution or ground sulfur.
- Melon aphid. Placed on the underside of the leaves. The only reliable remedy is karbofos.
You can get rid of such different ailments, but it is better not to allow them to appear at all. To do this, a number of preventive measures should be taken: remove the affected plants, do not water too often, treat pests and regularly weed the beds from weeds.
Reviews about pumpkin Pearl
Oleg, 65 years old, pensioner, Klimovsk. Personally, I shoot this pumpkin while the fruits are still green, then they lie on the balcony for 2-3 weeks and ripen. I don't want to store them for a long time, as over time they lose their taste, and almost all useful elements. That year I also planted Vitamin pumpkin, but I give preference to Pearl, as it is more fragrant and juicy.
Valentina, 39 years old, librarian, Astrakhan. I like this particular pumpkin variety, because it is very easy to peel it, not like with round pumpkins. Yes, and the Pearl is not too big, my one fruit reaches about 3 kg. For porridge, Pearl is just a treasure, I will continue to grow it on my site.
Ksenia, 43 years old, agronomist, Sochi. That year I was treated to this pumpkin. I really liked it, so I put it myself. It has risen well, it grows well too, I'll see what the harvest will be.
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Pumpkin variety Pearl won the great love of vegetable growers, she was able to combine unpretentious care, cold resistance, the ability to withstand drought and sudden temperature changes. Pumpkin bears really tasty and healthy fruits.