We are used to decorating the dacha with flowers, but unusual vegetables cope with this task just as well. For example, a decorative pumpkin, which is becoming increasingly popular among gardeners. Its strong shoots rising up the support very quickly form green "screens", on which, by autumn, they flaunt in abundance bright fruits original forms. They delight the eyes of the hosts and surprise the guests.

In addition to originality, a decorative pumpkin has a lot of other advantages. And if you don’t have such decoration in your country house yet, it’s not too late to buy seeds for the new season.

Why is it worth growing?

• First of all...

It is beautiful. Expressive leaves on long, strong lashes, bright flowers and unusual fruits - this plant is attractive for its originality.

Plus, it's growing fast. Scourges, reaching 4-6 m in length, easily master the provided supports, so that a decorative pumpkin can be successfully used for vertical gardening plot, decor of arbors, and so on.

Bush forms are less common; if you come across seeds of just such varieties, use them for planting in flowerpots, with which you can effectively decorate a terrace or a recreation area.

• Secondly...

It is interesting for children. Planting large seeds is easy; the pumpkin develops quickly, which is important for an impatient young gardener, therefore, it is worth allocating a place for such a funny curiosity.

Caring for the plant is not burdensome, and the "toy" pumpkins themselves are attractive to kids. Especially if you buy a mixture of varieties: the result will always be a pleasant surprise.

• Thirdly...

It is a great material for crafts and design. Fully ripe and well-dried pumpkins are an inexhaustible source of creative ideas.

Bathroom design country house or stylish decoration kitchens; or boxes; autumn compositions; Original gifts- all the possibilities and do not count.

Unusual pumpkins of bizarre shapes and colors can become a decorative element

Unusual pumpkins of bizarre shapes and bright colors can become independent elements of various decorative compositions.

How does she look?

Most often, ornamental pumpkin seeds are sold in mixtures of varieties(for example, "Rattles" from Euro-Semyon, "Souvenir" from SeDek, "Artistka" from Gavrish or "Surprise" from Artikul). Therefore, every time you plant seeds, you will look forward to the result of your work: what pleasant surprises await you this season? ..

Ornamental pumpkins are extremely diverse

Sometimes manufacturers make mixtures according to some characteristic feature(for example, according to the shape of the fruit). Thus, the "Crown" from Plasma Seeds is a mixture with star-shaped fruits, and the "Turkish Turban" from Article is a mixture of various colors of decorative turban-shaped pumpkins.

Decorative turban-shaped pumpkins of various colors

Those who do not like surprises, preferring certainty in everything, can choose the seeds of one of their favorite varieties of decorative pumpkins - I will talk about some of them.

Small (200-300 g weight) fruitlets variety "Orange" really resemble this fruit: bright orange spherical or slightly flattened pumpkins, especially spectacular against the background of dense greenery of long shoots.

Original white pumpkins with a diameter of about 10 cm varieties "Baby Boo". They are slightly ribbed, with smooth bark and white flesh.

mini pumpkins varieties "Sweet Dumpling" form flat-round ribbed fruits up to 500 g in weight. Between the ribs (white or pale yellow) are dark green stripes with small white specks.

pear fruit varieties "Kleine Bicolor" have a contrasting color with a clearly traced border of flowers: the lower part of each pumpkin is dark green with light stripes, and the upper part is bright yellow.

In fact, growing these unusual fruits in the country, we are dealing not only with different varieties, but also with different species of the diverse pumpkin family. For example, Lagenaria siceraria - bottle gourd (), grade "Cobra"- with club-shaped fruits of spotted color and bizarre shape

Popular turban gourd - Cucurbita maxima var. turbaniformis- is a variety large-fruited pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) and, in turn, is represented in various forms and varieties that differ in both color and fruit size.

Well, most of the decorative pumpkins cultivated on our plots are forms and varieties small-fruited pumpkin, or curly pumpkin - Cucurbita pepo var.ovifera. It was she who gave us that fantastic variety, which can be surprised endlessly.

In shape, these decorative gourds are sometimes divided into:

• star-shaped (aka pumpkin-crown)

The fruits look like small patissons; there are varieties resembling a starfish or a crown. Fruit size - up to 15 cm in diameter. The shape is elongated or flattened, the color is yellow, green, white, orange (and their combinations).

Star pumpkins or crown pumpkins

• warty

In these fruits, the bark is completely covered with tubercles resembling warts - hence the name. May be round or pear-shaped; color - bright orange, dark green, white, yellow (there are also two-color varieties).

• pear-shaped

The name speaks for itself: in shape, these fruits are very similar to a pear. And if they are also yellow ... Well, why not a fruit? :)

• tangerine

These pumpkins are also “camouflaged” - bright orange fruitlets up to 10 cm in diameter, rounded, with a smooth skin and slightly ribbed, clearly reminiscent of oranges or tangerines

But everyone options shapes and colors of decorative pumpkin fruits, such a classification does not fit. One-color, two-color, spotted, striped, smooth and ribbed, rounded, elongated, flattened, curly ...

Decorative pumpkins are unusually diverse both in shape and color of fruits.

They are unusually diverse - perhaps this is the secret of their popularity? Certainly. But the unpretentiousness of the plant helps to finally win the hearts of gardeners.

How to grow it?

Agrotechnics of decorative pumpkin does not differ from the ordinary one, which was discussed in the article. You can plant it in late May - early June right on the garden, but if the climate in your area does not indulge in warmth, and the summer is short, it is better to grow it through seedlings. In order not to injure the plant during transplantation, plant in peat pots.

The soil needs fertile, loose, neutral. Provide good watering and adequate nutrition; pumpkin especially loves organic fertilizers. Choose sunny, well-heated areas: this plant is warm and photophilous.

Ornamental pumpkins are more often climbing, but there are also bush varieties. Climbers need reliable support - this will allow them to maximize their external attractiveness. You can use this plant to disguise outbuildings or an old fence - good for both the pumpkin and the owners. Just keep in mind: the whips are heavy, so the support must be strong and stable.

Can it be eaten?

Since we are talking about a pumpkin - a traditionally edible culture - the question is whether it can be used for food decorative variety vegetables, suggests itself.

For the most part, the fruits of these plants are inedible and are grown as decoration.

For the most part, the fruits of these plants are inedible and are grown solely as an ornament. Some varieties can be eaten while the fruits are unripe - ripening, they coarsen and become unsuitable either for food or for livestock feed. And the chalmoid pumpkin, for example, has varieties with sweet, tasty pulp. The white gourd of the "Baby Boo" variety described above is also edible.

However, one can also meet diametrically opposed opinions about the edibility of individual varieties. So, in we read that this pumpkin is suitable both for eating raw and for cooking. It is very sweet, its flesh has an apple flavor. However, another online store comes with a warning that the fruit is not meant to be eaten. Who is right?.. For me, the question remained open. It will be great if there are specialists among the readers who can clarify.

When to clean it and how to use it?

It is necessary to remove the decorative pumpkin before the first frost: fruits damaged by frost will not be stored. Mature (with a hard crust) pumpkins are dried and used for decorating the interior and making crafts.

You need to remove the decorative pumpkin before the first frost.

Small fruits are usually dried whole without removing the core. Fruits larger size it is better to carefully remove the pulp and seeds by cutting a small lid on top. Such pumpkins are used to make vases for winter arrangements, decorative boxes, candlesticks, and so on.

A larger pumpkin will make a pretty vase

To preserve the brightness of the fruit, place them indoors where the sun's rays do not reach. Products from decorative pumpkins can be painted and varnished. This is a great activity for kids to take pride in making home grown pumpkins.

And finally - for inspiration - admire the fantastic works of American artist Marilyn Sunderland (Marilyn Sunderland). It's hard to believe that all these miracles are carved from the most ordinary pumpkin, isn't it? ..

Usually their summer cottage is decorated with all sorts of flowers. Although unusual look vegetables can perfectly cope with this task, causing the admiration of passers-by and neighbors. Such an interesting culture includes a decorative pumpkin. It is able to climb up along any vertical support, forming a green wall with large yellow flowers and small, bright, bizarre fruits. What kind of it exists today, let's figure it out.

"Country hobbies"

Decorative pumpkin, varieties

Culture is not only original, but also useful for any summer resident.

Firstly, it is a worthy decoration of the site: wide green leaves on long cuttings, strong lashes, large bright flowers, and closer to autumn, no less bright, unusually shaped fruits - all this decorates and pleases the eye, delights friends and neighbors.

An ornamental pumpkin grows quickly, it is a development champion among annual vines. By mid-summer, it forms a chic green screen. The whips reach 4-6 m and are perfect for vertical gardening of arbors, verandas, trellises, mesh fences. The liana acquires the best decorative effect in August, when the green wall is decorated with bright original fruits.

Secondly, it causes increased interest among children and they are happy to plant and grow this crop on their own. children's garden and are waiting with great interest for the appearance of outlandish toy pumpkins.

Thirdly, we get amazing material for crafts. Well-ripened and properly dried pumpkins are a source of various fantasies and ideas.

Varieties

Usually they sell mixtures of seeds, and therefore for the gardener the final result is always a pleasant and sometimes unexpected surprise. Rattles, Souvenir, Artist, Surprise. The gardener who bought these varieties always waits with interest for the appearance of fruits.

On sale there are selected varieties with the characteristic features of this culture - this is for those who do not like surprises and want to get pumpkins of a certain shape.

Turkish tulip with bright orange and other colors of chalmoid fruits.

orange with small pumpkins weighing 200-300 g, it resembles this fruit in shape and bright orange color. The fruits look spectacular against the background of a green wall.

baby boowith unusual slightly ribbed white pumpkins up to 10 cm in circumference, with white flesh.

Stars with pumpkins in the form of multi-colored stars.

Kleine Bicolor has pear-shaped pumpkins with a contrasting color: the bottom of the fruit is dark green with bright light lines, and the top is rich yellow.

sweet dumpling they form rounded flattened and ribbed pumpkins weighing up to 500 g, painted white or light yellow, between the ribs there are bright green stripes with white dots.

Variety Cobra has pumpkins in the form of bottles of a bizarre spotted color.

decorative pumpkins

fruit shape

Decorative pumpkins, the types of which are divided according to the shape of the ovaries into:

1. bwarty covered with various tubercles. And they can be different shapes: rounded, pear-shaped with rich orange, green, yellow and even two-tone;
2. stellate with fruits similar to starfish, a crown and a size of about 15 cm, a flattened or elongated shape and a color of white, green, yellow or a combination of these;
3. tangerine with a rich orange color, pumpkins up to 10 cm in size, slightly ribbed, rounded and similar to tangerines;
4. pear-shaped pumpkins are shaped like pears with different colors.

All kinds of forms of culture cannot be classified because of their diversity. There are monochrome, spotted, striped, ribbed, smooth, elongated, curly.

stars

Growing an ornamental plant

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I invite you to the group on Subscribe.ru for summer residents, gardeners: "Country hobbies" Everything about country life: cottage, garden, vegetable garden, flowers, recreation, fishing, hunting, tourism, nature author Elena Chernysheva

Almost anyone who first sees a decorative pumpkin with its emerald leaves, huge yellow flowers and original miniature fruits of various shapes and colors is usually delightedly surprised: “Oh, what is it?”.

Decorative pumpkin is not only an original plant, but also very unpretentious and, most importantly, extremely practical: with the help of its antennae, this vine is able to climb up to a height of 4 m in just one summer, decorating an arch, gazebo, fence or house wall.

Are ornamental pumpkins edible?

For some reason, the most popular question about a decorative pumpkin is: “Is it edible?”. It seems that times are by no means hungry now, but, apparently, the very word “pumpkin” evokes indispensable associations with cooking, and not at all with beauty!

So: while the fruits of the decorative pumpkin are still small, their skin is soft, you can eat them. But why? Indeed, even at such a young age, they are very much inferior in taste to their closest relatives from the same pumpkin family: zucchini, zucchini, squash and real large pumpkins. So, leave the decorative pumpkin for decoration, and eat something else instead!

Decorative pumpkin in the role of a creeper

The ideal place for planting a decorative pumpkin is next to a vertical support (for example, a chain-link fence or the south wall of some outbuilding). That is, for a decorative pumpkin, everything that you want to decorate with something is suitable as a support in the garden.

However, a decorative pumpkin can also be used in the front part of the garden, letting it lash along the gazebo, pergola or arch (for example, separating the garden from the flower beds). A pumpkin looks very unusual on the trunk of an old withered apple tree, which you still can’t cut down. In general, the pumpkin looks especially good in gardens in the now fashionable rural style, where garden and flower bed plants often coexist.
But in the "new Russian" dachas in the classic style of a regular park, the pumpkin will look too primitive and rude, dissonant with the roses and thujas that are obligatory in such cases.

A decorative pumpkin grows very quickly (not a single annual vine can compare with it in this), and by mid-July the screen from it grows quite high and dense. The pumpkin reaches its maximum decorative effect in August, when it completely curls the support provided to it, creating a solid green screen, decorated with large bright yellow flowers and elegant small fruitlets.

What does a decorative pumpkin need?

When choosing a place for a decorative pumpkin, two conditions should be observed.

Firstly, it is necessary to choose a sufficiently reliable support for it, since by the end of summer the stems and leaves of the vine form a large green mass.

The second condition is that it is better to plant a decorative pumpkin in a sunny place (light partial shade is acceptable). That is, of course, you can plant it near the northern wall of the house, but then you should not count on an abundance of flowers and, even more so, fruits.

What does a decorative pumpkin not like?

From annuals climbing plants decorative pumpkins are indeed one of the most unpretentious. Even a novice gardener can grow them. Their only minus is their absolute non-frost resistance: even with a light frost of -1 degree, the plant dies. That is why it is recommended to grow decorative pumpkins through seedlings. However, the least time-consuming and easiest way is to sow their seeds directly into the ground in mid-May. If late is expected spring frosts, emerging shoots can be covered plastic bottles or film.

In addition to frosts, decorative pumpkins really do not like the lack of moisture and poor soils. The more often you water and fertilize it (especially organic fertilizers), the better it will grow.

That's the whole secret!

Now let's talk a little about the fruits of the pumpkin, because of which it, in fact, is called decorative. Their size rarely exceeds 10-15 cm, and the shape can be round, star-shaped, bottle-shaped, in the form of a boletus mushroom, etc. There are varieties of pumpkin with both smooth and bumpy skin, the shades of which vary from white to yellow, orange or green. Striped, spotted or two-colored fruits of decorative pumpkin look the most funny.
These little fruits of cheerful colors look very nice on the plant itself, but very often decorative pumpkins are grown in order to collect ripened fruits in the fall, dry them and use them to create original compositions (for example, with dried flowers). In addition, these pumpkins can also be used to create real works of art. To do this, any pattern is applied to dried pumpkins with special paint, and then varnish to fix the paint.

In order for pumpkins to be stored for a long time, two rules must be observed: they must be fully ripe, that is, with a very rough and thick skin, and also plucked before the first autumn frosts.
In addition, so that their color (if you do not cover the fruits with paint) does not fade so much, it is better to store pumpkins away from direct sunlight.

Decorative pumpkins and children

If you want to introduce your child to gardening, then there is nothing better than growing a decorative pumpkin with him!

Firstly, it has very large seeds, and even the most Small child cope with their landing.

Secondly, the decorative pumpkin grows at a great speed (especially if the summer is hot and there is sufficient watering), and the baby will be able to quickly see the results of his work.

Thirdly, small children are very fond of messing with water, and therefore they love to water everything. A decorative pumpkin needs frequent watering!

And, finally, absolutely all children like its miniature, very bright and unusual fruits: there is something like a toy-doll in them. In addition, the fruits can be dried and painted with special paints and varnish (here you will need the help of adults). Your child will be happy to brag about them to friends and relatives. By the way, even the most primitive children's drawings look very unusual on small pumpkins!

About varieties of decorative pumpkin

Until recently, only mixtures of different varieties of ornamental pumpkins could be found in stores. Sometimes there were also series of varieties selected on a certain basis (for example, "Mosaic" and "Starfall", produced by the "NK" corporation).

Then Poisk pleased gardeners not with mixtures, but with individual varieties of decorative pumpkin. For example, in the Shahrazade series, you can find such varieties as bright orange "Turkish Turban", multi-colored "Stars" and "Baby Creamy White", and in the Kaleidoscope series - varieties "Two-color ball", "Orange ball" and "Warty Blend".
As regards various kinds garden flowers, I am a categorical opponent of the purchase of all kinds of mixtures of seeds. As a rule, both quite interesting specimens and absolutely banal ones (and most of them) grow out of them. That is, planting seeds from a mixture in the ground, one cannot assume that it will grow as a result. But in the case of decorative pumpkins, I am just an active supporter of mixtures of varieties! The fruits that appear from such mixtures are so unusual and diverse that growing a decorative pumpkin also becomes a very exciting activity: it is always terribly interesting what will result from such identical (at first glance) seeds!
Therefore, when the fruits on the vines of decorative pumpkins from a mixture of seeds begin to set, I almost every day check what kind of miracle I have this time.

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Some of us love pumpkin, many of us know special recipes to make pumpkin dishes tasty and healthy. But few of us know that there are special varieties of pumpkin that are grown not for food, but in order to make decorative ornaments out of it. These types include decorative pumpkin.

AT European culture and the US these varieties have long been in fashion and many Western gardeners grow these varieties to decorate the fronts of their homes, wedding ceremonies, and more. But can these varieties be eaten, and what kind of pumpkin is this - more on that.

A climbing annual plant is grown to decorate their garden plots, as well as the facades of houses. In addition, pear-shaped pumpkin crafts will become a real decoration at children's exhibitions and festivals. Outwardly, she is very much like her garden relative. Growing it is not difficult.

Shoots grow very quickly and reach 2 m in length (although there are observations when the length reached 4 - 6 meters). But they are much thinner than that of an ordinary pumpkin. There are also bush varieties that are planted along the terraces to decorate them with their appearance. The leaves of the decorative species are slightly thinner than the original. But, depending on the variety, color and appearance may change.

And as the shoot develops, white flowers will begin to appear on it, which form the ovary of a future decorative pumpkin.

The fruits of this species usually have a size of no more than 10 - 15 cm in diameter. And for holiday season on one shoot, from 20 to 40 small pumpkins can form. But the most important thing is that all fruits have the most diverse color.

Therefore, many designers and stylists use this material to create truly unique masterpieces. And the gardeners themselves amaze guests with unusual creative developments. Just look at these photos.

How to Grow and Care for Ornamental Pumpkins

In order to grow such beauty in your garden plot, you do not need special efforts. Curly decorative pumpkin does not require special specific skills and abilities. To do this, you need to know only a few simple tricks.

Ornamental pumpkins grow well in well-lit areas. But they still need to do a little darkening. The soil should be loose, fertile and saturated with neutral or weak acidity.

Before you start planting seeds, it is best to germinate them in a dark and warm place. It should be noted that planting a decorative pumpkin can be done in two ways:

1. With seedlings. In this case, it is best to start sowing from April 25 to May 5. Seeds are planted one at a time in deep containers, where the soil is loose and saturated with nutrients. And then they put it in the greenhouse.
2. Direct sowing in open ground. This method is done in early June, after the frosts finally end. And for this they need to be transplanted along with the ground. But this must be done carefully so as not to damage the root. The distance between the shoots should be at least 20 - 30 cm.

You should know that the plant is vulnerable to low temperatures and does not tolerate a decrease even by one degree. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare the bed in advance so that the night cold does not destroy the crop.

To care for a decorative pumpkin, you just need to loosen the soil from time to time, and water the plant during it. And like any other pumpkins, spring fertilizers are best for it (organic fertilizers are best).

When the first shoots sprout, it will be necessary to make the first top dressing. And when the ovary appears, fertilizers are added again.

Usually the plant does not require shoots to be artificially formed. But sometimes it is necessary to pinch when the shoot reaches a meter length. This is done to speed up the growth of side shoots.

Since the decorative pumpkin is predominantly a climbing species, therefore, it needs to be provided with a stable support. This support must withstand, albeit small, but heavy fruits, as well as winding dense shoots. And when the first autumn colds come, it will be necessary to cover all the shoots with special material so that the plant does not die and gives a harvest the next year.

How to harvest properly

If the decorative pumpkin is not properly cared for, it can be affected by various diseases. If such diseases have affected the plant, it is necessary to remove the infected part, and treat this place with either a fungicide or an insecticide.

After the fruit ripens and the stem dries, it must be carefully torn off together with the stem and put to dry. The fruits are placed in one row, and so that the edges do not touch each other. At the same time, the room should be well ventilated, and direct sunlight should not fall on the peel so that the color does not lose its color. This process takes about a week proper care. And the pulp can dry up to 6 months. Periodically, the fruits should be checked for the presence of rot, lethargy and mold. To understand that the pumpkin is completely dry, you need to shake it. The seeds inside should rustle. Everything - the material for decor is ready.

Is a decorative pumpkin good for food

The ornamental gourd was originally grown as a form from which a wide variety of decorations could be made. Therefore, the nutritional qualities of this plant are out of the question. Because a ripe pumpkin has a hard skin and no nutrients.

But some varieties, not yet ripened, and still have a soft shell and pulp, can be used in cooking. But for this, an ordinary pumpkin is best suited. Is it possible to eat it? Definitely yes. BUT decorative option must be used in design ideas and needlework. Usually, gardeners wait for the fruit to ripen and fade, the skin to become thick and rough, and the stalk to shrivel.

How to deal with pests

As already mentioned - with improper care, the pumpkin can be affected by a wide variety of diseases and garden pests. And if the plant is struck by some kind of disease, urgent action must be taken.

Powdery mildew - white spots appear on the entire surface of the fruit, stems and shoots, which dry out. This disease appears due to the fact that the plant lacks sunlight. Or a sudden drop in temperature. In order to get rid of the disease, it is necessary to spray the plant chemicals. But the affected fruits will have to be destroyed.

White rot manifests itself in such a way that the surface of the plant is covered with a growth similar to cotton wool. And also the affected places begin to sweat, as it were. This disease is the cause high humidity. Therefore, the affected areas are carefully cut off and processed with chalk or charcoal.

Root rot affects the stem and root. And the cause of the disease is soil fungi that infect the plant if it grows poorly. Therefore, the best way to prevent disease is to disinfect the seeds themselves before planting. The only way to save a plant is to early stages, adding humus or peat.

Bacteriosis most often infects leaves, but it can also affect fruits with shoots. Looks like angular brown spots. He is active in humid environment. And for prevention, plants are treated with a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid.

Slugs affect not only pumpkin. They are considered the scourge of all vegetables. They are mostly found on rainy days. Get rid of them with a mixture of slaked lime and ash.

Decorative curly pear

For gardeners who decide to get serious decorative species plants, you should pay attention to this plant. Curly pear is somewhat reminiscent of a decorative pumpkin. This plant is grown for its appearance to enjoy the beauty of the tree. The fruits do not have a pleasant taste. But the foliage acquires a beautiful red hue in autumn, and blooms with snow-white flowers in spring.

This plant can be safely combined with a decorative pumpkin. For example, a pumpkin in the form of a mushroom will look good near a pear. And if the gardener shows ingenuity and creative imagination, then the area around the tree will truly become a paradise for the owner of the site. Therefore, to the question: “What to do with it,” you can safely answer: “Yes, anything.”

The ornamental pumpkin has been sectioned for those gardeners who want to grow on their plot not only those plants that are used for food, but also turn their plot into a small paradise for themselves. As you can see, to grow this plant, you do not need to put so much effort. Decorative pumpkin grows quickly, gives good harvest but it is very sensitive to low temperatures. Therefore, if your site is located in the northern latitudes, you must prepare all the conditions in advance so that the plant is comfortable. And the fruits can be used for various crafts, as well as beautifully decorate your site.

Often when decorating a garden, ordinary flowers and others are used. decorative elements. However, some gardeners use unusual vegetables for this, which include decorative pumpkin. In the past few years, the plant has been gaining popularity among fans of growing vegetables. Pumpkin bushes have rather strong shoots, on which large fruits with unusual shape. They are also dyed bright colours, which will please the eye not only of the owners of the garden or vegetable garden, but also of guests.

Before growing pumpkins of bizarre shapes, you should figure out why they are grown. There are several reasons why many plant ornamental pumpkin varieties:

• The beauty. main reason considered the beauty of pumpkin bushes. They have bright orange, green, yellow flowers, leaves unique in their shape and unusual fruits, the originality of which attracts people.
• Growth rate. feature ornamental varieties pumpkin is the growth rate of bushes. Within a month, they grow up to five meters in length, so many use it for vertical gardening of country courtyards or gardens.
• Ease of care. It is quite easy to care for such a plant, as it is unpretentious. It is enough to water the bushes regularly so that they do not fade from drought.

Miniature decorative pumpkin

There are quite a few ornamental pumpkin varieties that anyone can purchase at the store. For example, vegetable growers often plant orange varieties of the vegetable, as they differ from many other varieties in their bright orange color.

The fruits are round in shape and look like an orange. There are varieties that are completely different from orange types of vegetables. These include bottle varieties, the fruits of which are bottle-shaped. These vegetables have a mottled greenish color.

Despite the fact that the varieties of decorative pumpkins differ, they are all united by the diminutiveness of the fruit. The fruits of almost all varieties have small size and weigh no more than 200-300 grams.

Can it be eaten?

Many people who plan to grow ornamental varieties are interested in whether they can be eaten and used for cooking.

Some believe that ripe fruits are used only for decoration, and this is partly true. Such varieties of pumpkins were bred specifically for use in design and therefore they taste qualities not very good. However, some species are still used for cooking.

For this, it is better to use only young fruits, as ripe ones are covered with a hard crust and have a bitter taste. Therefore, ripe pumpkin fruits are used for feeding livestock.

There are several ornamental varieties that were bred specifically for human consumption. These include Baby Boo, Sweet Dumpling and Bee Little.

cultivation

To grow an ornamental pumpkin yourself, you should follow the basic rules for growing ordinary pumpkin varieties.

The first half of June or the end of May is perfect for planting this vegetable, since night frosts will disappear by this time. In the southern regions of the country, planting a vegetable is carried out with seeds, and in the northern regions, a seedling method is used.

If you properly plant and properly care for the planted plants, the bushes will grow 5–8 meters in height.

How are small varieties grown?

Separately, bush varieties of decorative pumpkin should be mentioned, as they have certain growing features. They land in the ground on June 5–10. To do this, the area intended for planting the plant is pre-fertilized with top dressing. Then small holes are made in it with a distance of about 40–50 cm from each other. 2-3 seeds are placed in each of the holes, after which they are sprinkled with soil.

Such varieties are most often planted in small lawns or flower beds as decorative ornament. In order for the plant to grow better, the soil is periodically sprinkled with compost. Regular fertilization will improve yields and speed up fruit ripening.

Place for decorative pumpkin

Before growing any variety of pumpkin, choose the most suitable area for planting it. When choosing a site, take into account that pumpkin bushes need a strong and reliable support, since at the end of the season a lot of green mass grows on the bushes. Therefore, many recommend planting a vegetable in dense soils.

If the plant is planted in the garden, then well-heated areas are selected for this, on which beets, onions, carrots, legumes or cabbage were previously grown. It is not recommended to grow vegetables in places where cucumbers, potatoes, melons or zucchini used to grow. It is impossible to get a good harvest in such an area.

Also, when choosing, pay attention to the plants that will grow nearby. A pumpkin cannot be planted if spinach, peas, beans or onions are planted near it. These plants attract pests that can harm pumpkin bushes.

Seed selection

The quality of the crop depends largely on the selected seeds for further landing. Therefore, it is recommended to pay attention to the choice planting material.

If the pumpkin will be eaten, then pay attention to the size of the variety. To make the fruits tastier and sweeter, varieties with small fruits are chosen for planting.

During the selection, pay attention to the appearance of the planting material. Its peel should be perfectly smooth and free of defects on the surface. If there are wavy stripes on the peel, then it is better not to choose such seeds, since they contain nitrates. Also, do not use seeds with dark spots on the surface for planting.

Growing from seeds: agricultural techniques

When growing pumpkins from seeds, a seedless method is used, which is most often used by residents of the southern regions of the country. Seeds are planted in the soil only if the earth is well warmed up to a temperature of about 15 degrees.

Before planting, all seeds are pre-treated. To do this, they are heated for about 10 hours at a temperature of about 40–50 degrees, after which they are treated with an ash solution. This is done to speed up the emergence of the first shoots and the ripening of fruits.

When the seed is prepared, they mark out and make rows with holes for planting a vegetable on the site. The diameter of each hole should be at least 35 cm. After creating rows, 2–4 seeds are placed in the holes, which are watered with warm water immediately after planting. All crops on the site are covered with a film to protect the seedlings from possible frosts.

Seedling

Before planting seeds for growing seedlings, they are engaged in preliminary preparation of the soil mixture. For its preparation, the soil is mixed with organic and mineral top dressings, which will improve the germination of planted seeds. The prepared soil is placed in small peat pots with a diameter of about 20 cm. No more than one seed is planted in each pot. If you plant two or more seeds, they will not grow well.

All containers with planted pumpkin seeds are covered with a film and transferred to a well-lit room.

How to prepare seedlings?

Before transplanting seedlings into open ground, it is necessary to first prepare and grow seedlings. Therefore, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the features of growing pumpkin seedlings.

After the appearance of the first shoots, all pots with planted plants are placed on the windowsills so that direct rays of light fall on them. In the room where the seedlings are grown, an optimal temperature regime. During the daytime, the temperature should not fall below 20 degrees, and at night - below 15 degrees. When growing, all seedlings are periodically watered with warm water. At the same time, watering is carried out in such a way that the soil is not heavily waterlogged.

Also, seedlings are regularly fed with fertilizers. To prepare a feed mixture, 20 grams of potassium sulfate, a liter of mullein and 20 grams of superphosphate are added to 10 liters of water. Two weeks before transplanting seedlings into open ground, the plants are hardened. To do this, containers with pumpkins are taken outside every day so that they get used to the new temperatures.

Proper planting of seedlings in open ground

pumpkin needs outdoors and therefore her seedlings will have to be transplanted outside. As with planting seeds, planting seedlings in the ground begins with the preparation of holes. For seedlings, the holes are made a little deeper than for seeds, and therefore their depth should not be less than 10 cm. Fertilizers are added to each created hole in the form of 50 grams of ash, 40 grams of superphosphate mixed with water.

After fertilizing, all holes are moistened with warm water so that the soil is moist when planting a decorative pumpkin. Having finished with watering, the seedlings are taken out of the pots along with the root, placed in the ground and covered with earth. Then the site is mulched with peat and re-sprinkled with dry soil.

Planting seedlings in a greenhouse

Sometimes, due to the peculiarities of the climate, it is not possible to grow pumpkin bushes on the street and you have to plant them in greenhouses. Before planting seedlings, you should make sure that all the windows are fully open.

Planted plants during flowering need good ventilation. You should also take care of lighting, as without enough light bushes will grow poorly.

After preparing the greenhouse, holes are created for planting seedlings. As with planting in the garden, the depth of the holes should be about 10-12 cm. All rows are pre-watered with warm water, after which seedlings are planted.

Ornamental pumpkin care

When growing ornamental varieties of pumpkins, you should definitely take care of them. The yield of plants depends on the quality of care for planted seedlings. Caring for pumpkin bushes consists in regular weeding of the site from weeds, watering and fertilizing the planted bushes. Sometimes you have to do the pollination of plants yourself. Most often this is done if the plant is grown in greenhouse conditions. However, sometimes incomplete fertilization of the ovaries also occurs when grown outdoors.

top dressing

It is recommended to regularly feed the bushes with fertilizers to increase the yield of planted seedlings. For the first time, fertilizers are added to the site 10-15 days after planting seedlings in the garden. To do this, manure and chicken manure are added to the soil in a ratio of one to four. Such organic top dressings are added three times a month.

Also experienced gardeners it is recommended to add to the soil where the pumpkin is grown, a solution wood ash. It enriches the soil with nutrients and protects the leaves of the bushes from yellowing. To prepare it, 10 liters of water is mixed with 100 grams of ash.

To use this fertilizer, small holes are made around each bush, into which the prepared mixture is poured. After top dressing is completed, all fertilizer pits are covered with soil.

Pollination

It often happens that when growing pumpkin plants, part of the ovaries rot and fall off. It seems to many that this happens due to a lack of nutrients in the soil. However, this problem is associated with poor pollination by the plant. Therefore, in order to get a good harvest in the future, it is recommended to independently carry out pollination of plants.

Pollination should be done before 11 am, as this is the most suitable time. To do this, you will have to pick a male flower from one bush, tear out the petals from it and touch the anthers of the plant to the pistil of one of the female flowers. The procedure is repeated until all female flowers are pollinated.

Varieties of decorative pumpkin

Pumpkin vegetable culture belongs to melons and is the most common plant among other representatives. It's no secret that there are three main types of pumpkins, which include hard-skinned, large-fruited and nutmeg varieties. Many consider ornamental pumpkins to be a separate type of plant, but this is not so. Ornamental pumpkins are slightly modified varieties of hard-barked plants.

Ornamental gourd plants also come in different types. Therefore, before planting, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the most common decorative representatives.

leginaria

Pumpkin Lagenaria is popular among lovers of growing vegetables. The plant differs from other ornamental varieties in the length of its bushes, which grow to 10–12 meters. The fruits of the plant have a bizarre shape, outwardly resembling a nesting doll. In our country, this variety is commonly called a serpentine pumpkin or gourd.

This variety of pumpkin plants is planted not only to decorate the site, but also for food. It is also often used in folk medicine and prepare from it means for the treatment of diseases of the heart, stomach and kidneys.

Crown or star gourd

A feature of this variety is the unique shape of the fruit, which can be umbellate, star-shaped or crown-shaped. The plant is considered undersized, as it grows up to 1-2 meters in height. Most often it is used to decorate the walls of buildings, arches or gazebos.

The star-shaped variety loves warmth and therefore it is recommended to plant it in the second half of May.

warty

The warty variety is considered one of the most unique, as it has an extensive colors. The fruits can turn yellow, white, black and orange. Sometimes there are spotted and striped pumpkins, which are immediately painted in two colors.

It is customary to plant bushes in April or early May. With proper care, the plant grows up to three meters.

pear-shaped

Decorative curly pumpkin in the form of a pear attracts the attention of many vegetable growers. This plant is used to decorate summer cottages and for eating.

The peculiarities of the variety include pear-shaped fruits, which can be painted in different colors. Some varieties of pear-shaped gourds have a two-tone striped color.

Calabash

Another common ornamental gourd plant is the bottle gourd. Pumpkin vines of the bottle variety are quite long and grow up to 15 meters. Plants have useful properties, which is why it is often used for cooking medicines. Also, the fruits of the variety are used to create dishes. In India, China and Africa, dishes made from this plant are still used.

Mandarin Mandarin

By the name of the variety, it becomes clear that the fruits of the vegetable look like tangerines. They are orange in color and have a rounded shape. Also, the fruits are not very large and weigh only 300 grams.

Orange

This ornamental variety is similar in appearance to an orange, as its fruits have a bright orange color and their shape resembles a fruit. Each pumpkin fruit weighs about 250 grams.

Chalmoid or gourd fungus chump

This variety differs from many ornamental cucurbits in that it has rather large fruits. Another difference between the turban-shaped pumpkin is that the vegetable consists of two parts. Its upper part is slightly convex and stands out against the background of the lower one. Because of this, the shape of the fruit resembles a fungus.

The plant is not classified as a tall pumpkin variety, as it grows up to one and a half meters.

Jack be little

This variety of pumpkin resembles the Orange variety, since the fruits are also painted in bright orange colors and have a diameter of about 10 cm. The bushes are different high yield, since each of them grows about 10–15 fruits weighing 100–120 grams. The variety is used to decorate the site and prepare vegetable dishes.

Turkish turban

This edible variety differs from other species in its growth rate. In a few weeks, the plant grows up to six meters. This allows the use of bushes in the organization of vertical gardening of the site. The Turkish turban is considered a light-loving variety and therefore it is planted only in areas with good lighting. The fruits of an ornamental vegetable are not very large and grow only up to 15 cm in diameter.

Baby Boo Baby Boo

Baby Boo is considered a unique pumpkin variety, as its fruits have a perfectly white color. The weight of each pumpkin does not exceed 200 grams, and the diameter is 10–15 cm. The surface of the vegetable is perfectly even and smooth. A mature plant is more often used not for decorating plots, but for cooking.

Sweet Dumpling Sweet Dumpling

This variety of pumpkin plants is considered the most beautiful. Its fruits are colored green color and covered with small stripes orange color. The variety is used for interior decoration.

Kleine bicolor

The variety belongs to the pear-shaped varieties of pumpkins, as their fruits are pear-shaped. The color of ripe vegetables varies, but green pumpkins are more common.

Bischofsmutzen

Less common than others are vegetables belonging to the Bischofsmutzen variety. characteristic feature such plants are considered ripe pumpkins, which consist of hemispheres of different sizes. Half of the vegetable is dyed White color, and the other half - in green or red.

Cou Tors Native

The plant belongs to the varieties of torticollis. Fruits original shape which distinguishes them from other types of vegetables. They are shaped like swans and are covered with orange bulges all over.

goose in apples

A feature of the pumpkin variety goose in apples is its fertility. About five kilograms of crops are harvested from one bush. The collected fruits are used to make pumpkin porridge and mashed potatoes.

Diseases and pests

Bushes of this vegetable crop often suffer from fungal diseases. Many bushes die from black mold, which stops the growth of plants. When the disease appears, the leaves become covered with small spots. Over time, the spots begin to dry and cavities appear in their places.

Powdery mildew is also a common disease. On the leaves of plants with the disease, a whitish coating appears, which looks like flour. Leaves with plaque gradually dry and fall off.

Among dangerous insects, slugs that feed on leaves of bushes should be distinguished. Most often, these pests appear on plants after prolonged rains. It is recommended to immediately get rid of slugs, as they take root on the site for several years.

The use of ripe fruits

Sometimes people who grow ornamental pumpkin varieties just don't know what to do with it. Of course, many try to use the fruits in cooking.

Some varieties are great for preserving and preparing vegetable salads or dishes. However, most often a decorative pumpkin is used to decorate rooms or gardens. Dried fruits are used to make excellent handicrafts, which include lanterns, vases, caskets and even candle holders.

Creative people use the vegetable to create artistic painting and burning pictures.

How are pumpkins dried?

Particular attention is paid to the peculiarities of drying the harvested fruits, since dried pumpkin is often used for decoration. The entire harvest is carefully sorted out to weed out unripe pumpkins. To distinguish ripe fruits from unripe ones, pay attention to their dried stalk. It is also almost impossible to leave scratches on a fully ripened pumpkin.

All selected ripe pumpkins are washed from dirt with warm water, wiped dry and treated with an alcohol solution. Then the vegetables are transferred to a warm room with good ventilation for further drying. It is necessary to regularly inspect the harvested crop, as some of them rot when dried. Rotten fruits are disposed of immediately so that the rot does not spread to neighboring pumpkins.

Also, when examining vegetables, pay attention to the presence of mold on their surface. If signs of mold are noticed on the peel, the vegetables are immediately treated with antiseptic agents. Sometimes they get rid of it with rags and bleach.

To make sure that the pumpkin has dried well, it is thrown into a container of water. If it sinks, then the crop is not yet completely dry.

How are pumpkins processed?

When using dried pumpkins to decorate the interior of the house, you will have to pre-process the vegetable. First, all the fruits are polished with sandpaper to get rid of the husks on the surface. Then a pattern is cut out on the walls and painted. Some rub the surface of the fruit with wax to make it more durable.

In the manufacture of dishes, pumpkins are drilled with a drill with various drills to make holes in them. required diameters. Before proceeding with drilling, the vegetable is opened and all seeds and pulp are removed from it.

Conclusion

Many vegetable lovers are engaged in growing decorative varieties of pumpkins. Before you start planting such a plant, you should familiarize yourself with the known varieties and the features of their cultivation in a garden or greenhouse.