Over the long history of pumpkin cultivation, many varieties of it were created, and it is no wonder that a novice farmer gets confused in their variety. The classification of varieties of this melon crop given in the article will help you figure out which species is suitable for growing for you.

Classification and varieties of pumpkins

All pumpkins are divided into wild and cultivated. The latter, in turn, are divided into:

• hard bark (also known as ordinary or kitchen);
• giant, or large-fruited;
• nutmeg.

In addition, there are pumpkins grown for decorative purposes. Most often, these are modified representatives of hard-core. Large-fruited pumpkins are also found, having a bizarre shape and used to design rooms. Consider the most popular varieties in each of the above groups.

Hard-boiled pumpkins

The most common group, universally grown in Russia. They are used both for culinary purposes and in traditional medicine. Some species are fodder.

Did you know? In 2009, in Wisconsin, a vessel with pumpkin seeds, which was 850 years old, was found on the territory of an Indian settlement. The seeds were planted in the ground, and most of them sprouted.

Common signs of representatives of hard-core are:

• very dense skin of a mature fetus, poorly machinable;
• pentagonal stalk and peduncle;
• tasty, numerous seeds;
• early ripening (August-September);
• long shelf life.

Hard-boiled pumpkins can be either climbing or growing in the form of a bush. The latter is especially convenient for small gardens, as it saves space.

Freckle

The variety acquired its name due to the pale yellow, fine-mesh pattern on green fruits. Small pumpkin, weighing no more than 2.5–3 kg. Freckle was bred in Russia at the end of the 20th century for cultivation in severe climatic conditions of Siberia and the Far East. The variety is early ripe, is not afraid of return frosts and, subject to abundant watering, has a high yield (365 c / ha). A pleasant bonus to the above characteristics is the delicate taste of pulp, reminiscent of a pear.

Acorn

Acorn is also known as the "acorn pumpkin." The reason for this is its barrel-shaped, acorn-like red oak shape. A kind of Acorne called Fordhook has an elongated shape and is more similar to the petioles acorns familiar to us. The small fruits of Acorn are usually green, but you can find the Golden and White Acorn, as well as the charcoal black Acorn Ebony. The taste of Acorn is reminiscent of the taste of another representative of hard-boiled ones - zucchini, and therefore is not recommended for fresh consumption. This variety is very popular in the USA. Local chefs stuff small pumpkins and bake them with brown sugar and butter.

Children's delicacy

This hybrid is characterized by:

• small dimensions;
• pear-shaped flattened shape;
• weight 2.5–3 kg;
• bright orange color of fruits;
• good keeping quality;
• sweet, juicy pulp.

From Children's delicacy excellent juices and mashed potatoes for the first feeding, as well as jam and jams are obtained. The pulp is so tasty that it can also be consumed fresh.

Almond

This variety is especially suited to sweet tooths due to its high sugar content in fruits (6-7%) and crispy tender pulp with almond flavor. The weight of brown-orange, flattened fruits reaches 5 kg. Almond is able to be stored for a long time, but when grown, it can cause problems to the gardener due to exposure to powdery mildew.

Miranda

Recently, breeders have been working on the creation of the so-called gymnospermous pumpkins, whose seeds are covered only with a thin film, and not with a dense peel. One of the forms of gymnospermous pumpkin is Miranda. She has very tasty seeds that contain 50% healthy fatty oils. For the sake of the production of pumpkin oil, this variety is grown. Miranda is a semi-bush plant, so it is suitable for small farmer plots. The fruits of Miranda are round, light green, small. Its pulp is not particularly tasty, but it is quite suitable for baking.

Large-fruited pumpkins

Most representatives of this group have large fruits weighing up to 15–20 kg. However, there are also small large-fruited ones, which indicates the inconclusiveness of this sign.

The characteristic differences of large-fruited varieties are:

• round peduncle that does not penetrate the fruit itself;
• soft, rounded stem;
• high sugar content in fruits;
• cold resistance.

Important! The longer are stored fruit candy, so they become sweeter and juicier. The average storage period is 1 year.

Russian woman

Also known as melon pumpkin due to the inherent pulp of honey melon flavor. Its dimensions are average, usually the weight reaches 3 kg, although larger specimens are also found. Russian woman is an early ripening, cold-resistant variety and therefore is cultivated both in the middle lane and in Siberia. The color of the fruit is orange, and the shape expanding to the bottom resembles a children's toy Yule. The pulp is juicy and there are many, while the seeds are few in number.

Graceful

This is a mid-season semi-bush variety with a chalm-shaped fruit, the weight of which varies from 3.5 to 6 kg, depending on the region and growing conditions. Behind the unremarkable gray skin hides a delicious and juicy dark orange pulp, which is suitable for fresh consumption, as well as for baking, cereals and other dishes. The pumpkin gracefulness adds added carotene.

Titanium

Titanium deserves its name: under particularly favorable conditions, the weight of its bright orange fruits can reach 200–400 kg, although usually this figure is still less - 40–100 kg. In any case, Titan is the leader in terms of size among pumpkins. It is grown mainly in commercial farms, as a table and fodder variety. Due to the strong weaving, Titan is demanding on agricultural technology. In addition, this is a very thermophilic plant that does not tolerate return frosts, and therefore landed in the ground late in June. However, Titan compensates for this by rapid growth.

Centner

A little behind Titan is a variety of Italian breeding called Centner. Its weight reaches 55-60 kg, and the maximum possible is about 100 kg. Centner is grown as a fodder variety and to produce large, tasty seeds.

Volga gray

Volzhskaya Sulfur has a rather unremarkable appearance (oblate shape, gray dense skin, creamy pulp), but at the same time it has a wonderful taste and aroma, high sugar content (11%). In addition, the Volga gray is very unpretentious, has good immunity to disease and high yields. It is used as a table and feed grade.

Sweetie

Sweet due to its high sugar content (8%), but without sugaryness. Its taste combines a fruity aftertaste and sourness. Sweetmeat is a portioned variety of medium size (3.5–6 kg), whose bright orange fruits are conveniently divided into segments.

Winter sweet

Winter sweet is extremely unpretentious. It can easily tolerate cold, lack of moisture and low soil fertility, therefore it is suitable for cultivation in risky farming areas (Siberia, the Urals, Lower Volga region). Even with minimal care, the weight of the fruit reaches at least 6 kg, and subject to top dressing and quality care - 12 kg. The pumpkin is round in shape, gray in color. The pulp is sweet, aromatic and very juicy.

Marble

Marble grows to 5 kg over the summer and accumulates 10-12% of sugars, which makes it one of the sweetest varieties. Appearance corresponds to the name: greenish-gray fruits with lighter stripes and intersperses that make the surface of the vegetable look like a noble natural stone. The variety is very demanding on growing conditions, it needs top dressing, regular watering, low soil acidity.

Nutmeg pumpkins

Nutmeg pumpkins are becoming increasingly popular in the wake of the universal enthusiasm for a healthy lifestyle. Muscat varieties contain more vitamins than others, and the taste and aroma of juicy pulp allow you to enjoy proper nutrition, refuting the postulate of healthy, but tasteless.

Did you know? In Italy, mustard is made from pumpkin for dressing salads and pasta. Pumpkin mustard is also used as a sauce for meat dishes and smoked meats.

Nutmegs differ:

• heat loving (it is better to grow in the southern regions or in the middle lane through seedlings);
• late ripening;
• yellow-brown seeds;
• penta peduncle extended to the base;
• light muscat aroma.

New

This is a universal variety. Yellow fruits of oval-cylindrical shape and weighing 4-6 kg have juicy pulp, which is used in a variety of culinary recipes. In addition, it is Novinka that is preferred to use baby food factories when creating mashed potatoes and juices. Novelty can be saved up to 1 year, while maintaining taste.

Arabat

One of the most famous domestic muscat. In shape, the yellow fruits of the Arabat pumpkin are similar to a pear or a guitar (the people often call it a variety). Its mass reaches 6–8 kg. Under the thin, fragile skin is a dense, fleshy pulp. The taste is sweet, fruity. The disadvantages include late ripening.

Butternut

The name of the vegetable gives an idea of ​​its oily flesh (English “butter” - oil) and nutty taste (English “nut” - nut). Like other representatives of the nutmeg variety, Butternat has an elongated pear-shaped, yellow skin color. The pulp is orange, dense and moderately sweet. The weight of the fruit usually does not exceed 4 kg.

Prikubanskaya

For 20 years, the Kuban pumpkin has been pleasing domestic farmers with its gentle, sweet taste, stable harvest, good keeping quality and transportability. The mass of brown-orange fruits can vary from 2.5 to 5 kg. The peel is thin, the pulp is juicy. The shape is typical of nutmegs - cylindrical with a thickening. The variety is universal in application.

Hokkaido Pumpkin

This variety of portioned pumpkin comes from Japan. In English sources it is called “winter pumpkin”, and the French gave it the name Potimarron (from the French “potiron” - pumpkin and “marron” - chestnut). The Japanese themselves call her Kocha. The fruits are small (1.5–2 kg), of various colors (from bright orange to green, depending on the type) and shape (round, pear-shaped, oblate). Hokkaido is an early ripening variety and is perfect for cultivation in the middle lane. Hokkaido fruits have a pleasant nutty taste, which makes it possible to actively use them in cooking (for baking, pies, soups, as pots for portioned meat and vegetable dishes).

Foliage pumpkin

At first glance, the foliage pumpkin (Phycephaly) can be confused with watermelon. However, when cutting the fetus, the difference becomes visible: the pulp of Ficephaly is white, although with black seeds. Figolistic she is named because of openwork leaves. Phycephaly is used for gastronomic and medicinal purposes. All parts of this plant are rich in vitamins and minerals, have a beneficial effect on the digestive tract.

Wax pumpkin

Wax pumpkin (Beninase) is cultivated in Asia and Latin America. A characteristic feature of its fruits is a layer of waxy substance and a white coating, which contribute to long-term storage (2-3 years). Chinese traditional medicine advises Beninquasa as a diuretic, painkiller, tonic. Beninquaza has found application in the cuisine of Asian countries, combining perfectly with fish dishes.

Decorative pumpkins

Decorative pumpkins have not only original, curly fruits, but also beautiful foliage and flowers. Together, this creates an ensemble that can decorate any garden and gazebo. As already mentioned, decorative ones are not a separate species, but a genetically modified variety of other pumpkins (most often hard bark, rarely large-fruited). An exception is Lagenaria.

Important! Most decorative pumpkins, if suitable for food, are only unripe. Ripened fruits are non-toxic, but usually tasteless and hard.

Lagenaria

Lagenaria (climbing pumpkin) is a very ancient plant that came to us from India. Even in ancient Rome, dishes were made from flask-like fruits, which were very durable thanks to the firm skin of mature Lagenaria. Residents of Oceania, Polynesia, African countries to this day use Lagenaria to create musical instruments and pipes. Young fruits, reaching no more than 50-60 cm in length, are used in cooking, their taste is similar to zucchini. The maximum length that a ripe fruit can reach is 3 m. The fruit mass varies from 4 to 15 kg. Liana Lagenaria is able to grow up to 15 m.

Wimpy

There are various lines of chalm-shaped pumpkins, all of them are united by the shape of the fruit, similar to a turban or a mushroom cap. Although chalmoid are descendants of Chilean large-fruited pumpkins, their size is usually small and varies from 0.5 to 5 kg. Some types of chalmoid, for example, Little Red Riding Hood, are edible (moreover, tasty) even in full ripeness.

Tangerine

The size of these round bright orange pumpkins does not exceed 10 cm, weight - 300 g. The plant has densely arranged leaves and bright yellow flowers that adorn the buildings and arbors in the summer. Mandarin fruits are perfectly stored and used to decorate rooms.

Stars

Named because of their resemblance to starfish. Their diameter is a maximum of 15 cm, and orange, green and striped colors make them an excellent material for children's crafts.

Pear-shaped

One of the most beautiful decorative varieties. Its fruits are similar to a large pear, but the most interesting in pear-shaped pumpkins is their color. Depending on the type, the fruit can be completely bright yellow, or half yellow, half green with a clear border between the flowers. Some species have wide white stripes along the fruit.

Pumpkin Growing Tips

Choosing a variety, you can start growing, but for starters It is worth familiarizing yourself with the recommendations of experienced gardeners:

1. Seeds ideally purchased abroad (foreign varieties) or from private farmers specializing in pumpkin cultivation. Otherwise, there is a high risk of getting a re-grader.
2. The plant is thermophilic, for planting you need to choose a sunny place.
3. Soil for growing should be light, nutritious, air-intensive, neutral acidity.
4. Excessive watering will result in watery fruit. It is better to water the pumpkin less often, but more plentifully. During the ripening of the fruit, watering stops.
5. Agricultural technology necessarily includes weeding and pinching lashes.
6. Vegetables are very fond of mineral nutrition, especially potassium. He also needs organic fertilizers (manure, bird droppings). One of the methods of growing is placing the plant on a compost heap under the film. This will help reduce the amount of fertilizing and watering.

Many varieties of pumpkins give everyone the opportunity to choose the most suitable variety. The article describes the most famous types of this melon culture, both edible and decorative.