30 Best Pumpkin Varieties: Description with Photos

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Vladimir 04/25/2020

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We invite you to familiarize yourself with the description of the most popular varieties of pumpkin. There are probably no summer cottages in Russia where pumpkins grow. Its history goes back many centuries. It is known that pumpkin was used by the Mayans, knowing about its healing properties. This vegetable has a great advantage over all others - it can be stored for a long time, and you can eat not only the juicy pulp, but also the healthy seed.

General information and classification

Decorative varieties

The pumpkin family includes 27 species. A huge number of varieties have been bred from each.

In our country, 3 types of pumpkins are most often grown:

large-fruited
nutmeg
strong-willed

Hard-skinned varieties (common pumpkin) include vegetables with thick, woody skin. They usually ripen earlier than anyone else - at the end of summer, beginning of autumn.
Butternut squash love warmth, so they bear fruit best in areas with a warm climate. They have a long growing season; most often, in our country they need to be planted as seedlings.
Large-fruited cucurbits produce the largest, sweetest fruits. They are best suited for long-term storage, growing in cold parts of the country.
There is a tomato variety called purple pumpkin.

According to their purpose, pumpkins are divided into:

table varieties
feed
decorative

We will describe different varieties for cultivation in different regions of Russia, taste, etc.

For Siberia, Urals

The abundance of summer sun completely compensates for the shortness of the northern summer. In a sharply continental climate, the most powerful and hardy vegetables ripen stably. Many varieties of pumpkin for Siberia in open ground are excellent at gaining weight and storing vitamins. Not only the Siberian selection is in demand, but also “guests” from other regions.

Pearl (Muscat pearl)

Originally from Kuban. The pear-shaped fruits grow gradually, but manage to fill up to 5-7 kg. The skin is yellow-green, spotted and striped. The flesh is deep orange and quite sweet.

Medical

Another Kuban variety, zoned in Siberia. Rich in vitamins, but not very resistant to rot. Early ripening, short-stemmed. Pumpkins grow up to 5 kg - flattened, gray on the outside, tangerine-colored when cut, sugary and juicy.

Smile

Super early, bushy, not afraid of drought and cold. During the season it produces 5 - 7 small (up to 1 kg) pumpkin balls. They are orange and smell like melon; there is not enough juice.

Russian

Cold-resistant, responsive to watering. The standard size does not exceed 2 kg, but sometimes giants grow 5 times larger. The length of the shoots is no more than 3 m. Pumpkins resemble an orange turban. The pulp is dryish, crispy, with the smell of melon. The variety is not very resistant to powdery mildew.

Freckle

Early ripening, semi-bush, light green on the outside and yellow on the cut. Unique pear aroma. Pumpkins are round and portioned. Plants are prone to powdery mildew.

Volga gray

An old variety, tried and true, rot resistant. The ripening time is average, the stems are tall (up to 8 m). Fruit size is 5 – 9 kg. Lots of full-bodied pumpkin seeds; The flesh is beige, the sweetness is moderate.

Benincasa (Wax gourd)

An original tropical species for greenhouse cultivation through seedlings. The greenish-whitish fruits weigh up to 5 kg and are stored for a long time; They are covered with wax on the outside and white on the inside. The juice is healing. The stewed flesh tastes like seafood.

butternut squash

Butternut squash is one of the most beloved members of the pumpkin family among gardeners. She is originally from Mexico. It got its name for its subtle nutmeg aroma.
Its popularity is associated with its taste, rich color of pulp, and long shelf life. That’s why nutmeg pumpkin is also called winter squash. After resting for a long time, its flesh acquires a more saturated color. But it is not recommended to store vegetables for more than six months.
This species includes many varieties. They all have different shapes and colors. Most varieties have elongated fruits - pear-shaped, oval, cylindrical.
A distinctive feature of this group of plants is the pentagonal stalk of the pumpkin. But all representatives have a thin peel that is easy to peel.
Butternut squash is best suited for growing in the southern regions of the country. In central Russia you can plant it using seedlings or in greenhouses.
Almost all varieties are late ripening.

Spanish guitar

The plant received its name for the unusual shape of its fruits, weighing up to 8 kg. The length of vegetables depends on the fertility of the soil and ranges from 70-100 cm, diameter - about 17 cm.
This is a mid-season variety that has good shelf life and tastes like apricots. There are few seeds in the dense pulp; they are located only in the thickened part of the vegetable.
The skin is thin and the inside of the pumpkin is orange. There are no ribs on the surface of the fruit.
The variety is suitable for consumption raw, but has not yet become widespread in our country.

Tsukatnaya

The first harvest of candied pumpkin is harvested 4-5 months after the sprouts appear. The variety is classified as mid-late.
The fruits are light brown in color and have a rounded-flattened shape. After maturation, their average weight is 5 kg. The inside is sugary, crispy, and orange in color.
Candied pumpkin is widely used for the manufacture of confectionery, medicinal and baby food.
The harvested crop can be transported and stored for a long time.

Vitamin

A late variety of nutmeg pumpkin, the fruits of which fully ripen no less than 3.5 months after the appearance of the first shoots. One plant usually produces 2-3 fruits.
Oval ribbed pumpkins, weighing up to 5 kg. The peel is thin, orange in color. The pulp is juicy orange, dense and crispy. It tastes sweet. Widely used for making juice, confectionery, and also suitable for fresh consumption.
Fruits can be stored, but for a short period of time.

Marble

A variety with an average period of fruit ripening, intended for planting in warm regions of Russia. On average, the first harvest is harvested 4 months and 10 days after the first shoots appear.
The bushes form green-gray pumpkins of a flattened round shape, weighing 6-10 kg. Their flesh is loose, orange in color, and pleasant to the taste. After ripening, the peel acquires a green, gray color.
The variety is suitable for transportation over long distances. The fruits do not crack or rot.
At low air temperatures, pumpkins can be stored for a long time - about 1 year.

Muscat de Provence

Bred by French breeders.
The first fruits of Muscat de Provence can be enjoyed 110 days after emergence.
They have a round, flattened shape and gain weight of no more than 4 kg.
The outside of the fruit is orange in color with many ribs.
Inside, the pumpkin is orange in color, dense in consistency, sweet and juicy.
Vegetables can be harvested before they are fully ripe and stored for a long time at a temperature of 8-10 C.

Walnut

The plant has another equally well-known name - butternut, or moschata. It was obtained by Israeli scientists by crossing an African pumpkin and a variety of butternut squash.
One of the few representatives of the group that ripens in 3-3.5 months.
The plant bears fruit best when no more than 5 fruits are left on one bush, which weigh 1-1.2 kg when ripe.
The vegetable itself has an elongated shape and looks like a zucchini. The color of the dense peel and pulp is yellow. The fruit inside is fibrous, juicy, with a light nutty aroma and a small amount of seeds.
The plant has one drawback - it requires proper care to produce tasty, aromatic fruits.
Butternuts can be picked before they are fully ripe. Vegetables ripen outside the bush, which allows them to be stored longer. They are usually picked at the end of summer, beginning of autumn, if there is a risk of cold weather.
The fruits can be used both for preparing various sweet dishes and added to meat. Lovers of raw vegetables can use it in its unprocessed form.

Features of cultivation

The agricultural technology of bush pumpkin is no different from caring for conventional varieties, except that the plants do not need to be shaped. It is customary to pinch long-climbing varieties to limit the number of ovaries. Bush pumpkin itself has a compact shape, but is characterized by high yield.

As for planting in the Moscow region and Siberia, it is better to plant any pumpkin here through seedlings. This culture comes from warm countries, so it is afraid of the cold, especially in the early stages of development.

Sowing, conditions for seedlings

Seeds are planted in separate cups or peat pots, deepened by 1.5-2 cm. Caring for seedlings consists of regular watering; a few days before transplanting into the ground, the plants can be fed for the first time using a weak solution of mineral fertilizers (the concentration is reduced by 2 times ).

Seedlings should arrive in an open garden bed at the age of 3-4 weeks. The seedlings are first hardened off, gradually accustoming them to cool air. At the time of transplantation, the soil temperature should be at least 10-12° C.

Planting seedlings in the ground

The place for planting pumpkins is allocated taking into account crop rotation. Vegetables cannot be planted after related crops; if this rule is violated, the risk of developing diseases increases. The best predecessors for pumpkin:

legumes;
cereals;
potato;
pepper;
beet;
onion.

In the fall, the soil is fertilized with compost or humus (8-9 kg/sq. m). In spring, potassium nitrate (45-55 g/sq. m) and superphosphate (80 g/sq. m) are added to the soil. You can replace chemical fertilizers with wood ash (liter jar/sq. m).

For the middle zone, planting dates fall in mid-May; in Siberia and the Urals, plants are transplanted into the ground in early June. The planting pattern for bush varieties is 60x60 cm. If you are not sure that frost will not return, at first the bed is covered with film.

Varieties with large fruits

Harvest

Summer residents do not really like varieties that form large pumpkins, since you cannot eat the vegetable at once, and storing it in a city apartment is extremely inconvenient.
Large-fruited pumpkin includes about 100 varieties.

Pumpkin lantern

Refers to a variety of large-fruited pumpkin. It takes 3-3.5 months for the fruit to ripen.
On the outside they are smooth, orange-pink in color, slightly ribbed.
The shape is round, slightly elongated.
Each specimen weighs 5-6 kg. The inside is tender yellow-orange, crispy, juicy.
Picked pumpkin can be stored for 3-3.5 months. The variety is suitable for transportation.
The harvested crop is subjected to heat treatment. Used for making juices and purees.
The plant is heat-loving and drought-resistant. Plantings can be affected by powdery mildew and bacteriosis.

Russian porridge

Belongs to the large-fruited variety. It may take up to 4 months to receive the first fruits.
The variety is considered mid-season. One bush produces 3-4 pumpkins, weighing 6-7 kg, orange-pink in color.
Their shape is round, with subtle ribbing.
The inner part is medium density, painted orange. The taste is good.
The fruits can be stored.
From the name you can already assume that the variety is excellent for stewing, baking, and boiling.
It can also be used for canning and consumed unprocessed.

Varieties that are recommended to be grown in the Northwestern regions

"Bush greenhouse"

The fruits of the bush pumpkin variety can weigh up to 4 kilograms. Pumpkin pulp has excellent taste - it is sweet and juicy. The fruits are often used to prepare various dishes; they retain their aroma both boiled and stewed.

The fruits of this species ripen very early. The fruit pulp is aromatic and juicy. And the crust is edible - crispy and dense.

"Acorn"

The fruits of this species resemble the shape of an acorn. The inside of the pumpkin is orange and tastes good.

The peel can be green or yellow, or a combination of both.

Varieties of hard-bark pumpkin

This group also includes zucchini and squash.

This variety can most often be found in Russian areas.
Hard-bark varieties are characterized by long plant stems - up to 7 m. They are also called table plants.
But there are also plants with short stems.

Bun

Early variety. It takes about 3 months to get the first pumpkins.
The fruits are small - 1.5 kg, colored orange. White stripes divide it into segments.
The inside is sugary, juicy, and orange in color.
The variety is suitable for storage. The harvested crop can be consumed fresh, used for making juices, dietary dishes, etc.

Gymnosperm

Gymnosperm pumpkin is a group of plants whose seeds are not covered with a hard shell. This variety was known at the beginning of the 20th century, but nowadays it has begun to gain popularity again.
Externally, the fruits are not particularly attractive - they are green and yellow in color. The outside is covered with a dense, hard, but thin peel. Round in shape, with barely noticeable ribbing, weighing 3-7 kg.
The first harvest is harvested 4 months after emergence. The shelf life of the fruit is about 2 months.
The pulp is used both in raw form and for preparing various dishes, as well as in cosmetology and medicine. Some sources say the best time to use pumpkins is a few weeks after picking. At this point they reveal their full taste.
Most often, this variety is grown specifically for seeds. Representatives of gymnosperms are recommended to be planted away from other pumpkin vegetables, as they can cross-pollinate. In this case, the seed will already have a dense shell.

The most famous varieties of gymnosperm pumpkin:

Danae
Olga
Miranda
Hamlet
Gymnosperm 14

Beneficial features

Our ancestors began to use the fruits of this plant as food; it was presented to the table in Ancient Rome and Greece almost 5 thousand years ago. In the 20th century, detailed studies of the fruit showed that its pulp contains many substances useful for human health:

Vitamins A and E;
Vitamin C;
Vitamins B and K;
Zinc, calcium and potassium, magnesium, fluorine, as well as the rare vitamin T;
Amino acids, pectins and fiber.

Pests

Pumpkin pests include spider mites, sprout flies, and aphids. Sap-sucking parasites inhibit the growth of the aerial parts and reduce the quality of flowering and fruiting. If the infection is severe, the bushes die.

For prevention, plants with a strong smell should be planted between the rows - mint, garlic, onions or tansy. It is also necessary to avoid dense plantings, remove leaves in the lower part in time, and sprinkle ash between the rows.

To combat parasites, use “Decis”, “Aktellik”, “Aktaru” or “Karbofos”.

About the garden

Use in cooking

The sweetest varieties are divided into two types. The first ones are allowed for consumption only in cooked form, while the others can be eaten raw due to the high sucrose content and the volume of juice in the pulp. The choice of option depends only on the taste preferences of the cook and household members. For example, it is better for children to serve these varieties baked or along with steamed porridge.

Girls who decide to lose a few kilograms or stick to a healthy diet can use pumpkin pulp as the main ingredient for preparing various dishes: fresh fruit or vegetable salads, baked goods made from puff pastry or yeast dough, steamed meat and vegetables, soups and even filling for pancakes.

Thanks to the content of provitamin A, which does not lose its properties after heat treatment, even a small piece of vegetable can replenish the daily norm of the necessary value for the full functioning of the body. And by combining carotene with fat and lactose contained in dairy products, the body will not only better absorb the amount it needs, but will also demonstrate its benefits to overall well-being.

The best and most popular pumpkin dishes remain the following dishes, regardless of the variety chosen:

millet porridge with the addition of pumpkin pulp;
preparations for the winter: jams, preserves, compotes, candied fruits and frozen fresh products;
filling for baking: cakes, pie, pies and cheesecakes;
baked or steamed with honey or powdered sugar;
puree for baby and diet food.

An equally healthy and popular dish, or, more correctly, a drink, is delicious canned or freshly squeezed juice from sweet varieties of pumpkin. It is consumed both in pure and diluted form with water, using a simple proportion - 1 to 1.