Decorative pumpkins can be used not only to decorate the garden, but also as food, if you really want to. But nevertheless, their main function is decor, whether it is refinement of the appearance of an unprepossessing fence, fence, unsightly walls of sheds or arbors. Along with this, you can use a decorative pumpkin in numerous flowerbed compositions.
Brief description of the plant
Decorative pumpkins are gaining popularity in recent years in Russia. They are often planted next to the fence and fence, due to the rapid growth of shoots, which in a short period of time form a dense green screen. In addition, closer to autumn, the magnificent fruits of various colors and shapes ripen on them.
This unusual pumpkin, used for decorative purposes, looks very pretty. Not only the quirkiness and brightness of the fruits will give the garden a unique look, but also in spring, during the flowering period, on the green background of strong pumpkin lashes and leaves, bright spots of flowers will delight the eye.
The foliage of the plant is in no way inferior in beauty to the fruits and flowers. And this allows the fence to remain attractive, different and vibrant throughout the season.
Growing conditions
Planting a decorative pumpkin is a simple matter. The conditions for its cultivation do not differ at all from caring for a plant with edible fruits. If the climate allows, the seeds of decorative pumpkins can be planted directly in open ground in late May - early June.
In order for the seedlings to develop well, the seeds must be sown to a depth of about 8 cm, when the air temperature is stable and will not be lower than +12 ° .
A plant that is generously lit and warmed up by the sun is suitable for the plant. The soil for growing decorative pumpkins should be sufficiently loose, the soil at the same time requires fertile and pH-neutral.
Pumpkin is a big fan of organic fertilizers. The introduction of organics throughout the season should be regular. In addition to top dressing, the plant needs infrequent and plentiful watering. Soil moisture should be monitored constantly and closely. Water the decorative pumpkin with warm water.
If the plant does not develop actively enough, then you can carefully loosen the soil under the bush and mulch it with humus or peat. Pumpkin consumes a lot of nutrients, so it needs to be fed. Experts recommend feeding plants for the first time three days after emergence (1 tbsp. Azofoski under a bush), and then watering well.
Depending on the type, decorative pumpkins can grow in the form of a bush or spread. If you choose a liana-shaped pumpkin, then you need a strong support for its growth and comfortable existence. You can use anything you like as long as it is vertically positioned. For example, unsightly walls of any buildings, fences, fences, arches, dried trees, poles, arbors, pergolas.
With the help of antennae, the stalk of the pumpkin is stretched to a rather considerable height. But for reliability it is better to tie it in addition. Sometimes lianas are used to decorate borders, rabatok and flower beds. In these cases, they are neatly laid out around the edge, which looks very original.
Seedling cultivation
Another method of growing is seedlings. Seeds are sown at the end of April in separate cup containers, the optimal size of which is from 10 to 15 cm in diameter. To accelerate root growth, planting material is soaked for a day in a solution of any growth stimulant, and immediately placed in the ground.
Ornamental pumpkin seedlings are grown in a light but nutritious soil mixture. It should be remembered that the seeds that are stored for 3-5 years are best sprouted, while fresh seeds are often unsuitable.
The grown seedlings are planted in the garden in June, when the threat of frost passes. Pumpkin is very difficult to transplant, so transshipment from containers is necessary with extreme caution, without violating the root system.
Wells for planting should be done at a distance of 70-80 cm with a depth of about 20 cm, filling them with fertile soil with the addition of mineral fertilizer.
Seedlings are grown for a month and planted in a bed deeper than it grew in the container, immersing the plants in the soil up to cotyledonous leaves, while the root neck should be below ground level so that the plant grows in a small depression. At the time when the root tubercles swell at the base of the stem, soil is sprinkled on them.
If suddenly the seedlings have already been planted in open ground, and according to the weather forecast there should be frosts, the plants must be covered with something. Flowering decorative pumpkin occurs in June, and already from mid-July, the first fruits are formed.
Varieties
Breeders have worked hard to create the diversity of the described plants. A variety of varieties and types of decorative pumpkins are widely used both by landscape designers and amateurs. They vary in size, shape, color scheme of fruits. In addition, the described plants can be either climbing vines or small shrubs.
Decorative pumpkin pear
Pumpkins of this species have the shape of a pear, as the name implies. The size of the fruit is several times the size of a real pear. A wide variety of shades will not leave indifferent. Fruits are orange, and red, and cream, and green. They can be spotty, striped and even white - all depending on the variety.
Plants of this species form shoots long and branched with dark green foliage. Among the varieties of decorative pumpkin pears, the following are the most popular:
- Kiein bicolour. The variety is distinguished by fruits resembling a large glossy pear, bright yellow or green.
- Cou-Tors Hative. The fruits of the plant are bizarre, have a bright orange and pimply peel. In shape they resemble a swan.
- Speckled swan gourd. The variety is very rare and quite unusual. Its fruits also look like a swan in shape. The skin color is green with white spots.
- Texas pumpkin. This variety has large pear-shaped fruits with a color resembling a watermelon: light green stripes are located on a dark green background.
Curly decorative pumpkin in addition to pear-shaped plants includes many other species and varieties.
For instance:
- tangerine pumpkins - with small tangerine-like orange fruits;
- star varieties - the fruits are similar to a starfish and are fancifully painted in green, white, yellow tone or skin color combines several colors at once;
- warty fruits - they are covered with tubercles, painted in yellow, white, green and orange;
- turban fruits - similar in shape to a turban and painted in orange or marble green;
- lagenaria or bottle gourd ;
- leaf-leaved - pumpkin with beautiful foliage and motley fruits.
Edibility
For the most part, decorative pumpkins are not used for food; they are often grown only for beauty. However, some varieties are quite suitable for food and have good taste.
If you really want to try decorative pumpkin, you need to remember that slightly immature fruits are used for food, since upon reaching maturity they become coarse, lose their taste and are not suitable even for preparing animal feed.
For example, some varieties of chalmovidnoy pumpkin have a sweet and palatable pulp. Baby Boo white squash can also be eaten. And the Dutch Dumpling vegetable of Dutch selection is very tasty even in its raw form.
Cleaning time
It is necessary to clean decorative pumpkins before the onset of the first frosts, while choosing dry and warm weather. If the fruits pick up frost, then they will not be stored for long. During harvesting, do not allow damage to the surface of the fetus and leave the stalk.
You can not store pumpkin in high humidity, in order to prevent its decay. The air in the storage room should be dry, the temperature - + 16 ... + 18 ° C.
Fruit use
Ripe pumpkins with a hard crust can be dried and used to decorate the interior, make children's crafts, toys, lanterns, pumpkin heads for Halloween celebrations, etc.
The smallest fruits are dried whole without cutting the core. Larger pumpkins free from pulp by cutting a small lid on top. Vases for winter compositions, decorative caskets, and even candlesticks can be made from fruits so dried.
To maintain a bright color, it is better to place the pumpkin fruits in a place away from sunlight, and products from them can be painted and coated with a special varnish. You can connect children to this fascinating activity, who will be happy to make various crafts from pumpkins, especially if the children themselves were engaged in their cultivation.
Diseases and Pests
Decorative pumpkin, like other types of pumpkins, has good immunity to phytoinfections, so it rarely gets sick. However, troubles sometimes happen to them.
Most often, this culture is affected by powdery mildew, bacteriosis, white and root rot, as well as anthracnose and yellow mosaic. As a preventative measure, you can soak the seeds before planting in a solution of manganese.
Sometimes a plant becomes a victim of insect pests. Among them are a spider mite, gourd aphids, sprout flies, slugs and wireworms.
To combat diseases and pests, it is better to use herbal remedies or folk safe products that are harmless to both humans and animals.
Decorative pumpkin can take its rightful place in your garden. Use it for decoration is very convenient and aesthetically pleasing. Garden compositions decorated using decorative pumpkins and garden flowers look very original.