Decorative pumpkins can be used not only to decorate the garden, but also as food, if you really want it. But still, their main function is decor, whether it is ennobling the appearance of an unsightly 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, 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, against a green background of strong pumpkinlashes and leaves bright spots of flowers will please the eye.
The foliage of the plant is in no way inferior in beauty to fruits and flowers. And this allows the fence to remain attractive, different and bright all season long.
Growing conditions
Planting a decorative pumpkin is a simple matter. The conditions for its cultivation are no different from caring for a plant with edible fruits. If the climate permits, decorative pumpkin seeds can be planted directly in open ground in late May - early June.
In order for seedlings to develop well, the seeds must be sown to a depth of about 8 cm, when the air temperature is stable and is not lower than +12 ° С.
The plant is suitable for a site that is generously lit and warmed by the sun. The soil for growing ornamental pumpkins should be sufficiently loose, while the soil is fertile and pH-neutral.
Pumpkin is a big fan of organic fertilizers. The introduction of organic matter throughout the season should be regular. In addition to top dressing, the plant needs infrequent and abundant watering. Soil moisture must be monitored constantly and closely. Water a decorative pumpkin with warm water.
If the plant is not developing 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 the plants for the first time three days after germination (1 tbsp. Azofoska under the bush), and then wellwater.
Depending on the type, decorative pumpkins can grow as a bush or creep. If a vine-shaped pumpkin is chosen, then you will need a strong support for its growth and comfortable existence. Anything can be used as it, as long as it is located vertically. For example, unsightly walls of any buildings, fences, fences, arches, dried trees, poles, arbors, pergolas.
With the help of the tendrils, the stem of the pumpkin is extended to a rather considerable height. But for reliability, it is better to additionally tie it up. Sometimes creepers are used to decorate borders, flower beds and flower beds. In these cases, they are neatly laid out along the edge, which looks very original.
Seedling growing
Another way of growing is seedling. Seeds are sown at the end of April in separate containers-cups, the optimal size of which is from 10 to 15 cm in diameter. To accelerate the growth of the root, the planting material is soaked for a day in a solution of any growth stimulator, and immediately placed in the ground.
Ornamental gourd seedlings are grown in a light but nutritious potting mix. At the same time, it must be remembered that seeds that have been stored for 3-5 years germinate best, while fresh ones are often not viable.
The grown seedlings are planted in the garden in June, when the threat of frost has passed. Pumpkin is very difficult to transplant, so transshipment from containers must be done with extreme caution, without disturbing the root system.
Planting holes should be made at a distance of 70-80 cm20 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 they grew in the container, immersing the plants in the soil up to the cotyledon leaves, while the root neck should be below ground level so that the plant grows in a small depression. At a time when root tubercles swell at the base of the stem, soil is sprinkled on them.
If suddenly the seedlings are already planted in open ground, and according to the weather forecast there should be frosts, the plants must be covered with something. Flowering of decorative pumpkin occurs in June, and the first fruits are formed from mid-July.
Varieties
Breeders have done a good job of creating a variety of described plants. A variety of varieties and types of decorative gourds are widely used by both landscape designers and amateurs. They differ in size, shape, color range of fruits. In addition, the described plants can be both climbing vines and small shrubs.
Decorative pear pumpkin
Pumpkins of this species are pear-shaped, as the name implies. The size of the fruit is several times the size of a real pear. Will not leave indifferent a wide variety of shades. The fruits are orange, and red, and cream, and green. They can be spotted, striped or even white, depending on the cultivar.
Plants of this species form shoots long and branched with darkgreen foliage. Among the varieties of decorative pear pumpkins, 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 Native. The fruits of the plant are bizarre, have a bright orange and pimply peel. They are shaped like a swan.
- Speckled swan gourd. The variety is very rare and quite unusual. Its fruits are also swan-like in shape. Peel color is green with white spots.
Texas pumpkin. This variety has large, pear-shaped fruits with a color reminiscent of watermelon: light green stripes are located on a dark green background
Climbing decorative pumpkin, in addition to pear-shaped plants, includes many other species and varieties.
For example:
- tangerine gourds - with small, tangerine-like orange fruits;
- star-shaped varieties - the fruits look like a starfish and are whimsically colored in green, white, yellow, or the skin color combines several colors at once;
- warty fruits - they are covered with tubercles, colored in yellow, white, green and orange;
- chalmoid fruits - similar in shape to a turban and colored orange or marble green;
- lagenaria or bottle gourd;
- vikoleaf - pumpkin with beautiful foliage and variegated fruits.
Edibility
Ornamental pumpkins are mostly not used for food, they are often grown only forbeauty. However, some varieties are quite edible and taste good.
If you really want to try a decorative pumpkin, you need to remember that slightly unripe fruits are used for food, as upon reaching maturity they become rough, lose their taste and are not even suitable for preparing animal feed.
For example, some varieties of turban gourds have a sweet and palatable flesh. The white pumpkin of the Baby Boo variety can also be eaten. And the Dutch-selected Sweet Dumpling vegetable is delicious even raw.
Clean up time
It is necessary to harvest decorative pumpkins before the first frost, while choosing dry and warm weather. If the fruits are caught by frost, they will not be stored for a long time. When harvesting, be careful not to damage the surface of the fruit and leave the stalk.
You can not store the pumpkin in conditions of high humidity, in order to prevent it from rotting. The air in the storage room must be dry, temperature - +16…+18 °С.
Using fruits
Ripe pumpkins with a hard crust can be dried and used for interior decoration, children's crafts, toys, lanterns, pumpkin heads for Halloween celebrations, etc.
The smallest fruits are dried whole, without cutting out the core. Larger pumpkins are freed from the pulp by cutting a small lid on top. Fruits dried in this way can be used to make vases for winter compositions, decorative boxes and even candlesticks.
To preserve the bright color, pumpkin fruits are best placed 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 exciting activity, who will be happy to make various crafts from pumpkins, especially if the children themselves were engaged in growing them.
Diseases and pests
Decorative pumpkin, like other types of pumpkins, has good immunity to phytoinfections, so it rarely gets sick. However, they sometimes get in trouble.
Most often this crop is affected by powdery mildew, bacteriosis, white and root rot, as well as anthracnose and yellow mosaic. As a preventive measure, you can soak the seeds in a manganese solution before planting.
Sometimes a plant becomes a victim of insect pests. Among them are spider mites, melon aphids, sprout flies, slugs and wireworms.
To fight diseases and pests, it is better to use herbal remedies or folk safe remedies that are harmless to both humans and animals.
Decorative pumpkin can take its rightful place in your garden. It is very convenient and aesthetically pleasing to use it for decoration. Garden compositions decorated with decorative pumpkins and garden flowers look very original.
