There are a great many varieties of pumpkin. Some of them are more suitable for growing for animal feed, other varieties are preferred by chefs for their sweetness and juiciness, and others are a rich source of pumpkin seeds. In addition, there are decorative varieties of pumpkin.

How to understand this diversity, and which varieties of pumpkin are suitable for your climate and will satisfy your needs? Let's figure it out.

Types of pumpkin

Before we begin describing the best varieties of pumpkin, you need to know that this plant is divided into four types:

butternut squash. Nutmeg pumpkins are recognized as the most delicious and healthy, but also the most demanding of heat. In our latitudes, nutmeg pumpkin varieties have time to ripen if they are planted through seedlings.

Their distinctive feature is a pentagonal stalk, expanded towards the base. The seeds of this type of pumpkin are brown or yellow-brown in color.

Large pumpkin. Very large, very sweet pumpkins with light, tasty seeds. They can be stored for a long time in non-specific conditions, although their storage naturally requires a lot of space. Therefore, summer residents, who will have to somehow drag these pumpkins to the city and store them somewhere, most often refuse large-fruited pumpkins in favor of hard-bark and nutmeg varieties. A distinctive feature of this plant is its rounded stalk and stem, without grooves, and the leaves are shaped more like a kidney than a pentagon.

Hard-bark pumpkins, including squash and zucchini, are loved by our gardeners for their early ripening. If large-fruited and nutmeg pumpkins are harvested just before frost, then hard-bark varieties can be enjoyed already in late summer - early autumn. Hard-barked pumpkin varieties are especially valued for their tasty, cream-colored seeds, although the fruits of this plant are relatively small. A distinctive feature (in addition to the hard skin when ripe) is a hairy, spiny stem and a ribbed, furrowed stalk.

The best varieties of pumpkin

Varieties of butternut squash

Pumpkin Golden Pear– relatively new, but already loved variety of butternut squash original teardrop-shaped orange color. The pulp of the Golden Pear pumpkin is juicy, sweet, dense, with a nutty flavor. The fruits of this variety grow small, up to 2 kg, which is very convenient. Golden pear is an early ripening variety; 2-3 pumpkins grow on one vine. Pumpkins are harvested three months after germination. The disease resistance and preservation of this variety of nutmeg pumpkin are very high.

Arabat pumpkin– perhaps the most common, recognizable and reliable variety of butternut squash. Refers to mid-late pumpkin varieties with a growing season of 115-125 days. Arabat pumpkin can grow up to 20 kg, although on average it weighs 5-8 kg. The pumpkin is long (0.5-0.8 m), thickened towards the top, the skin is fragile, thin, yellow-orange in color. The pulp is bright orange, juicy, sweet, dense.

The Arabatskaya variety of nutmeg pumpkin can be stored for 3-4 months without any problems. It is used for both culinary and feed purposes.

Pumpkin New In appearance, and also in taste, it resembles Arabatskaya. The differences are that the Novinka pumpkin variety is somewhat smaller (4-5 kg), the growing season lasts a little longer (125-135 days), but the fruit is stored very well. Pumpkin has an elongated cylindrical shape, the flesh is dark orange, sweet, dense and very tasty.

Pumpkin Vitamin refers to late varieties of pumpkin, 130-140 days pass from germination to ripeness. The fruits of this muscat pumpkin variety are wide, cylindrical or oval in shape, with ribbing that is pronounced closer to the stalk. Ripe fruits are brown with a pinkish tint with a network of round greenish spots. The flesh of Vitamin Pumpkin is dark orange, almost red, sweet, crunchy, and rich in carotene. Pumpkin weight is 3-5 kg. Stores well in simple home conditions.

Pumpkin Pearl is a powerful climbing plant with 5-7 lateral wattles. The Zhemchuzhina variety pumpkin belongs to the mid-late variety (100-110 days). Pumpkins are round-cylindrical in shape, grow up to 4-7 kg, the skin is orange, soft, the flesh is crispy, sweet, thick (more than 10 cm), bright orange.

This variety of butternut squash is distinguished by a very small seed nest. The fruits are stored well and for a long time even at low temperatures.

Pumpkin Prikubanskaya It is loved by gardeners for its stable yields, good preservation, and excellent taste. The Prikubanskaya variety of nutmeg pumpkin is old, so it will not bring unpleasant surprises. Refers to medium-late ripening varieties (105-115 days). Pumpkins grow small (2-5 kg), faded orange in color, with little or no segmentation, and pear-shaped. This variety of butternut squash has juicy, sweet, bright orange flesh.

Hylea pumpkin refers to mid-season varieties (100-110 days from germination to maturity). The fruits of the Gilea pumpkin can be spherical, cylindrical or oval, orange or brownish in color, with a waxy coating. The skin is thin, the flesh is bright orange, sweet, juicy. This variety of butternut squash grows up to 6-8 kg. The main distinguishing feature of this pumpkin variety is its excellent keeping quality; the fruits can be stored for up to 1 year.

Pumpkin Palav Kadu It has excellent taste, extremely juicy and sweet. Belongs to late climbing varieties. The fruits are round in shape, weighing no more than 10 kg, and orange in color.

Pumpkin Marina di Chioggia very unusual in appearance, so it will please not only the stomach, but also the eye. This is an old Italian variety of nutmeg pumpkin that has taken root in our country. Not only is the lumpy surface of the pumpkin impressive, but also the color – matte green, sometimes with a gray-blue tint.

Pumpkin Marina di Chioggia can grow up to 10 kg, but under normal conditions its weight does not exceed 5-6 kg. The pulp is dry, dense, yellow-orange in color, with a small seed nest. This variety of pumpkin can be stored for up to six months without loss of taste.

Pumpkin Butternut– a bright representative of nutmeg pumpkin. So bright that this variety is often called Muscat or Nut - because of its pronounced nutty taste. Butternut pumpkin is a late-ripening, climbing, highly branched pumpkin. Pumpkins are small, weighing about 1 kg, pear-shaped with light orange or brown-orange skin. The flesh is deep orange in color, oily, fibrous and very sweet. This butternut squash variety Keeps well in apartment conditions.

Varieties of hard-bark pumpkin

Gymnosperm pumpkin valued, as the name suggests, for its seeds without a shell. That is, no husks, except for a transparent film, no garbage. It is very convenient to use these seeds in baking, make various sweets in oriental style, and simply enjoy them fried. Gymnosperm pumpkin also has some disadvantages - its flesh is not as sweet and juicy as other table varieties of pumpkin, but it is still quite tasty. This variety cannot boast of high yield. Seeds planted directly into the ground often rot due to the lack of a protective shell, so it is recommended to plant the Gymnosperm pumpkin variety from seedlings, and away from other pumpkin varieties, so that unwanted pollination does not occur. This variety, again, does not tolerate drought or high humidity well. Although many are willing to suffer for the sake of seeds without a shell.

Hard-barked pumpkin Gymnosperm refers to mid-ripening, medium-climbing varieties, the color of the fruit can be dark green or with yellow “mesh” splashes. The weight of the fruits of this pumpkin variety is 2-7 kg; they are stored well all winter.

Pumpkin Bulgarian, she is also pumpkin lady's nail, - the most popular variety of pumpkin for seeds. The seeds themselves have a beautiful, oblong shape, truly reminiscent of an elegant lady's marigold. This hard-barked pumpkin variety is a bush variety and ripens in 95-105 days. Bulgarian pumpkin is characterized by slightly flattened round smooth fruits, the skin is light gray or yellow, the flesh is quite tasty, light yellow, the weight of the fruit is 3-5 kg.

The Bulgarian has a large seed chamber, the seeds are yellow-cream in color. Suitable for short-term storage.

Pumpkin Gribovskaya bush refers to early ripening varieties (85-100 days). The plant is powerful, although bushy. The fruits rarely grow more than 4.5 kg, the skin is yellow-orange, with a green pattern, the shape is cylindrical, thickened at the end. Pulp hard-bark pumpkins Gribovskaya bush quite sweet, not very dense, yellow or orange in color. The variety belongs to the table variety, but is not impressive in taste - just a good pumpkin. This variety of pumpkin is distinguished by its good shelf life, and also by the fact that it does not spread throughout the entire garden.

Spaghetti squash (noodle squash)– a very original early-ripening variety of hard-bark pumpkin. The growing season is 70-80 days. The plant is climbing, the fruits resemble a melon - oval, creamy-yellow in color, the skin is very hard. The pulp of the Spaghetti pumpkin is beige, not juicy, has a light vanilla aroma, and when cooked it breaks down into individual fibers (hence the name). Spaghetti pumpkins They grow small - around 1 kg.

The variety is exotic, but there are no problems when growing Spaghetti pumpkin in our conditions.

Pumpkin Almond Among the varieties of hard-bark pumpkin, it has very tasty pulp. The Almond pumpkin variety is a long-climbing plant with a growing season of 110-120 days. The fruits weigh 3.5-5 kg, smooth or slightly segmented, round, orange in color, sometimes with brown-green stripes.

Pumpkin Danka Polka It is usually grown for seeds. This hard-barked pumpkin variety is a medium-climbing bush with round pumpkins that are orange-green or white-green in color. The fruits grow in the range of 2-3.5 kg. Not only are there a lot of seeds (up to half a thousand in one pumpkin), they are also very tasty. The pulp is not very dense, starchy, and is mainly used as animal feed.

Pumpkin Country refers to early ripening varieties - the first fruits can be harvested after 70-85 days. The pumpkin pulp of this hard-skinned variety is juicy, aromatic, sweet, up to 4 cm thick, the seeds are quite small. The pumpkin is oblong, yellow-orange with longitudinal green stripes, weighing about 3-4 kg.

Dachnaya pumpkin is a short-climbing and cold-resistant variety, so it is well suited for growing in the northern regions. Pumpkins can be stored without problems for up to four months.

Pumpkin Freckle- a hard-barked variety that fully corresponds to the name: round small pumpkins (0.8-2.5 kg) of green color with white and yellow “freckles”. Valued for its compactness. The plant is bushy, with short vines, demanding moisture. The rind of the Freckle pumpkin is leathery, the flesh is yellow-orange, not very sweet, but with a subtle pear aroma. The seeds are quite small. The hard-barked pumpkin variety Vesnushka is grown mainly when there is a shortage of planting space.

Varieties of large-fruited pumpkin

Pumpkin Titan- one of the largest pumpkins that you can grow in your garden. Manufacturers claim that the weight of average pumpkins reaches 120-180 kg, and record holders reach up to half a ton. In our conditions, with conventional agricultural technology, large-fruited pumpkins of the Titan variety grow up to 50 kg, which is also very impressive. This is a mid-season variety (120 days from germination to ripening), characterized by long vines, huge orange round pumpkins with clear segmentation. The pulp of the Titan variety pumpkin is yellow, thick, quite sweet, but not incredibly tasty.

Titan is the best pumpkin variety for those who want to grow a record holder, and not get a tasty fruit for the farm.

Pumpkin Russian won the hearts of gardeners for stable yields, ease of care, shelf life of fruits and excellent taste. In general, it’s a reliable pumpkin, and also very beautiful. Rossiyanka is a medium-climbing, early-ripening plant (900-100 days) with a rounded fruit, sharply narrowed towards the stalk, weighing 2-4 kg. The pulp is tender, sweet, with a melon flavor, the seed nest is small. This large-fruited pumpkin variety is characterized by high yield - up to 20 kg of harvest can be obtained from one plant. Pumpkin Russian- cold-resistant variety.

Hundred Pound Pumpkin– a very old, time-tested variety of large-fruited pumpkin. Pumpkin of the Hundred Pound variety belongs to to mid-season (vegetation period - 120 days) plants, with powerful long vines. The fruit can grow up to 15-20 kg, more often - 7-10 kg, round or oval in shape, with weak segmentation, and the skin can be yellow, white, orange, gray or pinkish. The pulp of the Hundred Pound Pumpkin is loose, slightly sweet, light orange or yellow in color.

This variety of large-fruited pumpkin is resistant to diseases. Typically, Hundred Pound Pumpkin is grown for animal feed.

Marble Pumpkin- an excellent option for those who like to nibble on raw pumpkin, although baked Marble pumpkin will not disappoint - even the skin turns out tender and tasty when baked. The pulp is orange, crispy, very sweet, rich in carotenes. This large-fruited pumpkin variety is late-ripening (130-140 days), the plant is long-climbing. The average weight of pumpkins is 2.5-4 kg, the fruits are gray-green or green, segmented, sometimes with a speckled pattern or a wrinkled surface, flattened. Marble Pumpkin gives high yields and is well stored.

Pumpkin Smile- a real find for pumpkin lovers with a small plot of land. This is a compact, climbing, cold-resistant plant, which breeders originally bred as an ornamental plant. Therefore, the Smile pumpkin is both beautiful and tasty. And it is productive - from a bush you can collect up to 10, or even more, small portioned pumpkins weighing from 0.5 to 2 kg. The pumpkins themselves are orange with white stripes, flat, and sometimes with a bulge at the base. The pulp is sweet, dense, with a light melon aroma. Large-fruited pumpkin variety Smile belongs to early ripening (vegetation period 85-90 days), stored in apartment conditions for up to 4 months.

Today there are more than 800 varieties and hybrids and only 35 of them are truly sugar and even fewer are well suited for home cultivation. Which varieties of pumpkin are the most delicious and sweet, and which option is right for you - read on and choose further!

Early ripe sweet pumpkin varieties

Despite the huge number of different varieties and the fact that almost all of them are very tasty, juicy and nutritious, it is worth highlighting the sweetest and earliest ripening varieties.

Nutmeg pumpkin is the most prominent representative of this class. Sugar content is up to 9%, which is a very good indicator for pumpkins. With proper care of the plant and the use of foliar feeding, its weight can reach up to 100 kg, but the average weight is 25-40 kg. Loves the sun; in the shade the plant accumulates less sugar. Abundant watering will be a big plus. The period until technical maturity is 90 days.

Butternut pumpkin is a well-known variety in Russia; it can be easily identified by its pear-shaped shape and smooth surface. It is believed that this kind of pumpkin is most suitable for making porridge, although the sugar content, as a rule, does not exceed 5.5-6%. The pumpkin is small; with good watering and fertilization, its weight will be about 30 kg, and the average one will be 9-15 kg. Time until full ripening is 100 days.

Medicinal pumpkin is one of the best early ripening varieties in Europe and Russia, the period until full ripening is 96-113 days, it has good taste, and has a crispy crust. Sugar – 8-9%, average fruit weight – up to 30 kg. It is unpretentious to diseases and frosts, so it can be planted even with light frosts.

The sweetest pumpkin varieties are mid-season varieties with the highest yields

Almond pumpkin is a variety that is unpretentious to weather conditions and storage. It can be kept in the basement throughout the winter and the fruit will not rot. The sugar content is 6-7%, but it has an unusual, distinctive taste: the crust is crunchy, it turns out to be an excellent porridge, and boils quickly. The weight of the fetus rarely exceeds 5 kg, but with good care it grows up to 15 kg.

Marble pumpkin is one of the best late-ripening varieties, extremely sweet (up to 13% sugar), has a slight sourness, a soft crust and cooks quickly. Best suited for jam, porridge, and for squeezing fresh juice. The weight of the fruit is small - 5 kg, until technical ripening 140 days after germination. For 1 sq.m. area you can collect up to 25-30 kg of pumpkin.

Ambar is one of the best mid-season pumpkin varieties; it has good disease resistance, is unpretentious to drought, and does not require heavy fertilizer. The average fruit weighs 5-7 kg and has a sugar content of at least 7%. One of the main advantages is long-term storage - the pumpkin can be kept in the basement for one year and it does not rot and does not lose its taste. The growing season before technical maturity is 135-140 days. Due to the high planting density, the yield is up to 40 kg per 1 sq.m.

Mid-season varieties are very popular because they are easy to plant (there is no need for very early planting), they have relatively good yields and ripen evenly!

The sweetest pumpkin - choose late-ripening varieties

Gribovskaya winter is a variety of late-ripening pumpkin, very sweet (sugar content up to 12%), has tasty, juicy pulp, and a crispy crust. The period until technical maturation is 155-160 days. When applying liquid fertilizers, the weight of the fruit reaches 5-6 kg. The pulp is egg-yellow in color, easily separated and cooked at low temperatures. Productivity reaches 20-25 kg per 1 sq.m. due to increased planting density and good stem growth.

Sweet Winter Pumpkin is a large (up to 20 kg) pumpkin that grows for 140-150 days before technical ripening. Sugar content is 11-12%, depending on watering and place of growth. When in the shade, the amount of sugar decreases sharply. The plant is unpretentious to pests; periodic treatments with pesticides are not required.

Zarya Vostoka pumpkin is a good late-ripening variety, has a beautiful appearance, specific taste qualities: there is sourness, the crust is crispy and sweet, when you eat the pumpkin a week or two before technical ripeness, you can smell the smell of fresh cane. Grows up to 8-10 kg, sugar content up to 11%, the variety is unpretentious to weather conditions and storage. Ripening period is 140-155 days.

Sweet varieties of pumpkin - is it necessary to choose the sweetest?

“Not all gold that... contains a lot of sugar.” It's worth noting that the sweetest pumpkin varieties tend to need very good conditions to grow: plenty of moisture, lots of sun, lots of liquid fertilizer, and the like. Often even the most sweet pumpkin with a sugar content of 13% can gain only 4-5%, since it is designed for more southern latitudes, where there is more sun. That is why when choosing you need to consider:

• acclimatization of the variety;
• its average, and not maximum productivity in its area;
• the need for “laboratory” care and the possibility of growth in the country.

It is best to choose varieties that have an average yield, small size and slightly above average sugar content. Sweet pumpkin, the varieties of which we reviewed above, will be an ideal option for your garden and will give the result that you will count on.

And remember that pumpkin is not only a sweet vegetable, but also more than 3 dozen vitamins, nutrients and minerals, so, regardless of the variety you choose, you are planting health!

Pumpkin is rightfully considered one of the most delicious and healthy vegetable crops. Moreover, it is equally tasty both fresh and boiled, fried and baked. Pumpkin contains a large amount of substances and vitamins necessary for the human body, so it should grow on every gardener’s plot. People love pumpkin in different regions of Russia, and this gives reason to take into account the climatic characteristics of each area. The amount of harvest a farmer can count on depends on the growing conditions.

Siberia and the Urals

Siberia is a very special territory, which is characterized by extremely long frosts. Frosts in this area continue until the first month of summer. This important factor must be taken into account when choosing a vegetable variety. The main qualities of planting material for Siberia are frost resistance. Several pumpkin varieties fit these parameters perfectly.

Smile

The peculiarity of Smile is that this variety is not only cold-resistant, but also high-yielding. In addition, it is characterized by a short ripening period - after the first shoots sprout, only three months pass before the pumpkin can be eaten. As a result, the farmer receives medium-sized (from half a kilogram to two kilograms) orange fruits with dense and sweet pulp. Pumpkin Smile can be stored until January - however, it is unlikely to “survive” all the way to winter - it is too tasty.

Initially, the Ulybka variety was bred as a decorative variety, and it serves its purpose. On the site, the plant looks spectacular - large leaves with an outstanding pattern, large bright flowers and a stunning aroma. And the fruits are a real work of art. A lot of them immediately appear in the garden - up to fifteen pieces. With proper care, the Smile variety produces up to three kilograms of fruit from one bush.

Freckle

The “Vesnushka” variety is also well suited for Siberia and the Urals. The three-kilogram fruits ripen quite quickly and have a characteristic appearance - the green peel is “diluted” with light spots. The pumpkin pulp is soft, juicy, tender and has a subtle pear flavor. Other advantages of this variety include high yields provided there is ample watering and long-term storage at room temperature.

Pumpkin variety "Vesnushka"

Russian

Russian pumpkin is also a cold-resistant and early-ripening variety. The ripening period is about three months. The fruits of the Russian woman are quite large - from two to four kilograms. At the same time, with proper care, up to twenty kilograms of fruit are obtained from one bush - impressive results. The pumpkin grows bright and tasty - tender sweet pulp with a melon aroma.

Farmers are advised to sow the crop in April so that it can be planted in the ground in May-June. At the same time, you can fertilize the soil with organic fertilizers, then the harvest will be richer. If you want to store pumpkin for a long time, then provide suitable conditions for this - dry air and a well-ventilated room.

Pumpkin seeds "Russian"

Moscow region and Middle Zone

For these areas there are also varieties of pumpkin that survive best in these climatic conditions.

Medical

A characteristic feature of this pumpkin is its slightly flattened shape; it is always easily recognizable among other fruits. Farmers greatly value Medicinal pumpkin for its excellent taste, rich smell, bright color, and also for its practical quality - early ripening (about three months). Externally, a pumpkin is easy to recognize not only by its specific shape, but also by the gray-green color of the skin with a unique pattern.

Healing

Another excellent early-ripening variety is the Healing pumpkin, which, like its other “brothers,” has excellent taste. Oval orange fruits without a pattern have juicy pulp. The weight of one fruit is from 2.5 to 3 kilograms. Pumpkin can easily be stored for 6 months without loss of taste.

If you want to get a harvest in August, then this variety of pumpkin should be planted in June. It is important to choose well-drained soil and, preferably, a sunny place. This pumpkin loves water, so it’s better not to skimp on watering. Experts advise mulching the holes with peat, which will prevent rapid evaporation of water.

Sweet pie

Pumpkin "Sweet Pie"

The variety with a tasty name is early ripening, that is, it will take about 3 months for the fruits, the average weight of which is from 2 to 3 kilograms, to ripen. Among the features of pumpkin is its crispy and very tasty pulp, which is excellent for canning. Farmers love this variety for its high and stable yield, but for this they need to provide it with proper care: regular watering, fertilizing, loosening and weeding. Sweet pie is ideally sown in conditions when the soil reaches a temperature of 12 degrees.

Candied fruit

Candied fruit is a variety characterized by high yield and rapid ripening (from 112 to 118 days). The fruits will be quite large - about 2 kilograms, so you need to sow the seeds with this in mind. The pulp of the candied pumpkin variety is very tasty - juicy, crispy and aromatic.

Large-fruited pumpkin “Candied fruit”

Farmers recommend planting Tsukat on sandy loam and light loamy soil, since this is where the variety produces the richest harvest. After planting, you need to wait for the first shoots and remove weak plants, and water the remaining ones abundantly, weed, pinch and feed.

Premiere

If you want a multi-purpose pumpkin, then Premiere is the perfect option. Add to this the early ripening of the variety and high yield, and you will no longer look for other varieties of pumpkin. As a result, farmers receive large, smooth fruits with a high content of sugar, carotene and dry matter.

You need to sow the seeds at a time when the threat of frost has completely passed, that is, not earlier than the end of May - beginning of June. In order for the resulting fruits to be large and ripen quickly, you need to leave from 2 to 4 fruits on one bush. The premiere is kept quite well.

Gribovskaya winter

Large-fruited winter pumpkin "Gribovskaya"

Unlike other varieties described above, Gribovskaya Zimnaya belongs to the late-ripening varieties - the fruit ripening period ranges from 128 to 140 days. However, the plant is quite productive. The weight of one pumpkin ranges from 3 to 7 kg. Other advantages include good transportability and the possibility of long-term storage.

This pumpkin variety is known for its unusual egg-shaped fruit. A ripe pumpkin has a light orange hue, ornately decorated with greenish patterns. The fruits taste very tasty - sweet and juicy, and are also quite large - about 5 kilograms. They are characterized by high transportability and good shelf life.

Experienced farmers assure you: you need to sow the seeds of the variety in late May - early June.

Dacha

The dacha variety is rightfully considered one of the fastest ripening - within 70 days after germination there will be the first harvest. The fruits are oval or ovoid, and the color is yellow and only the stripes have a dark green tint. This variety of pumpkin is very sweet and juicy. The average weight of one fruit is about 3 kg.

Among the main advantages of the variety, farmers note its high yield, early ripening, and resistance to cold. To get a good result, you need to sow a pumpkin only when the ground warms up to at least 10 degrees. It is very important to water, weed and hill the plant in a timely manner.

Northwest

Bush orange

The Bush Orange variety is distinguished by its very modest size. This is an early ripening plant that bears bright large fruits weighing about 4 kilograms. The pumpkin pulp is very tasty: juicy and sweet, and also has a high carotene content. The squash bark is also delicious – sweet and crunchy.

Among the advantages of the variety, one can note its early ripening and versatility, since the Orange Bush pumpkin is used both fresh and baked, stewed and fried.

Troyanda

The Troyanda variety is excellent for growing in the middle zone - in such climatic conditions the plant produces a fairly rich harvest. The fruits on the bushes are large (up to 7 kilograms) and tasty. The most important advantage of the Troyanda variety is its resistance to disease. Plus, pumpkin can be stored for a long time.

Chit

This variety was bred quite a long time ago - at the beginning of the 21st century. This is one of the few varieties that is completely “understood” by farmers, since no unpleasant surprises can be expected from it. It is reliably known that the size of the fruit will be very modest and will hardly exceed three kilograms in weight.

Externally, it is a rounded flat pumpkin of light gray or almost white color. It is very tasty, juicy, soft, bright yellow. It has a high content of sugars and solids.

This variety has another name, which is more common among people - “acorn”. The plant deserves it due to the external similarity of the fruits to acorns, of course, in different proportions. Pumpkin pulp has an orange-yellow flesh color and a very pleasant sweet taste.

As for the color of the peel, the options can be different: from green to orange. Sometimes these shades are intricately combined with each other.

Obviously, there are a wide variety of pumpkin varieties that are suitable for outdoor use. Study the features of the local climate and, depending on this criterion, choose a plant that is guaranteed to take root in your area.

Video - The best varieties of pumpkin for open ground

Due to its bright color and, apparently, its very impressive size, pumpkin is considered the queen of vegetables in some countries. Today this popular vegetable is cultivated everywhere in our gardens. Let's look at the best varieties of pumpkin for open ground with a description of their characteristics.

Hard-bark pumpkin is the most cold-resistant and early ripening, but its fruits do not last very long. A heavy, large-fruited pumpkin can be kept in a cool, dry place all winter. Its pulp is thick and more tasty than that of the hard-barked one. And the most delicious of pumpkins is nutmeg, but it is southern and requires a lot of heat. In open ground in our climatic conditions it can be grown using temporary shelters.

There are a lot of varieties approved for cultivation in the non-chernozem zone; they are productive, sweet, with thick pulp and a small seed chamber.

Varieties of hard-bark pumpkin

Gribovskaya bush- early ripe pumpkin. The fruit is 2.3–4.8 kg, light orange, with black-green stripes. The pulp is dark yellow, dense, sweet.

Mozolevskaya 49- differs from Biryuchekutskaya by the presence of scalloped green or light yellow stripes on the yellow surface of the fruit. It belongs to the group of mid-early varieties and, nevertheless, is characterized by high keeping quality and productivity. The pulp is dense, orange, with high taste characteristics. The plant is short-climbing, the shape of the fruit is ovoid.

Varieties of large-fruited pumpkin

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Winter dining room A-5- late-ripening variety (growing season about 135 days), fruits are flat-round, segmented, light gray; the pulp is dense, orange, sweet; the seeds are large, glossy, yellow. Ripens in storage; transportable.

Mammos golden- a climbing variety, the fruits are very large, weighing more than 10 kg, round, pale golden in color.

Volzhskaya gray 92- an early ripening pumpkin variety, the fruits are weakly segmented, light gray; the pulp is egg-yellow with an orange tint, dense, sweet, of good taste. The color of the peel is light gray with a slight greenish tint, the shape of the fruit is slightly flattened. The pulp has an excellent taste, is dense, juicy, and its color is orange or egg yellow.

It is distinguished by its high yield and resistance to fungal diseases. The preservation of the fruit is excellent.

Gribovskaya winter- externally differs from early ripening varieties in a spherical or slightly flattened shape. Belongs to the late-ripening group.

In the conditions of the Non-Black Earth Region it produces high regular yields of products that are well stored in winter with tender, juicy and at the same time dense pulp of orange or egg-yellow color. The outside of the peel is gray, with a smooth, uniform surface. The fruits are distinguished by their excellent taste.

Gribovskys have recently gained particular popularity.

Chit- mid-late variety. The plant is medium-climbing, produces 2–3 small fruits weighing 2.5–3 kg. The color is light gray with pale pink spots. The pulp is thick, bright orange, dense, sweet, but not very juicy.

Medical- an early-ripening, high-yielding variety of pumpkin. Medium-sized plant. The fruit is light gray, with a net-like pattern. The pulp is orange, sweet, juicy.

The following varieties are also common: Stofuntovaya, Record, Khersonskaya, Donskaya Sladkaya, Zorka, Troyanda.

Rock Pumpkin Varieties

Print bright red- late-ripening, productive variety, large fruits, more than 35 cm in diameter, thickened in shape, bright red; the flesh is yellow-orange.

Bush orange- early ripening, bush variety, fruits weighing 5–6.5 kg, obovate, orange; The pulp is yellow, medium thickness, crispy, juicy. Weakly affected by powdery mildew.

Medical- early ripening, bush variety of pumpkin. Fruits weighing 4–7 kg; the pulp is orange, thick, crispy, sweet, contains an increased amount of vitamins and dry substances. Weakly affected by powdery mildew. Stored until May.

Almond 35- mid-season, climbing (long vines, up to 8–10 m). Fruits weighing up to 5 kg, flattened, smooth or slightly segmented, ribbed at the stalk, brown-orange with wide dark green or light brown stripes; The pulp is orange, dense, sweet.

It stands out for its excellent taste and elegant orange-red fruit color. The average weight of one ripe pumpkin is 5–6 kg. 4 months after emergence, the fruits ripen and can be harvested. Pumpkins harvested in a timely manner are highly preserved in winter.

Winter sweet- fruits weighing 7–12 kg, flattened; pulp with a high sugar content. The variety has good keeping quality and high transportability.

The varieties Biryuchekutskaya 27, Gribovskaya Kustovaya 189, Altaiskaya 47, Khutoryanka, Mozoleevskaya are also common.

Butternut squash varieties

Varieties of nutmeg pumpkin are the most adapted for the non-chernozem zone.

Marble pumpkin - late-ripening variety (about 135 days); the fruits are medium-sized, weighing 5–6 kg, flattened, the surface is wrinkled-segmented, tuberculate, the bark is gray and dark gray, with speckles like marble; the pulp is intense orange, thick, hard, crispy, very sweet, tasty; the seeds are large, yellow-orange. Shelf life 8–9 months.

golden pear- not only pumpkin aficionados, but also those who until recently treated this vegetable with lukewarmness will appreciate this new original variety of pumpkin.

It has highly decorative fruits of a peculiar teardrop shape with a bright orange color. The fruits of this variety are incredibly tasty. The dense, sweetish pulp of the Golden Pear has an unusual nutty flavor! For some it reminds them of the taste of roasted chestnuts - a favorite delicacy of the French, for others - our favorite hazelnuts!

How many wonderful dishes can be prepared from butternut squash: puddings, casseroles, porridges, pancakes, jam, candied fruits. The fruits are small, weighing 1.5–2 kg, very convenient for preparing one dish.

This variety is in all respects very convenient for growing in open ground: early ripening, disease-resistant. The fruits can be obtained within 90–95 days after germination, 2–3 pieces per vine, and they will be stored until spring!

Muscat - late-ripening long-climbing pumpkin variety. Fruit 4.7–6.5 kg. The color is orange-cream. The pulp is orange, dense, sweet and juicy. Most suitable for the non-chernozem zone.

T-7(selection from pumpkin variety Yubileinaya 77). Medium-late, long-climbing. The fruit is from 1.5 to 2.5 kg, dark green with a slightly translucent mesh. The pulp is dark orange, dense, sweet and juicy. Most suitable for the non-chernozem zone.

Candied pumpkin- mid-season, long-climbing. The fruit is from 2.5 to 5 kg, dark green, light brown when ripe. The pulp is 4–6 cm thick, orange to red, sweet, juicy. Most suitable for the non-chernozem zone.

But pumpkin seeds are also very healthy: they contain a large amount of essential microelements and up to 52% high-quality oil! In addition, dry seeds without peel have long been used in folk medicine as a means to expel worms.

The seeds of this variety do not have a hard shell; they are eaten without peeling! With a little work, these seeds can be used to prepare excellent sweet delicacies, such as kozinaki. And the pulp of the fruit is used for food like a regular pumpkin.

But you must remember, if you want to get seeds without a peel, you should plant this truly exotic variety away from other pumpkins and other members of the family: zucchini and squash. All these plants belong to the same species and easily cross-pollinate each other. In this case, the gymnosperm pumpkin may lose its unique ability to form naked seeds. Otherwise, the methods of growing gymnospermous pumpkin are no different from the agricultural techniques of conventional varieties.

Early and late ripening pumpkin varieties

Variety Rocket- the pumpkin stem reaches a length of about 4–5 m. The shape of the fruit is elongated and elliptical, weighing about 5 kg. The bark is light gray in color. Some fruits are distinguished by light, wide stripes that run from the top of the fruit to the stalk. The orange interior is quite dense. The period from germination to full ripening is about 150 days. The seeds of this variety are light brown.

Bead- this pumpkin variety produces branches in small quantities. There is a greater predominance of female flowers. This type is also bush-shaped and single-stemmed. The shape is cylindrical, the base is ribbed, and the top is quite smooth. Has a light green color. The weight of the fruit reaches 200 g. The inside is cream-colored and has good taste. It has good early maturity and productivity.

Yantra - It is considered an early and fairly high-yielding variety. The pulp of this variety is very tender with good taste. The plant has a small compact bush. Male and female flowers open almost simultaneously. The period from germination to full ripening is about 50 days. The weight of the fruit reaches about 300 g.

Flashlight- is considered a mid-season pumpkin variety. The period from germination to full ripening is about 100 days. The fruits resemble a medium-sized glowing bright lampshade. The shape of the fruit is round-flat, weight reaches 5 kg. The bark is light orange. The pulp has a good delicate taste; the yellow, juicy pulp has a delicate texture that does not change during long-term storage in winter in ventilated areas.

Can be stored for a long time. Due to its valuable taste characteristics and content of medicinal substances, the variety is included in products for dietary and baby food.

Barnaul bush pumpkin- is considered a mid-early variety. The period from germination to ripening is about 105 days. The shape of the fruit is oval-cylindrical of medium size. The weight of the fetus reaches 5 kg. Has a gray color. Can be stored for a long time and is resistant to low temperatures.

Biryuchekutskaya 735- mid-season variety with high yield. It stands out for the beautiful golden color of its fruits with delicate pale orange flesh. The shape of the fruit is flat-round, slightly segmented. The fruits have a high percentage of dry matter and valuable biologically active compounds.

Atlant- a pumpkin variety that requires a long growing season (from 115 to 130 days), therefore it is included in the group of late-bearing ones. The fruits can reach large sizes and weigh up to 50 kg.

The shape is oval, the color is orange, the surface is segmented or almost smooth.

The pulp is dense, light orange, juicy. The bark is thick and strong. The lashes are quite long. Their strong shortening is undesirable.

Barn- this is a new highly productive variety. Semi-bush, mid-season. The fruits are dark green, flat-round, weighing 2–4 kg. The variety is distinguished by its high carotene content and is ideally preserved. The pulp is bright orange and juicy.

Big Max- another late-ripening pumpkin variety, popular among Russian gardeners. Big Max fruits weigh 40 kg. It reaches this mass in 4.5 months from the moment of emergence.

It is recommended to first grow seedlings, which are planted in open ground after the last May-June frosts. The variety is distinguished by its high yield and rare beauty of pink-orange skin. The pulp is dense, sweet, orange in color, with a high dry matter content.

hundred pound- belongs to the group of mid-season pumpkin varieties. Produces large yields of beautiful large yellow or orange fruits.

The peel appears polished and has a smooth surface.

The pulp is orange or light yellow, the consistency is soft and loose. It has good keeping quality.

From small decorative ones, shaped like a pot, to giant ones with round sides, from bright orange plain ones to speckled black ones - pumpkin varieties surprise Russian vegetable growers with their diversity. And these are only representatives of the common pumpkin we are used to.

There are more than 100 varieties, while the genus of herbaceous plants pumpkin (lat. Cucurbita), belonging to the Pumpkin family, has more than 20 species.

Classification of varieties

With a creeping stem, tough large leaves and bright fruits, the pumpkin has firmly established itself in Russian gardens, although it comes from America. Some vegetable growers fell in love with the sweet and juicy pulp of the vegetable, while others loved its spectacular appearance.

Our usual pumpkin varieties can be divided into the following types:

1. Decorative - a real decoration for the garden, because these pumpkins have a bizarre shape.
2. Hard bark.
3. Large-fruited.
4. Nutmeg.

There are also winter and summer, table and fodder pumpkins. It is not always possible to strictly distinguish between table varieties and forage varieties, because forage varieties can please with excellent taste, and table varieties with a rich harvest.

If you have chosen the pumpkin varieties that suit your purposes, then the next step is choosing a place for planting. The plant loves the sun, abundant and timely watering and fertile soil. In a dark place, the vegetable yield is noticeably lower.

Hard-barked varieties

More than 30 varieties of hard-bark pumpkin are distinguished by their quality of taste. In addition, these are fruits for long-term storage. The best varieties include:

Smile.

A small compact bush of this early ripening pumpkin will reward the owner for his care with bright orange fruits, which are separated by light stripes. There can be up to 15 of them on one plant, each of which can weigh one and a half kilograms. If you cut it, you can immediately feel the delicate aroma. The flesh is sweet and crunchy. Vegetable growers also choose this variety for its long shelf life; it is stored until January.

Orange honey F1

It is a yellow-orange hybrid with green stripes. Honey taste with high carotene content. Medium ripening variety.

Honey.

The pumpkin has a cylindrical shape, but thickens slightly towards the top. Its weight can vary slightly - from 4 to 4.5 kg. The fibrous, bright orange pulp has a very sweet taste.

Big Moon.

A powerful plant with excellent taste. Pumpkins are smooth, yellow, and can grow up to 70-90 kg. The variety is medium late, with good keeping quality.

Winter sweet.

Late ripening vegetable. Pumpkin is round, flattened, gray, lumpy, weighing from 4 to 6 kg. The inside is bright orange, juicy and sweet.

Gymnosperm pumpkin.

It is not the tasty pulp of this variety that is of interest to vegetable growers, but the seeds. And in the gymnosperm pumpkin they have no hard shell. Growing a variety for seeds differs little from the agricultural technology of other varieties.

Melon.

This pumpkin has a melon flavor. May top the “Sweetest Variety” rating. Yellow on top, orange on the inside. Pumpkins are round and large. Well kept.

To keep the pumpkin as long as possible, leave a 6-centimeter tail when harvesting. The optimal temperature for storing vegetables is 8 degrees.

Large-fruited varieties

This pumpkin has large and round fruits. If you want to preserve the vegetable until winter and longer, then choose a variety of large-fruited pumpkin.

Chit.

This is a well-known variety with a name given as if in mockery. Because this is a pumpkin with not so tiny fruits - with proper care they reach 3 kg.

Ordinary.

Bright orange round pumpkins can grow up to 25 kg. Although its taste suffers from its size. Less is better, but tastier.

Titanium.

This is a famous record holder, distributed throughout the world. The uniqueness of the variety lies in the fact that breeders officially indicate the possible size of the fruit in the characteristics of the variety. A real giant - 500 kg! But at the same time very sweet and tasty.

Atlant.

The fruits are large but tasty, so they are suitable for cooking. Refers to varieties of mid-late ripening.

Volzhskaya gray 92.

A productive plant with an average ripening period. The stem of the pumpkin is very powerful; large, uniform, light gray fruits grow on its long vines. They can reach 6-9 kg.

Zorka.

Although it is large-fruited and thin-skinned, the taste of this pumpkin variety is in no way inferior to table varieties. The fruits are spherical.

Sweetie.

If you characterize the ripening period, it is rather average. Mature pumpkins can be removed from the garden after 100-110 days. 4-6 fruits are formed on one lash. Pumpkins are round in shape and divided into parts by grooves. Their weight reaches 3 kg.

Russian.

Such a pumpkin will delight the caring vegetable grower at the end of August. Its shape is unusual, similar to a turban, its orange color has a reddish tint. The weight of pumpkins is 1.5-2 kg.

Sweet yellow.

High yield variety. With proper care, the fruits reach 25 kg. They are round in shape, slightly flattened.

If you want to impress your friends and neighbors with a miracle pumpkin, leave 1-2 fruits on one plant. Provide direct sunlight by removing leaves promptly.

Candied fruit.

The flattened round pumpkins are divided into segments by grooves. One of the most delicious varieties. Normal weight is up to 5 kg. The plant is productive and early ripening.

One hundred pound.

One of the old varieties. A high-yielding vegetable, the fruits of which would be suitable for Cinderella's carriage. Large, regular shape, yellow-orange. But the pulp is dry and unsweetened.

Orange bush.

This is a bush pumpkin. She has an early ripening period. Large fruits (4.7 - 7.5 kg) are bright orange. Inside - sweet, yellow, crispy.

Pink banana.

Pumpkin with such an exotic name has long been known in our country. The fruits of the variety look like zucchini that is overripe. Elongated shape, pinkish-yellow hue. The taste is excellent: sweet, aromatic, the flesh is tender and juicy. The fruits are stored for a long time, maintaining excellent taste.

Hazelnut F1.

Pumpkin with nut flavor. Unusual, but true: the pulp of this hybrid pleases vegetable growers with its sweet, sugary pulp with a nutty flavor. The skin of pumpkins is thin and bright red. The fruits can weigh 1-1.5 kg. Early ripening plant.

Sweet banana.

Pumpkin with an exotic taste, which is contained in elongated pink-yellow fruits. They can reach 1.2 m in length and weigh 16 kg. Inside it is dense and sweet, yellow-orange in color. These pumpkins keep well. The taste does not deteriorate from storage.

Parisian gold.

Pumpkin ripens early, is well stored and transported. The pumpkin is slightly flattened, divided into segments, cream-colored, with yellow spots. Average weight – 4-9 kg, maximum – 16 kg. The inside of the pumpkin is orange, with a delicate taste.

Cinderella.

Mid-season pumpkin of golden yellow color, weighing 7-10 kg. Thin bark, sweet fleshy insides - given these characteristics, they are used in cooking.

Almond.

Round in shape, with an elastic peel with a striped pattern, orange-yellow, juicy and dense pulp - the vegetable has high marketability. Mid-season. Transportable.

Baby.

Early ripening variety. A 2-3 kg pumpkin is dark green with a brown tint. The vegetable is very tasty, high in carotene and sugar.

Red Baroness.

The fruits of this variety are bright red. The pumpkin is flattened, divided into segments. Inside – orange, dense. Mid-season variety.

Loaf.

A high-yielding variety that can be stored until winter. Pumpkins resemble an orange turban with light longitudinal stripes. The weight of such pumpkins can vary from 0.5 to 4 kg.

The red one is delicious.

The plant attracts the eye with its bright color on the outside and surprises with the same color on the inside. Pumpkin fruits are round, juicy, with a melon aroma.

During the pumpkin harvest, let the picked fruits sit in the sun for a couple of days. This will make them taste better. Do not forget that you need to remove the plant before frost.

Muscat varieties

These are the most delicious varieties of pumpkin, juicy, sweet, sugar. Desserts are often prepared from them. But nutmeg pumpkins are more capricious and love the sun. Therefore, they are more suitable for cultivation in the southern regions.

Vitamin.

The variety has fruits weighing from 4.5 to 6.8 kg, with sweet orange pulp that contains a lot of carotene. For this reason, pumpkin of this variety is used in medical nutrition, for juice and puree. The fruits have a short oval ribbed shape and a dark pink color. Pumpkin bark is thin.

This is a late-ripening plant because 130 days must pass from germination to maturity. When a vegetable ripens, it usually produces a good harvest.

Honey Princess.

The name itself speaks of the sugar pulp of the fruit. These are very tasty fruits that contain a lot of carotene. The plant is productive, powerful, with rounded-flattened, orange fruits, weighing 3-4 kg. Refers to mid-season varieties, which are usually sown in April.

Butternut.

I call this pumpkin differently, you can find the names “walnut” and “nutmeg”. Refers to a variety of pumpkin called “squash”. These are elongated fruits, reminiscent of zucchini in shape and pulp. A medium-sized pear-shaped variety. On top they are covered with a yellowish peel, but inside the shade acquires a more saturated yellow color. Sweet and juicy, fibrous in structure.

Amazon.

Mid-season. With proper care, it produces a rich harvest of pumpkins weighing 3-5 kg, with a dark orange color.

Guitar.

The fruits, similar to a musical instrument, can reach 2-4 kg. A high harvest of “guitars” can be obtained by autumn, because the variety is a late-ripening variety. Well kept.

Candied.

Mid-season. The skin of the pumpkin is dark green, when ripe it is brown, and the inside is orange. Weight – from 2.5 to 5 kg.

Golden pear.

A plant with graceful teardrop-shaped fruits. It differs from other varieties in taste - not only sweet and juicy, but also with a subtle hint of the taste of roasted chestnuts. Early ripening vegetable.

Hokkaido.

This is also a pear-shaped pumpkin of Japanese origin. It also has a sweet, chestnut flavor. Refers to gourmet varieties. The weight of flattened pumpkins is 0.7-2.5 kg. Color can vary from yellow-orange to red.

Matilda F1.

High-yielding pear-shaped hybrid. Average weight – 3-5 kg. Inside, the fruits are sweet, with a honey aroma and high in carotene. Well kept.

Prikubanskaya.

Delicious pumpkin. The fruits are cylindrical in shape, thickening towards the top. They have an orange-brown color. The skin is thin. The interior is bright red, tender, juicy. Mid-season, productive plant.

Sweet chestnut F1.

Small, very sweet green pumpkins. It can be described in one word: “Yummy.” The firm flesh is similar to the sweet and starchy filling of a baked chestnut.

Augustine.

Externally similar to spotted squash, the plant has pumpkin characteristics: a sweet and delicate taste, dense white flesh.

There are amazing pumpkin specimens that cannot be limited to the above types.

Wax pumpkin.

Having just gotten used to the variety of pumpkin varieties, Russian vegetable growers meet new ones, are surprised by them and adopt them. Such an amazing find is a pumpkin belonging to the Benincasa genus. Otherwise known as winter squash or winter melon. But the first name is most suitable, because as the pumpkin ripens, it becomes covered with a waxy coating. This protection allows the fruits to be preserved until deep winter. And maybe even until next winter - wax protects so reliably. But, unfortunately, this is more of a southern plant. If you decide to grow it in the middle zone of our country, you will have to tinker with the seedlings. The taste is no different from pumpkin, only the flesh is white.

Calabash.

The scientific name of this pumpkin is lagenaria. They call it gourd and calabash. Despite its medicinal properties, this pumpkin is grown not only for food, but also for... making dishes. Such pumpkin containers were used in South America, India and China more than 12 thousand years ago. In appearance, lagenaria really resembles a bottle.

Figleaf pumpkin.

In warm regions this plant is a perennial. In our country it is cultivated as an annual and ornamental plant. It has small fruits with white, unsweetened pulp.

Among such a variety of pumpkins, it is impossible not to find your favorite.