Grow a pumpkin, as well as eat it, people began more than seven thousand years ago. At that time, such a vegetable was happy to include in the diet both kings and the less well-off population. There were peoples who considered the pumpkin to be a gift from the gods, and they were of the opinion that this product is not only delicious, but also improves health and increases longevity. The most popular varieties have always been, giving fruits of large sizes. Such champions today are discussed in the media, as well as recorded in the Guinness book. In this article we will talk about the variety of pumpkins "Sweetie", which is different from others, both in taste and cultivation.
Description and characteristics of the variety
The variety "Candy" is the result of breeding work and is best suited for cultivation in non-black-earth territories. The main distinctive feature of the vegetable of the considered variety is a high level of sugar content.
Such a pumpkin is grown not only by lovers of gardening in their homestead and summer cottages, but also by large companies for the purpose of industrial production of baby food and juices. These delicious vegetables are great for cooking a variety of first and second courses, as well as baking and a variety of desserts. 
Did you know? In Central Asia, beverage vessels and even houses for small birds were made of pumpkin.As the fruit ripens, it acquires a pronounced orange color. The bark is very high density and segmented. Due to the strength of the product is safely transported and can be stored for a long time. Pulp "Candy" juicy, thick and very sweet, has a reddish color and soft texture.
The variety under discussion is mid-season and large-fruited. The scourge, on which about 6-8 ovaries are formed, grow to about 1.5 m in length. Pumpkin "Yum" non-capricious and, if you provide it with proper care, will give a rich harvest. One fruit can weigh from 1.5 kg to 3 kg. But there are cases when the pumpkin grows to an incredibly large size and weighs 20, 50 or even 90 kg.
Check out other varieties of large-fruited, durum and nutmeg pumpkins.
The pulp fills the entire cavity of the fetus. Seeds are large and very tasty. As a result of prolonged storage of such a pumpkin, it matures, due to which its flesh becomes even more tender, sweet and tasty.
This variety tolerates cold. From germination to the harvest period takes about 4 months.
Composition and nutritional value
Calorie pumpkin is 22 kcal per 100 grams. Dry matter in the composition - up to 20%, sugars - about 8%. Also contains a lot of carotene and ascorbic acid. Among other things, pumpkin varieties "Candy" is rich in sodium, magnesium, phosphorus and vitamins B, C, PP.
Due to such properties, the vegetable in question is very useful for the human body. He is rightly considered an excellent supplier of vitamins and minerals, and still, of course, can be called a dietary product due to its low calorie content. It also has pectin, which tends to increase the rate of excretion of cholesterol.
How to grow
Pumpkin varieties "Sweetie" is recommended for cultivation in areas where summer is relatively short, and the climate is not hot. It is best to cultivate it from seedlings, which are placed in the soil under the film or immediately into the open ground.
But even in the absence of the above conditions, it is possible to grow the vegetable under discussion and collect a full-fledged crop, if you follow some recommendations and know the particular care for this crop.
To get the most useful pumpkin you need to know how to properly care for it, protect it from pests and diseases.
Site preparation
Before planting discussed vegetable culture need prepare the site itself:
- The best option for growing "Candy" is a plot that is well lit and warmed by the sun. It is best to choose the southern side of the garden, which is not obscured by other plants or any buildings.
- According to the reviews, such pumpkins grow best on fruits and on lightly and medium-loamy soils, as well as on those areas that are represented by sandy-sandy neutral soils, carefully fertilized with organic matter.
- It is very important for the pumpkin variety to be considered to provide extensive space. It is recommended to allocate for each plant at least 1 square. m on the plot. The distance between trenches for planting should also be 80-90 cm.
- It is allowed to plant such a vegetable on bulk beds and in greenhouses.
- In the absence of sufficiently fertile soil, the soil can additionally be fertilized during planting. It is necessary to make 1-2 glasses of ash and about 50 grams of superphosphate in each well.
Learn more about soil types, their acidity, organic and mineral fertilizers.
Important! In climatic areas where the soil is warming up too early, the sweetie pumpkin can be sown with seeds immediately in open ground. But if the weather conditions are colder, and the spring comes rather late, you need to sprout the seedlings in advance in cups or boxes and only then transplant to the open area.
Land preparation and seedling packaging
In order to germinate healthy and powerful seedlings, you need to carefully select pumpkin seeds. They must be intact and free from dark spots on the surface. Seed material should be placed in a warm place, pre-filled with water at room temperature. It is very important not to overdo it and not to put the container close to the heat source, as the seeds can simply boil.
While the seeds will germinate, you can do the preparation of containers and soil. Pots can be replaced with ordinary plastic bottles that need to be carefully cut, you can also take plastic cups or any cardboard boxes.
You can save space for growing seedlings by using cassettes, snails, peat tablets and toilet paper.
You should take into account the fact that the "Candy" have a very delicate root system, which can easily be damaged in the process of transplantation. To avoid such trouble, it is recommended to cut in advance not only the top of a plastic bottle that will replace the pot, but also the bottom. You should do the same with cups and boxes.
Tara under seedlings should be up to 8 cm in height. It should be placed in the ground, put there germinated seeds and place the cups on disposable plates or on any other pallets. When the seedlings grow, it can be transplanted into open soil.
Important! Seeds are sown in cups about 22-24 days before the intended transplanting of the open area. You should also add about 5 days to shoot plants.
Planting seeds
If you plan to plant pumpkin varieties "Candy" immediately into open soil, select the seeds of vegetable culture should be even more carefully. Quality seed should be large, filled and free from physical defects.
- First, the seeds should be checked for germination. To do this, you need to take a piece of damp cloth, wrap the seeds with it and place it all in a warm place for 24 hours. During this time, high-quality seeds will already be able to turn around, which will be a positive signal for the gardener. After that, you need to harden the pumpkin seeds in the refrigerator (not in the freezer!), Where they are placed for a couple of days.
- Now you can proceed directly to sowing pumpkin seeds of the Candy variety into the ground. It is best to carry out such a procedure in the 2-3 decade of May. By this time, the soil will have time to warm up well, and frost will no longer threaten the vegetable crop.
- After preparing the soil, you need to make the necessary number of holes in it, each of which should be watered with water and placed in them 3-4 pumpkin seeds to a depth of about 8 cm.
- When the seeds germinate, and there will be distinct shoots, you should carefully cut off the extra shoots, leaving in each well one, the highest quality plant. It is important to cut the shoots, and not to pull them out, because all the plants will succumb to the damage, because by this time the roots will have time to completely intertwine with each other.
- Holes should be made at a distance of not less than 1 m from each other so that the plant has the opportunity to fully develop in the future. As mentioned earlier, you need to remember that the pumpkin "Sweetie" is very important to have good lighting.
Read about how to grow lignaria and pumpkin beninkaza.
Care
The vegetable crop under discussion develops rather quickly, and therefore care for it, in general, consists of the most standard measures: loosening the soil, removing weeds, fertilizer and watering.
Loosen the soil and weeding should be done before the pumpkin leaves come together. The process is clear and does not require additional explanation. But on the feeding of the vegetable in question should be discussed further.
Experienced gardeners have noticed that the variety "Candy" prefers organic fertilizers. Rapid plant development and excellent fruiting can be achieved by introducing fermented chicken manure into the soil. Litter should first be diluted in water (1:10), then leave the mixture for about a week so that it ferments. Next, the finished substance must be mixed again with water in the ratio of 1:20. It is recommended to pour about 2 liters of such fertilizer under each bush. 
If the summer resident wants to feed the pumpkin with mineral fertilizer, then the nitrophoska is suitable for this, which should be mixed with water. On a bucket of water take 10 grams of nitrophoska. It is necessary to add each bush approximately 2 liters of fertilizer.
The first feeding is recommended for introduction at the stage when the fifth leaf is formed on the pumpkin bush. The second feeding is carried out during the active formation of lashes. In the future, you need to fertilize vegetables about once every 20 days. After the pumpkin begins to bear fruit, ashes can be added to the main fertilizers once (1 cup).
You can also make organic dressing from nettle, yeast, banana peel, eggshell, milk whey, potato peel, onion peel.As for watering, they should be regular. There are no additional recommendations on this subject, as well as a clear scheme. You just need to monitor the condition of the soil and moisten it as needed, so that it does not completely dry up, but it is not overly wetted. It is desirable that the water temperature for irrigation is approximately 20 ... 22 ° C.
Did you know? In the past, it was believed that pumpkins are an excellent tool against freckles and snake bites. The Indians loved to roast pumpkin pieces before eating on the fire. They also used dried pumpkin, making mats out of it.
Harvesting and storage
Harvesting is just what it was all about. The process is undoubtedly simple, but there are some nuances.
It is recommended to collect pumpkins from the garden in warm and dry weather. It is important to ensure that the stalks are not damaged, otherwise the fruits will quickly become unusable. Vegetables can be stored almost anywhere, as long as there is no excessive moisture, and the room is well ventilated.
Harvest time "Candy" may vary depending on the climatic conditions and soil characteristics that are specific to a particular region. The discussed variety of pumpkin is mid-season. From the period of germination to the moment when you can start harvesting usually takes from 115 to 140 days. 
You can save the pumpkin to freeze it, dry pumpkin seeds, and you can also dry the pumpkin for decorative purposes.
Fruits that do not have cracks, dents and other similar damage will be best kept. Pumpkin recommended to sort by size and quality characteristics. In the process of cutting the stem should be left about 6-10 cm long. It is impossible to wash pumpkins during storage under any circumstances.
It is best to fold pumpkins in a single layer and on a non-solid surface. It is necessary that the fruits do not touch each other. The temperature in the room should be about + 8 ... +10 degrees, and the optimum humidity for the successful storage of "Candy" is 70-80%. It is permissible to store vegetables in the refrigerator. The product can retain its properties up to 8-10 months. 
In conclusion, we note that the pumpkin variety "Sweetie" is not difficult to grow vegetables. It requires minimal care, and in return it gives a lot of tasty and sweet fruits, which, moreover, can be stored for quite a long time while ensuring proper conditions. Therefore, the discussed vegetable culture rightfully deserves the attention of gardeners and gardeners.
