Latin name- Cucurbita pepo.

Family- Pumpkin.

Genus- Pumpkin.

predecessors- green manure, radish, cabbage, parsley, greens.

Lighting- photophilous plant.

Watering- moderate.

The soil- fertile, medium loamy soils.

Landing- seeds.

Patisson is an annual herbaceous plant. His homeland is South America. It was grown there 5000 years ago. Known in Russia late XIX in. Now it is cultivated all over the world. Its fruit is a pumpkin, which tastes like or asparagus. Young ovaries are similar in taste. Young leaves, shoots and flowers are also eaten.

It is prepared in the same way as zucchini. But its nutritional qualities are much higher than that of zucchini. The pulp of the patisson vegetable is tastier and more nutritious. The fruits are harvested when they are still unripe. Their mass ranges from 100 to 800 g. They are boiled, fried, canned, pickled. Dishes are very well absorbed by the human body. The unusual shape of the fruit is perfect for stuffing. You can also serve dishes in patisson like in a pot.

Growing squash

It is better to grow it in areas warmed by the sun and protected from the wind. Perhaps its cultivation together with potatoes and corn. Plants do well in compost heaps. Sufficient warmth and nutrition have a beneficial effect on growth and development. You should not grow squash in the same garden for more than two years in a row.

The culture is warm. If the conditions are favorable, then seedlings appear 6 to 9 days after sowing.

Shading of plants should be avoided. This negatively affects the yield. The plant should be provided with adequate ventilation. Drought tolerant culture. But, nevertheless, it is necessary to maintain sufficient soil moisture, especially during flowering and fruit formation. The water should not be cold. When watering, avoid getting moisture on flowers and ovaries. Otherwise, rot may form.

The first feeding is carried out when the plant has formed 3 - 4 full-fledged leaves. The second during the flowering period.

If the plant is grown in a greenhouse, then it requires manual pollination.

Pests and diseases are characteristic of all pumpkin crops. These are root rot, white rot, anthracnose and powdery mildew.

Harvested two to three times a week. Trying not to allow the fruit to overripe. Their optimal size is 7-12 cm. The crop is not subject to long-term storage. The plant is able to bear fruit until the first cold weather.

Useful properties of squash and healing properties of squash

You can list for a long time how squash is useful. The healing properties of patissons are widely known. Ash elements, fiber, fats, vitamins, pectins, mineral salts, ascorbic acid. The benefits of squash have been proven for obesity, liver and kidney diseases, anemia, and atherosclerosis. They are also used as a vermifuge. Eating a vegetable improves immunity, prevents the formation of blood clots, improves digestion, and neutralizes harmful effect free radicals. Patisson is recommended for people with heart disease.

The best varieties of squash, photos of squash

Fruits may vary in shape and color. Depending on the variety, the color may be yellow, white or green. Sometimes streaks and spots may be present. You can see them in more detail in the photo of the squash. The following varieties of squash should be highlighted, which are worthy of attention.

White 13. Mid-season. The plant can be either bush or semi-bush. The fruit is medium or small in size. Plate shape with a convex middle part. The edges are serrated. Serration is weakly expressed. The color of the ripe fruit may be white or pale green. Seeds are rough, small, white-yellow.

Disk. Early ripe, bushy. The yield is more than 3 kg. from one plant. Disc-shaped fruits, white, smooth. No mesh or stains. The pulp is crispy, unsweetened. The plant should be protected from powdery mildew.

Umbrella. Early maturing, versatile. The plant can be bush and semi-bush. The fruits are bell-shaped or cup-shaped, the edges are serrated. Color whitish or light green. The pulp is unsweetened, dense, white.

Sun. Mid-season, bushy. Gives a stable harvest. Fruits of the attractive appearance plate form. The color is bright yellow or orange. The edges are serrated. The pulp is creamy.

Tabolinsky. Mid-season, bushy. The fruits are smooth, weighing 220 - 300g. When fully ripe they are orange in color. Their shape is plate. Valued for its relative disease resistance, distinctive coloration, and consistent yield.