Varietal description of Hokkaido Pumpkins
Hokkaido pumpkin is a storehouse of elements that are useful for the body. When cooked properly, it can outshine other cultures in the kitchen.
Varietal description of Hokkaido Pumpkins
It can be baked, steamed, added to salads, main courses, cereals, soups. The seeds of the culture are also useful.
Description and characteristics
The description indicates that this Japanese variety is called winter in England, chestnut in France, and Hokkaido in Russia.
This culture is small in size, sweetish taste, beautiful juicy shade and unconventional shape.
Hokkaido has a chestnut, nutty smell. Ripe fruits most often weigh from 0.8 to 2.5 kg. They are pear-shaped or slightly flattened.
There are also large relatives of the variety, inferior in prevalence to Japanese pumpkin. The color ranges from light orange and bright red to gray-green.
Green fruits are no different in taste and can also be prepared in traditional ways. The pulp is just as tender.
Benefits
The main advantages of the Hokkaido pumpkin are:
- rapid ripening - the growing season does not exceed 3-4 months from the day of sowing;
- long-term storage - in a basement or a cold place, the fruits do not change their appearance throughout the winter months;
- thin skin - after heat treatment it becomes soft, it is eaten with pulp;
- the most delicate taste, reminiscent of sweet chestnut or potatoes;
- nutty nutmeg aroma.
Varieties
The Japanese Hokkaido pumpkin has several types. The most popular are Orange and Ishiki Kuri. Both options have a bright orange sweetish flesh, a peel of the same tone and a pear-shaped shape.
Also, these vegetables are small in size, which makes it possible to use them as a pot for baked dishes. Their difference is that the Orange Pumpkin is more rounded, while Ishiki Kuri is elongated.
Beneficial features
Fruits are able to enhance immunity
Hokkaido pumpkin belongs to the nutmeg varieties. The pulp contains a lot of fiber, iron, folic acid. It also contains calcium, some vitamins, and magnesium.
It is advised for heart disease, problems with blood vessels, kidneys, and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. It is necessary to enhance immunity and protect against viruses and infections, slows down aging, makes teeth and bones stronger.
Antihelminthic properties are also known, as well as the ability to positively affect male strength.
The vegetable, consumed in small quantities, fights obesity and controls body weight. Pumpkin juice is also useful.
Contraindications
Pumpkin can be given to children from one year old and to pregnant women. But with diabetes, stomach diseases, acid-base balance disorders - it is prohibited.
Planting and leaving
In the growing season, Hokkaido pumpkin does not differ from varieties bred in Russia. It is easy to care for and grows even in temperate regions.
A few tips from experienced gardeners will help you get a good harvest.
- For early shoots, the seedling method is used.3-4 weeks before planting, the seeds are immersed in water at room temperature, and then transferred to a damp napkin, where they are left until the first shoots appear.
- To prevent the rudiments from drying out, the fabric is constantly checked - it should remain slightly damp. To wet it, you can use potassium permanganate - this is an excellent protection against rot and bacteria.
- The "hatched" seeds are poured into small pots - for each of them a separate container is used and deepened by about 4 cm.
- After disembarkation, some rules are observed. Hokkaido loves warmth, so the vegetable is planted in the heated ground and in the sunlit section of the garden.
- Loosening of the soil, regular watering and control over the number of vegetables on the lash are also necessary. This pumpkin has good fruiting, but you need to leave 7-8 vegetables on the branch. Thanks to this, you can get great fruits at the earliest possible date.
- The scourge of the variety grows and takes up a lot of space. So that this does not interfere with the growth of other crops in the garden, Hokkaido is planted in high containers. This will reduce the size of the plant and give originality to the design.
Conclusion
According to the description, the advantages of this variety include a soft skin that can also be eaten, an unforgettable aroma and a delicate taste.
Hokkaido pumpkin seeds are fried in a pan, seasoned with salt and sprinkled with a little oil. This is a healthy snack, which is included in the diet of men - it has a great effect on potency.
You can offer pumpkin dishes to the whole family. This will diversify the menu and improve health.