What is Fitcephaly and How to Grow It?

Not all gardeners know what fitcephaly is and how to grow it. Meanwhile, the cultivation of fig-leaved pumpkin is a very promising business. Before that, however, you will have to familiarize yourself with the description of the plant itself and with the planting of seeds. And also it will be necessary to deal with the collection and use of the crop.

It should be said right away that from a botanical point of view, phycephaly, it is a fig-leaved pumpkin, is a herbaceous vine. This plant is cultivated in all countries of Latin America. From there it spread to Eurasia. The exact biological origin of this species has not been established.

The common name for the culture is due to the fact that its foliage is quite similar to that of a fig. These leaves turn greenish blue. Light spots are formed on their surface. The pentahedral stem is quite hard and can grow up to 20-25 m. During flowering, yellow or orange flowers are formed.

By the appearance of these flowers, there are no special differences from the usual pumpkin flowers. But the number of ovaries is very large, sometimes it reaches 70-80 pieces.... The fruits are close to an elongated oval in shape. Their skin is white or light green; despite its small thickness, it is very strong. Typically, such a vegetable weighs up to 5 kg, but individual farmers have managed to grow crops weighing up to 10-20 kg.

The flesh of the phycephaly is white. It is sweet and juicy. Under normal conditions, the harvested fruits last up to 4 years. Since the plant originally appeared in high altitude conditions, it is well adapted to the conditions of the Russian climate.

Notice:

• cold resistance;

• the ability to survive powerful jerks of temperature;

• fast development;

• excellent fertility;

• long flowering;

• low susceptibility to disease (while insects, including aphids, are still dangerous);

• the need for growing in a large area;

• suitable as a rootstock for squash, watermelon and other types of pumpkin.

The need for planting is associated with the late development of the plant. Seeds must be sown under glass. The container must contain a universal soil for crops. There should be high humidity. The optimum temperature is 22 degrees.

Even before planting seedlings, it is strongly recommended to soak the seeds in warm water for 48-72 hours. It is advisable to germinate them additionally. A combination of sawdust with turf and peat is placed in the pots. To avoid pest damage, wood ash is poured on top. Duration of growing seedlings - until the appearance of the 5th true leaf (usually a maximum of a month); in cloudy periods, phytolamp illumination is recommended.

Then, for 5 days, you need to lower the temperature slightly (to about 17 degrees). Growing for 20-25 days in container conditions is usually enough to prepare the plant for the main stage. It is also worth dwelling on it in more detail.

It is held in the middle or in the second half of May. It is imperative to wait until the threat of frost disappears. The holes for the fitcephaly should be 12 cm deep.Transloading helps to avoid damage to the roots.A distance of at least 1 m must be maintained between individual seats; it is advisable to choose areas with drained, nutrient-rich soil.

Some farmers believe that phycephaly should be planted at a distance of 2 m from each other. The depth of the holes in this case will be 10 cm. There is no need to fear over-pollination by other types and varieties of pumpkins. In normal weather, bloom can be expected in July. The fruits will be ready for harvest in August.

If during planting there are frosts of no more than -3 degrees, there is no point in fearing for the plant. The root system is powerful enough. Therefore, it is necessary to choose places with a deep location of soil waters. Competent crop rotation helps to avoid the onset of dangerous diseases. And also it is worth abandoning planting fitsephaly next to potato bushes and pumpkin crops of other types - this will exclude the spread of pests.

You can not return the plant to the previously occupied area until after 5 years. Good predecessors for him are:

• onion;

• cabbage;

• potato.

Sometimes they plant seeds directly into the ground. This is possible if it has warmed up to 12-15 degrees. The planting material should then be soaked and germinated. Seed holes should be 3-4 cm deep (with a 350x350 cm layout); ash is added to them.

And yet, from the point of view of an early result, the seedling technique is preferable. One of its options involves germinating seeds in pots for 14-20 days. Peat, turf soil and sawdust are placed in pots. If there is acidic soil, it is advisable to lime it. Water the seedlings in moderation.

It must be kept in this version at a temperature of 12 to 17 degrees. Before planting, the phycephaly needs to be fed with safe organic matter. The depth of the holes in this case can be only 10 cm. Between them there are 2-meter gaps. On poor land, fertilizer must be applied at a level of 30 cm.

Regular watering and laying of mulch are important for figurative pumpkin. It is advisable to weed it and feed it regularly. For the fruits to form better, right away when laying the ovaries, you need to pinch the side shoots. In many regions of Russia, even in the last month of summer, the nights are cold - and in such cases it is recommended to cover the culture with spunbond in order to keep the roots longer. Harvesting time comes in the autumn months; the signal to it is the wilting of the foliage.

An exotic plant should be watered not only often, but also abundantly. Organic matter must be introduced twice during the growing season. If you do this three times, there will be no harm either.

Fully ripe fruits are distinguished by a pronounced color and original pattern. They can be stored throughout the winter. Fitcephaly is suitable for:

• salads;

• jam;

• pudding;

• casseroles;

• pancakes;

• jam.

Fresh crops are used in the same way as zucchini. It is quite good when fried and stewed. Pinching the growth buds helps to speed up the development of fruits (this must be done with each of them, and then covered with earth). In the last 14 days before harvesting, watering is stopped. Fearing early autumn frosts, unless they are too strong, is hardly worth it.

Fully ripe pumpkin has a very hard stalk. The stalk itself will begin to die off. The peel will also get tighter and the lashes will dry out. You need to cut the fruits with pruning shears, each one leaves at least 5 cm of the stalk. It is imperative to make sure that not a single vegetable falls or hits something; despite the strength, the impact sites will deteriorate very quickly.

In addition to the pulp, you can also use the peel. This requires an even cut in the upper part with the handle. The empty pumpkin is dried.It can be a good design element.

Farmers confirm the frost-tolerant ability of fitcephaly. According to this indicator, it is ahead of not only watermelon or melon, but also ordinary zucchini. As a result, the plant can stay in the ground longer, while the fruits have time to ripen and become sweeter. Unpretentiousness is also fully confirmed by the reviews. However, it must be borne in mind that with a short daylight hours and cold (less than 6 degrees) nights, phycephaly does not feel well.

This culture itself needs vast tracts and impressive supports. Without these requirements, the plant will suppress other plantings. In general, growing it is no more difficult than other types of pumpkins. Close planting of phycephaly to other plants should be avoided. She may start to suppress them.

It is not worth giving up the formation of culture. Without pinching the shoots, it is unlikely to give good results. Such a moment is especially important in places with short summers. Scourges are highly durable, breaking them is not so easy. On impressions, the fruits resemble a watermelon - both visually and in aroma.

There are no particular difficulties in growing. You won't have to spend a lot of time on this culture. With minimal effort, she will delight in the fall with a decent harvest. Fitcephaly is also distinguished by excellent decorativeness. Beautifully curling vines will decorate any area, and this plant is especially graceful during the period of abundant flowering.

The gastronomic experience is not inferior to the aesthetic sensation. The pumpkin fitcephaly began to be used relatively recently in Russia. But the accumulated experience characterizes it extremely positively. Every gardener can recommend such a culture. Even for those who do not have any significant experience in planting.