Hokkaido pumpkin is a storehouse of elements that are useful for the body. When cooked properly, it can outshine other cultures in the kitchen.
Hokkaido pumpkin varietal description
It can be baked, steamed, added to salads, main courses, cereals, soups. Culture seeds 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 the Japanese pumpkin. The color ranges from light orange and bright red to gray-green.
Green fruits do not differ in taste, they can also be prepared in traditional ways. The pulp is just as tender.
Benefits
The main advantages of 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 during all 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 pulp, peel of the same tone and pear-shaped.
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, 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.
A vegetable consumed in small quantities fights excess weight 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 unpretentious 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 dipped into water at room temperature, and then transferred to a damp cloth, 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 buried about 4 cm.
- After disembarkation, some rules are observed. Hokkaido loves warmth, so the vegetable is planted in warm 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 7-8 vegetables should be left on the branch. Thanks to this, you can get great fruits at the earliest possible date.
- Scourge varieties grow and take 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.
Pumpkin with chestnut flavor.
Hokkaido pumpkin puree soup. Autumn vegan recipes.
Conclusion
According to the description, the advantages of this variety include a soft skin, which can also be eaten, an unforgettable aroma and delicate taste.
Hokkaido pumpkin seeds are fried in a pan, seasoned with salt and sprinkled with a little oil. This is a healthy snack that 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.