Crookneck Scrooge - Squash Squash. Care, Cultivation. Beneficial Features. Photo

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Crookneck Scrooge - Squash Squash. Care, Cultivation. Beneficial Features. Photo
Crookneck Scrooge - Squash Squash. Care, Cultivation. Beneficial Features. Photo

Video: Crookneck Scrooge - Squash Squash. Care, Cultivation. Beneficial Features. Photo

Video: Crookneck Scrooge - Squash Squash. Care, Cultivation. Beneficial Features. Photo
Video: 5 Tips to Grow LOTS of SQUASH 2024, March
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Some gardeners consider crooknek scrooge a kind of squash, others - a relative of pumpkin, both are right, because, like squash, this plant belongs to the species Common pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo). The squash (or pumpkin) Kruknek scrooge was brought to Russia at the beginning of the 19th century, but in Russian gardens to this day it can be found in the beds only among lovers of rare vegetable crops. From English "kruknek" translates as "curved neck", which is confirmed by the shape of its fruits: they are elongated, pear-shaped or club-shaped, often have an elongated shape with an intercepted curved neck, thickened at the flower end. Sometimes this plant is called simply Krivosheika, or Kruknek.

Zucchini Crookneck Scrooge
Zucchini Crookneck Scrooge

Content:

  • Description Crookneck Scrooge
  • Growing squash Crookneck scrooge
  • Benefits of Crookneck Scrooge

Description Crookneck Scrooge

Kruknek scrooge is an annual herb of compact bushy form. The bush reaches 50–70 cm in height. The vegetative organs are the same as those of the vegetable marrow. The stem is short, rigidly pubescent. Medium-sized leaf, all-edged, pentagonal. Dark green oblong stripes are visible on the leaf petiole. Flowers are dioecious, single, large, yellow. The color of the fruit is white, orange, orange-yellow, light gray or cream, the surface is clean, smooth or slightly tuberous and warty. The pulp is tender, creamy or orange, firm.

The fruits left on the seeds reach a rather large mass (up to 5 kg). The seeds are similar to pumpkin seeds, only much smaller, light gray or cream in color. The plant is pollinated crosswise. The bush, expanding, produces small stems on which fruits that are original in appearance and taste are formed. They consume the fruits of about a week's development.

Zucchini Kruknek scrooge is considered an early maturing plant: 50-60 days pass from sowing to the first harvest. This plant is light-loving and thermophilic to a greater extent than squash or squash. Young shoots of kruknek do not tolerate frost. In terms of nutrient content, the crooknek is not inferior to its congeners.

Zucchini Crookneck Scrooge
Zucchini Crookneck Scrooge

Growing squash Crookneck scrooge

Crooknek is grown in the same way as zucchini. Its seeds begin to germinate at a temperature of + 13 … 14 ° C, and the optimum temperature for their development is + 25 … 28 ° C. Even with the shortest frosts, the plant dies. Kruknek does not tolerate strong fluctuations in daily temperatures. With prolonged cool weather, the leaves of the plant turn pale, and the formation of ovaries stops. The soil is recommended light, filled with organic fertilizers, with a low occurrence of groundwater. Crooknek should not be grown in beds where there were vegetables from the pumpkin family.

Sowing seeds

Seeds for seedlings are planted in late April - early May, before sowing, it is advisable to soak the seeds in a solution of a growth stimulator (for example, zircon or epin). You can use for this peat pots, filled with humus. Some gardeners, before planting the seedlings in the ground, harden the seedlings by placing them on the street, indoors by the open window or in the refrigerator.

Planting plants in the ground and care

By the time of planting on the beds, the plants should be about 30–35 days old, by this time 2-3 dark green leaves with a short squat stem are formed in them, and the root system tightly fits the container in which they were planted.

At first, it is better to cover the beds with a film stretched over metal arcs (for about 20-25 days). In the future, of course, the beds are loosened and weeded. It is very important to water them only with warm water to avoid plant diseases. Top dressing is recommended every two weeks. In thickened bushes, damaged and pale leaves are cut out, shoots that do not have ovaries are removed.

Zucchini Crookneck Scrooge
Zucchini Crookneck Scrooge

Benefits of Crookneck Scrooge

What is so special about crooknek scrooge squash? Firstly, it is very fruitful, and secondly, it can be eaten raw. The raw pulp of a young plant is sweetish, with a nutty flavor. With scrooge, you can make salads, various homemade preparations. It is recommended to use it for dietary and medical nutrition for cardiovascular diseases and chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Skillful housewives boil, stew, pickle, salt, and preserve the fruits of kruknek. Vegetable soups are cooked with kruknek, stuffed with meat or vegetables, steamed, frozen, caviar is made, kruknek is fried in dough.

As healing vegetables, krukneki are useful for patients with atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, metabolic disorders, and overweight. As already mentioned, they are recommended for cardiovascular diseases, anemia, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys. Due to their low calorie content, the fruits are great for diet menus.

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