Butternut squash, better known as nutmeg, is considered one of the most common vegetables of the Pumpkin family in central Russia. It is valued for its excellent taste and a range of vitamins and minerals. Butternut squash is called a universal product for a reason - the juicy flesh with a sweet nutty taste can be used raw for various salads., as well as subjected to heat treatment, including steaming, quenching, frying and baking.
Description and characteristics
Butternut squash (you can also hear the names of nut or nutmeg), According to the description, refers to winter varieties and is characterized by a long shelf life. The variety was bred by breeders by crossing wild African and nutmeg. The average weight of fully ripened vegetables ranges from 1 to 1,2 kg. Butternut has an interesting pear-shaped shape. The seeds are relatively small, they are located in the expanded part of the fetus.
The flesh of the fruit is reliably protected from various external damages by a dense skin, which is painted in a beautiful yellow-orange hue. The oily type of pulp is characterized by a pleasant sweet taste with an admixture of nutmeg aroma.
Pumpkin is a must-have food on a person's menu, who leads a healthy lifestyle. If you are trying to lose weight or want to lower your blood cholesterol, Be sure to include this vegetable in your diet. As noted by nutritionists, pumpkin contains a lot of protein, antioxidants, fiber, a whole complex of vitamins and minerals. The batternat variety is rich in various biologically active plant compounds, including lutein and beta-carotene.
As already mentioned, this vegetable is widely used in cooking. Batternat can be used not only raw, but also used to prepare various sauces, first and second courses. What is worth a fragrant and extremely tasty pumpkin soup!
Eating pumpkin nuts helps strengthen the immune system, resists various viral and bacterial infections, has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. This vegetable is indispensable in the manifestation of signs of premenstrual syndrome, and due to its nutritional value supports the health of women during pregnancy.
features of cultivation
We have already got acquainted with the description and characteristics of the batternat variety. Let's deal with the peculiarities of growing this vegetable.
Walnut pumpkin belongs to the precocious varieties. From the moment of planting seedlings in the open ground and until harvest takes no more than three months. It is better to plant seedlings in loamy soil. Choose the sunny part of the city. Try to avoid uneven terrain, as usually in deepenings stagnation of water is possible. The optimal period for planting seedlings - early summer, when there are no more frosts on the ground. It is recommended to maintain the distance between the beds 0,6 m, as curly vegetable crops need free space for weaving.
It is recommended to choose a windless sunny day for harvesting. It is necessary to cut off fruits with a peduncle in length 3-4 cm. Butternut is perfectly stored for a long period of time. The main storage conditions include: preserving the integrity of the skin, the presence of a "tail", cool and dark storage space. After lying down for a while, nutmeg becomes even more delicious and fragrant.
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