2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Fitcephaly, or fig-leaved pumpkin, is a very useful plant with a multidirectional effect: it will help to strengthen the immune system, and release the body from accumulated toxins and slags, and its taste is surprisingly pleasant. All these, and not only these properties, invariably awaken in modern summer residents the desire to try to grow this exotic plant in their own area. And rightly so, besides, growing fitcephaly is not so difficult as it might seem at first glance
What is Fitcephaly?
Fitcephaly is a herbaceous vine grown for edible young shoots and for the sake of juicy fruit with seeds. By the way, in the countries of South America, it is rather actively grown as a fodder crop. And this culture is called fig-leaved pumpkin for the simple reason that its leaves are very similar in shape to fig leaves. And one of the most important advantages of such a pumpkin is its ability to tie ten to eighty fruits on one plant!
Another important feature of the fig-leaved gourd is its black seeds, which are almost twice the size of watermelon seeds. And its white, sweetish and incredibly juicy pulp can not only be boiled or baked, but also eaten raw! For some, the taste of these fruits is very reminiscent of the taste of a cucumber, and for others - of a melon or watermelon. Outwardly, the fruits of phycephaly are somewhat similar to watermelons - their surface is also covered with contrasting green stripes. At the same time, the average weight of one vegetable ranges from two to five kilograms, but sometimes there are truly giant specimens weighing up to eight or even up to twenty kilos! By the way, under favorable conditions, the fruits of the fig-leaved pumpkin can last up to three to four years!
How to grow?
In the conditions of the middle zone, and even more so in the southern regions, it is more than realistic to grow phycephaly. In general, this culture will feel very good in a temperature range of six to thirty-five degrees, but it is important to take into account the fact that the warmer the climate, the higher the yield will be.
The area intended for growing fitcephaly must be spacious enough - this is due to the presence of fast-growing and sufficiently long shoots, as well as a huge number of leaves, the diameter of which sometimes reaches twenty-five centimeters. In general, the plant needs enough space! And the fig-leaved pumpkin will feel best of all in areas that are reliably protected from the wind, ideally located in partial shade.
In general, the agricultural technology of fitsephaly is not much different from the process of growing an ordinary pumpkin, however, it also has its own nuances in this case. It can be grown not only by seedlings, but also by planting seeds directly into open ground. However, due to the fact that the vegetative period in phycephaly is very long, it is still better to resort to the seedling method. This pumpkin is quite unpretentious to the soil, but intense lighting and regular watering are vital for it.
In open ground, the seeds of fitsephaly can be sown immediately after the last spring frosts have passed, that is, approximately somewhere in the beginning of May. Before planting, it is recommended to soak the seeds for three days in water at room temperature. And they are buried in the soil to a depth of about three to four centimeters, covering the holes with mulch-humus - in this case, mulch is necessary not only to improve the thermal regime, but also to prevent the formation of crusts. As for the seedlings, they are planted two to three weeks later than the seeds.
In the process of growth, it is necessary to provide fitsephaly with regular watering, systematic weeding, as well as fertilizing with mineral fertilizers, which are given to plants two or three times during the entire growing season. It will not be superfluous to take care of proper supports in advance - plants clinging to them with their antennae will bear fruit much better and are much less likely to be damaged by various ailments!
As you can see, the cultivation of fitcephaly does not provide for any excessive efforts, and the taste of ripe pumpkins will definitely pleasantly surprise and delight you!
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