ARABATSKAYA

Arabatskaya pumpkin is a late-maturing musk-type variety bred in the Crimean Peninsula in the 1980s, gaining popularity among gardeners and farmers due to its excellent taste and agronomic qualities. The plant is long-vining with vines reaching up to 7 meters, requiring training and pinching of side shoots to increase yield. The vegetative period lasts from 110 to 140 days; optimal planting time is late April or early May, when the soil warms to 15-16 °C. The variety is undemanding in growing conditions, heat- and light-loving, responds well to moderate watering and fertilization, and is resistant to powdery mildew and other fungal diseases.

Arabatskaya pumpkin fruits have an elongated, pear-shaped form with a characteristic thickening in the seed part, measuring 50 to 90 cm in length and weighing 5 to 10 kg. The skin is thin but dense and hard, providing good protection for the flesh and contributing to long-term storage. The flesh is bright orange, dense, juicy, and sweet, with high contents of sugars, starch, fiber, vitamins, carotene, pectin substances, and trace elements such as potassium, iron, and phosphorus. Due to these qualities, the pumpkin is valued as a dietary product and is widely used in home cooking for preparing porridges, purees, juices, confectionery, and is also suitable for freezing and canning.

The variety's yield ranges from 3.6 to 6.5 kg per square meter, making it attractive for both personal and commercial cultivation in open ground. Fruits are well-preserved in a dry and ventilated room for up to 3-4 months without losing taste and nutritional qualities. Thanks to high transportability and resistance to damage, Arabatskaya pumpkin is a universal and reliable choice for gardeners aiming to obtain a high-quality and beneficial harvest.