The Turkish Chalma pumpkin variety is a medium-maturing, drought-resistant, and universal variety grown for decorative purposes and culinary use. The plant is powerful and trailing, reaching up to 6 meters in height, making it suitable for greening pergolas, fences, and creating decorative living hedges. The fruits have a characteristic chalma shape, weighing from 1 to 4 kg, with a bumpy, segmented surface. The upper part of the fruit is bright orange with longitudinal green stripes, while the bottom is light beige. The seed cavity in the fruits is small, and the flesh is orange, tender, fibrous, and has an excellent taste with a slight nutty aroma. Turkish Chalma pumpkin is versatile in use: its flesh is suitable for boiling, stewing, and baking, while the fruits are ideal for stuffing and can be used as baking bowls. Thanks to their decorative qualities, the plant is widely used to decorate interiors, fences, terraces, and pergolas. The second half of summer is the peak of decorativeness, when you can enjoy bright large flowers and unusual fruits. For long-term storage, fruits should be fully ripe with thick skin and harvested before the first autumn frosts, and stored in the shade to avoid color fading. Pumpkin is undemanding in cultivation, prefers sunny areas with light, well-drained soil, and responds positively to organic fertilizers. It can be grown both by seedlings and without seedlings. The plant requires support, which helps in forming beautiful decorative hedges and living fences. In addition to culinary use, the fruits serve as material for various crafts and decorative compositions, making the Turkish Chalma variety especially valuable for both gardeners and lovers of decorative design.
