Sweet pumpkin
Sweet pumpkin is a daily curry on Bangladeshi tables and a vegetable that keeps for months — Insaf carries 5 varieties.
Its orange flesh is rich in beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A — long associated with good eyesight. Kept whole in a dry, cool, airy spot, a mature pumpkin stores well for a long time.
Mashed or fried sweet pumpkin (bhorta and bhaji) is a familiar dish in kitchens across Bangladesh.
Growing it in Bangladesh
- Sowing time
- Black Boss and Rajababu are sown in September–November, Bangla Sweet 3 and Rajababu 2 can be planted year-round, and Black Star is sown from April to July.
- Weather & soil
- Pumpkin vines spread wide and need open, sunny ground with good drainage. Waterlogged soil risks rotting the base of the plant.
- Care
- Leave plenty of room for the vine to spread, or grow it up a trellis
- Avoid disturbing bees during flowering, since they do the pollinating
- Placing straw or leaves under ripening fruit keeps it off wet soil
- Curing harvested pumpkins in the sun for a few days hardens the skin for longer storage