Cucurbita pepo Black Kat F1 PMT – Unique green-black ornamental and portion pumpkin

The Cucurbita pepo Black Kat F1 PMT is a striking and innovative F1 hybrid within the range of ornamental and mini pumpkins. This variety stands out for its rare green-black color, compact growth habit, and versatile uses. Thanks to its exceptional appearance and high quality, Black Kat F1 is not only a beautiful ornamental pumpkin but also excellent as a culinary serving. This makes it ideal for gardeners, market vendors, and creative chefs who enjoy working with unusual small pumpkins.

Exceptional colour and shape: unique in its kind

Black Kat F1 is known for its small, decorative fruits weighing approximately 400–600 grams. The fruits have a unique appearance: an intense dark green to almost black color pattern combined with an attractive round and slightly flattened shape. This color is retained for a long time; only very late in the season, often as late as October under normal growing conditions, does the fruit slowly begin to turn orange.

Because of this late colour change, it is important not to sow too early in warm growing locations, as growing too early can cause the colour change to occur sooner than desired.

The striking shape and colour make Black Kat F1 a real eye-catcher in autumn and Halloween arrangements, decorative bowls and seasonal displays.

Versatile use: both decorative and culinary

Although Black Kat F1 is often grown as an ornamental pumpkin, this variety also offers excellent culinary potential. The fruits are ideal for portioning, where they can be stuffed whole and cooked. This makes the variety attractive to home cooks and restaurants who enjoy working with unique, compact pumpkins that are both flavorful and aesthetically pleasing.

This variety also makes a nice addition to other small F1 pumpkins such as Casperita F1 and Orangita F1, allowing growers to easily create a diverse and attractive range.

Strong growth and reliable yield

The Black Kat F1 grows bushily, meaning the plant has a compact habit and takes up less space than trailing varieties. This makes it easy to grow in smaller gardens, raised beds, and intensive cultivation systems.

Despite its compact growth, the plant produces a good yield of uniform, strong fruits with a robust skin.

A location of approximately 1 m² per plant is recommended to allow the plant to develop optimally and to form sufficient fruits.

Growing advice: heat-loving C. pepo for best results

Like all C. pepo varieties, Black Kat F1 thrives in warm, well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight. Cultivation can be started by:

• Pre-cultivation from the end of April, followed by planting out after the last night frost

• Sow directly from early May in warmed soil

The optimal germination temperature is between 24–30°C. Sow the seeds pointed side down or lay them flat in the soil; don't keep the soil too wet to prevent germination problems. After germination, it's important to place the young plants in a cooler, bright spot to encourage strong growth.

The ripening time is around 90 days, making Black Kat F1 a relatively early crop with harvest time in late summer or early autumn.

Diseases and pests

Thanks to its strong genetic background, Black Kat F1 is a robust variety, but pests can still occur. Potential threats include snails, birds, mice, aphids, powdery mildew, and viruses. Regular monitoring, a good soil structure, and sufficient planting distance will help prevent problems.

The PMT designation indicates that this variety has improved resistance, including protection against certain powdery mildew types, making cultivation more reliable.

Applications: perfect for decoration and kitchen

Cucurbita pepo Black Kat F1 is ideal for:

• Fall and Halloween decorations

• Sales in farm shops and market stalls

• Culinary applications as a portion pumpkin

• Creative arrangements and seasonal presentations

Its rare colour, high ornamental value and culinary versatility make Black Kat F1 a valuable addition to any pumpkin range.