Five of the most delicious varieties of melon

Melon is one of the oldest crops cultivated by humans. There is mention of it in the Bible and the Koran. Travelers who visited India and Central Asia many centuries ago describe the melon as the fruit of heaven. There is a legend that its seeds fell to the ground in the folds of the clothes of a trickster who visited Paradise. Today it is difficult to find a person who has never tried the aromatic slices dripping with honey juice.

Early varieties

There are the largest number of lovers of the first type. Early types of melons are those in which the period from the appearance of cotyledons to harvest is sixty-five days. Such plants thrive in areas with short and cool summers. They are great for wholesalers. Growing them is inexpensive due to their early ripening.

Early ripening ones include dwarf and ordinary individuals: Titovka melon (the most popular variety among gardeners), Roksolana melon, Ambrosia melon, Ignazio melon, Dina melon, Cinderella, Assol, Altai, Scythian Gold, Raymond, Delano, Bizhur and others.

An entire type belongs to the early melon crops - the Galia melon. Do not confuse types and varieties of melons. The type combines varieties of individuals with similar characteristics: super early, bright yellow, like bananas, round, small in size. This is an Indian melon crop, but it is believed that it was developed in Israel. Melon Galia also exists as a variety. The melon pulp is greenish-white and crispy.

Raymond loves warm areas under the sun. When planted by seedlings, the fruits become ripe after a month and a half; when sowing seeds in open ground, after 60–65 days. Raymond F1 is famous for its large pumpkins, with an ideal oblong shape. The skin has a bright yellow mesh color, ribbed and dense to the touch. The inside of a ripe dessert vegetable is relatively not very juicy and has a honey flavor. The seed chamber occupies a very small percentage of the area. The plant is low, with a powerful root system. When the weather is suitable for proper development and the correct agronomic approach, the crop sets 5 fruits.

Scythian gold has a ripening period of up to eighty days. Shows itself best in greenhouses. The fruits are round, yellow, net-like, and small (1–1.5 kg). Cultivation begins in seedlings in early May. Planted in open ground according to a 70 by 150 cm pattern.

Delano is an early ripening variety with abundant fruiting. The fruits are ellipsoidal, reticulated, weighing up to 6 kg, sunny in color. The pulp is snow-white, without fibers, with a small seed chamber. It has a very strong characteristic aroma. Up to 4 fruits are produced on a plant, while it is recommended to sow 6–8 thousand seeds per hectare.

Ignazio F1 is a highly productive hybrid. One plant bears many fruits. The massive leaf system protects the fruits from the sun's rays. The fruits themselves are ellipsoidal, weighing up to 5 kg, and have a hard peel. The interior is snow-white, fleshy, and during storage remains the same as when harvested. Keeps for several months.

Roksolana F1 is an early ripening hybrid that belongs to the species described above. Ripens in about sixty-five days. Thanks to the massive leaf system, the fruits do not get sunburned. The flesh is cream-colored and the skin is light yellow. Requires a well-lit place. Care includes pinching, watering and feeding.

Assol belongs to the Altai species. The fruits weigh 1000 g. The peel is dirty yellow with green stripes. The inside is grainy, tender, juicy.

Winter melon (cassaba) is an early plant that has medium-weight spherical fruits. The peel is golden or creamy. A special feature of cassaba melon is its high transportability and enhanced taste during winter storage.

Melon varieties like Pineapple are also early. Melon Oksana F1 belongs to this type. This is a hybrid insensitive to Fusarium wilt and powdery mildew, the cultivation of which is not difficult. Striped melon is also considered a pineapple.

Bijur - a hybrid is a very early, high-yielding plant of the “Pineapple” variety. It ripens within seventy days and has a powerful leaf system. It has an oval or oval-elongated shape. The weight of the fruit varies from 2 to 3 kg. The inside is very juicy and sweet. The fruit tastes like honey and is even suitable for baby food.

Goldie melon is a pineapple-type hybrid known for its high yield, honey flavor and disease resistance. The average weight of a mature plant is 3.5 kg.

Muscat melon Lychee F1 is practically the earliest individual of melons, because its ripening period is about thirty-five days. Why is it so attractive to cultivators? Because its peel is not yellow, not pink or even orange, but white, like a chamomile.

Melon Golpri Gold has the following description: 2-3 fruits are formed on one plant, the average weight of which is 3000 g. Golpri Gold F1 has an orange skin and soft creamy flesh. It is distinguished by its heat resistance.

Seeds by mail melon “Sybarite’s Dream” – 4 seeds

- 1 pack - 4 seeds, bred in China - miniature (200-400 g), super early ripening, very sweet, crispy like an apple, with green stripes, can be eaten with the peel, very productive

Many southern cultures are moving more and more into the central and even northern regions of Russia every year. This is facilitated, in part, by some moderation of the climate, and in part by regionalization and the development of fundamentally new varieties that can grow in more severe conditions. In this regard, the introduction into practice of growing melons with medium-sized fruits in personal plots may deserve great attention. For example, in the middle zone, even in a favorable year, an experienced vegetable grower may not be able to collect more than two or three fruits from one melon plant when growing generally recognized early-ripening varieties (such as Pineapple, Zolotistaya, Altai, etc.). There are several reasons for this. Firstly, melons do not tolerate sharp fluctuations in daily temperatures, and when cold nights set in, plant growth slows down sharply. Secondly, when grown in such often unfavorable conditions, it is impossible to wait for the plant to form a fruit weighing 1-2 kg (as a rule, this is the weight of fruits in traditional varieties) - the weather does not allow it. In this case, in order to get a guaranteed harvest of melons weighing 1-2 kg, they must be grown either in film greenhouses or in semi-warm greenhouses (50-60 cm high). Melon varieties with medium-sized (from 100 to 400 g) fruits show themselves completely differently when grown in rather unfavorable conditions in the Moscow region. Of course, the variety decides everything, but this variety still needs to be selected, tested and zoned. According to the results of tests in recent years, two early ripening varieties of small-fruited melons have proven themselves very well: “Mechta Sybarita” and “Vietnamskaya”. The main motive for growing these varieties is that it is better for several small fruits to ripen on one plant than for it to be unknown whether one large fruit of a common variety will ripen at all. In the language of common sense, medium-sized fruits clearly indicate the early ripening and productivity of plants. When grown in the middle and northern zones, all conditions being equal, it takes much less time and energy to form a small fruit. Now specifically about the properties of these small-fruited varieties. Western Europe has its own generally accepted classification of the most important varieties of melons: 1. Reticulated melon. 2. Cantaloupe melon. 3. Sugar melon. 4. Honey melon. The remaining varieties are not of particular importance due to their mediocre taste. Melon “Sybarite's Dream” (sometimes called “ Lazyman's Dream ”) belongs to the 4th group: honey melon (Var. Inodorus). The variety is ultra early ripening. The period from full germination to the first harvest of fruits is 50-55 days. The plant is medium in size, the stem is thin and rough. The fruits are oval with intermittent green stripes on a white background, with an average weight of 300-400 g. The peel is very thin and smooth. The pulp is white, very sweet, juicy, crisp like an apple, honey-like taste with a specific, delicate aroma. Productivity is 15-20 fruits per bush per season. Continuous fruiting until frost. It is weakly affected by diseases and pests. Honey melon, as a subspecies, unlike other varieties, is cultivated mainly in the USA and can be stored for several weeks. Melon “Vietnamese” belongs to the subspecies of sugar melons (Var. Saccarinus). The plant is more powerful than “Sybarite's Dream”. The variety is early ripening. The fruits are oval, sometimes round, orange in color with yellow stripes. The fruits are so elegant that it’s like little suns are burning right in the garden with their own fluorescent glow. Melon weight is 100-200 g. The number of fruits ripening per season reaches 20-30 pieces. The pulp is light orange, tender, juicy, oily, sweet with an unusually strong pleasant aroma. Such fragrant melons can grow only in the far south, and in the conditions of the middle zone this phenomenon is exceptional. After all, it is known that the taste of a melon, like a watermelon, depends on whether it has ripened in the garden. For example, fruits of varieties intended for storage can hardly compare in taste with fruits of the same varieties ripened in the garden. Melon “Vietnamskaya” has proven itself in the conditions of the Moscow region as a complex-resistant variety. The described varieties of melons, when grown in a greenhouse, in contrast to traditional agricultural technology, are formed into one stem (without chasing) on trellises (twines) exactly according to the cucumber technology with twisting the main stem on the twine as it grows. Fruit formation occurs on the side shoots in the axils of the 1st and 2nd leaves. The shoots are pinched after the ovaries form. In the “Sybarite Dream” variety, fruit formation can also occur on the main vine. At the same time, it is not at all necessary to tie the fruits in nets, as is done with large-fruited melons. In greenhouses, seedlings are planted in rows spaced 70 cm and 50 cm apart. It is not recommended to plant closer to avoid thickening. In open ground, plants are planted according to a 70x70 cm pattern. When growing melons in open ground, it makes sense to pinch the plants above the second true leaf, transferring the plant to two lashes from the axils of the first and second leaves, followed by rooting of these lashes. Given the very high yield and growth intensity, soil fertility is of great importance for these varieties. The most favorable are sandy loam and medium loamy soils with the addition of rotted manure or humus (5-6 kg per 1 sq. m). Water the melons only with warm water; it is better to do this before lunch, so that the earth warms up by the evening. Plants are planted in open ground when the danger of frost has passed. 20-25 day old seedlings are planted so that the root collar is not covered with soil. Melon does not tolerate transplantation well, so it must be replanted with a clod of earth and grown in pots. For seedlings to appear, the air temperature should be approximately +20-25 C. When grown in greenhouses and greenhouses, they are opened to provide access for bees or pollinated by hand. The fruiting of the “Sybarite's Dream” and “Vietnamese” melons extends over a long period, as happens when harvesting cucumbers. The fruits are collected repeatedly as they ripen. The signs of ripeness in these varieties of melons are well expressed. Ripe fruits acquire a characteristic color. “Sybarite's Dream” acquires a pure white background with a green pattern and is easily separated from the stalk. The “Vietnamese” melon has a strong aroma and a fiery orange color; the stem is easily separated. Thus, the conclusion suggests itself that the direction in melon selection, which led to the creation of fruits with medium-sized fruits, can be very useful for amateur vegetable growing in central Russia and Siberia. When growing these varieties, you can start enjoying melons at the same time as cucumbers: in the climatic conditions of the Moscow region in greenhouses from the second ten days of June, and in open ground from mid-July. It is very important that when testing the varieties “Mechta Sybarita” and “Vietnamskaya”, no dependence of plant development on the light regime of the area was observed. The plants developed normally, which indicates the correspondence of day length here and in the places of their primary growth. With all favorable results, this sign becomes decisive. This means that these varieties can and should be grown in the northern regions. Try growing baby melons too. This is a promising and rewarding activity, especially as your children and grandchildren will confirm when they try these fragrant fruits. Oh, what a pity that the aroma and taste of these melons cannot be captured on film and paper! I'll send the seeds

You can grow melon and seedlings

To obtain fruits earlier, melon can be grown in seedlings. To do this, the seeds are sown in peat-humus or humus-turf pots measuring 10x10 cm, and placed in a greenhouse or greenhouse. After sowing the seeds in the pots, they are watered with warm water.

The temperature in the greenhouse is maintained at 26-28°C. Then, over the course of four days (in order to harden young plants), the temperature is reduced to 15-17°C during the day and to 12-14°C at night. And later they maintain it at 19-20°C on sunny days, on cloudy days - 17-19°C, at night - 14°C.

Seedlings are planted in the ground when the weather stabilizes and the threat of frost has passed. Plant seedlings in deep holes, pouring 0.5-1 liters of water into them. In this case, the pots should be 2-3 cm below the soil surface.

The planting scheme is the same as when sowing seeds. After planting the seedlings, they are immediately covered with a polymer film, which is stretched over wire arches installed above the rows. This is done so that a tunnel is formed 10-15 cm high and 20-40 cm wide. The edges of the film are sprinkled with earth. If the temperature under this shelter rises to 40-50°C, the film is raised on one side. This surface protection is left until warm weather sets in (18-20°C), and then removed.

The aromatic melon of the “Candy” variety is a wonderful delicacy for children, and adults do not remain indifferent to it. I hope it will take its rightful place in the gardens of amateur vegetable growers throughout Ukraine and even beyond its borders. Grow this melon - you won't regret it. And be sure to share your successes on the pages of the newspaper “Smart Economy”, I will be glad to learn about them.

tel. (03433) 5-24-25, mob5

Tomato Persian Tale - description and characteristics of the variety

There is a wide variety of early ripening tomatoes. But not all are suitable for growing in open ground or film shelters. One of the unpretentious varieties to grow and care for is “Persian Tale”. It will be discussed in this article.

Characteristics of culture

The hybrid tolerates changes in weather conditions well. Has high productivity. The first harvest ripens in mid-summer. The fruits appear 104–107 days after the seeds hatch.

The tomato is a determinate variety and has abundant foliage. The first color brushes are formed above the 5th – 6th leaf. Flowers appear through one leaf.

The bush grows up to 50 - 60 centimeters; it is quite stocky and does not require garter. Each cluster ripens 5–7 fruits.

In greenhouses you can collect from 10 to 12 kilograms of ripe and tasty vegetables from one square meter.

Fruit

They have a dense consistency inside, a smooth skin with a small ridge on top, and a bright orange color. Each fruit weighs from 130 to 150 grams. The taste is rich. Contains about 40% sugars, a lot of carotene and ascorbic acid.

Cloudy and cloudy weather does not matter to this tomato. It sets well and produces large fruits even in bad weather. It has excellent immunity to many types of fungal and viral diseases. Especially to tobacco mosaic and Alternaria.

Breeders achieved this effect by crossing a large number of varieties.

Growing

Grows well in open ground in warm regions; in the coolest areas they resort to shelter in greenhouses and hotbeds

Before planting tomatoes in the ground, it is important to grow the seedlings in warm conditions: at home on a windowsill or in an industrial heated greenhouse

Before sowing, the seeds are soaked in a solution with salt. Thus, healthy seeds remain at the bottom of the vessel, and bad ones float to the surface. Afterwards, the selected seeds are soaked in a manganese solution for 10 - 15 minutes, then in a growth stimulator.

After a while, they are placed in boxes in holes or trenches to a depth of 1.5–2 centimeters from the surface and at a distance of 2–3 cm from each other. This placement helps in the future to pick tomatoes without disturbing the root system. The soil is prepared in advance by adding turf, humus and sand to it in a ratio of 2:2:1.

After placing the seeds in the ground, the boxes are covered with film or a piece of glass. All containers are placed in a lighted room where the air temperature is not lower than 16 degrees.

When 2–3 leaves appear, pick the tomatoes, placing each plant in a separate pot or container for seedlings.

It is best to use special peat pots, which are sold in any departments and gardening stores. The peat pot does not need to be removed.

It is planted in prepared soil, after which it swells and the root system passes through it. The seedlings are transferred 50–55 days after the seeds hatch or after 5–6 leaves appear.

It is necessary to apply fertilizers and water tomatoes in a timely manner. They are irrigated rarely, but with plenty of water. One watering per week is sufficient.

During frequent rains, it is important to regulate soil moisture; perhaps in such weather the crop will need to be watered even less frequently

https://youtube.com/watch?v=EI-x5TbTcmU

Timely feeding will help the tomato develop correctly and it will give a good harvest. Mineral and organic fertilizers are applied 2–3 times per season. It is not necessary to fertilize more often. Due to the large amount of nitrogen, the plant will devote all its energy not to the formation of the fruit, but to the growth of leaves.

A large number of reviews about the “Persian Tale” variety can be found on various portals and forums. Review authors write about the positive results of growing and harvesting. The majority of gardeners agree with the presented characteristics of this variety, as indicated by the manufacturer.

Irina Nikolaevna, 53 years old: Last year I tried to plant the “Persian Fairy Tale” variety, I really liked the characteristics. The manufacturer did not deceive

It is important for me that the bushes are low, easier to process. I was especially pleased with the watering once a week or less.

There are a lot of plants on the site, I need to pay attention to everyone, but I don’t always have time. And this variety is just a godsend for me

Apart from watering it, I rarely fed it. Excellent tomatoes have grown. All my family tried it. My granddaughter especially liked them. She asked me for tomatoes this year too.

I will take this variety.

Melon - types and varieties

Photos of these amazing fruits are amazing in their diversity. A huge number of existing varieties are divided into 3 groups - cantaloupe, reticulated and smooth-skinned.

The first includes ribbed melons with deep narrow grooves on the surface and having a flattened shape. The sweet pulp has a rich orange color. The length of the fruit is 20-25 cm. Not suitable for long-term storage.

Net melons usually have a regular spherical shape. The ribbing is weakly expressed. This species received its name due to the surface of the fruit, covered with a grayish mesh. The pulp can be either orange, greenish or white, depending on the variety.

Smooth-skinned types of melon are usually oblong with a thin skin. There is practically no ribbing.

European varieties

About 80 varieties are grown in Europe, specially zoned for temperate and northern climates. They are distinguished by their small size (up to 2–2.5 kg), round shape, and fairly sweet taste. These are predominantly summer, early-ripening or mid-ripening species.

In Europe, the following varieties of melon are considered the most popular:

Melon Gold of the Scythians. Mid-season (70–80 days) hybrid with small (1.5–2 kg) round fruits. The peel is golden yellow, almost orange, slightly rough. The pulp is white, very juicy, slightly oily. The variety is highly resistant to diseases and frost-resistant.
The dream of a sybarite, or in other words, the dream of a lazy person. A very early variety that reaches technical ripeness in 50-55 days. The Sybarite's Dream is distinguished by small (300–500 g) fruits with an original elongated shape and green striped skin. The pulp of the melon Sybarite's Dream is white, very juicy and crispy, with a specific honey aroma and taste. Sybarite's Dream is considered a high-yielding variety - 15–20 fruits ripen on the bush per season.
Melon Slavia. Hybrid of medium late (90–110 days) ripening period. The fruits are medium-sized (1.5–4 kg), spherical, the peel is yellow-green, almost brown, covered with a coarse patterned mesh. The pulp is white, thick and dense, quite juicy, sweet and aromatic. The variety is high-yielding, resistant to drought, cold and disease, and transports well.
Melon Dune. A relatively new variety of early ripening (55–70 days). The fruits are oval, the yellow peel is covered with a continuous mesh. Fruit weight is 2–3.5 kg. The pulp is creamy, tender, very juicy with a pronounced aroma.
Melon Dubovka. Mid-season variety with small (0.8–2 kg) oblong fruits. The peel is thin, golden-greenish in color, partially covered with mesh. The flesh is creamy, dense, slightly crunchy, very sweet and aromatic. The variety is resistant to bacteriosis and drought.
Titovka. Early (60–70 days) variety with round, small (1.5–2 kg) fruits. The peel is yellow, smooth, partially covered with mesh. The pulp is white, fibrous, juicy, and tastes sweet. Titovka is often grown in fields on an industrial scale, as it is well adapted to cold and disease.
Melon Raymond. Magnificent early ripening hybrid of pineapple type. The fruits are large in size (6–10 kg), similar in appearance to the well-known Torpedo. The peel is thin, yellow, completely covered with mesh. The pulp is creamy, very sweet (13% sugar), incredibly juicy, with a characteristic honey aroma.
Melon Roksolana F1. An early ripening (65–70 days) hybrid with round, sometimes elongated fruits weighing up to 2.5 kg. The thin golden peel is covered with a small mesh. The pulp is creamy, very tender, slightly oily, sweet.
Melon Sweet miracle. Very high-yielding mid-season (80–95 days) hybrid. The fruits are round, medium-sized (up to 3 kg), the peel is yellow, mesh. The Sweet Miracle melon has an incredible taste - its light cream flesh is very sweet, with a pronounced honey tint. The variety is resistant to cold, fungal diseases, and transports well.
Delano. An early ripening (53–55 days) hybrid of the pineapple type. The fruit weight of the Delano variety reaches 3–4 kg. The fruits are elongated, with a mesh skin of intense yellow color. The Delano hybrid has an unsurpassed honey-pineapple aroma. The pulp of the fruit is very sweet, orange, almost red in color.
Kalmychka. An early variety, often cultivated in fields. The fruits have a rough, slightly ribbed skin. The pulp is juicy, sweet and very meaty. The crop is unpretentious, with proper care it produces high yields and is well transported.
Dakar. An early ripening hybrid of the pineapple type, bred relatively recently. The fruits are oval, weighing 3–5 kg. The peel is bright yellow, covered with a mesh. The pulp of Dakar is sweet, oily, with a characteristic pineapple flavor and aroma.

The best early ripening varieties intended for the relatively stable European climate have now been listed.

Assortment

During my practice, I tested more than a hundred varieties of melons on the plot, the earliest of which delight us with fruits already in mid-July, and we eat the later ones until January-February of the next year.

The variety of varieties allows you to have melons with different flavors and aroma on your table. I consider the best of the early ones to be F1 Sprinter (Galia variety) with greenish flesh: two-kilogram fruits ripen already in July. It is productive (more than 5 kg per plant) and resistant to diseases.

F1 Aikido and F1 Voller, which are close to him, are also good. F1 Ozhen (Israeli variety) has excellent taste.

A little later, F1 Gerda, F1 Amal, Solnechnaya, F1 Passport, F1 Delano, F1 Caramel keep up.

A large number of fruits are distinguished by the very miniature melons of the Vietnamese and Thai golden varieties (one to one - lemons), the larger An-Son (Sybarite's Dream, Lazyman's Dream), which can be eaten with the peel, as well as Mango.

Exquisite Frenchwoman D Alger makes you admire her. The Unnamed English selection captivates with its unusual appearance and taste. The aroma of the mysterious Oka Bizzard is indescribable. The amazing taste of the best Central Asian melons is preserved in the released Uzbek variety.

Later hybrids F1 Princess Anne, F1 Silver Star, F1 Princess Diana have creamy flesh and a long shelf life.

And the season ends with the incomparable taste F1 Joker (Pineapple variety) and F1 Princess Maria, distinguished by its ability to retain its best qualities in all weather conditions.

Well, the F1 melon Don Quixote is akin to its literary prototype, just as lonely. It ends the season inconspicuously - green, without the slightest aroma. It can lie in the same form... for several months. And somewhere in distant February with bitter frosts, it’s so nice to cut into this miracle and enjoy the unexpectedly sugary taste that brings you back to sunny summer!

How to understand the variety of varieties

The first feature that made it possible to grow melons was the ripening time:

ultra-early ripening, hybrid with ripening in less than 60 days;
early ripening, ripening in 60-70 days and sugar content. from 8 to 15%;
mid-ripening, they ripen in 75-100 days, they contain 14-15% sugar;
autumn-winter, ripen in 95-100 days, very sweet, long-lasting, large;
winter, huge, weighing up to 30 kg, sugar up to 16%, but stored well in a cool room;

The shape of melons is ellipsoidal, spherical and elongated like skittles. The upper part can be smooth, mesh or ribbed. The fruit pulp is crispy, white, yellow or greenish. In some varieties, during storage, the flesh gradually turns from green to yellow.

There are several subspecies of melons. It is generally accepted that fruits grown in Central Asia are the most delicious. But among them, the Uzbek melon is the most popular. This is facilitated by the composition of the soil and the warm period without frost, ranging from 193 to 273 days a year.

European varieties were obtained later; these are mainly early-ripening and ultra-early-ripening hybrids, most obtained using the Cantaloupe variety. Currently, European hybrids reach a sugar content of up to 15% with a ripening period of 55 days from the ovary.

Melon "Nadezhda"

Melon “Nadezhda” combines the advantages of two well-known melon varieties “Lada” and “Ethiopka”. It has attractive ribbed, wide-rounded fruits. At first green, when fully ripe they become bright yellow with greenish-yellow stripes, the peel is covered with a surface mesh. The pulp of this melon is light yellow, medium density and very juicy, sugar content up to 14-15%. The average fruit weight is 3.5-5 kg. Transportability is high.

Melon "Nadezhda". © Lyudmila Svetlitskaya

When fully ripe, the Nadezhda melon fruits become bright yellow. © diz-cafe

I have this reliable variety, which always produces several melons on a bush. Due to the fact that I do not standardize the harvest, the melons are small - 1-2 kg each. They are very beautiful oval in shape and heavily ribbed. The seeds of this melon were shared by a neighbor who has been growing this variety without problems for many years. And indeed, there are always a lot of melons, and they don’t get sick. The only problem is that this variety has a medium-late ripening period and does not always have time to ripen and gain sugar before the weather turns bad. But if the autumn is warm, then these melons become very sweet. If the weather is unlucky, then we let them go for candied fruits. The consistency of the pulp is crumbly.

Exotic melons

There are many exotic and unusual varieties in the world. All of them are predominantly early, as they grow in southern or tropical climates. We will talk about the most popular of them next.

Banana variety

The description of the Banana variety is somewhat similar to the fruit of the same name. Banana melon is just as long, but its skin is light green. The banana hybrid (banana melon) was bred in the USA and has been cultivated there since 1885. The Banana variety is a late variety - banana melon ripens in 90 days.

In the West, the Banana hybrid is very popular. In good conditions, the Banana variety grows to a decent size: 35–80 cm in length and 8–15 cm in diameter. Banana melon tastes a little like the fruit - the pulp of the Banana variety is just as soft, tender and oily. In addition, banana melon has a characteristic aroma that is reminiscent of a real banana.

However, there is one significant difference - the color of the Banana variety is not at all similar to the fruit. The inside of the banana melon is golden, almost red, with a greenish edge under the skin. Banana melon is considered the most unusual not only in its homeland, but throughout the world.

Vietnamese striped melon

These are miniature fruits of yellow-brown color, the creamy pulp of which has a delicious pineapple taste.

Mexican gherkin (mouse melon)

A miniature hybrid with green striped skin that looks like a tiny watermelon. The pulp of these fruits is also green and slightly watery with a sour taste.

Of course, these are not all exotic names. Seeds of a wide variety of exotic hybrids are now available in gardening stores. But you must remember that they can only be grown in a greenhouse.

Existing ones grown in different countries amaze with their diversity. Their fruits differ in shape, size, taste, but without exception, these plants prefer a sunny and warm climate.

Exotic varieties

"Vietnamese melon"

It differs sharply from its counterparts with a bright pattern of yellow and red-brown stripes. The taste of this melon is reminiscent of pineapple, and the pulp itself is very tender and pleasant.

"Melotropia rough" or "Mouse melon"

A very unusual variety, which is the smallest in the world in terms of fruit size. Melons are more like large, striped gooseberries, with characteristic pale yellow and bright yellow stripes. You can even grow it indoors. The taste is not sweet, but sour. It’s not very suitable for food, but it’s very suitable for compotes and jams.

"Kiwano" or "Horned Melon"

Unusual in shape, bright orange, with protruding spikes - “horns” and green cucumber interior, melon has become very popular due to its unusually fresh, slightly tart taste and many beneficial properties. A radical difference from other melons: Kiwano's seeds are eaten, each of which is surrounded by a bubble of tasty pulp.

Beneficial features

Melon is widely popular due to the fact that it contains a complex of elements important for humans: iron, citric, malic and succinic acids, vitamins A, P, C. It also contains inosine, which helps cleanse the body of cholesterol and helps strengthen hair roots. Most often, aromatic melon is consumed fresh, but there are many recipes for making delicious jam and marinade. It is often added to meat to create authentic culinary masterpieces.

Any type of melon has a beneficial effect on strengthening the immune system and nervous system, and helps cope with the problem of insomnia. Due to its low calorie content, this false berry can be included in almost any diet. It stimulates the cleansing of the body from toxins and helps the intestines work smoothly.

Late varieties

It takes a little more than 3 months to ripen, but then they are stored for a long time.

"A pineapple"

Ripens no earlier than 95 days after planting. The highly elongated ellipsoidal fruits have a light orange peel and grow up to 3 kilos. The white-pink tender pulp is very juicy and slightly oily, incredibly fragrant and vaguely similar in taste to pineapple, which is why the variety got its name. It can be stored for 2 weeks and is resistant to a number of diseases.

"Golden"

In 90 days, the fruits of this beauty fully ripen. The peel is smooth, without patterns or nets, and has an even yellow color. Melons weigh no more than a kilogram. The pulp is white, juicy and oily, with a characteristic aroma. The variety can be stored for up to 3 weeks. Resistant to many diseases.

"Torpedo"

The variety was named for the shape of the fruits - very elongated, like a military projectile. Torpedoes ripen in 110 days, but after that the fruits are stored for 3 months or more. Melons weigh 4-8 kilograms, their flesh is white, sweet and juicy, very aromatic. The plants produce a good harvest and are resistant to diseases and drought.

"Wintering"

The fruit, which has an elongated spherical shape, ripens for almost 100 days. The peel is yellow-greenish, smooth to the touch, covered with a large mesh. The flesh is pale green, juicy, and slightly crunchy. Melons reach 3 kilograms in weight and do not crack due to their thick peel. Resistant to drought and many diseases. From one hundred square meters you can harvest up to 320 kg of crop. The fruits are stored for 3 months.

The best non-hybrid melon varieties (description and photo)

Many gardeners prefer melons, from which they can get their seeds. They are often grown in insulated (in spring) open-air beds. This ensures successful pollination. Ground fruits are not too large, but they are the most useful. Greenhouse plantings are also successful if access for pollinating insects is properly organized.

None of the varieties presented below are officially registered in the State Seed Registry. There have been no large-scale field tests on them, and this is understandable. Northern melon is a delicate crop and requires an individual approach.

Mid-season varieties

Medium-early melons are considered to be Don Quixote, Primal, Anzer, Cappuccino, Northern Star melon, Anna Max melon, Jumbo, Chogare, Assate, Sunny delicacy melon, Hermius, Luna. Their ripening period is neither early nor average and is seventy days.

The fruits are spherical, the peel is creamy-yellow in color with a wide mesh. On average, the fruits weigh 1.5 kg. The inside is dense, sugary, pleasant to the taste. 10 thousand seeds are sown per 1 hectare. The hybrid is resistant to stressful conditions, fusarium and other melon diseases. The fruits are good for transportation and storage.

Jumbo has a ripening period of 90–100 days from the start of sowing. Gives a good harvest when grown in greenhouses. The plant is powerful and climbing. The fruits are elongated, elliptical, weighing up to two kilograms, depending on compliance with the rules of agricultural technology. The skin is reticulate, with obvious segments, creamy yellow with light green color. Orange colored interior. The dessert vegetable has an excellent taste, fiber-free structure, and is also resistant to a number of standard diseases.

Care includes processes such as pinching, regular but moderate irrigation, and fertilizing with complex fertilizers. The harvest is ready for harvest in late summer.

Don Quixote F1 is a mid-season hybrid with oblong fruits weighing about 5 kg. The skin is green with a clear mesh. The inside is white and soft, sweet, sugary. The fruits are stored for almost ninety days.

The hybrid was bred in such a way that it is resistant to fusarium and powdery mildew.

Melon Kamar is a plant with rounded, elongated net-type fruits and a very small seed chamber. Feature – high resistance to Fusarium wilt.

The Chudo-Yudo melon is medium-early, has round fruits weighing up to 2.5 kg. The name melon does not inspire confidence, but in fact the fruits are very presentable and sweet.

Mid-season popular varieties: melon Marquise, melon Sladkoezhka, Bereginya, Dzhukar.

The Blondie melon is recognizable by its characteristic stripes on its white skin. It is better to start growing this variety in April. Its fruits are the smallest among all white melons - about 600–700 g.

Ethiopian has a ripening period of eighty days. The plant does not spread widely. The leaves are heart-shaped, and the fruits are round, light yellow, very clearly segmented. The interior is white and has a dense consistency.

Amal F1 is the most popular variety among mid-season varieties. From the moment of germination to fruiting, an average of seventy-nine days pass. The fruit is very presentable and attractive to consumers. It is light golden, oval and reticulated. The pulp is tender, melts in the mouth, yellow with a pinkish tint. Excellent transport for about a month. Excellent candied fruits and marmalades are prepared from this variety.

Melon Creme Brulee is a mid-season, long-climbing plant. The fruits are oval, smooth, yellow-orange, like cauliflower.

Melon Extraordinary F1 is really from the “exotic” section, because it looks more like a pumpkin. Usually it is grown under film (less often in open ground). The pulp is oily, very juicy and fragrant.

Melon “Creamy Caramel”

Melon “Creamy Caramel” is a mid-season variety. From the emergence of seedlings to the collection of the first fruits, 70 to 85 days pass. The fruits are round in shape, the color of the bark is yellow-orange. The average weight of the fetus is from 1.5 to 2 kg. The pulp is juicy, melting, high in sugars, tasty and aromatic. The color of the pulp is yellow. The variety is resistant to low temperatures, diseases and other unfavorable factors. Productivity is high.

This variety has harsh, crunchy greenish-white flesh with a pleasant, delicate aftertaste. The fruits are oval or round in shape. In hot summers, this melon turns out to be quite sweet. Its yield is not bad, three fruits per bush weighing 2 kg. The Candy Melon has a bright yellow, slightly wrinkled skin, although the photo of the seed packet shows the fruit as smooth.

Central Asian varieties

More than 160 types of melons are cultivated in the countries of Central Asia, which are known all over the world. The best and most delicious fruits are grown here, and the variety of their shapes, colors and tastes is simply amazing. Among them there are both early summer and late-ripening varieties that ripen in the fall - they are called winter because they persist almost until spring.

The most popular Central Asian cultural representatives are:

Kassaba. A winter variety that is harvested in late autumn while still green. Subsequent ripening of the crop occurs under canopies in a suspended form.
Gulyabi. This Turkmen variety is well known throughout the world. Ripens by the end of summer, is well transported and stored all winter. The fruits are ovoid, large (3–6 kg). The pulp is white, quite dense, but juicy and very sweet.
Chogary (Bukharka). This is the most popular variety in Central Asia. Large (up to 6 kg) fruits are oval, pointed on one side, and have a dense skin. The pulp is white, very sweet.
Ich-Kzyl, known throughout the world as Pineapple. Mid-season variety, ripening in Central Asia by the end of August. The fruits are oval, medium size (2-4 kg), yellow peel, covered with a patterned mesh. The pulp is white, very juicy with a characteristic aroma and flavor of pineapple.
Ribbed. An early-ripening Uzbek hybrid with a characteristic ribbed surface. At home it ripens in mid-summer, and in the conditions of Central Russia by the end of August. The fruits are similar in appearance to pumpkin, the peel is yellow, rough, the flesh is very tender, sweet and aromatic.
Torpedo. The most popular Uzbek variety in Central Asia and world famous. The fruits are large, elongated, slightly pointed at the edges. The peel is light yellow, rough, covered with a mesh. The pulp is white, juicy, oily. Transports well and is stored for a long time.

Vietnamese melon

The name indicates where exactly this variety was obtained. Melons are juicy and fragrant, with a sugary taste. The fruits can be either round or oval in shape. Their colors resemble gooseberries. Melon begins to bear fruit in July. From each bush you can collect up to 30 fruits weighing no more than 200 g.

In order to get a rich harvest, choose seeds for sowing this variety that are at least three years old.

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The sweetest varieties of melon

Contrary to popular belief, not all melons taste insanely sweet. The sweetness of melons varies, and there are even sour or tart varieties (like “Kiwano”, “Mouse Melon” or “Kiwi Melon”). The sweetest melons: “Princess Anna”, “Golden”, “Canaria”, “Gold of the Scythians”, “Sweet Pineapple”, “Sweet Yellow Early”, “Cinderella”, most varieties of Turkish and Turkmen melons.

So, which variety will you choose to plant?

Sweet, tender, juicy, with aromatic crispy flesh, the golden beauty is a favorite among summer fruits. This is not just a sweet fruit, but a whole storehouse of nutritional minerals, vitamins A, C, P, and ascorbic acid. The fruits of this melon plant are considered one of the fruits of paradise. Juicy, large melons can be eaten raw, jams and sauces are made from them, and slices are used in desserts and as a side dish. It goes great with a good beef steak.

This culture was known a couple of thousand years ago in Ancient Persia and Egypt. It appeared in Russia already in the 16th century. Under Tsar Peter, it was grown in special greenhouses.

This delicacy has the following composition:

water;
proteins;
carbohydrates;
cellulose;
pectin;
vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B9, C, E;
potassium;
calcium;
magnesium;
sodium;
phosphorus;
iron;
manganese;
copper;
fluorine.

Doctors advise eating dishes from the fruits of this plant while losing weight. They help remove excess fluid from the body and are even a good remedy for cellulite. They strengthen the immune system and normalize the menstrual cycle.

But for diabetics and people with gastrointestinal diseases, it is better not to eat this delicacy.

Any sweet tooth is looking forward to summer so that she can finally taste the delicious fruit - the first melon harvest. A sunny delicacy adored by adults and children, melon has a variety of characteristics. It depends on which variety you choose. It can be an elliptical-shaped yellow melon with white flesh Snezhok F1, a round melon with an orange mesh skin Dubovka or a melon Sweet Miracle. The name of the variety and this melon speaks for itself about its characteristics.

Growing this fruit is not easy: the plant is not resistant to various diseases and pests, and is sensitive to temperature changes. Growing begins with choosing the right place: successful cultivation will be in a warm, windless area with fertile soil. You can feed the soil in the early stages with organic, potassium and phosphate fertilizers. It is better to buy Dutch melon seeds and plant them in peat pots for seedlings, but still, a high-quality and lush harvest is guaranteed only if you choose a melon variety that is suitable for the climatic conditions of the planting site.

Much has been written about what melons are like. But we decided that it was better to sort everything out and present the best varieties, dividing them into groups according to their ripening period.

Secrets of cultivation

Planting melon seeds in peat pots

In order to grow a good harvest, the soil must be prepared in the fall: it must be well dug, fertilized in the form of peat, humus and loosened.

In addition, it is worth taking note of tips for growing this melon crop, which will help you get a high yield:

With the onset of spring, the place where you plan to plant seeds or seedlings must be dug and fertilized. It is advisable to add a little sand to the soil. Melons do not like clay soil;
Before planting, the seeds should be soaked in a special solution. The soaking solution can be purchased at the store or you can make your own. For the solution, you need to mix boric acid, zinc sulfate and water. Soaking is carried out to germinate seeds. This will speed up their growth. They are usually soaked for about a day;
if planting melons is carried out through seedlings, then the seeds must first be planted in special peat pots with a diameter of 10 cm. The soil for seedlings should have the following composition - a glass of wood ash, sand and peat.

Melons need to be hilled

Sowing of seedlings is carried out in early April. For this:

seeds are planted in open ground in late April - early May. Seedlings from mid-May to early June;
holes for planting must be made at a distance of 70 to 90 cm. It is recommended to plant seedlings in them along with the soil;
on cool days, plants should be covered with film;
plants also need to be weeded and watered periodically;
They should be hilled twice a week. But this should be done very carefully, since melons have branched roots.

Features of cultivation and care

Melon “Torpedo” is a southern, heat-loving plant, so in the middle zone it is better to grow it in a glassed greenhouse or greenhouse. For its shallow root system, a twenty-centimeter fertile soil layer is sufficient, which contains one part each of peat and chernozem and three parts humus. Sprouted seeds are planted on loosened beds, keeping a distance between them of 50 by 80 cm.

Important conditions for obtaining a good harvest of these southern melons are:

sufficient heat and light;
regular loosening and watering of plants;
pinching and removing excess ovaries;
feeding them monthly with mullein infusion.

It is known that melons intensively absorb harmful substances, accumulating them. Torpedo melon, if grown unscrupulously or sold in violation, can become dangerous, causing severe poisoning. Many people do not know how to choose a melon so that it brings joy and benefit, and not disappointment. Here are some tips to warn against various mistakes:

Its color should be uniform. A green spot is a sign that the vegetable is unripe, while a brown spot or dent is an indication that it has begun to spoil.
A ripe melon is not too hard to the touch, but not very soft either. There should be no cracks or scratches on it.
The sound when tapping on the peel of a ripe fruit should be dull.
The tail of a quality vegetable should be thick and dry, and the nose should spring back when pressed.
When cut, the pulp should not have white streaks, and the seeds should have a yellowish tint and be full and not dry.
If there is a thin yellowish strip between the peel and the pulp, then this melon was fed with saltpeter. If this strip is greenish, then the vegetable is unripe.
The bright, juicy, shiny skin of the melon, combined with its absolute absence of a pleasant smell, are signs of treating the soil on which these melons were grown with urea.
You cannot buy cut fruits or those lying on the ground next to the road.