Being the second most popular melon crop after watermelon, melon even takes first place in the minds and taste preferences of many people. Because it has a delicate honey taste and unique aroma. Melon varieties are very numerous; in Russia alone, about 100 names are zoned. Even for the harsh conditions of the Urals and Siberia, breeders have now developed many varieties that can successfully bear fruit, including in open ground.
Varieties of melons
With all the varietal diversity of melon, there are only two main subgroups into which all plants of this species are divided:
- classical or cultural;
- exotic.
For gastronomic purposes, only representatives of the first subgroup are valuable. Since the second subgroup includes melons of the most varied shapes and colors, but their taste, at best, can be called neutral. And sometimes they are downright sour or bitter. Most often, they are used either for medicinal purposes or as a basis for breeding work in order to develop cultural representatives with resistance to certain environmental properties.
The cultural group is also very large in composition. Its fruits can be very diverse. They vary in color - they are yellow, orange, green, almost white, green-brown.
The pattern of the peel can also be quite varied. Many varieties of melon have a smooth surface, others have a net-like pattern, and some have wrinkled or warty skin.
The shape can be round, oval, pear-shaped or very elongated. The size varies from several hundred grams to several tens of kilograms. Melon fruits are known to weigh 100 kilograms or more.
By origin they distinguish:
- Central Asian (Gulyabi, Ich-kzyl, Bukhara);
- Western European (Cantaloupe);
- Eastern European (Kolkhoznitsa, Altai, Early);
- Asian Minor varieties of melons (Cassaba).
Further in the article, various varieties of melon are presented with photos and descriptions of the characteristics of their cultivation in different regions of Russia.
Benefits of melon
The beneficial properties of melon are preserved in fresh fruits. Then the folic acid contained in it is not destroyed, which helps improve memory and saves from depression.
In addition, it is recommended for pregnant women.
- The fruits of the crop are rich in vitamin C. It helps prevent colds.
- Silicon has a beneficial effect on skin and hair. Iron increases hemoglobin levels.
- The presence of magnesium has a good effect on the heart muscle.
- The presence of iron makes melon indispensable for saturating the human body with these minerals
Which type of melon is better?
If you want to grow melon in a particular region, choosing the right variety can be decisive for this crop. It is impossible to say for sure whether one variety of melon will be better or worse than another. A lot depends on the climatic and weather conditions of the environment.
So many representatives of Asian melons, despite their unique sweetness and aroma, simply cannot bear fruit in other regions. Even if they are fully and competently cared for, protecting them from diseases, pests and unfavorable environmental conditions, the wrong choice of variety will certainly affect fruiting. Plants may even grow and bear some fruit, but it will be almost impossible to expect from them the unique taste characteristic of them in their homeland. And the yield, most likely, will not correspond to the varietal characteristics.
But the fruits of zoned melons, although they will be smaller in size, may not be inferior in sweetness and aroma to many southern varieties.
What varieties of melon are best to grow in the Moscow region?
Growing melon fruits that taste quite decent in the conditions of the Middle Zone in general, and in the Moscow region in particular, is a completely realistic task. You just need to remember two basic conditions, the fulfillment of which will inevitably lead to your goal:
- compliance with correct agricultural practices;
- choosing the most suitable variety.
It is the second task that will be discussed in detail in this chapter.
So, melon grows well with plenty of sunlight, sufficient heat, and low humidity. Unfortunately, all these conditions are not always easy to meet in the conditions of the Moscow region. Even if you grow fruits in greenhouses or greenhouses, the humidity in them sometimes reaches 90-100%. And for melon, the upper humidity level at which it still feels good is 60-65%. And high humidity produces, first of all, practically uncontrollable outbreaks of various fungal diseases.
Fortunately, breeders have developed many varieties and hybrids of melons that are especially suited for the open ground of the Moscow region. When choosing the right variety yourself, you should pay special attention to the following characteristics:
- increased shade tolerance;
- resistance to lack of heat and temperature changes;
- short growing season, preferably up to 90 days;
- increased resistance to fungal diseases.
If there is a strong desire to grow late-ripening varieties with a growing season of more than 90 days, they must be grown using the seedling method.
Advice! When sowing seeds in mid-to-late April in open ground, seedlings should be placed no earlier than the beginning of June.
Currently, many seed companies are developing new varieties and hybrids of melon, adapted to the growth conditions in the Middle Zone. When choosing varieties, you should also take a closer look at those whose variety testing stations are located in the region. Among the most famous companies that test their melons in the Moscow region are “SeDeK” and “Gavrish”. The best varieties of melon, most suitable for cultivation in central Russia, are described below.
Alina
This early ripening variety was bred by specialists from the Sedek company. Small bright yellow oval-shaped fruits reach a weight of 1 kg. They ripen on average in 65-70 days and have delicate yellow-green flesh. The variety is well resistant to various weather adversities typical of the weather conditions of the Middle Zone. The main advantage of Alina melon is its high complex resistance to most diseases characteristic of melon crops.
Assol
This hybrid has quite long and powerful shoots. The fruits are small, round in shape. The peel is divided into distinct yellowish-green segments, which are separated by creamy-gray stripes. There is also a pattern in the form of a cracked mesh. The peel is thin, the juicy pulp is of medium thickness. The variety is mid-season, sweet in taste, and has a strong melon aroma. Disease resistance is good. Productivity – up to 10 kg/sq. m. Fruits can be stored for up to 8-10 days.
Collective farmer
One of the oldest and most popular varieties of melons throughout Russia. It is more likely to be mid-season, since it needs about 90 days to fully ripen. Produces medium-sized round fruits, sometimes weighing up to 1.5 kg. The pulp of melons is very juicy, oily with a pronounced aroma and full taste. The fruits are suitable for transportation and can be stored for up to 3 weeks. But plants are susceptible to some diseases, in particular powdery mildew and anthracnose.
Princess Elizabeth
A relatively new hybrid from is a plant that is highly adaptable to the difficult weather conditions of the Moscow region. Melons ripen in 60-70 days. Resistant to anthracnose and powdery mildew. They have a round shape with a smooth bright yellow skin and tender juicy pulp. The weight reaches 1.5-1.6 kg. One bush can ripen up to 5-6 full-fledged high-quality fruits.
Princess Svetlana
Another representative of the “princess” family. Refers to mid-early hybrids; fruits can ripen from 70 to 90 days. Highly resistant to various unfavorable growth conditions, including various diseases. The variety is included in the State Register and is recommended for cultivation even in the Northern and Northwestern regions of Russia. The fruits have an attractive whitish-cream color. The pulp is juicy, but has a dense, crispy texture. The weight of one melon can reach 2 kg. The average yield is 6.5 kg/sq. m.
Comment! There are many other representatives in the “Princess” series, and all of them demonstrate high adaptability to unfavorable growth conditions combined with good fruit quality.
Tiger
This unique melon hybrid was created by specialists in 2012. It is zoned throughout Russia and, despite its exotic appearance, can be successfully grown in the Moscow region.
According to the timing of ripening, it can be classified as early ripening. Tiger produces very small fruits, weighing 100-200 g. They are round in shape, with a smooth and thin skin without a mesh. The pattern on the peel looks very attractive - brownish spots of various shapes and sizes are scattered on a pale yellow background. The aroma of the fruit is not very intense. But the taste of the white, juicy pulp deserves the most positive characteristics. The yield under film covers is about 4 kg/sq.m. m.
Golden
This variety is classified as mid-season; it needs almost 90 days to ripen. But in taste and aroma it can easily compete with Asian varieties of melon. The fruits can be round or slightly oval with an orange smooth skin without a pattern. The weight of one melon reaches 1 kg. Transports well and can be stored refrigerated for up to 3 weeks. Shows excellent disease resistance.
The best varieties of melons for the Urals
The Ural region, especially its southern part, is characterized by more stable weather conditions than the Moscow region. Although summer arrives a little later there, it can be hotter and drier. Therefore, for the Urals there are several zoned varieties of melon that do not ripen at the earliest date. But when using the seedling method and film coverings, they can please with abundant fruiting and excellent taste and aromas of the fruit.
Cinderella
This variety, created more than 10 years ago, thanks to its early ripening, has conquered the vastness of almost all of Russia. The fruits can ripen in 60-70 days from the moment of emergence. A melon variety with a classic yellow hue. The oval-shaped fruits grow up to 1.2 to 2.2 kg. The sugar content can reach 9.3%, which is very good for such an early variety. Cinderella shows resistance to both low and high air temperatures. It cannot be transported, but can be stored for up to 15 days in suitable conditions.
Orange
Another completely new early ripening melon variety, which is recommended for cultivation in all regions of Russia. The fruits, although small (up to 600 g), have excellent taste characteristics. The melons are round, light yellow with a thin mesh on the surface of the peel. The pulp is yellowish-whitish, crumbly. The yield is small - up to 1.5 kg/sq. m. The variety is resistant to all unfavorable conditions.
Lesya
The variety is mid-season, zoned in the Ural region. The oval fruits are yellow-green in color. The peel is covered with a mesh of medium thickness. The weight of a melon can reach 2.6 kg. The pulp is sweet, has a rather thick layer, tender and oily with a pronounced melon aroma. Transports well. The variety is resistant to fusarium and powdery mildew.
Temryuchanka
This mid-season variety is particularly hardy and resistant to stressful conditions. This is probably why it is zoned in the Ural region, despite the fact that it was bred in the Krasnodar Territory. The fruits have a standard oval-round shape. There is a continuous thick mesh on the peel. Juicy and sweet pulp occupies most of the fruit space, the seed nest is small. The fruits can weigh up to 2.2 kg. In terms of productivity, Temryuchanka is superior to such varieties as Zolotistaya and Kazachka. It is well stored (up to 30 days) and transported.
Babor
This melon hybrid, despite its French origin, is zoned in several Russian regions, including the Urals. In terms of ripening time, it occupies an intermediate position between mid-season and mid-late melons. Melons ripen between 68 and 100 days from germination.
The yellow fruits are oval in shape with a slightly wrinkled skin and can weigh up to 4 kg. The pulp has a creamy tint, the sugar content in the fruit is average, about 5-6%. The variety is characterized by resistance to fusarium and can last up to 60 days after harvest.
The best varieties of melons for Siberia
The Siberian region is characterized primarily by a short summer period. Although the average temperature level may even exceed that in the Middle Zone. Therefore, for Siberia it is extremely important to use early ripening varieties of melons and those that were specially bred for this region.
Attention! You should not experiment and plant melon varieties and hybrids of imported origin in Siberia. They will most likely be susceptible to disease and will not be able to produce a full harvest.
Altai
One of the oldest varieties of melon, bred back in 1937 specifically for Siberian conditions and officially zoned in the Urals, Western and Eastern Siberia in 1955. Altai is distinguished by its early ripening - the fruits ripen after 65-75 days of growing season. The variety has beautiful elongated oval fruits of a yellowish tint, which weigh from 0.8 to 1.5 kg. At the same time, the pulp is very aromatic, has a soft orange color, but is not very sweet.
The variety can be consumed mainly fresh, since it is poorly stored and transported. The yield is quite decent - up to 25 t/ha.
Dewdrop
The variety was also bred specifically for Siberia. It is characterized by early ripeness (58-65 days of growing season) and good yield (up to 27 t/ha). Plants form short vines. The light yellow smooth fruits of this melon variety are round in shape. The fruit size is small (600-800 g). The pulp is not particularly juicy and tender, but the taste is quite good and the aroma is strong and melon-like.
Lolita
This variety was bred in the Astrakhan region, but zoned for the East Siberian region. Round beige-yellow fruits with a mesh pattern on the peel ripen 66-75 days after germination. They have a moderate aroma, but the taste is already close to the standard. This happens due to the high sugar content (up to 7.8%) and tender, melt-in-your-mouth pulp. The weight of the fruits reaches 1.5-2 kg. In terms of productivity, Lolita is slightly superior to Kolkhoznitsa, which can also be grown in this region.
Lyubushka
The variety is classified as ultra-early ripening. When sowing dry seeds into the ground in the last days of May, the first ripe fruits can be harvested from the second half of August. Moreover, the yield of Lyubushka can be up to 7-8 fruits per plant. When grown without watering, on average, the fruits grow up to 800 g. Melons have an intensely yellow skin, practically no mesh, greenish flesh and excellent taste.
Amber
This variety was also bred specifically for Siberia. Despite the fact that it has an average ripening time (about 75-80 days), the taste of the fruit is worth tinkering with the seedlings.
Advice! In regions with capricious weather conditions, in order to guarantee a harvest, experienced gardeners recommend planting several varieties of melons at once.
Summer resident
This relatively new melon hybrid was bred by specialists and recommended for cultivation throughout Russia. It is classified as early ripening - it ripens in 60-75 days of growing season. The fruits are oval in shape with some subtle patterns on the yellowish peel. In weight they grow up to 1.5 kg. With a greenish tint, the pulp is tender, crumbly and has a good taste. The yield under the film can reach 5 kg/sq.m. m.
Preparing the soil for planting melons
Before planting and caring for melon in the open ground, you need to prepare the soil. This is one of the main conditions for its good growth and maturation.
Sandy loam soil is perfect for this purpose. It gives good permeability to both water and air. You can also use slightly saline, dry areas. It will not grow on heavy, floating soil.
When the predecessor is removed, you need to use provocative watering. Then the weeds sprout and it is easier to remove them by deep digging. Areas that are highly acidic will require liming. For example, this must be done where organic fertilizers were not used, but only mineral ones.
Super early melon varieties
In general, early melon varieties include those that are capable of bearing mature fruits after 60-65 days of growing season. But selection does not stand still, and in recent decades so-called ultra-early ripening melons have appeared, the ripening of which is possible even in an even shorter period. These are the ones that will be discussed in this chapter.
Barnaulka
Barnaulka or Barnaulskaya is a fairly old variety of melon, which was bred in the last century. Its main advantage is its amazing precocity. The fruits ripen 45 days after the first shoots. They have an elongated shape with a skin without a mesh of a yellowish tint. The weight of the fruit reaches 1.5 kg.
Melba
Another super-early variety, whose producers claim that ripe melons can be obtained in 30-40 days of growing season. True, the fruits are small in size, weighing about 600 g. The shape is oval, the skin is light beige with a mesh. The taste is good.
A sybarite's dream
An interesting, rather new melon variety of Japanese selection. The seeds may also be sold under the name "Lazy Man's Dream". The fruits ripen in 50-55 days. In Western countries, this variety is often called apple melon because of its juicy, sweet and crisp white pulp. The aroma of the fruit is delicate, honey.
The skin is very thin and smooth, so much so that the fruits can be eaten with it. They have a somewhat non-standard pear-shaped shape and an unusual color: light with dark green spots.
The fruit weight is small: from 200 to 400 g. From 15 to 20 melons ripen on one plant per season. The variety is resistant to diseases and pests.
Fiona
Quite a new melon hybrid of Lithuanian selection. But at the same time, already in 2017 it was included in the State Register of Russia and recommended for cultivation throughout Russia. The fruits ripen from 50 to 60 days from the beginning of the growing season. They have an oval shape and a delicate, rather sweet taste. The weight of melons reaches 1.7 kg, they are stored well (up to 60 days) and are well transported. Productivity – up to 2.5 kg/sq. m.
Early melon varieties
Perhaps one of the most common groups of melons, sometimes called Russian early ripening ones. Their growing season ranges from 60 to 80 days. They usually have low yields, medium-sized fruits, and are practically not stored or transported. These are melons for local immediate consumption. But when grown as seedlings, they begin to ripen already from the end of July or the beginning of August.
Dune
A good reliable variety with very tasty and aromatic fruits, despite their early ripening (58-75 days). The weight of the fruit reaches 1.7 kg. This melon variety has slightly oval-shaped fruits of orange color with a pronounced continuous network. The pulp is dense, but at the same time juicy and tender. For its ripening period, the variety has good yield and is quite transportable.
Honey gourmet
It has fairly average characteristics in all respects. A typical representative of the group of early ripening melons. Brought out by breeders in 2015.
Miron
Early maturing hybrid of Israeli selection. Among all the early varieties of melon, it amazes with the size of its ovoid fruits. They can reach 2.5-2.9 kg. And at the same time, fruits of this size ripen in just 55-70 days. And Miron’s taste is also excellent. They contain up to 6.8% sugars. The fruits are stored for about 10 days. The hybrid exhibits good resistance to weather conditions, including heat and flooding.
Pineapple
This variety is practically a double of one of the Asian melons with the same name. The difference between them is only in size and ripening time. Pineapple (European) does not gain more than 2 kg in weight, but it manages to ripen in literally 65-70 days. And in the taste of its fruits you can really feel some exotic notes, reminiscent of pineapple.
The variety is also resistant to powdery mildew and anthracnose.
Sweet tooth
This variety is a typical representative of green melon. The fruits have an oval-elliptical shape and a green skin with a grayish tint. The peel is also dotted with a thick and thick mesh pattern. The fruits grow small, up to 1.2 kg. The pulp is very beautiful, orange in color. The density and juiciness of the fruits are average. The taste is good. The yield is very small - about 1 kg/sq. m. But melons are well preserved (up to 25 days) and transported.
Cherante
An early-ripening variety of French selection, it is very similar in appearance to cantaloupe. The round fruits are gray in color and have pronounced lobes, the boundaries of which are outlined in a dark green tint. The orange, rather dense pulp has a good sweet taste and a not very pronounced aroma.
Fairy tale
The early variety of melon is quite suitable for growing both in open ground and under film covers. The fruits ripen quite quickly in 62-65 days. Melons exhibit subtle segmentation. The pulp is very juicy and crispy, contains up to 10% sugar. The aroma is weak. Productivity – up to 2.3 kg/sq.m. m. The fruits are not long-lasting and not transportable. But they are resistant to powdery mildew and peronospora.
"Titovka"
For the Titovka variety, the ripening period ranges from fifty-five to seventy days. The fruits may be yellow-orange or have yellow or pure orange skin. The pulp is thick, dense and snow-white.
The aroma is rich and fragrant. Good lighting is required for cultivation. Ripens well and is thermophilic. It is not afraid of long-term transportation of aphids and bacteriosis.
For a mid-season variety called “Kolkhoznitsa”, the ripening period takes up to ninety-five days. The fruits are shaped like balls. The peel itself is yellow-orange, and the flesh is light and yellow. A thin mesh forms on the peel.
It has a delicate aroma and excellent moderately sweet taste. The pleasant aftertaste lasts for a long time. This variety makes excellent desserts and jams. In addition, the fruits have the property of high keeping quality.
"33 Early"
"33 Early" ripens quite early in 60 or 70 days. The fruits are oval and slightly rounded. The peel is yellow, and the pulp has the same qualities as titovka. It is dense, sweet, snow-white and aromatic. Fruits are not afraid of fungal infections and transportation. For cooking it is used fresh.
Mid-season melon varieties
Medium-ripening melon varieties are sometimes called summer melons. Although their ripening period most often occurs at the very end of summer and in September. They are often distinguished by higher yields, denser and more sugary pulp compared to early varieties. In addition, they have a harder peel and are therefore better suited for storage and transportation.
Lada
A fairly common melon variety for industrial cultivation, especially in the southern regions. Ripens in 78 to 92 days. The weight of the fruit is not very large, on average up to 2 kg. But when rationing the fruit, it can be more than 3 kg. Yellow round fruits have light, juicy and sweet pulp with a sugar content of more than 8%. Lada is resistant to many diseases and practically does not crack during wet summers. Productivity is average, up to 2-3 kg/sq. m.
Ethiopian
Another very popular melon variety among gardeners in different regions. The color is yellow-orange with pronounced segments separated by light gray stripes. Melons reach a weight of 2.8 kg. The juicy and tender pulp has a bright orange hue and a honey taste. The fruits have a strong melon aroma. The Ethiopian plant tolerates hot growing conditions well.
Augustine
Melon hybrid of English selection, which ripens approximately 70-85 days after germination. Melons have a regular ellipsoidal shape and a pronounced dense mesh on the surface. Resistant to sunburn and cracking. Good taste is combined with good yield and transportability.
Caramel
A completely new hybrid from, which combines the best qualities of its predecessors. Melons ripen in about 80 days, although they are quite large in size - up to 3 kg and are stored well (up to 18-20 days). The pulp is juicy, crispy, sweet and quite large in size. Productivity reaches 5 kg/sq.m. m.
Cossack 244
Despite the relative antiquity of the variety (it was bred and recorded in the State Register of Russia back in 1964), melon is still quite popular among gardeners. After all, it combines a fairly high yield (up to 28 t/ha) with good taste, excellent shelf life and transportability. In addition, the variety manages to resist a variety of diseases quite well.
Late varieties of melons
These varieties of melons store well and, as a rule, have the highest sugar content. But their long growing season makes it practically impossible to grow them anywhere except the southern regions. However, some varieties can be picked unripe, and they ripen well indoors, on windowsills.
Wintering
A melon variety with a name indicating that its fruits are perfectly preserved in winter. It is not for nothing that wintering is zoned in the Ural region. Its not too long growing season (85-92 days) makes it possible to grow it from seedlings even in the Urals.
The bushes grow quite powerful and climbing. The oval fruits reach a weight of 2.5 kg. The pulp is light green in color with a sugar content of 8-9%. There is a coarse mesh on the peel. The fruits retain high taste properties for 3.5 months after they are collected. Wintering is characterized by a stable yield of leveled fruits.
Slavia
A late-ripening melon variety (82-111 days) characterized by high taste, good yield (30 t/ha) and resistance to growing conditions. It is not stored too long for late varieties (about 30 days), but it is well transported.
Honey giant
This unique variety, although it has a long growing season (more than 100 days), ripens well at home and is characterized by an excellent melon aroma. The latter is not very typical for late varieties. Therefore, giant honey melon is often grown even in the Moscow region.
Attention! The most experienced gardeners graft this variety of melon onto lagenaria or pumpkin, and this allows them to somewhat shorten the ripening time and increase the plants’ resistance to cold and lack of light.
Torpedo
Plants will be able to produce tasty and large fruits only in suitable conditions, with plenty of light and heat. In addition, they need a minimum of 112-115 days to mature. But they are perfectly preserved for more than 3 months after collection. The weight of one melon can vary from 4 to 8 kg.
Gulyabi or Chardzhuyskaya
This variety of melon is from Central Asia, which is distinguished by its excellent taste and long shelf life. Large oblong fruits (weighing up to 7-8 kg) can easily be stored in a cool room until March inclusive. Moreover, their full taste is revealed only a month after harvest. These melons ripen only on the 130-135th day of the growing season and their cultivation is possible only in the southernmost regions of Russia.
Features of growing and harvesting time of the Temryuchanka melon
The “Temryuchanka” melon for melon, which can be ordered with delivery from the Krasnodar Territory on our website, is planted as seedlings in May. When growing, only natural mineral and organic fertilizers are used in quantities that do not exceed the norm. To protect shoots and flowers from diseases and parasites, only natural, environmentally friendly and non-toxic compounds are used. Therefore, the fruits themselves are of high quality, and their nitrate content never exceeds acceptable standards.
Harvest time is from mid to late August. At this point, the fruits of the Temryuchanka melon gain weight, fully ripen, and are saturated with sugar and vitamins. Melon harvested at the end of August will last the entire month of September without losing any of its presentation or taste properties, which makes it a convenient product for resale at retail. From us you can order Temryuchanka melon in bulk at a competitive price in any volume. Deliveries are made in corrugated boxes, containers or in bulk. Our sales specialists will provide you with additional information on payment and delivery of products.
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The sweetest varieties of melons
The sugar content in sweet varieties of melons can significantly exceed 10%. It is not for nothing that the taste of these melons is often compared to the sweetness of honey.
A pineapple
Sometimes this variety is also called Sweet Pineapple. Its growing season is about 95 days. Melons grow up to 3 kg and have very sweet, buttery flesh with some pineapple flavor. Tolerates illness well. Storage and transportation are possible within 2-3 weeks.
Amal
This hybrid of French selection does not require much time to ripen, only 78-80 days. Melons have a very regular and beautiful round-oval shape and weigh up to 3 kg. The pulp is very aromatic and sweet, with an orange-pinkish tint. The hybrid is resistant to many diseases. The yield is average, about 2.5 kg/sq.m. m. Stores and transports well.
Canary honey
This creation of breeders is distinguished by relatively whimsical cultivation techniques, but its truly honey taste and aroma leave all other varieties of melons from this company far behind. Melons are distinguished by their small size (up to 1.4 kg) and early ripening (60-65 days).
Princess Anne
Among all the “princesses”, this variety is the sweetest. The sugar content in it reaches 10%. In addition, it is distinguished by its early ripening, resistance to diseases and difficult weather conditions.
Caramel
A relatively early ripening (62-66 days) variety of French selection, the name of which already speaks of the sweetness of its fruits. The sugar content in them reaches 9.8%. The fruits are medium in size (1.4-2.4 kg) and have a strong melon aroma. Resistant to fusarium and waterlogging. The yield is quite decent, up to 2.8 kg/sq. m.
Cappuccino
This melon, under favorable growing conditions, can show record levels of sugar content in the fruit - up to 17%. Melons are small in size (up to 1 kg), have a pleasant creamy skin and almost snow-white juicy pulp with unsurpassed taste and enchanting aroma. The fruits ripen 70-75 days after germination.
The best varieties of melons for greenhouses
When choosing suitable melon varieties for growing in greenhouses, you need to pay attention to the yield and compactness of the plants, as well as their resistance to fungal diseases.
Iroquois
This popular variety, bred by breeders, can be classified as mid-early (70-80 days of growing season). The plants grow quite vigorously, but can be allowed to climb along a trellis. The fruits are small in size (1.2-1.6 kg) with good taste characteristics. The yield can average 6-8 kg/sq.m. m.
Scythian gold
A hybrid from the same breeders, which, in addition to high yield, is distinguished by an excellent sweet taste of the fruit. It also ripens quite early, 70-80 days after germination. It is also characterized by resistance to powdery mildew.
Extraordinary
The very name of this melon contains unusual features that characterize the appearance of the fruit. This is a variety of melon not only with a well-defined lobed structure, but also with a warty surface of its peel. Externally, the fruits look a little like pumpkins. Weight can reach 3.5 kg. The flesh is an attractive dark orange color. The aroma is medium, the taste is sweet. Moreover, the plants begin to bear fruit quite early - on the 60-65th day of the growing season. Productivity is also good - up to 5.2 kg/sq. m.
Augen
The Ozhen melon was born as a result of the efforts of Israeli breeders, but managed to take root in the Russian open spaces due to the compactness of the vines, good yield (4-5 kg/sq. m) and relatively quick ripening time (82-85 days). This melon variety is a type of cantaloupe with distinct yellow-orange segments and dark green edges. It is characterized by a strong melon aroma and sweet pulp, even when unripe. In open ground, it is still susceptible to rot at the base of the stems in cold and damp weather, but in greenhouses it feels excellent. Fruit weight – up to 1 kg.
Blondie
This hybrid is another representative of the cantaloupe melon variety, which appeared relatively recently in Russia. The melons themselves are not large, about 300-500 g. They practically do not have the usual melon aroma, but the taste of the bright orange pulp is honey-like. From 1st quarter m in a greenhouse you can get up to 5-6 kg. In addition, the hybrid is resistant to the most common diseases of this species. It is better to harvest the crop immediately after the peel turns beige, so that the fruits do not have time to overripe and acquire an unpleasant odor.
General requirements for growing conditions
Melon needs a lot of heat and sun, which must be taken into account when choosing a location for the bed. It can withstand the most intense heat and very dry weather because it is able to extract moisture from the deep layers of the soil, but in humid climates it is not healthy.
The roots go deep into the ground up to 1 m or more, although this seems incredible when looking at very average-sized plants.
Melons do well at mild elevations because excess water does not accumulate there, in the presence of which most varieties quickly become ill. However, these hills must be reliably protected from cold winds.
The composition of the soil is of great importance: melon does not grow just anywhere. She loves soils that are light in structure: loams that are neutral in acidity are the best option. A lot of sand must be added to clayey soil, and acidic soil must be thoroughly limed. The best predecessors are cabbage, cucumbers, peas, garlic, and onions. It is not advisable to plant melons after any melons, tomatoes and carrots.
Due to the requirement for good lighting, they try to grow melons mainly in open ground: the walls of even the best greenhouse absorb a significant proportion of sunlight. However, in the middle zone, many gardeners are forced to plant crops in a greenhouse, since the risk of non-ripening in the garden is very high: summers vary.
Melons need a lot of space to grow properly.
In the central regions, only the earliest ripening varieties can be grown by sowing directly into the ground; in most cases, seedlings have to be prepared. And even at first they keep it in vegetable gardens under light film covers, removing them no earlier than June 10.
Historical records indicate that in the Moscow region, melons were planted about 500 years ago, using warm manure beds in greenhouses. They are prepared in advance using good doses of organic matter, covered with dark plastic film, in which holes are made. Melon seedlings are planted in them without removing the film for the whole summer, and in case of cold weather they are covered with non-woven materials.
