Golden melon: features of caring for the variety, advantages and disadvantages

Appearance and features of golden melon

The fruits of the plant are bright yellow, sometimes even orange if the plant is already ripe. The weight of a melon can reach up to 2 kg. The fruits are juicy, sweet, and soft. The peel of the fruit is quite dense, which ensures high-quality transportation of melon to other territories. In appearance, the melon fruit is an elongated round ball, and inside there is delicate light yellow or white pulp. The skin of golden melon is smooth to the touch, without the mesh pattern that can often be found on other varieties of melon.

This variety is a cross-pollinated melon crop, but golden melon cannot produce many vines. When growing, melon should be separated from other crops geographically.

On average, a golden melon has 3-5 canes, with the main one being slightly longer than the side canes. The crown of the plant is green, the leaves are neat and clear in shape.

The process of full ripening of melon fruits, from the appearance of sprouts in the ground to the appearance of a large orange fruit, usually takes 2-3 months. The golden variety is planted in open ground from April to December, depending on the region and climate of planting.

The best climate for growing golden melon is hot and with a minimum percentage of humidity. That is why melon is common in the southern corners of the mainland. Harvesting occurs manually around the end of August - beginning of September. If all planting rules and conditions for growing this variety are observed, high yields can be achieved. For example, from one hectare of land you can get up to 10,000 kg of fruit.

Reviews about the Golden melon variety

Kirill Marytnov, 34, Stavropol Territory

I’m just starting to try growing melons in my greenhouse. I can already point out varieties that are better than others suitable for closed ground. One of them is Golden melon. Not too large melons, 2.5 kg maximum, do not tear the vines and ripen well on trellises. Convenient to assemble. In the 2 years that I have been planting, I have not yet seen any fungus or mites. I recommend the variety.

Pavel Selikatov, 40 years old. Krasnodar

In our area there is a large selection of melon varieties. There is no competition for Kolkhoznitsa with its incomparable aroma, but other varieties of melon are also met with interest. I grow melons for sale, it is important for me to interest the buyer. I can praise the Zolotistaya variety, it is larger than Kolkhoznitsa, not as sweet, but very stable in everything. From year to year, the harvest is at the expected level - 15-17 kg per bush. This is important, for which I appreciate the Zolotistaya variety.

Advantages and disadvantages of melon varieties

People who are interested in agriculture, including growing golden melon, note the following advantages:

Firstly, this variety is famous for its abundant yield. Unfavorable climate conditions, such as cold, lack of moisture, can deteriorate the quality of the fruit. The melon may be less sweet or tougher inside. But the number of fruits grown does not depend on weather conditions.
Secondly, due to the density of the fruit peel, it is not difficult to transport melon to other regions for sale, which is the reason for the wide distribution of the variety not only in Russia, but also abroad.
Thirdly, if the necessary storage conditions for melon are observed, its shelf life can reach up to 4 months. To achieve this, you need to store the fruits in rooms with high humidity and low temperature, for example, in a refrigerator.
Fourthly, growing this variety of melon is not a labor-intensive process, since even open ground is suitable for the planting site. Weather conditions, such as the presence of abundant moisture, can be achieved artificially. In addition, the plant is resistant to diseases provided that the required temperature and humidity conditions are observed in the place where the melon is planted. If any infections or pests begin to affect the plant, then they can be quite easily removed with the help of pharmaceutical products.

Where there are pros, there are also cons. Agronomists highlight the following disadvantages of growing golden melon:

Since the fruits of the plant are distinguished by a pronounced sweet taste and delicate pulp, this variety is not suitable for making dried fruits or other delicacies from it.

There is also another drawback, but it rather turns into an advantage. In terms of yield, golden melon is not very different from other varieties of this crop, but it is resistant to diseases and temperature conditions, so it bears fruit consistently.

Hybrids F1 melons of the best varieties (with description and photo)

Modern hybrid forms tie perfectly. As a rule, they are not susceptible to infectious diseases of melons.

Aikido

This is one of the most popular and reliable hybrids. In Russia it has been zoned since 2006. Created in the French branch of the famous Japanese agro. Plants adapt well to different weather conditions. They bear fruit both indoors and in open ground. Growth rates are average, the leaf apparatus is very powerful. 1-2 bushes are placed on one “square”. The vine is long, fruiting is long. The hybrid does not suffer from fusarium and powdery mildew.

The first harvest is obtained early - 70-75 days after full germination. The fruits are very smooth, spherical, the average weight is 1.4 kg (maximum - 1.9 kg). Mesh surface. As the melons ripen, they change color from green to golden. Ripe pulp remains slightly greenish, the main color is light beige. The seed chamber is small. The sugar content is good - up to 13%. Melons picked at full ripeness are stored for 7-8 days.

Miron

The newest ultra-early hybrid of Israeli selection. Has been in the Russian seed registry since 2013. From germination to the ripening of the first melons, only 55 days pass, and after another half a month, mass fruiting begins. Weight ranges from 1.6 to 3 kg, sometimes 3.8-4.6 kg.

The peel is orange, with a gray mesh. The fruits of the variety are egg-shaped. When cut, they are light beige, slightly crumbly, crispy, not watery, and have a high content of dry matter. Sugar content 11-13%. There is a specific spicy aroma. The taste is excellent. The shelf life after removal is long - up to two weeks.

Plants love abundant nutrition in the form of a complex of minerals. Otherwise they are not capricious. They easily tolerate soil drought, greenhouse and ground heat. This modern hybrid successfully resists Fusarium wilt and powdery mildew. Productivity is high.

Raymond

Israeli selection for long-term storage - up to one and a half months. The hybrid has been registered in Russia since 2011. In terms of ripening time - medium early (70 days). Melons grow at least 1.8-2.6 kg, maximum - three times more. They are oval, with a wrinkled mesh on the skin, yellow-orange. The inside of the fruit is dense to the point of crunch, but at the same time tender and sweet. Record keeping quality is ensured by a high percentage of dry matter. The hybrid is tolerant to powdery mildew, fusarium, dry soil and high temperatures. In the northern regions it grows more successfully in greenhouse conditions.

Passport

An early ripening hybrid of American origin, registered in the Russian seed registry in 2004. The first harvest of fruits occurs a couple of months after seed germination; mass fruiting occurs on the 75th day. The harvest ripens both in the greenhouse and in the open air. Plants are not affected by anthracnose and fusarium. The bushes are strong; each is capable of bearing 5 full fruits weighing 1.3-3.1 kg.

Melons are round, densely netted on the surface, greenish-yellow, when fully ripe with a brown tint. The seed chamber is medium in size. Inside, the fruits are greenish-cream, exuding juice. Sugar accumulation is high. Removed ripe melons do not spoil for about a week. Slightly unripe ones can ripen after two to three months of storage.

Scythian gold

The mid-early hybrid has been on the State Register since 2002. Recommended for protected soil. The mesh pattern of the skin of this variety is thick and thin. The fruits are golden cream inside and golden yellow outside. There are 2-3 of them formed on the bush, weighing 1.2 kg each. The shape of melons is round, sometimes slightly oval. The seed chamber is medium in size. The pulp has high taste and a bright aroma. Plants do not suffer from powdery mildew. About 6 kg of fruits are collected from a square.

Sweet pineapple

The ripening time of this melon is early and mid-early (68 days). The shape is spherical, the surface color is orange-yellow; mesh skin. The fruits weigh up to one and a half kilograms. When cut, they are light yellow with green. The taste is excellent due to its similarity to pineapple. The hybrid tolerates short-term cold snaps well, but feels better under shelters. Not affected by anthracnose.

Voluptuous

presents its hybrid as early, but achieving ripeness in 90-100 days indicates an average period. In the middle zone, this melon is intended for greenhouses. The disease resistance of the variety is high. Each bush bears 3-5 melons weighing 2-3 kg. Their skin is dark yellow and mesh. The pulp is light orange, strong, with a crunch. The taste is sweet, the aroma is intense.

Caramel

Another greenhouse hybrid, declared as early, but in reality - mid-season (fruit harvesting begins a little more than 3 months after the sprouts appear). Melons are elongated-oval, large, 2.1-3.7 kg. The surface is greenish-gray, mesh. The seed chamber is elongated. The pulp has a high percentage of dry matter, so it is crispy, rich in sugars and vitamins. In the southern regions it can be grown without shelter.

Dina

In the Russian seed registry there is a variety called Dina, registered. offers her own version of Dina - a hybrid, but in general the descriptions are similar. The first melons ripen early - on the 70th day. The fruits are oval, net-yellow, light yellow inside, fragrant, juicy. Average weight - 2 kg. The seed supplier promises excellent shelf life - more than three weeks.

Stages of growing this melon crop

To grow golden melon yourself, you need to purchase seeds. You can buy them at a specialty store or take them from a ripe melon when the flesh inside becomes soft. According to statistics, three-year-old seeds are most favorable for cultivation. Therefore, if the purchase takes place in a store, it is better to look for seeds that are 3 years old; this may be indicated on the label.

The next stage is planting seedlings. The container for growing the plant can be either a plastic glass or a peat pot. Gardeners still prefer peat pots, since the root system of golden melon is fragile and delicate.

After choosing a container, you need to fill it with soil for seedlings. You can buy soil either in a store, for example, soil substrate for growing cucumbers, or you can make it yourself. To do this, you need to mix the soil with sand and ash in proportions of 10:1:1 in liters, respectively.

After preparing the soil, you need to place the seeds inside to a depth of 2 cm and then water. It is necessary to maintain an optimal water level so that the plant grows, but does not “drown” in the water. It is better to place the seedlings in a warm place and in good lighting. Golden melon seeds grow in about a month and are ready for further planting in open ground.

Growing rules

You can grow golden melon using both seedling and non-seedling methods. For melon seeds to germinate, the temperature must be at least + 20 °C. If during planting (usually the end of April and the beginning of May) this condition is met, the plant can be planted in open ground; if not, seedling cultivation cannot be avoided.

Important! For planting, seeds that are 3-4 years old are used.

Using fresh seeds will lead to the fact that all the flowers of the plant will be male, that is, there will be no harvest in principle. In addition, melon seeds that have matured for 2-3 years have a much higher germination rate.

Recommended planting times

To make the most of the warm weather, it is recommended to time the planting so that the melon harvest occurs in August. Since the growing time for golden melon ranges from 75 to 85 days, the optimal planting dates will be the third ten days of April and the first ten days of May.

It does not matter whether the melon will be grown as seedlings or the seeds will be immediately planted in open ground.

Traditionally, early planting of seeds (April) is carried out in the southern regions, and May - in regions of colder climates. Despite the relatively small difference in planting dates, the seeding material has a significant difference: “April” seeds are planted dry, and “May” seeds are planted after hatching.

Pickling melon seeds is done by soaking them for several days between two pieces of damp cloth.

Site selection and soil preparation

Any sunny area with light and loose soil that has good air and water permeability is suitable as a melon for growing Golden melon. The ideal option is sandy loam soil. It should be dry, a little saltiness is allowed. Loams are a compromise, but quite acceptable for Golden Melon.

Important! Heavy soils and floating soils cannot be used for growing melons.

The soil for melons requires mandatory preliminary preparation, which begins in the fall of last year. The following crops are very suitable as melon precursors:

perennial herbs;
cereals;
clover;
cruciferous;
Solanaceae.

Bad predecessors are relatives of melons, that is, any pumpkin.

After the predecessor has been removed, the area should be watered abundantly in order to provoke the growth of possible weeds. Weeds are removed and the area is carefully dug up. At the same time as digging, organic fertilizers are added to it - compost, humus or rotted manure in the amount of one bucket per 2 square meters. m. Along with organic matter, it is recommended to add wood ash - up to 250 g per 1 sq. m. m.

The acidity of the area should be neutral or weak. Soils that are too acidic should be limed. Lime application rates are:

for sandy and sandy loam soils - 300 g per 1 sq. m;
for loams – 400 g per 1 sq. m.

This concludes the autumn preparations. After the snow melts, you should wait until the soil warms up to a temperature of + 12 ° C and apply complex fertilizer to the melon (usually nitrophoska) in the amount of 70 g per 1 sq. m. m.

Final preparation is made a few days before planting seeds or transplanting seedlings. In this case, nitrogen fertilizers (urea or saltpeter) are used in quantities of up to 20 g per 1 square meter. m.

Landing rules

Regardless of the planting method, the seeds before planting need to be treated with a 0.2% potassium permanganate solution for half an hour, the temperature of the solution should not exceed + 50 °C. After this, the seeds are washed with warm water and planted in seedling containers or open ground.

When using the seedling method of cultivation, seeds are planted in separate pots, thus, it will be possible to damage the root system of the plant to a lesser extent during transplantation. Any light mixture (sand and peat, garden soil and sand, etc.) is used as soil for seedlings.

Before planting, the soil is moistened, small depressions of 3-4 cm are made in it, and 3 to 5 seeds are placed in each of them. Next, the seeds are sprinkled with soil and the container is placed in a warm place. There is no need for film covering of containers, which is typical for most other plants grown by seedlings.

After about a week, the first shoots appear, which are thinned out over the next week, leaving the strongest plant.

The first watering is carried out when the first leaf appears. Further watering is done regularly so that the top layer of soil does not dry out.

Important! Watering the melon should be done in a thin stream and right to the root. In this case, moisture should not get on the stem and leaves.

Plants are pinched after the appearance of 5 and 6 leaves.

Plants are fertilized with complex fertilizer for seedlings on the 7th and 20th days after emergence, usually combined with watering.

On the 30th day, the seedlings should be planted in open ground, and it is necessary to carry out the hardening procedure a week before.

Golden melon is planted according to a pattern of 0.5x1.4 m (in some cases 0.7x1.5 m). Holes are placed using the same pattern when planting seeds in open ground.

Planting in open ground almost completely repeats the seedling cultivation of the plant (first watering after the formation of the first leaf, pinching after the 6th leaf, etc.)

Which place should I choose to plant the plant?

When choosing a plot of land for planting this variety, you should pay attention to the following factors:

the place should be illuminated without shadows.
No other fruits or vegetables should be grown nearby, as this may degrade the quality of the golden melon fruit due to cross-pollination.
If these climatic conditions do not provide the required amount of moisture to the plant, then agronomists are forced to resort to artificial watering of the plant.

Next, you need to decide on top dressing for this type of melon. The most advantageous combination is 40 grams of superphosphate, 20 grams of potassium salt and 20 grams of fertilizer containing nitrogen. But it is important to remember that fertilizing is done after the seeds germinate while watering the plant. It is also better to alternate organic and inorganic fertilizers.

Melon "Tydachunkuaikha"

Melon " Tydachunquaike" is an Asian melon variety from China, early ripening (60 days) and very productive. The plant is short-climbing, semi-bush, the main vine grows less than a meter long. The fruits are small, oblong, pear-shaped, slightly ribbed, with thin green skin. The pulp is tender, very aromatic, sweet and juicy yellow-orange in color. The variety is very unpretentious and can produce high yields even in cool, rainy summers. The average fruit weight is 200-600 g, the yield is high.

I came across this melon with an unpronounceable name on a seed collector's website. Outwardly, it was similar to the Matsaren cucumber, which I really liked. Nevertheless, this turned out to be a completely different variety, because the flesh of the cucumber, even when fully ripe, is greenish, while this melon is yellowish-white. In the phase of full ripeness, yellowness also appeared on the peel, it became soft, aromatic and separated from the stalk.

I liked the taste of this melon; it has crumbly, tender and very juicy pulp, but its sweetness is moderate and cannot be called cloying. Nevertheless, I ate this melon with special pleasure, since this variety was almost the only one that managed to set fruit last summer. Although last summer the weather was hot—ideal for melon growing—many acquaintances complained that they simply did not produce melons. The same thing happened to me; out of six melon bushes, only two had ovaries. At the same time, there was only one melon on a bush of a different variety, but this melon bore as many as two fruits under such conditions. Therefore, I think this variety can be called one of the most reliable in the middle zone.

I also liked its compactness, because this melon took up little space in the garden bed. And although such information was not listed on the seed seller’s website, judging by the appearance, taste and unpretentiousness, I assume that the variety still belongs to cucumbers, and not melons.

Rules for placing golden melon

Plants should be located in open ground at a distance of up to one and a half meters from each other. The minimum distance between rows should be 1 meter.

If the plant is grown in greenhouse conditions, then a distance of 1 meter between plants will be sufficient, but there are some subtleties. After the golden melon ovary has formed, it must be tied to a support using trellises.

To transplant seedlings into the ground, it is necessary to preserve the entire root system of the golden melon. To do this, you need to save a lump of earth, which is taken out along with the sprouted leaves. When planting in open ground, you should not push the plants too deep into the ground so as not to damage the delicate roots of the plant.

If the seedlings are rather weak, then when transplanting into the ground or greenhouse it is better to leave the plant in the shade. Sometimes agronomists make a canopy over the plant. If it is still not possible to provide shade over the plant, then replanting is done on non-sunny days. When the temperature drops to +10 degrees, the plant is covered with film.

The best varieties of melon

As you may have already learned from our previous articles, melon can be grown both in a greenhouse and in open ground. To get a decent harvest, you must not only choose the right place for planting and properly care for the plant, but also choose the right melon variety.

If you decide to grow a melon in your garden plot, you should take into account all the nuances associated with planting this plant. When choosing melon varieties for planting, take into account the climatic characteristics of your region. For our region, it is better to choose melon varieties with an early growing season. When choosing melon varieties , also consider the planting location: in a greenhouse or in open ground. In today's article we will talk about the best varieties of melon, varieties and hybrids that are suitable for growing in our region, both in greenhouse conditions and in open ground.

Further care for melon

Although golden melon needs a fairly large amount of moisture, too much watering will have a much worse effect on the plant. You can feed the plant with moisture even once a week. After the ovaries appear on the plant, artificial watering is stopped. Proper watering of this type of melon should be carried out under the root system of the plant, and not on the leaves. If you follow all the watering rules, the fruits will be juicy and sweet.

Also, to grow high-quality fruits, melons should be “fed.” You need to start fertilizing after the first shoots appear on the plant. You should carefully apply fertilizing containing nitrogen, since its excess can lead to an increase in the ripening period of fruits. Before the shoots appear, you can fertilize the golden melon with chicken droppings or mullein. After flowers appear on the plant, only organic fertilizers should be used.

After the seedlings have been in the open ground for two weeks, you can treat the melon with a solution of ammonium nitrate. You need to prepare it in terms of 10 liters of water. You need to add about 20 grams of fertilizer. It is better to include 50 grams of superphosphate, 25 grams of potassium salt and 30 grams of ammonium sulfate in the fertilizer.

After the ovaries appear on the plant, it is better to stop fertilizing, as it can provoke abundant leaf growth.

When diseases or pests appear on a plant, it is necessary to treat it with appropriate solutions. When fungus appears, you should carefully inspect the leaves of the plant and remove painful ones, and then treat them with a fungicide solution.

When pests appear, it is better to treat the plant with a phytofarm solution.

It is important to note that shortly before the start of harvest, about 3 weeks, all fight against infections and diseases must be stopped. The ingress of specific solutions can negatively affect the quality of golden melon fruits.

Pests and diseases

The most common diseases of melon include powdery mildew, fusarium, and anthracnose. The main pests of melon are melon aphids and spider mites. Aphids, in addition to sucking plant juices, are carriers of viral diseases - cucumber and watermelon mosaic.

Bushes that are affected by powdery mildew are treated with sulfur powder at a concentration of 80%. Treatment is carried out several times with an interval of 3 weeks.

Fusarium is combated by spraying plants with a solution of potassium chloride. To prevent this disease, it is recommended to additionally treat the seeds with a 40% formaldehyde solution for 5 minutes before sowing.

Pest control is carried out using Actellik or Karbofos. If ticks are resistant to drugs, it is recommended to use acaricides, for example, Bicol.

Important! Any treatment with drugs should be stopped 3 weeks before harvest.

When to harvest?

When the foliage begins to wilt and the golden melon fruits turn yellow, this signals the harvest. There is also no need to rush to harvest too much. The more the fruits are kept warm and under the sun, the juicier and sweeter they will be. However, you can also collect not fully ripened melon fruits, which can be placed in boxes in the sun, thereby the melon will ripen to the end.

For further storage or transportation of golden melon, the bottom of the container should be lined with straw or other soft material. The optimal temperature for storing this variety is +4 degrees. If the storage standards for fruits are observed, they can still be eaten before winter.

Golden melon is popular among gardeners due to its ease of cultivation. Buyers also appreciate this variety for its taste, softness and tenderness of the fruit. Transporting melon fruits is also not difficult, so this variety of golden melon has spread not only in Russia, but also in Moldova and Ukraine.