Technique for growing melon “collective farmer” in open ground and in greenhouses

Sooner or later, gardeners begin to become interested in the possibility of growing “kolkhoznitsa” melon in open ground and in greenhouses. How realistic is this and what is needed first? Melon is quite demanding of heat and light, but growing the southern berry is quite possible both in open areas and in greenhouses, if you study all the nuances of agricultural technology and do not forget to apply them in practice, taking into account the region of residence and climate characteristics.

Melon Kolkhoznitsa in a section

Description of the variety Kolkhoznitsa

This is a mid-season variety. From the moment the first sprouts hatch until the first sweet melons are harvested, 77–95 days pass. The weight of ripe fruits is 0.7–1.3 kg. They are spherical, the average diameter is 20 cm. The variety can be called portioned, that is, one berry can be eaten at a time, there is no need to store it cut up in the refrigerator.

The pulp of the ripe Kolkhoznitsa melon is white, the bark is of medium thickness without a pattern, there are a lot of seeds.

The bark is bright yellow, orange, sometimes with a green tint. The surface is usually smooth, in some places it can be covered with a coarse mesh. The skin is flexible, but hard, of medium thickness, which contributes to good transportability of the fruit. This is the second factor after excellent taste, thanks to which the variety became commercial.

The pulp is thin, which is logical for a medium-sized fruit, white, moderately crispy, juicy, fibrous and very sweet. But in cool summers or when grown in the shade, it accumulates less sugar. There are a lot of seeds inside. This is not a hybrid. There is no need to buy seeds every year. If you raised Kolkhoznitsa and you liked it, then for sowing next year you can collect your seeds from the largest and tastiest melons.

Peculiarities of using “collective farm melon”

Kolkhoznitsa is distinguished from other melon varieties by its high content of medicinal substances. Therefore, it is often used as a remedy. It helps restore a depleted body, cures rheumatism, and normalizes blood pressure.

The low calorie content of collective farmer melon allows it to be used for weight loss. The fiber contained in the product makes it easier to digest food, which contributes to weight loss. The serotonin produced when consuming pumpkin improves mood, relieves depression and insomnia. It is especially recommended to include melons in the diet of women. How is kolkhoznitsa melon useful for a woman’s body?

The presence of silicon in the composition has a positive effect on the condition:

• nervous system;
• hair, nails, skin;
• metabolic and digestive process.

The high content of folic acid helps maintain hormonal levels and regulate mood swings during the premenopausal period.

Collective farmer melon also brings considerable benefits during pregnancy. Thanks to the laxative and diuretic effect of melons, the risk of developing edema is reduced, and the intestines are easier to empty.

However, the “berry” can also cause harm. To prevent this from happening, you need to know when you can eat collective farm melon and when you can’t. “Berry” is contraindicated for diseases of the digestive tract and urolithiasis. It is dangerous for nursing mothers to eat pumpkin. A product that gets into milk can cause colic or an allergic reaction in a newborn.

Important! Patients with diabetes should also exclude melons from their diet. Due to the glucose it contains, it may cause an increase in blood sugar levels. Therefore, before consuming melon, you need to make sure there are no contraindications.

Advantages and disadvantages of Kolkhoznitsa melon

Pros and cons of the variety

Over 80 years of growing melons, gardeners have noted the following advantages of the Kolkhoznitsa melon:

• high fertility;
• excellent taste characteristics;
• drought resistance;
• unpretentiousness to climatic conditions, soil composition;
• the ability to transport crops over long distances;
• short growing season;
• the ability to collect seeds for replanting;
• portioned fruits.

Among the disadvantages of the Kolkhoznitsa melon is its susceptibility to fungal diseases. To grow melon in a greenhouse, artificial pollination is necessary. Some consumers are not satisfied with the small size of the fruit. Also, ripe or overripe Kolkhoznitsa melons have a short shelf life.

Features of planting melon kolkhoznitsa

The very first thing you need to do when growing Kolkhoznitsa is to decide on the sowing time. They differ in different regions; in addition, they are planted in a greenhouse or greenhouse 2–3 weeks earlier than in the ground. Wherever you plant: in open or closed ground, at night it should not be colder than +10... +15 ⁰C. This is the critical temperature at which melons stop developing and die during prolonged cold spells.

Note! Kolkhoznitsa melon seeds can be sown directly into the ground or for seedlings

To harvest the Kolkhoznitsa crop in August, sow it in the first half of May at the latest. Based on the weather conditions in your region, decide where you can sow the melon at this time: in a greenhouse, greenhouse, open ground or at home for seedlings. The seedling period lasts 30–35 days. When sowing at home in April, you will bring the harvest one month closer.

Helpful advice! In an effort to start working with the land as soon as possible, in order to get an early harvest, you do not need to sow melon before April. In February - March there is still not enough light and heat on the windows. Need lighting. In addition, overgrown melon seedlings with a long stem and many leaves will take root poorly and be sick for a long time, and will lag behind those plants that were sown on time and planted at the optimal age for seedlings.

If your area does not receive 90 sunny days, grow Kolkhoznitsa through seedlings.

Since the Kolkhoznitsa melon variety is predisposed to fungal diseases, be sure to disinfect the seeds in one of the following ways:

• Soak for 15–20 minutes in a dark purple opaque solution of potassium permanganate. Then rinse with clean water.
• Place in hot water (+50 ⁰C) and hold for 5-10 minutes.

Important preparatory steps

It is important to create the most suitable conditions for a drought-resistant melon at all phases of development (sprouting, weaving, flowering, setting, ripening).

Conditions for normal development

Melon is demanding in terms of temperature, lighting and humidity, as well as soil composition. For good development, it needs warmth and a lot of sunlight, and excess moisture can destroy the crop. Deviations from optimal values ​​affect the final result - the fruits do not ripen or lose their taste:

• With sudden changes in day and night temperatures (from +40°C to +10°C), the roots suffer and weaken, nutrients are interrupted in the stem and leaves, resulting in wilting.
• At temperatures below +10°C, the melon stops growing and may die.
• The sweetest pulp will be if the plant receives maximum sun.
• If the heat reaches above 40°C, fertilization becomes impossible, since the pollen will be sterile.
• Lack of lighting (cloudy) greatly increases the interval between the appearance of male and female flowers.
• Flowers are best pollinated by insects in calm, warm weather and average air humidity.
• The greatest need for moisture is during the formation of lashes and fruit growth.
• During the ripening phase, false ones require a dry atmosphere.

Growing melon using a hydroponics system

Selecting a suitable site and preparing the soil for melons

In temperate climates, heated places located on slopes directed to the south and southwest, or at an elevation, are best suited for growing melons in open ground. Groundwater should not be close to the surface so that the plants do not get sick or rot. Cold strong winds should not blow through the area.

The soils should be light, fertile, without stagnant water, non-acidic (neutral) and slightly acidic. For the satisfactory condition of the roots, good soil permeability to moisture and air is important.

The predecessors on the site cannot be representatives of the pumpkin family; it is best to plant melon after winter wheat, barley, corn, root vegetables, onions, and cabbage. It is recommended to use the site for cultivation for no more than 2 years, otherwise the incidence of disease increases and the yield deteriorates.

To sow melons, you need to fertilize the soil in the fall before digging the bed, adding about a bucket of rotted manure or 3-4 kg of humus per square meter, then dig up the soil to the depth of a spade bayonet. Loamy soil can be easily corrected by adding sand. In the spring, the area is leveled and loosened.

The plot for melons is called melon

Choosing a variety for successful cultivation

Melon is closely related to cucumber (from the pumpkin family) and is divided into several subspecies. The fruit of this crop is botanically called pumpkin or false berry. Varieties are distinguished according to the following characteristics:

• by ripening period (early - 60 days, mid-early - 70, medium - 95 and others);
• by the appearance of the fetus;
• for resistance to cold.

It is important to approach the choice of variety very responsibly, since varietal characteristics are quite diverse, and not all are suitable for specific conditions.

It is better to use cold-resistant mid-early varieties, which in the steppe zone produce mature fruits 2 months after germination.

Cantaloupe melon

For food consumption, the subspecies “common melon” is grown, which includes the following popular varieties:

1. Central Asian - “Gulyabi”, “Pineapple”, “Torpedo”;
2. European - “Collective Farm Girl”, “Cantaloupe”, “Moscow Early”;
3. exotic - “Vietnamese”, “Kiwano”.

Most often, the following varieties can be found on household plots and on the plantations of small farmers:

• “Gulyabi” - produces large egg-shaped fruits weighing 3-5 kg, the pulp is sweet, and is stored for a long time.
• “Pineapple” is early ripening, the fruits weighing 1.5-4 kg are oval in shape.
• “Torpedo” is late-ripening, the fruits are large, oblong. When ripe, the pulp acquires a pink tint and a special sweetness and aroma.
• “Kolkhoznitsa” is a variety with a medium ripening period, round, numerous smooth, light green fruits (up to 2 kg in weight), very sweet, white flesh. Many people are engaged in growing “kolkhoznitsa” melon in the open ground of the middle zone, due to its excellent adaptability to such climatic conditions.

Harvest variety "Kolkhoznitsa"

• “Cantaloupe” is mid-season, the fruits are spherical-flattened, segmented, weighing up to 2 kg, the flesh is bright orange, and loses its sweetness when stored for a long time.
• “Moskovskaya rannyaya” is an early-ripening variety, disease-resistant and well-tolerant of temperature fluctuations, the pulp of the spherical fruits is juicy, light cream color, weight is about 1 kg.
• “Vietnamese” - distinguished by the unusual striped yellow-brown color of the fruits; they are very aromatic and have a delicate taste.
• “Kiwano” is an African variety; in the fruits of this melon, it is not the pulp that is valued, but the juicy greenish core with seeds. The taste is very pleasant and refreshing. Can be grown in a heated greenhouse.

For open ground in temperate latitudes, the most suitable varieties are from the group of summer European varieties, with a moderate aroma and snow-white flesh.

Varieties popular in Central Asia do not reach fruit maturity; they are very susceptible to possible periods of waterlogging and may die.

Although it is possible to get a good harvest when growing melon in a polycarbonate or glass greenhouse.

Preparing seeds for sowing

Seeds do not lose their viability for about 6-8 years, and the best results are not for fresh seeds, which may not bear fruit at all, but for three- to five-year-old ones.

Before sowing, the largest seeds need to be prepared, which will protect future plants from diseases and increase germination:

• for the purpose of sorting, immerse the seeds in salted water, select and discard those that float, and rinse the remaining ones with clean water;
• warm up in the sun for a couple of weeks and several hours at + 60°C to accelerate germination and increase yield;
• soak for 20 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate (0.5 g per half glass of water), rinse and dry;
• for earlier sowing, use dry seeds; for later sowing, soak the seed and keep at a temperature of +25-30°C until a tenth of the total amount hatches;
• Hardening is of great benefit: immerse the seeds in warm water, remove them and place them for a day at +20°C, and then keep them for about 18 hours at almost zero temperature (not lower) and again at +20°C. And so three times a week before landing.

Seeds for planting

Sowing and growing melon seedlings

The classic method of growing seedlings begins with the purchase of cups or cassettes, as well as suitable soil (for melons or pumpkins). You can take soil from your garden and mix it in equal proportions with humus and peat. If the mixture is not loose enough (it clumps together when wet), add perlite, vermiculite or coarse sand. Be sure to warm the soil in any way to +100 ⁰C (the earth should float) and give it a week to recover. Pour a glass of wood ash into a bucket of this mixture and mix. This will complete the preparation of your own soil.

How to choose a ripe and sweet Kolkhoznitsa in a store or market

Choosing a juicy and flavorful product is quite simple if you know what to look for.

Important! It is not recommended to buy melon near highways and in tents near busy roads, such goods accumulate exhaust gases.

To begin with, the selected specimen is picked up and inspected for cracks, dark spots and dents . Then they check whether the fruit has aroma. If there is a sweet aroma (vanilla, pear, honey), then the melon is ripe, if the smell is grassy, ​​then it is not.

It also makes sense to pat the peel - a ripe specimen will have a dull sound.

To find out whether the product is overripe, press on it with your hand. If the peel is slightly springy, and even small dents do not remain on it by hand, then the vegetable is not overripe.

It is rational to choose medium-sized fruits , since they are most likely not stuffed with chemicals (unlike the largest collective farmers). For the same reason, you should not buy melons before August.

Video: recipes for soil mixtures for workaholics

Melon does not tolerate transplanting and picking well; each such procedure postpones the harvest date by a week. Therefore, sow the seeds in individual cups: dry - 2-3 seeds in each, sprouted - one at a time. The volume of the cups depends on the period during which you plan to keep the melons on the windowsill: if 2-3 weeks, then a volume of 150-200 ml (one-time cup) will be enough. If you sow Kolkhoznitsa a month before planting, then take pots with a volume of 300–500 ml.

It is better to tear up and remove peat and paper cups during planting; with insufficient watering, they can turn into a crust that is impenetrable for roots.

Optimal temperature for emergence and further growth: +25… +30 ⁰C. Place melon seedlings in the brightest window. If 2-3 shoots appear in a glass, leave only one of the strongest ones; do not pull the rest by the roots, but pinch them above the ground. Water generously as the top layer of soil dries so that water flows out of the drainage holes. There is no need to feed, since the soil used is fertile, the seedling period is short, there is enough food for the melons.

Description of culture

The fruits of “Kolkhoznitsa” are spherical. Description of fruits:

• Pulp. Thin because the fruit is small. White. Juicy with a little crunch.
• Crust. Elastic but firm. Bright yellow, sometimes with an orange or green tint. Smooth, sometimes a coarse mesh appears.

The taste of “Kolkhoznitsa” depends on the growing conditions. The cooler the summer, the less sun, the less sugars the fruits accumulate. There are a lot of seeds inside “Collective Farmer”.

Video: tips from Kherson, professional sowing of melon seeds

Today, the traditional method of growing seedlings is being replaced by a more progressive one, which does not require pots or even soil:

1. Lay a standard size cellophane bag on the table and fold it in half so that the width is halved. Or take a strip of film 10–15 cm wide, and the length is equal to twice the number of seeds.
2. Place toilet paper on the film in 2-3 layers and moisten it with a room sprayer.
3. Stepping back 2–3 cm from the top edge, place the seeds at a distance of 1–2 cm from each other.
4. Roll into a tight roll, secure with a rubber band or tape and place in a glass of water. The water should only cover the bottom edge of the toilet paper.

Landing in the ground

Growing the Kolkhoznitsa melon involves growing it directly in the open ground. But since this is a heat-loving crop, it is better to create ridges for planting the plant, making them 50–60 centimeters high from horse or cow manure. Melon seeds are placed in holes where nutritious soil is poured in advance. The distance between the holes should be 60–70 centimeters. This method helps to obtain harvests of Kolkhoznitsa melon at an earlier date in areas with a temperate climate.

You can sow melon directly into the ground when the threat of frost with air temperatures of up to 12–15 degrees Celsius has passed. In the steppe regions, planting dates vary from May 10 to May 20, in the rest - later, until June 1. Pre-germinated seeds can be planted in the soil later.

Choose a site for a heat-loving plant that is sunny and not exposed to winds. After loosening the soil, humus and river sand are added to the holes for looseness and better heating. Seeds are planted in each nest at a distance of 1.3x1.3 meters to a depth of 5 and 3 centimeters.

Sow in layers in order to protect emerging seedlings from spring frosts. If the shoots of both layers are preserved, the shoots that appear later can be destroyed.

Plants in open ground are preserved well by inter-row crops, when rows of corn or sunflowers are planted nearby. Proper planting in the beds requires the emergence of seedlings in 7–10 days.

Video: seedlings of melons, watermelons and cucumbers without soil (roll-rolled)

You can sow 10–20 Kolkhoznitsa seeds in such a rolled-up cigarette. And all this in one glass. Shoots appear in 3–4 days and can grow without soil for about two weeks until the first true leaf appears. Then you need to plant it in a permanent place or unroll it, add a 1-2 cm layer of soil and roll it up again. With this method, the roots are not injured, but are always accessible. During transplantation to a permanent place, each plant is easily separated along with a piece of toilet paper; it will quickly rot in the ground.

Melon seedlings grown in rolling papers can be easily separated with a piece of damp paper, without damaging the roots.

For any growing method, a week before planting, accustom the seedlings to the open air. Take it outside, gradually increasing exposure to the sun from 1 hour to the whole day.

When to harvest the Kolkhoznitsa melon crop and how to preserve it

It’s easy to determine the readiness of the Kolkhoznitsa’s fruits. They acquire a beautiful yellow-orange color, and the area opposite the stalk becomes slightly soft and emits a wonderful aroma. You can also cut off slightly unripe fruits, but not earlier than 5–7 days before they are completely ripe: only then will they be ready at home. The fruits are cut together with the stalk, using pruning shears, in the morning or evening. It’s hard to say in what month this will happen: it all depends on when it was planted. Most often the harvest occurs in August.

The Kolkhoznitsa variety is stored for a relatively short time, but absolutely healthy fruits can last for 3–4 months in good conditions. It is better to hang them in individual soft nets at a temperature of +1... +3 ⁰C and a humidity of 70–80%.

Video: Kolkhoznitsa melon in the beds among other vegetables

Sowing immediately to a permanent place, soil preparation, planting scheme

Residents of the south, as well as owners of greenhouses and those who have the opportunity to approach their plantings at least twice a day to cover them in the evening and remove temporary cover in the morning can grow Kolkhoznitsa without seedlings. It is recommended to prepare the soil for melons in the fall, since phosphorus fertilizers need to be applied, and they take a very long time to dissolve. If you add superphosphate in the spring, it will be in an easily digestible form by the time the melons ripen, although it is needed throughout the entire growing season.

Superphosphate granules can be used to fertilize perennial crops throughout the warm season, but for melons that grow for only one season, it is applied in advance, in the fall.

Fertilizers for planting melons per 1 m² of bed:

• In autumn - a tablespoon of superphosphate and potassium fertilizer, a bucket of humus.
• In spring - 0.5 liters of wood ash, a bucket of humus or compost. Organics can be replaced with 1 tbsp. l. ammonium nitrate or urea.

For looseness, it is not necessary to sprinkle sand; you can use small pieces of bark, thin twigs, leaves, hay dust and other plant debris, which will also enrich the soil by rotting.

The soil on the melon patch should be loose, allowing air and moisture to pass to the roots.

In regions of risky farming with cool and rainy summers, as well as in areas with close groundwater, it is customary to make high beds. Under a layer of soil of 20 cm, “pillows” of approximately the same thickness are placed from natural materials: grass, branches, household waste, sawdust, etc. In this case, the melons will be raised above the garden level, will be better warmed by the sun, and will dry out faster after rains. Many people grow melons in barrels and boxes emptied after growing cabbage seedlings.

Diseases and pests

The most dangerous pests are melon aphids and spider mites. For both pests, the variety is sprayed 3 times per season with chemicals or a diluted sulfur solution. As a melon plant, false berry is often susceptible to fungal diseases:

• powdery mildew;
• blackleg;
• fusarium;
• verdigris and root rot.

With powdery mildew, the foliage turns yellow, then becomes covered with a gray coating and dries out. The disease also affects melons, which dry directly on the bushes and fall off. Blackleg is dangerous for seedlings and spreads to neighboring plants. The adult stem begins to turn black at the base of the roots, and the infection spreads in patches throughout the entire stem. Infection of other bushes occurs through the root system.

Fusarium deforms the fruits, they lose their presentation, the foliage withers, and the stem dries out from the inside. Root rot affects the roots of an adult plant. The verdigris is immediately noticeable - rust spots appear on the leaves and fruits, and the fruits quickly rot. The fungal disease spreads to neighboring plants.

In order to prevent powdery mildew at the initial stage, the Kolkhoznitsa melon is sprayed with pesticides and flammable sulfur. To prevent the appearance of blackleg, the seeds are disinfected in a diluted manganese solution, then the seedlings are sprinkled with sifted sand. Root rot cannot be removed by anything, so the affected plants and neighboring bushes are removed. Fusarium appears when there is an excess of moisture and potassium supplements. In this case, it is necessary to monitor watering and the amount of potassium fertilizer. At the first signs of copperhead, Kolkhoznitsa melons are sprayed with fungicides.

Melon care, bush formation

If you grew them as seedlings, shade the young melons for the first days after planting. In cool summer conditions, do not rush to remove temporary shelters. Leave them until the temperature at night stops dropping below +15 ⁰C. At the end of summer - in the fall, cover the bed again to protect it from cold and dew and allow the fruits to ripen.

The warm bed imitates a slope facing south; Stagnation of water is excluded, the top is covered with agrofibre, dark bottles with water serve as heat accumulators.

Do not remove the arcs even at the height of summer; you can stretch the film over them if prolonged rains come. However, in this case, do not close the bed tightly; leave the ends open for ventilation. All these measures are aimed at providing the collective farmer with more warmth, fresh air and protection from dampness, in which pathogenic fungi develop well.

All about the melon variety Kolkhoznitsa: characteristics, planting and care

Kolkhoznitsa is an old, proven variety of melons that once had all-Union fame. But even today, despite dozens of new varieties, the medium-sized and sweet “Kolkhoznitsa” continues to ripen in the beds of our gardeners. Let's learn about the features of planting and growing this fragrant melon in different regions of Russia.

melon variety "Kolkhoznitsa"

melon seeds variety “Kolkhoznitsa”

Already in its eighth decade, the Kolkhoznitsa melon has been at the peak of popularity

Video: growing melon in open ground

The irrigation schedule depends on the age of the collective farmer and the weather. Water small plants often in dry weather so that the soil is always moist; adults - once a week if there has been no rain. Stop watering 2 weeks before harvest. Melons need to be fed once every 10–14 days. Give the first fertilizing two weeks after emergence or planting of seedlings.

Start feeding when the bushes grow, at least 3-4 leaves appear on them.

Until the ovaries begin to grow, feed with bird droppings (1:20), mullein (1:10), infusion of weeds (1:5) or other nitrogen-containing fertilizers, including mineral ones. In the fruit growth phase, you can get by with ash fertilizing (powder the ground with a thin layer, loosen and water), ready-made complex mixtures for melons are also suitable: Clean Leaf, Gumi-Omi, etc.

Melon loves wood ash very much; this fertilizer contains all the necessary micro- and macroelements, except nitrogen.

Melons need to be shaped, otherwise you won’t get a harvest. On the main stem, only barren flowers are formed - male flowers, and the ovaries grow on the side shoots. Their active growth needs to be caused. To do this, pinch the main lash over 4–5 leaves. Shoots will grow from the remaining axils. In the middle zone and Siberia it is better to leave only the two strongest ones; in the south the bush can consist of 3-4 lashes.

The soil

Melon is more demanding in terms of nutritional conditions than watermelon. The soil should be light and nutritious. Melon is extremely responsive to fertilization.

Optimum temperature for seed germination +25 +30

Melon care

Melons are light-loving; lighting is especially important at the beginning of plant development. At this time, it is necessary to ensure that the plant is free from weeds; this is a very important point, if you miss it, you may not see the harvest.

Melons require heat, so when selecting seeds you need to look for a hybrid or variety for a specific region. And “Kolkhoznitsa” is an excellent option for the middle zone.

Watering is moderate, melon is a fairly drought-resistant crop, but in dry air it requires good watering. Melon grows well in areas where groundwater is close, but at the same time it does not tolerate excess moisture.

The main type of care is loosening, weeding, and fertilizing. After the formation of 2-3 fruits, the lashes are pinched. It is worth remembering that we do not trim the side shoots, because the fruits are formed on them.

Feeding

Provided the soil is nutritious, the melon will need two or three feedings over the entire period. Fertilizers are applied approximately every two weeks. In the first stages we use nitrogen - droppings, humus, herbal infusions, mineral fertilizers. And then potassium. Ash, potassium humate are good, and it is possible to use mineral fertilizers.

Video: forming a melon bush

Next, monitor the formation and growth of the ovaries, do not rush to do any additional pinching until they grow the size of a goose egg. It happens that having reached this size, the fruits turn yellow and fall off. Decide how many melons to leave on the bush based on the strength of the bush and the weather. If the bush is powerful and the summer is hot, then you can leave 5-6, on a weakly growing bush in rainy weather - 2-3. Once you decide on the quantity and make sure that the ovaries are growing well, pinch all the shoots above the fruits, counting 5 leaves from them. Remove the stepsons without ovaries entirely.

Do not rush to pinch and remove side shoots; first make sure that the melons you have chosen are increasing in size every day and are not going to turn yellow and fall off.

In a greenhouse, all vines must be tied to a trellis. During the flowering season, open doors and windows wide to let bees in or pollinate female flowers by hand. Put nets on already growing melons and tie them up too. In open ground, to protect the fruits from rot, place a board, a piece of plastic, an old ceramic tile, etc. under each fruit.

The Kolkhoznitsa has thin vines, they may not be able to support their fruits, so tie the melons to the trellises too.

To prevent powdery mildew and other fungal diseases, before flowering and at the beginning of ovary growth, spray with fungicides: HOM (40 g per 10 l), Skor (2 ml per 10 l), etc. Chemicals can be treated no later than 3-4 weeks before fruit ripening.

Which melon is sweeter - Torpedo or Kolkhoz Woman

Debates about the best variety of melons take place every season. The torpedo is several times larger than the Kolkhoznitsa melon. The shape of the fruits of the first is elongated and much heavier than the round and compact variety Kolkhoznitsa. They also taste very different. Based on consumer reviews, Torpedo is more watery, with a noticeable sour aftertaste, while Kolkhoznitsa is sweet and moderately juicy.

The pulp of the fruit is the same snow-white color, but summer residents purchase unripe Torpedo melon more often. This is explained by the presence of a thick and hard peel, so the ripeness of this variety is determined by the sound when struck and the presence of smell. The calorie content of the Torpedo variety is slightly higher - 36 kcal. The ripening period for the Torpedo species is slightly longer - 95-110 days. However, it lasts longer but has fewer health-promoting vitamins.

Harvest and storage

Unlike watermelons, melons clearly signal that it is time to remove them from the bush. The skin turns yellow, the berries begin to exude a characteristic sweet aroma. The collective farmer can be ripened at home on the window, under the bed or in another place, as long as it is dry there. Cut the fruits with a “tail,” that is, leave a stalk 3–5 cm long. Melons are stored hanging in a cool room, large quantities are collected in braids or garlands.

Important! Handle the melons carefully; do not throw them, drop them, or stack them on top of each other in several layers. Any damage to the crust: a dent, a bruise, a crack, will lead to rotting of the fruit.

Completely whole melons can be stored in the basement until the New Year, hanging each one separately by its tail or in a net. Storage temperature: +1... +3 ⁰C, humidity - 70–80%.

The main purpose of Kolkhoznitsa, like all melons, is for table use, that is, for fresh consumption. However, if you have harvested a rich harvest, there is no storage space or there are a lot of damaged fruits, then treat the melons as you would with ordinary berries. From their slices you can make preserves, compotes, jams, jams, and candied fruits. Melon is pickled, dried, frozen.

Note! In addition to a large amount of vitamins and microelements, this berry contains folic acid, which improves hematopoiesis and reduces the proportion of bad cholesterol. Melon lovers suffer from fewer colds and have stronger immunity. In addition, this berry is a good anti-stress agent, reduces anxiety, and improves mood. Of course, melon has diuretic properties and helps with kidney diseases.

Melon marmalade is a beautiful and tasty treat.

The benefits of melon for the body

The beneficial qualities of melon have been known since ancient times. In terms of their composition, the fruits of the melon culture cannot be compared with other representatives of the Pumpkin family. Kolkhoznitsa melon contains vitamins that have a beneficial effect on the course of pregnancy in women. Those who eat tasty pulp are less likely to get colds.

The dietary product helps to get rid of excess weight. The berry cleanses the body well of waste and toxins. The fruits contain a lot of iron, which is important for people suffering from anemia. Magnesium has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, calming it. And calcium strengthens bone tissue.

But pumpkins bring not only benefits, but also harm if:

• consume them with milk, honey, alcoholic drinks;
• there are diseases of the digestive tract;
• a woman breastfeeds her baby;
• stones were identified in the genitourinary system;
• diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.

Therefore, before eating pumpkin, you need to consider whether the Kolkhoznitsa melon will bring benefit or harm to the body.

Reviews about melon Kolkhoznitsa

Medic

Last year, a collective farmer grew melon on her plot - the harvest turned out to be excellent, just like from the south, if you remember last year’s summer was very hot. And this year there is also a harvest, but the melons are very small and they are not ripe, I thought they would ripen by the fall, but the tops on them have all dried up.

Alexcris

It was so. Varieties: Cinderella, Kolkhoznitsa. Soaking: April 20th. Planting in cups: early May. Planting under film: late May-early June. At temperatures above 17 in the morning (at about 9 o'clock) we opened it, in the evening (at about 9 o'clock) we closed it. If the temperature was over 25 degrees, then they didn’t close it at night. They watered only if there was no rain for 5 days. By August 15–20, the first melons appeared. Weight from 500 g to 4 kg. The aroma is better than store bought ones.

blonde

Last year my mother grew 3 melons of the “Kolkhoznitsa” variety in a greenhouse. The melons are a little smaller in size than store-bought ones, very fragrant, ripe, but not very sweet. Is it true. They were planted in the far corner of the greenhouse, maybe there wasn’t enough light. This year we will plant them in the brightest place.

Kostik

From what I tried, the varieties Severnaya Zvezda and Kolkhoznitsa ripened best.

When growing Kolkhoznitsa, four agricultural practices are important:

1. Sow on time so that the harvest has time to ripen before the onset of cold weather.
2. Protect against diseases by carrying out preventive spraying.
3. Properly form the bush and normalize the harvest.
4. In conditions of short and cool summers, provide warmth using covering material and high beds.

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Choosing the ripest collective farmer

Choosing ripe and healthy berries is not so easy. Most of them look very beautiful and appetizing, but sometimes the fruits turn out to be tasteless or too watery. Therefore, you need to know how to choose a collective farm melon so that it is not only tasty, but also beneficial.

Melons begin to appear on store shelves from the beginning of summer. But if you buy melons at this time, you can run into fruits stuffed with chemicals. The main melon harvest occurs at the end of July - beginning of August. During this period, the risk of acquiring nitrate fruits is much less.

When buying berries you need to pay attention to:

1. The size of the fruit - the collective farmer is small in size and weighs no more than 2 kg. Very small fruits will most likely be unripe, and large ones will be stuffed with nitrates.
2. Peel - the ripe fruit is distinguished by a light yellow skin covered with a large mesh.
3. Sound – patting the skin should produce a dull sound.
4. The tail is dry in a ripe fruit.
5. Smell – a ripe melon emits a sweetish honey aroma. The absence of odor or a herbaceous aroma emanating from it indicates that the product is spoiled.

Attention! Light pressure on the peel of the fruit should not leave fingerprints, the peel should be springy. Otherwise, the berry is overripe and spoiled. These signs will help you choose a ripe, sweet melon for the collective farmer. When purchasing, you should also take into account the place where the melons are sold. It is not advisable to buy melons sold along highways, since their rind can absorb carcinogens. It is better to purchase only whole, uncut fruits.

Characteristics of melon

Melon is a melon crop from the Cucurbitaceae family. It is an annual bush with a long vine, on which fruits are formed - false berries of round or oval shape. Depending on the variety, the size and color differ. The main shades are yellow, golden, green and even white. The surface is smooth or rough, covered with small cracks. The pulp is juicy, sweet, aromatic, white or rich yellow. The seeds are collected in the center of the berry and are suitable for growing for the next season.

Fruits grown in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are of the best quality.

In addition to Asian fields, melon grows in India, China and Africa. By the way, the miracle berry was even mentioned in the Bible, and it was grown in Ancient Egypt. These varieties were taken as breeding material for the production of new hybrids that are resistant to drought and various weather conditions.

The largest melon was grown in 1985 in the USA, its weight was 118 kg!

The berry appeared in domestic gardens in the 16th century and is cultivated throughout the entire territory, from the hot southern regions to the lands of Yakutia and the Far East. In the north it is grown in greenhouses and greenhouses.

Melon pulp does not contain allergens and is suitable for small children.

Beneficial features

Melon contains many useful substances, natural sugars, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Its basis is 90% water. A high content of vitamin C and cobalt (more than 20%) helps strengthen the immune system, absorb iron, and normalize metabolism.

100 grams of melon contain 35 kcal.

Melon is rich in vitamins: A (0.67 mcg), beta-carotene (0.4 mg), B1 (0.04 mg), B2 (0.04 mg), B5 (0.23 mg), B6 ​​(0. 06 mg), B9 (6 µg), C (20 mg), E, ​​PP (0.5). In addition, the pulp contains micro- and macroelements that help improve human health:

• Potassium.
• Calcium.
• Magnesium.
• Sodium.
• Sulfur.
• Phosphorus.
• Iron.
• Chlorine.
• Iodine.
• Cobalt.
• Manganese.
• Copper.
• Fluorine.
• Zinc.

The berries are consumed fresh and used to prepare sweets, marinades and add to meat. Low calorie content puts the culture on the list of dietary products that cleanse the body and help improve intestinal function.

Late

People who are not limited in time are engaged in growing varieties with late ripening. Such fruits are characterized by a high shelf life of the crop and a ripening period of more than three months.

Torpedo

This Uzbek variety is classified as a late-ripening variety of melons that ripens in about 100-110 days. When grown in hot and dry climates, Torpedo will ripen two weeks earlier. The main features of the variety include the weight of ripe fruits, which grow up to 15-17 kg. However, such results can only be achieved when grown in greenhouses. On the street, the weight of the fruit reaches only 5-6 kg.

The surface of the melons is covered with a yellow peel, on which a mesh pattern of light veins can be seen. The skin is very dense and thanks to this it reliably protects the fruit.

A pineapple

Breeders developed this variety specifically for planting in warm climates. Pineapple is not frost-resistant, and therefore gardeners grow it in greenhouses or greenhouses.

Like most other melons, Pineapple has oval and elongated fruits, weighing 2-3 kg.

The distinctive features of Pineapple include its pink interior with a pleasant sweet taste and aromatic smell.

This hybrid variety of melons copes well with pathogens of common diseases. Thanks to this, the plant rarely suffers from gray rot and late blight.

Wintering

From the name of the variety it is clear that the plant is resistant to low temperatures and therefore can be planted in the garden. Wintering refers to the popular late-ripening melons, which ripen within 90-95 days. Melon bushes are quite tall and powerful.

The flat-round fruits are green with a yellowish tint. They are covered with a thick skin, underneath which is sweet and juicy green pulp. Under optimal conditions, the weight of the fruit is about 2-3 kg.

Golden

Golden melons were bred in the Krasnodar region quite recently. This variety is harvested no earlier than 100 days after the first shoots appear. Such melons are considered universal, as they are suitable for growing outdoors and in greenhouses.

The positive aspects of the Golden variety include:

• immunity to insects;
• resistance to temperature changes.

Rules of care

It is not difficult to care for Kolkhoznitsa melon bushes. Regular, not too abundant watering, fertilizing, loosening, removing weeds, forming a bush, and protection from diseases and pests are needed.

Attention! When growing Kolkhoznitsa melon in a greenhouse, the female flowers will have to be pollinated manually.

Watering

Melon is a drought-resistant crop, but compliance with the watering regime is an important factor for obtaining a bountiful harvest. Irrigate the bushes moderately, as the top layer of soil dries, and only with warm water, since cold water provokes fungal diseases of melons. You should also avoid getting moisture on the leaves and stems of the plant. The Kolkhoznitsa melon needs watering most of all during the period of active growth of vines.

Feeding

In the first week after planting the seedlings, you should fertilize with mineral fertilizers: potassium, superphosphate, ammonium nitrate. They must be paid every 14 days. You should not overuse manure - this fertilizer is too aggressive and can damage the delicate root system of the melon.

Loosening and mulching the soil

Melon bushes are loosened every time after watering, since the resulting soil crust prevents the access of oxygen to the root system of the plant. Mulching will not only reduce the amount of loosening, but will protect the plantings from weeds and keep the soil moist longer.

Bush formation

The Kolkhoznitsa melon bush begins to form after the side shoots produce the third true leaf. Then they are taken into custody. Repeat pinching the side shoots every time after the third leaf. The bush is formed into one stem. Remove excess ovaries - the fewer fruits ripen on the bush, the larger, tastier and more aromatic the melons will be.

Harvesting

Melon Kolkhoznitsa has a relatively short period from germination to maturity. After about 2 months you can harvest the first harvest. The main sign of fruit ripeness is the yellowing of the peel and the appearance of a sweet smell with notes of honey.

Melons, like all melons, need to be cut with the stalk. For long-term storage, it is enough to leave a “tail” 3–5 cm long.

Since the ripe Kolkhoznitsa melon does not have good keeping quality, it can be collected and stored green - this way it will be stored and ripen outside the melon for about a month.

Features of cultivation

To plant the seeds of this melon, you need to choose a sunny area, protected from the wind, and the soil on it should be fertile and fertilized. It is better to prepare it in the fall. The selected area must be dug up and fertilized with rotted humus or compost. If the soil on the site has a high clay content, then several buckets of river sand should be added to it to make it loose. In the spring, preparation of the selected area begins with digging it up and applying phosphate and potassium fertilizers. The ratio of these components is indicated on the packaging. After these preparatory work, you can proceed to planting the melon itself. For those who want to know how watermelons are grown in a polycarbonate greenhouse, you need to read the article.

Preparing and planting seeds

They can be purchased at the store or collected yourself from a previous harvest.

Collected melon seeds from last year may turn out to be “barren flowers”. They will grow into strong plants, but they can only bear male flowers. To avoid this, it is necessary to sow seeds at least three years old.

When buying seeds for seedlings, you need to choose those that are larger than the rest. Before planting, they must be treated with a special compound or growth stimulator, or you can use a solution of boric acid and zinc sulfate. Soaking of seeds is carried out for at least 12 hours. Experienced gardeners slaughter the seeds. This is done as follows:

• first, the seeds are immersed in water heated to approximately 35 degrees;
• removed and kept for 24 hours at room temperature;
• then they must be moved to a room where it is 0 degrees. Soak for 20 hours;
• after this, the temperature regime is returned to its previous state.

Such manipulations with seeds must be repeated within a week before planting them, at least three times. You can learn how to grow watermelons in open ground from the article.

Growing seedlings

It is planted in peat cups; they will protect the root system of the plant when planting it in open ground. After all, in this case you will not need to remove the seedlings from the container, but you can plant them directly in it. Peat, then decomposing in the ground, will serve as a good fertilizer. How to plant and care for red currants can be found in this article.

When using cups made of plastic or cardboard, before planting the plants, they must be trimmed so as not to injure the roots.

The selected containers must be filled with soil; you can purchase soil for vegetable crops. A homemade mixture should consist of 9 portions of peat, one portion of sand and wood ash, which is added in the ratio of 1 cup of ash per 10 liters of soil mixture. How to grow watermelon in a greenhouse is indicated in this article.

When soaking the seeds, it will immediately become clear which of them are empty, as they will float. They should be thrown away, and the rest should be kept in liquid for a day. The next day, 2 seeds are planted in pots to a depth of 5 cm. Until the first shoots appear, the pots must be kept at a temperature of 20 0C during the day, and at night it should not be lower than 15 0C. After about seven days, the first shoots will emerge. After three true leaves appear, the seedlings must be pinched. This is necessary for the formation of side shoots.

To protect young shoots from blackleg, it is necessary to maintain moderate watering and sprinkle a little river sand around the stem. You need to sow the seed in April, and you can plant the seedlings in the ground after 25 days. Find out how often to water watermelons in open ground here.

Landing in the ground

In a bed prepared in advance, you need to fluff up the soil using a rake. Make small holes on it, keeping a distance between plants of 70 cm in length and width. You can plant seedlings only when frosts are no longer expected; melon is a heat-loving plant and, otherwise, it will die. This link will tell you about feeding watermelons and melons in a greenhouse or in open ground.

Plants together with a lump of earth or directly in peat cups. Water is poured into the holes made, and then a little humus is added, then the plant is planted so that part of the earthen coma is visible above ground level. Then you need to water the plants and sprinkle them with soil. If possible, during the first two days you should try to create shade near them.

You can find out which remontant strawberry varieties are best suited for the Moscow region from the article.
How to grow remontant strawberries in open ground can be found in this article.

What strawberry seedlings from seeds look like at home is indicated here: //gidfermer.com/sadovodstvo/yagody/vyrashhivanie-klubniki-iz-semyan-v-domashnix-usloviyax.html

If the air temperature during the day is very different from the night, then you need to cover the crops with film or cut plastic bottles.

In the video there is a collective farmer melon:

It is necessary to water the melon at the rate of 1.5 liters on a sunny day. And when the plant becomes an adult, this dosage will increase to 3.5 liters. When ripe, there is a possibility that the fruit may come off, so to prevent this from happening, it is necessary to place the melon in a net and hang it on a special support.

The Kolkhoznitsa melon has been popular among gardeners for many years. This plant does not require special care, only after watering it is necessary to loosen the soil around the plant. Then it will delight you with large fruits with juicy pulp and a delicious smell. Find out how to plant watermelons with seeds in open ground here.

Late varieties

At the end of the season, late varieties of melons ripen, which are stored for about three months in a dry room and prolong memories of the hot summer; it is especially pleasant to enjoy the juicy and fragrant pulp on a rainy autumn evening.

Late varieties require a long growing season and take more than 90-100 days to mature. The berries are intended for long-term storage, and some varieties even gain sweetness after being picked from the garden. In temperate climates, the most famous are Zimovka, Princess Maria, Kasaba (Asian variety), Piel Sapo.

Torpedo

The Torpedo variety is very often found on domestic shelves. It will take 110 days to fully ripen, during which time the fruits gain juice and sweetness. The shape of the berry is elongated, juicy yellow in color with a fine network of cracks. The average weight ranges from 4 to 8 kg. The taste is excellent, pleasant and seductive.

High yield and resistance to drought and disease have been confirmed by many gardeners. This delicacy can be stored for up to three months in a dry place at room temperature.

Interesting! How to choose the right watermelon.

A pineapple

The variety requires less time to ripen - 95 days. Its fruits are oblong, orange in color with a fine network of cracks. The pulp is tender, sweet, oily and tastes like pineapple. The weight of one melon is 3 kilograms. The harvested crop can be stored for up to 1 month without spoilage or loss of marketable quality.

It is grown in the south and central Russia, bears fruit well and is attracting more and more fans among gardeners. There are many pineapple varieties and their main achievement is their original taste.

Golden

The domestic variety Zolotistaya, which easily adapts to growing conditions and shows excellent fruiting results, has positive reviews. Melon is characterized by a juicy yellow, almost golden color with a barely noticeable mesh. The flesh is white, sweet and tender, and has a solid four on the tasting scale.

The berries are small, their maximum weight reaches two kilograms, sometimes a little more. The variety is grown in two ways: in closed and open ground, while generously enriching the beds with humus, potassium and phosphate. Seeds three years old are suitable for sowing.

In addition to traditional melons, there are European and exotic ones. The first list includes Chantare, Cantaloupe, and the second list includes Pineapple (Vietnamese), Melotropia, Kiwano, Banana, Canaria from Brazil, Armenian cucumber and Horned melon.

Horned melon

Melotropia

Pineapple

Pests and diseases

The melon variety Kolkhoznitsa is resistant to bacteriosis, but does not have specific immunity to fungal diseases and pests. Most often, plants are affected by the following diseases:

• powdery mildew, the main symptoms of which are a grayish coating on the green parts of the plant;
• Fusarium - characterized by the appearance of spots on leaf blades, which soon curl down;
• insect pests - spider mites, aphids, cutworms, wireworms.

You can cope with melon plantings affected by diseases or pests with the help of fungicides and insecticides, but it is much easier to take preventive measures: observe crop rotation, periodically spray the bushes with a solution of ash or laundry soap, plant nearby crops whose smell repels insects, for example, onions or garlic.

Mid-season

Some people decide not to plant early-ripening varieties of melons and prefer mid-season varieties that will fully ripen within 80-90 days. In warm and sunny weather, the harvest will ripen 1-2 weeks earlier. The most common mid-season melons include five varieties.

Collective farmer

The variety belongs to the group of mid-season melons, the ripening of which lasts about 90-100 days when grown in the garden. If you plant a plant in a greenhouse and create optimal growing conditions, the fruits will ripen within two and a half months. Ripe fruits have a round and slightly elongated shape. They are covered with an orange peel, on the surface of which a mesh pattern is visible. The weight of each fruit is not very large and is only one and a half kilograms. Kolkhoznitsa has juicy white flesh with a rich and sweet taste.

The disadvantages of this variety include the fact that ripe melons cannot be stored, as they quickly begin to rot.

Among the advantages are:

• resistance to low temperatures;
• high level of protection against insects.

This allows you to get a high-quality harvest not only in greenhouse conditions, but also outdoors.

Amal F1

Among all mid-season types of melons, Amal is distinguished, since it easily tolerates such common diseases as powdery mildew, dry rot and fusarium. However, the advantages of the variety include not only its protective functions, but also the size of the fruit. Ripe specimens reach four kilograms, which allows you to harvest more than 20-25 kg of harvest. Amala fruits are flat in shape, their thick skin is yellow with a creamy tint. Under the skin there is pulp, distinguished by a delicate aromatic smell.

See also

Description of Melotria rough (mouse melon), benefits and harms, features of cultivation and careRead

Lada

For cultivation in open ground, breeders developed the Lada variety, which bears fruit well in almost any climatic conditions. Also, such melons are resistant to aphids, powdery mildew and other common diseases.

Lada will be fully sung within a hundred days. The fruits are covered with a smooth yellow skin and have a flat-round shape. When grown in optimal conditions, they grow up to two kilograms. The taste of Lada is distinguished by its juiciness and pleasant aroma.

Galileo F1

The main distinguishing feature of Galileo is its resistance to low temperatures, which allows the variety to be grown even in the northern regions of the country.

Another positive quality of melon is its immunity to peronosporosis.

Galileo is covered with a dense greenish peel, which reliably protects the fruit from mechanical damage. Ripe specimens store well after harvest, and therefore are excellent for long-term storage and further sale.

Ethiopian

Ethiopian is popular among gardeners in many countries, as this variety is distinguished by its transportability, excellent taste and rich aroma. Ripe fruits grow up to five kilograms and have an oval shape. The pulp is protected by a dense orange peel, the thickness of which is 5-7 mm.

Experienced gardeners advise growing Ethiopian only using seedlings. This will help increase productivity in the future and get tastier and juicier fruits.

Origin and species diversity

More recently, gardeners grew varieties of melons that were not very different from each other. They were uniformly colored, yellow or orange, with or without a reticulate pattern. Currently, melons have appeared that have clearly defined segments that differ in color. It turns out that there are quite a large number of species. Let's figure out where the melon came from and what types there are.

There are two main types of melon and one additional one.

• Common melon , belongs to the same genus as cucumbers, probably originated in Western Asia (Persia and the surrounding area). The fruits have a thick wall, hollow inside, containing loosely located seeds.
• Watermelon , also a melon, is sometimes called “watery melon”, has a hard bark, and solid pulp inside the fruit with seeds embedded in it.
• Horned melon , of African origin, is similar in appearance and properties to pumpkin.

Melon is usually eaten ripe, unlike cucumbers and zucchini, which are eaten unripe. Its peel is tough, and the flesh is juicy and watery. They are mostly eaten raw, but some are used to make soup. The fruits are not stored for long, usually no more than one month, but there are varieties Hami and Rozhdestvenskaya, which are stored for several months until spring.

The overwhelming majority of varieties belong to one species, Cucumis melo, but they distinguish varietal groups.

• Melon Cantaloupe (now includes Reticulate), most have a reticulated skin and aromatic flesh varying in color from salmon to orange. Includes Musk (as it is called in America) or Persian. The name comes from the place of original cultivation, the estate of Cantalupia in the Roman Empire. It is widespread in Western Europe.

• Non-fragrant melon , mainly late-ripening varieties suitable for storage. It has unflavoured green or white flesh and is common in America.
• Serpentine melon or Armenian cucumber, forms elongated snake-shaped fruits, is eaten when young, and has a melon-like aroma when ripe. Not grown in Russia.
• Cucumber melon . Used for salting in Eastern countries. It mainly has smooth, even fruits of green or white color with white flesh.
• Vietnamese melon , also called small-fruited, pomegranate, mango. It has oval or round shaped fruits with a light green or yellow bark color. The pulp is yellow or white. It is grown in the northern regions of Russia in protected soil.
• Melon Mormordica or bitter cucumber. It has oval or round fruits, with a smooth bark, and cracks when ripe.

• Melon Kolkhoznitsa , this variety gives its name to a whole varietal group, which is grown mainly in Russia. The fruits are round or oval in shape, with or without a mesh pattern, with aromatic white pulp.
• Pineapple melon has smooth netted yellow-orange fruits, quite large in size, up to 10 kg or more, the flesh is light cream, and has a aroma similar to pineapple. When canned in one jar with yellow cherry plum, the taste is no different from pineapple slices.

Of all the variety available today, we offer a description of the varieties that are most popular in Russia.

Early ripening varieties

It's no secret that melons come in different varieties, which have characteristic differences. Among gardeners, mid-season melons are popular, which fully ripen within 60-70 days after planting in open ground. Their advantages include the fact that they grow well in humid and cold climates with little sunlight.

There are three early-ripening types of melons, which are most often grown by gardeners.

Caramel F1

This melon belongs to the hybrid varieties that were bred only for industrial planting. However, over time, ordinary gardeners who grow vegetables and fruits began to plant Caramel. The popularity of this variety is due to the fact that its fruits ripen very quickly. After just a week and a half, fully ripened melons appear, which can be picked and eaten. Also, the advantages of Caramel include its high level of productivity and resistance to sudden changes in weather conditions.

Caramel fruits are distinguished by their rounded, slightly elongated shape, reminiscent of an ellipse. Their surface is covered with dense skin, colored bright yellow. Under the skin of the fruit there is light pulp with a pleasant sweetish taste.

To increase the level of productivity, experienced gardeners advise growing Caramel only by seedlings.

Altai

Breeders created this variety of melons specifically for growing in unsuitable climates with constant temperature changes. Also, the Altai variety grows well in regions with high levels of air humidity.

The fruits have a round shape that tapers slightly near the edges. Ripe melons weigh a lot - about 2-3 kg. Thanks to this, it is possible to collect more than 20 kg of crop per square meter. The distinctive features of the Altai species include the taste of ripe fruits, which have aromatic and sweet pulp. They contain many vitamins and other useful components. Therefore, many advise eating the Altai variety to strengthen the immune system and normalize the functioning of blood vessels and the heart.

Cinderella

Among the early and sweet varieties, Cinderella should be highlighted, which is often grown by gardeners. This species is recommended to be planted in open ground, as it tolerates sudden temperature changes and is resistant to common insects and diseases.

Cinderella's fruits are spherical in shape. Their pulp is covered with a yellowish skin, which protects the melon from the external environment. The weight of the fruit, like that of the Altai variety, reaches three kilograms. The disadvantages of Cinderella include its not very sweet taste, with a slight sourness. Another disadvantage is that the harvested crop is poorly stored and quickly deteriorates.

It is better to plant Cinderella in the second half of spring, when the earth warms up to 15 degrees. At low temperatures, seeds will germinate less easily.