Melon is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, the melon and melon crop, and the cucumber genus.
The fruits of this plant are aromatic and sweet, and will appeal even to children who do not like to eat fruit. The pulp is rich in nutrients and contains iron, sodium, potassium salts, fiber, as well as vitamins C, P and A. Melon copes well with thirst and refreshes the oral cavity. Melon pulp is used for preparing dishes, both fresh and processed. It goes well with other products, including meat, and will be an excellent side dish for entrecote. How to choose the best melon variety to grow in your garden? They are described in this article. Read about the best varieties of watermelons in another article.
"Collective farmer"
Has an average ripening period. Ripe fruits can be harvested 76-96 days after germination. The plant is not very large in size, with long vines and a thin stem. The size of the leaf plate is medium, the shape is round, slightly concave.
The fruit is small, spherical in shape, weighs 0.75-1.4 kg. The peel on top is smooth, yellowish-orange in color, without patterns or spots. The melon can be covered with a mesh pattern or coarse mesh. The crust is of medium density and thickness. The fruit pulp is white, fibrous, crispy. The taste is very sweet and juicy.
Melon ripens on a stalk and has good resistance to various viruses.
It is important to know! The hard peel and dense pulp make it possible to transport the fruit over long distances. After the harvest is collected from the garden, it can be stored for 7 days.
The fruits tolerate exposure to sunlight well. The pulp remains intact, even if the peel is damaged by the sun. “Kolkhoznitsa” tolerates low temperatures well, therefore it is the best variety of melon for open ground.
Melons of this species are often affected by powdery mildew and anthracnose.
Advantages of the variety:
- the plant is resistant to bacteriosis;
- The fruits tolerate transportation well.
The best melon varieties by ripening time
According to the timing of ripening, melons are usually divided into early, medium and late.
Early ripening
One of the most popular and numerous groups in terms of varietal diversity. Melons manage to ripen in just 60-70 days of the growing season from the appearance of the first shoots, and some varieties even earlier. Accordingly, the fruits can have time to ripen even in the shortest summer, especially if you use the method of growing seedlings.
In general, this group of varieties is distinguished by their not too large fruit size, but they can be very sweet, with a characteristic melon aroma. Productivity among early varieties is also not record high. Melons are usually not stored for long and are not subject to long-term transportation. Their purpose is to enjoy delicious, juicy and aromatic fruits directly from the bush at the end of July or beginning of August. Among the early varieties there are those that were bred specifically for closed ground. But there are also those that feel equally good both under film and in open ground conditions.
Titovka
Quite old, but an early ripening variety (60-65 days) that continues to be popular. The orange-yellow dense skin hides snow-white crumbly sugar pulp. Plants form many long vines, which may require support when grown in greenhouses. Shows good disease resistance. One bush can produce up to 5-6 fruits. But in order for them to be large, up to 4-5 kg, it is necessary to normalize their quantity.
Dune
Despite the early ripening of fruits (60-72 days), melons have excellent taste and aroma. They are average in weight, 1.4-1.7 kg. On the orange background of the oval fruits of this melon variety, a continuous mesh is clearly visible. Thanks to the juicy but dense pulp, the fruits are even stored well and can be transported over short distances.
Polydor
This hybrid melon variety has many advantages. Relatively early ripening periods (65 days) do not prevent the bushes from producing decent yields, which are well preserved and are suitable for moving over certain distances. The taste of the yellow-orange melon fruit is sweet and juicy. Can be used for food and for various preparations.
Star in the garden (Silver Star)
This seemingly ordinary early variety of melon is characterized by a unique appearance. The oval-oblong fruits, weighing up to 2 kg, are distinguished by an almost white color with numerous greenish spots, including those in the form of stars. The fruits ripen in 63-68 days and have a delicate, slightly piquant taste. As the melon ripens, the streaks become lighter in color. True, the variety is more adapted to southern growing conditions, loves warmth and does not tolerate large temperature changes.
Mid-season
These melons also have their fans. They ripen, as a rule, in late summer or early autumn, which makes the growing season 70-80 days. Mid-season melon varieties are distinguished by higher yields compared to early ones, denser and more sugary pulp, and are usually better suited for transportation over distances due to their hard peel.
Lada
One of the sweetest and most attractive Russian melon varieties for consumers, bred at the beginning of the 21st century. The round yellow fruits are resistant to cracking and have juicy, tender and crispy flesh.
The yield is not bad. In addition, Lada is resistant to pests and diseases: downy mildew and powdery mildew.
Cossack woman
An ancient variety of melon, known since the 60s of the last century, was obtained by breeders from Rostov-on-Don. In many respects it is average. The fruits ripen in 72-95 days depending on weather conditions. The leaves are medium sized and strongly cut. Fruits with hard bark have juicy and dense, fibrous pulp. The variety is well adapted for storage and transportation.
Augustine
This hybrid melon variety is the brainchild of English breeders. The fruits have a regular ellipsoidal shape with a distinct dense network and ripen 70-85 days after germination. Melons are well preserved, are not subject to cracking and are resistant to sunburn. Good taste goes well with yield and transportability.
Late
Late varieties of melons are usually the most popular due to their long shelf life, increased sugar content and good transportability. But they are grown mainly in the southern regions, since the long growing season, more than 90-100 days, does not allow them to fully ripen in the open ground of mid-latitudes. However, special enthusiasts of their craft are trying to grow them in greenhouses. And some varieties have the ability to ripen perfectly when picked in room conditions.
Honey giant
This truly unique variety, despite the large size of the fruits and the long growing season, enjoys the well-deserved love of summer residents in the middle zone. The fruits have an attractive melon aroma and ripen well in normal room conditions. To shorten the growing season, resourceful summer residents often graft a melon of this variety onto a pumpkin or lagenaria, thereby simultaneously increasing its resistance to lack of light and heat.
Wintering
The name of the variety alone speaks of the excellent properties of its fruits to be preserved throughout almost the entire winter period (up to 3-4 months after harvest). Melons are of average size for late varieties - they grow no more than 3 kg. Ripen in 87-92 days. The pulp is moderately sweet. It has a creamy structure, dense, and quite juicy. The variety is resistant to major diseases of melons.
Torpedo
The variety is characterized by a long ripening period (95-112 days) and intolerance to heavy rainfall in the last stages of ripening. The fruit may become watery and will not keep well. But it is still valued for its excellent taste, good yield and large fruit size, weighing up to 6-8 kg. It can last up to a month after harvesting, and the aroma during storage only becomes brighter and more intense.
Pineapple
This variety, originally from Central Asia (Ich-kzyl), is highly valued in its homeland for the high sugar content of the pulp and the attractive aroma of ripe pineapple. The oval, regular-shaped fruits reach 4 kg and ripen in 90-100 days. Consumers liked the pineapple aroma of melon so much that breeders in different countries developed several more varieties of a similar type. But they, as a rule, are smaller in size and have shorter ripening periods.
"Torpedo"
The ripening period for Torpedoes is average. The plant's wattles are dotted with green, dissected, medium-sized leaves.
The melon has an oblong shape. The peel is smooth, grayish in color, decorated with a mesh pattern.
Weight varies from 2.6-5.9 kg. The fruit pulp is white with a greenish tint, the taste is tender, melting and juicy.
The fruits are stored for 15-19 days, without changing their taste and aroma.
C1kW.m yield is 1.85 kg.
"Ethiopian"
"Ethiopian" belongs to the mid-season species. The fruits ripen 81-90 days after germination, which is 10-12 days different from the “Golden” standard. On the plant’s fences there are many slightly dissected green leaves.
The melon is wide-round, yellowish-saturated color with an orange tint. The peel is smooth, medium-segmented, covered with a patterned mesh of low density. The weight of the "Ethiopian" varies from 2.4 to 2.9 kg. The fruit pulp is orange. The taste is very juicy and tender, melts in the mouth and has a pleasant aroma.
Healthy! After harvesting from the beds, “Ethiopka” can be stored for 2 weeks.
Sowing melon seeds in a garden bed
In the middle zone, sowing melons directly into the garden bed is rarely done. Since the deadline is mid-May, when warm weather has not yet set in, there is a high risk that the sprouts will die, and temporary film cover is absolutely necessary. But it is already quite possible to sow melon in a greenhouse in early May.
Sowing melons in open ground
Since melon is not sown very early, the bed can be prepared in the spring, but more often they try to do this in the fall. The area is dug up using a shovel, adding a bucket of well-rotted manure or compost per 1 m2. Shortly before sowing, sprinkle wood ash on the bed (up to 1 liter per 1 m2), level the soil with a rake, or better yet, with a cultivator.
Sowing seeds is possible a little earlier than planting seedlings, that is, after May 20: the ground at this time is already quite warm. While the seeds hatch and germinate, real warmth should come. The sowing scheme is similar to that for planting seedlings: the minimum distance between holes in a row is 50 cm, between rows - 70 cm.
Procedure:
- Make small holes with a scoop and add 1 tbsp. ash and a pinch of azofoska, mix and pour with warm water.
Azofoska is a valuable mineral fertilizer, but for melon you need to take very little of it
- Place 2-3 melon seeds in each hole to a depth of about 3 cm.
It’s very easy to take 2–3 seeds: they are quite large
- Cover the seeds with soil, compact them, and sprinkle with clean sand.
- If warm weather has not reliably established itself, cover the bed with spunbond.
After 10–12 days (and if it’s very warm, then even earlier), shoots will appear. As soon as it is clear which of them are stronger, one sprout is left in each nest.
Melons go well with corn, beans, radishes, and any fragrant herbs. You should not place potatoes and cucumbers nearby. There should be no trees nearby that create strong shading. Often, holes with melons alternate with planting watermelons.
Sowing seeds in a greenhouse
Melons are grown in unheated greenhouses: another option is unsuitable, since this crop needs sunlight, and heated greenhouses make sense in winter and early spring. To grow melons, you need to choose high greenhouses, at least 2 m high, otherwise the use of their space will be too wasteful. Each plant needs a lot of space, so melons in greenhouse culture are grown vertically, with a garter attached to strong trellises.
To prevent the trellises from occupying the main area of the greenhouse, they try to place them along the side walls. Accordingly, melon beds are prepared no further than 50 cm from the walls, and most often ridges up to 20 cm high are constructed into which single-row sowing is carried out. They try to maintain a distance of at least 40 cm between holes.
Melons are planted against the wall of the greenhouse, they are free there
The beds are prepared in advance, but in a greenhouse it is often necessary to completely replace the soil. This is especially important if melons and melons grew in the chosen place in previous years. The best soil for a greenhouse in which melons are supposed to be grown consists of low-lying peat and fine sand (3:1), to which chalk and azofoska are added for deoxidation (300 and 40 g per 1 m2, respectively). If there is no peat, and ordinary garden soil is used, it is fertilized in the same way as in open beds.
Sowing melons in a greenhouse is possible already in early May. The technique is no different from sowing in a garden, but you don’t need to cover the bed. Shoots will appear in 7–10 days, and for the first time it is advisable to slightly reduce the temperature in the greenhouse (to 16–18°C).
It is especially important that the greenhouse does not get hot at night.
"Done"
Mid-early variety, ripens 64-78 days after germination. The plant has a large number of vines. Green, slightly dissected leaves are medium in size.
An oval-shaped melon with a yellow, smooth peel, covered with a mesh pattern of low density. The weight of "Delano" can vary from 1.6 to 2.4 kg. The pulp is creamy in color and has an excellent taste and aroma. Due to their light weight, the fruits tolerate transportation well.
Hybrid is resistant to fusarosis and temperature changes.
Mid-season species
Early varieties are being replaced by mid-season varieties, the period of technical ripeness of which begins 80-90 days after emergence. Such hybrids are good because their flesh is denser and juicier, and their taste is sugary, sometimes even cloying.
Melons are grown in open and closed ground, especially in the Middle Zone and the Urals. The following representatives have earned the greatest authority: Delano, Lada, Temryuchanka, Early Sweet, Don Quixote F1. The hybrid Galileo F1 has an excellent taste. Most often it is grown in greenhouses, but in warm regions with early summer it can be planted in open beds.
Collective farmer
The variety received positive reviews from gardeners in the Far East, Siberia, the North Caucasus and Astrakhan. The collective farmer cannot boast of large size, but her taste is excellent. The kilogram round fruits have a truly melon aroma and tender pulp that melts in your mouth. The medium size allows the berries to ripen even in short and cool summers, and the thick skin protects them from cracking and deformation during transportation.
The characteristic color is bright yellow and orange with green, in some places the formation of a large mesh is allowed. The surface is smooth. When cut, the flesh is white, dense, fleshy and slightly crispy. There are a lot of seeds and they are fertile, that is, new bushes can be grown from ripened melons for the next year. One of the best and most popular varieties of domestic selection.
Ethiopian
Thanks to its self-pollinating abilities, all the buds are formed on the bush and there are no barren flowers; the vines themselves are short and form up to 5-6 fruits on one plant. The variety is resistant to coolness and sun, excluding burns, but is weak against fungi and gray rot.
The berries are large - up to 4 kg, round in shape with longitudinal stripes, deep yellow in color, greening is observed in places in contact with the ground and shade. There is a network of small cracks. The thick crust protects against breaks and damage during transportation. Shelf life is a month.
The pulp is white, juicy and honey-like in taste, the aroma is real - melon.
Amal F1
At the height of the season, Amal and Kolkhoznitsa melons are always on store shelves, because these varieties are most suitable for temperate climates and have a rich, sweet summer taste. In addition, stable yields are expressed, resistance to the vagaries of weather and diseases of melon crops, the bushes are extremely rarely affected by powdery mildew or fusarium.
Amal melon weighs on average 2.5-3 kg, has an elongated shape and a creamy yellow hue. The peel is thick. The flesh is slightly darker than the skin and is quite sweet, juicy and aromatic. With proper care, the yield reaches 55 tons per hectare.
Miracle Yudo
Miracle Yudo ripens in 80 days and delights with tender, melting pulp with an attractive taste and fragrant aroma. Externally, the melon is not particularly different from its counterparts, it has a round shape and a yellow tint, with a mesh pattern applied over the entire surface. The variety has good taste and commercial qualities.
When planting in open ground, it is recommended to maintain a distance of 50-80 cm between holes and plant in the place where cabbage, beans or potatoes grew. Seedlings are transplanted in May, when the 10-centimeter layer of soil has warmed up by 16 degrees.
Blondie
The Blondie F1 hybrid has an unusual appearance; it is presented in a gray-green color with lobed edges on the sides of a spherical melon. The pulp is bright orange, melting, with a high content of not only sugar, but also carotene, which makes the fruit even more healthy. The weight of the fruit is small, only 400-800 grams. Despite this, the commercial quality is high.
The hybrid is given high immunity, which can protect the plant from many fungal diseases. High and stable yields are observed.
"Lada"
It has an average ripening period; a ripe crop can be harvested in 73-95 days. The plant has a main vine of short length and many additional ones. A slightly dissected leaf plate of medium size, green in color.
The fruit is round, with a yellowish, smooth skin. There are no patterns or designs on the surface. Melon weight is 1.6-2.1 kg. The fruits do not crack. The pulp has excellent taste. It is crispy and juicy, creamy in color. The aroma is not very pronounced.
Valuable qualities of the species: not susceptible to peronospora, aphids and powdery mildew.
How to choose the most delicious melon
It is recommended to buy melon in stores or at the market. Fruits should not lie on the ground - they can get sick or get an infection. Pay attention to the storage conditions of the crop. Unsanitary conditions are unacceptable and it is not recommended to buy such a product.
The ripeness of a melon is determined by the following characteristics:
- dull sound when tapped;
- rich sweet aroma;
- springy and elastic crust;
- dry stalk;
- absence of cracks and stains;
- uniform color.
"Fairy tale"
The variety ripens early, the fruits can be harvested after 61-63 days. The leaves of the plant are round, small, green, and slightly dissected. Has many lashes.
“Fairy Tale” is covered with a smooth yellow peel. The melon is sparsely segmented, has the shape of an ellipse and is covered with a low-density mesh. The weight of one fruit is from 1.5 to 1.9 kg, in rare cases up to 2.4 kg. The pulp is pleasant to the taste, sweet, juicy and crispy. The aroma is weak. From 1 square meter you can collect from 2.2 to 2.4 kg of ripe fruits.
It is not recommended to transport melons of this type. The shelf life of “Fairy Tale” is only 5-9 days after it is removed from the garden. A long period of storage will lead to loss of taste and beneficial properties.
Advantages:
- Not susceptible to powdery mildew or peronosporosis;
- The fruits ripen simultaneously and quickly.
Care for melons
Plant care consists of ordinary garden activities: watering, loosening, fertilizing. In addition, melon bushes have to be shaped so that they can produce a harvest: as a rule, too many fruits are set, and excess foliage is not needed. Caring for melons in and outside the greenhouse is somewhat different.
Growing melons in open ground
Melon does not require frequent watering: it is needed until the plant develops, and then only in the driest weather. Before fruit sets, as a rule, melons are watered once a week. It is important that the water is not too cold: in the evening it warms up well in the barrels in the sun. With the appearance of fruits, watering is carried out less and less, and when the melons grow to the size of a fist, they stop altogether.
Until the lashes have filled all the free space, after rains or watering, shallow loosening is carried out to remove the weeds. As soon as side shoots begin to appear, the melons are lightly earthed. They are fed:
- 10–15 days after planting the seedlings,
- with the appearance of the first flowers,
- at the very beginning of fruit filling.
You should not use mineral fertilizers; it is better to use mullein infusion with the addition of ash. If during the process of fruit growth it turns out that only one of them increases in size, fertilizing should be added.
Proper melon pruning is of great importance, consisting of pinching shoots, removing stepsons and excess fruits. As soon as it becomes clear that the seedlings have successfully taken root and begun to grow, the main shoot is pinched at its very top. After a few days, side shoots begin to grow, but there are too many of them, and you need to select the two strongest ones and remove the rest. The growing stepsons are also systematically broken out.
Any melon pruning scheme involves limiting the number of shoots and fruits
Most hybrids have a different fruiting pattern, and, on the contrary, they pinch off the side shoots after three leaves form on them, because the main crop will be formed on the main stem.
Even with the most careful care, a melon bush will not support more than 6 fruits (and the largest ones - only 2-3 pieces), so the rest will have to be sacrificed. Since melon plants are rarely grown on trellises in open ground, it is worth placing small plywood or planks under each fruit so that the melons do not lie on bare ground and do not rot in case of rain.
Special Events at the Greenhouse
In the greenhouse, artificial pollination is added to all the above activities. In the fresh air, this is done by flying insects, which rarely appear in protected ground. Of course, if the greenhouse is systematically ventilated (and this must be done), then the bees can fly into it, but even in this case the process cannot be left to chance. Therefore, the owner must himself pick several male flowers (those with a thin long petiole), tear off the petals from them and touch them several times to the insides of the female flowers. This should be done in the first day or two after the male flowers bloom, before the pollen has flown around.
Another feature of caring for melons in a greenhouse is growing them on a trellis to save space. These can be any stable vertical supports to which the melon vines are tied (they will not climb up on their own). Since ripening melons may fall, they (after reaching the size of an average apple) are placed in any suitable nets, which are tied to trellises.
The mesh is needed to prevent the melon from falling and breaking.
In the greenhouse, minimal pruning is carried out: excess fruits usually do not set there or die off very quickly. It is important not to overfill the water: excessive humidity in the greenhouse is fraught with the occurrence of diseases.
Video: melons in a greenhouse
"Altai"
Well-known, early ripening variety. The fruits ripen 64-76 days after emergence. A medium-sized, medium-sized plant with many small, pentagonal-shaped leaves. The leg is small and inclined.
The weight of one melon is from 0.9 to 1.5 kg. The shape of the fruit is oval or short oval. The outside of the peel is smooth and slightly segmented. The color of the fruit is lemon-yellow or orange-yellow. There is no pattern on the surface, a mesh pattern of different densities, with small cells, is soft. The crust is not hard. The fruit pulp is white or light orange in color and smells pleasant.
“Altai” melon is poorly stored and transported.
Early ripening
The most popular group of varieties. They are suitable for growing in regions with cold climates, in a greenhouse or greenhouse. They have minimum requirements for the quality and duration of lighting. The fruits ripen 55-70 days from the beginning of the growing season.
Let's look at the description of each variety.
Caramel F1
Photo:
A hybrid variety of pineapple melon recommended for cultivation in industrial farms. Forms large fruits up to 3 kg in size, maximum length – 24 cm.
The skin is very thick, colored light brown. The pulp is very aromatic, the seed chamber is weakly expressed.
The plant tolerates drought comfortably and produces a stable harvest in almost any climate. With high-quality care, fruiting reaches 90 tons per hectare.
Altai
An early ripening variety of melon, suitable for growing in regions with unfavorable climatic conditions. The fruits ripen 70 days from planting.
The main shoots grow up to 2 m; timely pruning is recommended. The melon is oval in shape, the skin is a rich golden hue with a mesh. When ripe, the flesh becomes creamy in color.
Average weight is 2 kg, yield can reach 25 t/ha. Altai melon is suitable for making jam, drying and eating fresh.
Cinderella
An early ripening variety, the fruits are formed 55 days from the beginning of the growing season. Suitable for growing in open ground and greenhouses. Regionalization was obtained for the Central region, the Urals and Siberia.
The plant forms a long stem, as well as a numerous number of shoots with female flowers. Pollinators are required for fruiting. Melon grows up to 2 kg, the average diameter of the fruit is 20 cm.
The bright yellow surface is flat and smooth. The pulp is juicy and crisp with a developed seed chamber. The variety is not intended for long-term storage; the harvest must be sold within 2 weeks from the date of collection.
Banana
A variety for growing in greenhouse conditions. It is distinguished by the elongated shape of the fruits, the length of which reaches 80-100 cm. Their external appearance resembles large cucumbers, the peel is yellow-green.
The aromatic pulp has a pleasant oily taste. The main disadvantage of banana melon is its rare seeds; the variety is currently actively cultivated only in Europe.
Princess Svetlana F1
An early-ripening hybrid of a round melon, ripening occurs in 60-70 days. Suitable for growing in a greenhouse or hotbed, pinching to 5-6 sheets is recommended.
The fruits weigh up to 2 kg, the pulp is dense and juicy. The crop has a universal culinary purpose and is suitable for making preparations. The plant is resistant to most fungal infections, but with high humidity the pulp becomes watery.
Passport F1
A hybrid of American selection, included in the Russian state register in 2002. Recommended for amateur gardening. The growing season is 55-70 days; powerful vines form on the bush, which are important to trim on time.
The round fruits reach a weight of up to 3.5 kg.
The skin is yellow-brown, the flesh is light green. Melon Passport F1 has received positive reviews from gardeners, who note disease resistance and high taste characteristics of the fruit.
Serezhka's love
An Altai variety recommended for open ground. Forms a medium-climbing plant with powerful leaves. The melon has an elongated oval shape, the peel is yellow-orange.
It grows up to 2 kg, the pulp has a strong aroma and delicate structure. The bush quickly adapts to any climatic conditions and is rarely affected by diseases and pests. To speed up ripening, it is advisable to plant using the seedling method.
A sybarite's dream
Honey melon developed by Japanese breeders. The variety belongs to the early ripening type; the crop ripens before the onset of return frosts. The elongated oval fruits are covered with a thin and smooth yellow-green skin. They grow up to 1.5 kg.
The white flesh is juicy and crunchy and has a pleasant honey taste. Maximum yield is possible only when grown in the southern regions. There is moderate resistance to infections typical for the family.
Akmaral
A variety of Turkmen melon, which is known as “khasanka”. It has a thick skin and a pleasant honey-pineapple taste.
With proper care, the fruits grow up to 2 kg and tolerate storage and transportation well. From one bush you can harvest up to 9 kg of melon. It grows comfortably both in open ground and in greenhouse conditions.
Radmila F1
A popular hybrid of honey melon with an extremely early ripening period. Forms a powerful bush with pronounced covering ability. Each plant produces up to 5 fruits weighing up to 2 kg.
The skin has a uniform structure and is golden in color. The pulp is dense and sweet. The variety is noted for its high resistance to infection, adaptability to climate and stable yield regardless of the weather.
"Caramel"
Mid-early hybrid variety, ripening in 63-67 days. It is distinguished by the appearance of a large number of lashes. The leaves are green and medium in size, slightly dissected.
The shape of the fruit is oval, the outside is smooth, rich yellow in color. The peel is covered with a dense mesh pattern. The weight of one melon varies from 1.3 to 1.9 kg. The color of the pulp is soft cream. It has a wonderful juicy and delicate taste, as well as a pleasant rich aroma.
It tolerates transportation well and too wet soil, and is not susceptible to fusarium.
Early melons
For Central Russia, gardeners recommend purchasing varieties that grow and ripen quickly. Early fruits can be harvested within two months after seed germination, and they are not afraid of cool weather. Their advantages include minimal growing costs, early ripening and excellent taste.
The most popular varieties are Altaiskaya, Raymond, Dune, Tamanskaya, Polydor, Titovka, Zvezda on the Garden and many others. The plant is provided with rational watering, avoiding waterlogging. For melon, drought and good feeding are a priority over stagnation of water. The best results were observed when planting bushes in beds enriched with manure.
Fairy tale
This compact, early-ripening melon variety has excellent taste, tender flesh and can ripen in any weather. The fruits are ready for harvesting after 58-62 days from emergence. For northern latitudes, seedling germination is recommended. The plant has high immunity against diseases of melons and insects, and is rarely susceptible to powdery mildew. An ideal variety for temperate climates.
The description of the fruit is classic: sweet, juicy, with dense creamy pulp. The shape is elliptical, neat. Weight from 1200 to 1600 grams. The color of the peel is bright yellow, without a pattern, cracks are visible only at the base. Simultaneous ripening of berries was observed.
Aikido F1
The first generation hybrid has excellent characteristics and is suitable for growing in open ground and greenhouses. The yield is average, the fruit barely reaches 2 kg, but they are very sweet (10-13% sugar). With the right agricultural practices, great results can be achieved.
Externally, the berry resembles a round bright yellow ball with a dense peel. Technical maturation occurs on days 65-68. To grow seedlings, it is recommended to use peat tablets or a mixture of garden soil, peat, humus and wood ash.
Read the article: what is peat?
Cinderella
The ultra-early variety Cinderella ripens not only in the southern fields, but also in Siberian and Moscow regions. It takes 60-70 days from sowing to harvest, but the plant is quite sensitive to hypothermia and stagnant moisture. Under negative factors, the roots become infected with rot, so the variety is often grown in greenhouses, where the flowers require artificial pollination or the release of insects into the structure.
The berries are round, regular in shape, even, rich yellow in color with a network of cracks. The skin is thin and elastic, almost never cracks; the level of maturity is determined by its condition. The average size reaches 20 cm in diameter and 1-1.5 kg in weight.
Muscat white
The early-ripening variety is resistant to powdery mildew, is easily transported over long distances and has a truly sweet and delicate taste. Cantaloupe has round fruits with a creamy, smooth skin without cracks or mesh. When cut, the flesh is white-green, dense, juicy, aromatic. Average weight 1.5-2 kg
The variety is grown in greenhouses (in regions with an unstable climate) and in open areas. After the formation of 5-6 leaves, the stem is pinched, leaving 3-4 berries on one vine. 2 weeks before the expected harvest, watering is stopped, giving the melon the opportunity to get enough sun and warmth. The largest amount of sugar in the pulp is released some time after harvesting from the garden.
Caramel F1
The early hybrid is unpretentious and easily tolerates prolonged drought and heat, and is able to bear fruit in any weather conditions without losing yield. It is undemanding to the composition of the soil, but loves a large space, so it is planted in large beds and the vines are straightened, avoiding curls. It is possible to grow on trellises, but in this case it is worth protecting the fruits with reliable stands or vegetable nets, because their weight reaches 3 kg.
The surface of the berry is covered with a fine mesh, which creates shading and muting of the bright orange hue. Inside the pulp is light, almost white, with a small content of seeds. The taste is juicy, sweet, with a caramel aftertaste. The peel is thick.
The hybrid is grown in open ground, and greenhouses are used for seedling germination. But in unfavorable weather, a greenhouse is permissible.
"Raymond"
The mid-early ripening period of this species allows you to harvest a ripe harvest in 64-76 days. Ripe “Raymond” fruits ripen 3-5 days later than the standard “Zolotistaya” variety. The stem of the plant is climbing, covered with slightly dissected and dissected leaves of large and medium size, green in color.
The melon has an elliptical shape. On top there is a smooth peel of yellow-ocher color, with a mesh pattern of medium density. The weight of one fruit is 2.1-3.7 kg. The pulp is thin, creamy, pleasant to the taste, juicy and crispy.
Recommendation! “Raymond” tolerates transportation well and remains tasty and aromatic for a long time. Ripe fruits can be stored for 30 to 40 days.
"Dune"
Belongs to an early ripening species, ripens 59-76 days after full germination. The plant has many climbing stems. The leaves are green, medium and slightly dissected.
The shape of the melon is oval. The peel of the ripe fruit is yellow, covered with a continuous mesh pattern of medium density. The weight of one melon is 1.5-1.8 kg. The dense crust hides the grainy, tender, dense, juicy and aromatic flesh. Inside are ivory-colored, oval-shaped, small seeds.
Advantages: tolerates transportation well.
"Cossack"
A variety of mid-season varieties, for the fruits to fully ripen, 71-96 days must pass after germination. The stem of the plant is climbing and thin. The leaves are strongly notched, medium-sized, kidney-shaped.
The fruit is oval in shape and weighs from 1.3 to 1.9 kg. The peel is smooth, slightly segmented, rich yellow in color, without a mesh pattern or other types of patterns. The dense bark hides the white, fibrous, slightly crunchy, sweet and juicy flesh.
“Cossack” is susceptible to powdery mildew and anthracnose.
"Cinderella"
The ripening period of the species is early; in just 61-73 days from the date of emergence, a mature harvest can be harvested. A plant with a climbing stem. The leaves are green, slightly dissected, and medium in size.
The melon is oval in shape, yellow on the outside, with a smooth skin, which is decorated with a dense mesh pattern. The weight of the fetus is 1.2 - 2.3 kg. The color of the pulp is soft cream, it tastes juicy and crispy, and has a thickness of 3.1 - 3.6 cm.
It is not recommended to transport fruits of this variety. Can be stored for 16 to 20 days. Tolerates low temperatures and heat well.
Seedlings should be planted no earlier than late spring to prevent them from overgrowing in the pot. After 26-31 days, it is recommended to drop the shoots. This procedure is carried out both indoors and outdoors.
In open ground, the plant is planted on an area of 145 x 110 cm, and in a greenhouse and under cover - 75 x 75 cm. The seedlings are transplanted after the third or fourth leaf appears on the stem. “Cinderella” does not need special care; it is enough to follow simple rules. You only need to water the plant with warm water, and don’t forget to feed it with fertilizers. The upper parts and unnecessary shoots of the melon must be removed in a timely manner. For preventive purposes, the plant must be treated with an antifungal compound.
Melon varieties for growing in different regions
Modern varieties of melons are able to adapt to different weather conditions of the regions. But still, for successful cultivation, it is better to choose zoned varieties that can demonstrate the best performance for a particular region.
For the Moscow region
Many varieties of early-ripening and even mid-ripening melons are suitable for the Moscow region, which, planted as seedlings, will have time to please summer residents with a harvest both in open ground and under film covers.
Assol
The hybrid variety, bred by breeders in the Moscow region at the end of the 20th century, has not yet lost its significance and popularity.
The shoots are characterized by powerful growth. The fruits are small (up to 1 kg) and have a round-oval shape. The yellow-green segments of the peel are separated by grayish-cream stripes. The pulp is juicy, sweet with an active melon aroma. Productivity can reach 10 kg/sq.m with good disease resistance. The fruits are able not to lose their taste for 8-10 days.
Tamanskaya
The variety was bred by Krasnodar breeders at the turn of the century. The fruit collection period can be extended for almost a month. So the first fruits can ripen within 53-58 days after germination. But others are harvested after 80-85 days of the growing season. The fruits are medium in size, smooth, yellow with a medium net pattern. The pulp has an attractive creamy color with a significant content of sugars and dry matter.
Miracle Yudo
Another interesting-looking variety from breeders. In terms of ripening time, it is quite early, about 70 days. The fruits are almost spherical in shape, weighing up to 2.5 kg, covered with a dense patterned mesh. Melon is not stored for long; it is better to eat it or process it into delicious candied fruit or jam. Moreover, the pulp is sweet and juicy.
For the middle band
The weather conditions of central Russia are not much different from the Moscow region, except for a large variation in temperature and humidity conditions, so the varieties of melon for this region are diverse.
Princess Mary
One of the representatives of the new hybrid princess series. Despite its youth, the variety is already popular among gardeners due to its disease resistance, good seed germination, rich yields and excellent taste of melons. The fruits look like gray-green balls of medium size (up to 1.5 kg) with bright rich orange pulp, which has a nutmeg flavor.
Raymond
The hybrid melon variety, bred by Israeli breeders, has taken root well in central Russia and can easily be considered one of the best in many respects. The fruits ripen in 70-75 days, and are distinguished by their decent size, up to 4.5 kg, thick skin and good taste. Productivity and transportability are also at a high level. After harvesting, melons retain their freshness and taste for more than 30 days.
Golden
A popular, time-tested variety, which is still compared to many new varieties. Differs in average terms of ripening. But the taste and aroma are so excellent that they are comparable even to Asian varieties of melon. Melons grow small, up to 1 kg. The variety is resistant to disease and has good shelf life, up to 3 weeks in cool conditions.
Scythian gold
A variety that can please with good yield, both under film and in open ground. Despite the relatively early ripening period (70-80 days after germination), it has a sweet and delicate taste of the fruit. Demonstrates resistance to diseases, in particular powdery mildew.
For the Urals
Summer in the Urals can be even hotter and drier than in the central zone. But it is always shorter. Therefore, for the Urals it makes sense to use melon varieties that manage to ripen in a short period of time. Or use film covers to extend the growing season.
Lesya
A mid-season melon variety, included in the State Register of Russia for the Ural region in 2007. The fruits can ripen from 64 to 86 days from the moment of full germination. The smooth yellow-green melons are oval in shape and grow up to 2.6 kg in weight. The pulp has a large volume, and the seed nest is quite small. The variety is resistant to lack of moisture, both in the soil and in the air. It also successfully resists fusarium and powdery mildew.
Cinderella
A very suitable variety for growing in the Urals, since melons ripen within 50 days after germination. The fruits are small in size, weighing 700-900 g, but taste very sweet. Cinderella is resistant to various diseases and vagaries of weather. They also retain their taste for another 2-3 weeks after harvest.
Temryuchanka
Despite the average ripening time for the fruits of this variety (70-95 days), it was included in the State Register of Russia for the Ural region in 2008. Attention! The advantage of the Temryuchanka variety is its endurance to a variety of stressful situations. Melons are characterized by excellent taste, have a round shape with a dark yellow skin and light cream tender, melting, juicy pulp. In addition, they are well stored and transported.
For Siberia
In Siberia, summer can also be quite hot, but extremely short. Therefore, most often melons in Siberia are grown in seedlings and using film covers.
Lolita
The melon variety, bred in 2005 in the Astrakhan region, was successfully zoned in the East Siberian region. The fruits have time to ripen in 66-75 days of growing season. The aroma is not strong, but the taste is quite decent: sweet, delicate juicy. The fruits have the shape of a medium-sized ball, weighing up to 2 kg. In terms of productivity, Lolita even surpasses Kolkhoznitsa, who also manages to ripen in Siberian conditions.
Altai
One of the most ancient varieties of melon for Siberia, bred back in the 30s of the last century. But for harsh local conditions it has still retained its significance. Altai melon is characterized by early ripening, ripening within 65-75 days. Of course, many varieties have appeared that surpass it in sweetness. But the fruits have a strong melon aroma and good yield indicators. True, they are poorly stored. Therefore, it is better to process them into jam or candied fruits as soon as possible.
Amber
Breeders bred this variety specifically for harsh climatic conditions and were right; it is still one of the three best melon varieties for Siberia. Of course, it does not ripen in the fastest time. Melons are usually ripe only 75-80 days after germination. But the taste of the fruit is beyond praise and is worthy of planting this melon on your plot.
"Tamanskaya"
Belongs to early ripening varieties. After 54-81 days, ripe fruits can be collected from the garden. The climbing stems of the plant are of medium length. They are covered with many slightly dissected leaves of medium size, green in color.
The fruit of early melon has an oval shape. The peel is yellow in color and covered with a medium-density mesh pattern. The seed nest is large, the structure is open. The cut crust is creamy and thin. The pulp is juicy, grainy and tender, of medium thickness and creamy in color. The weight of one melon is 0.6 - 1.4 kg. It has a pleasant taste.
Advantage: tolerates transportation well.
"Temryuchanka"
It has a mid-season ripening period, the fruits can be removed from the garden after 71-96 days. The climbing stems are covered with green, slightly dissected, medium-sized leaves.
It has a round shape. A ripe melon is covered with a dark yellow skin with a dense mesh pattern. Outside – wrinkled, weakly segmented. The weight of the fetus varies from 1.5 to 2.2 kg. The flesh is creamy in color and has a delicate, sweet, aromatic taste.
Attention! It tolerates transportation well and is stored for 26-30 days.
Melon varieties by fruit color
Cultivated varieties of melons can also vary significantly in fruit color.
Yellow
The yellow shade is probably the most popular.
Delano
The medium-sized, oval-shaped fruits have an attractive dark yellow color. The variety was bred in the Netherlands. It has a medium-early ripening period: 63-77 days.
Fairy tale
Classic elliptical-shaped melon fruits have a smooth yellow skin with a sparse mesh. They are distinguished by their early ripening, smooth ripening, sweet and crispy flesh, and resistance to disease.
Orange
An orange tint is also not uncommon among melons.
El Dorado
The round, yellow-orange, medium-sized fruits have white, juicy pulp. The variety is mid-early, recommended for growing under film covers. The taste is good, the aroma is average. The yield is decent - up to 7 kg per 1 sq. m.
Melba
The variety is distinguished by one of the earliest ripening periods; the first fruits can ripen 30-40 days after germination. True, they are small in size, weighing 600-700 g. The peel is light orange with a beige mesh. The taste is delicate and sweet.
Greens
Green color is less typical for melons, however, there are plenty of similar varieties.
Don Quixote
These green melons, which have a thick skin, grow up to 5 kg. The mesh is clearly visible on the peel. Thanks to the thick peel, the fruits are perfectly stored. In cool conditions they can retain their taste for up to 3 months.
Charente
Melons of this variety are not large in size. This melon variety is represented by small gray-green balls with segments separated by dark stripes. The orange-colored pulp is very sweet and juicy. But the variety, originally from France, is distinguished by its demanding growing conditions: heat, light and humidity.
A lazy man's dream
This variety is unusual in many ways. It is able to ripen one of the first, in 50-55 days. The appearance of small (300-400 g) fruits resembles striped greenish pears. The peel is so thin that it practically does not interfere with eating the fruit. But the variety is somewhat capricious and loves warmth.
White
White melons look the most attractive, especially if they are decorated with stripes or divided into segments.
Princess Svetlana
Interesting portioned white balls with crispy orange pulp of excellent taste - this is what the Princess Svetlana melon variety is. They do not ripen quickly - in 95-105 days, they are more suitable for growing under film. They are stored for about 2 weeks. Productivity – up to 6.5 kg/sq.m.
Muscat white
Melons of this variety do not have a very traditional appearance - they are almost white, round, usually small in size, about 600-900 g, but sometimes reach 2 kg. The flesh is slightly greenish. The main thing is to pick the fruits on time and not let them overripe. Otherwise, the juicy pulp becomes too cloying. And the fruits ripen in just two full months. Plants show amazing flexibility in relation to sudden changes in temperature and can even tolerate short-term frosts.
Blondie
Despite the name, the white background of the small fruits is decorated with greenish stripes, which makes the melons even more attractive. Under the thin skin hides dark orange, sweet and juicy pulp, although without much aroma.
The variety has good yield and disease resistance.
"Zlato Scythians"
A hybrid variety characterized by mid-early ripeness. After 71-81 days, the ripe crop can be harvested. The plant has a climbing stem. The leaves are medium-sized, light greenish, slightly dissected, highly toothed with small waves.
The outside of the fruit is round in shape. The bark is yellow, covered with a thin mesh pattern. Medium sized seed nest. The placenta is located in the center. The fruit pulp is creamy and melts in your mouth. The taste is juicy, sweet and aromatic. The weight of one melon is 1.2-1.4 kg.
A variety from 1 sq.m of plot can produce about 6 kg of fruit.
Advantage:
- a bountiful harvest;
- excellent taste of the pulp;
- resistance to powdery mildew.
In the first half of April, it is recommended to add seeds of this variety to seedlings. After 31-36 days, the shoots can be planted in the greenhouse. The variety is suitable for growing under covering material and for greenhouses. The diagram for planting one plant is 70x150 cm. You should not water the seedlings frequently to avoid increased soil moisture. The plant should be watered with extreme caution during the period of fruit ripening.
It is recommended to run the wattles along a trellis to make the task of caring for and harvesting easier. When the stem grows more than 55 cm, it will be necessary to rid it of all shoots. Also, the pruning procedure must be carried out on the stem, in the segment between the first and third leaves.
The best varieties of melon for a greenhouse
Some varieties of melons were specially bred by breeders and recommended for growing in greenhouses or under film covers. Under such conditions, these melons are able to demonstrate better yield and taste.
Dragon
An interesting melon variety selected for medium-late ripening with a decent yield of up to 7.8 kg per 1 sq. m. Melons are so sweet and juicy that they can be consumed even when unripe. The fruits have an elongated, slightly serpentine shape with a pattern of many light dots on a green background. The aroma is moderate.
Iroquois
A very popular variety of melon for greenhouses from the same. Melons have a non-standard appearance. Under the thick peel, covered with a thick, rough mesh, lies tender orange pulp that melts in your mouth. The plants are distinguished by their strong growth and long vines, which in a greenhouse are best allowed to climb onto trellises. Ripening time is average, from 70 to 80 days.
Comment! After harvesting, it is better to cool the fruits to + 10-15 °C. In such conditions they are better preserved.
Indian summer
Breeders have many varieties designed for growing under film. Among them, the mid-late variety Indian Summer stands out for its yield, taste characteristics and interesting appearance. The fruits are slightly cube-shaped and ripen towards the end of September. The juicy, tender, buttery flesh is a bit reminiscent of pumpkin in its light orange color. The aroma is average.
Canaria
The variety was originally bred in the Canary Islands and is therefore thermophilic. But later it was adapted to Russian climatic conditions by agricultural specialists. Canaria is distinguished by its very early ripening period - 60-70 days. Therefore, in greenhouse conditions it can be grown almost all year round. Oval, bright yellow fruits with light green flesh have an excellent honey taste. They grow weighing from 1.5 to 3 kg.
Recommended varieties by region
Varieties for growing in any region : Sprint, Sphinx, Seledyn, Tiger, Timiryazevskaya rannyaya, Ozhen, Octavia, Autumn Joy, Ophelia, Turkish Delight.
for central Russia , including the black earth region: the Kolkhoznitsa variety (for the Central Black Earth, North Caucasus, Middle Volga, Lower Volga regions).
In the Northwestern, Central, Volga-Vyatka, Central Black Earth, and Middle Volga regions, it is recommended to grow the Princess Svetlana melon. The variety is also well suited for the Moscow region.
For the Urals : Babor, Altai, Zimovka, Lesya, Kolkhoznitsa, Temryuchanka, Original.
For Siberia : Lolita, Altai, Tender, Collective Farmer, Rosinka.
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