Astrakhan watermelon - characteristics, variety description, cultivation

Today, the easy-to-care Astrakhan watermelon is grown throughout Russia, although this was not always the case. Breeders had to work for decades so that the southern fruit could grow in more severe climatic conditions.

This variety produces high yields and is stored for quite a long time. Our article will tell you how to distinguish the Astrakhan variety from others and how to grow it.

Story

The “ancestor” of the Astrakhan watermelon was bred in the mid-16th century.
Exactly one hundred years later, in 1660, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov appreciated the berries and ordered the fruits to be delivered to the royal court. In this regard, large plantations were created in Astrakhan and Kharkov province. At the end of the 18th century, Peter I first tried Astrakhan watermelon: the tsar liked the variety so much that he immediately gave an order to grow the plant near Moscow. At first, due to unfavorable climatic conditions, the watermelon did not take root. But another hundred years later, breeders “adjusted” the variety to northern weather standards.

Since the beginning of the 19th century, the sale of watermelons throughout the country has been actively developing. Large fruits were supplied to markets in other regions, and small ones were used as pet food or to create watermelon honey.

In 1977, breeder Konstantin Efimovich Dyutin developed the first variety of Astrakhan watermelon, which was entered into the register. The original purpose of this variety was vegetation in regions such as the Urals, Volga region and Central Russia. This variety is still relevant today.

Reviews

Antonina, 56, pensioner, Astrakhan. I grew up eating Astrakhan watermelons. We grow them as a family in our dacha. They grow beautifully, just have time to water them. And in early autumn, the whole large family collects and enjoys the juicy fruits.

Nikolay, 64 years old, pensioner, Khimki. On the advice of friends from the southern regions, I began to grow Astrakhan watermelons. I started by germinating the seeds, then transplanted them into pots and then planted them in a greenhouse in the countryside. I cared and tried to follow all the recommendations. As a result, I grew my first crop of large, ripe watermelons. I am very glad.

Andrey, 42 years old, programmer, Voronezh. I live in a house with a large plot. In my free time I garden. I decided to diversify the planting. I chose Astrakhan watermelon for its excellent taste. Grown without a greenhouse. I recommend that you take a closer look at growing this particular variety.

Astrakhan watermelon is suitable for growing in any region. You need to choose the right place for planting and pay attention to caring for the plant at all stages of growth. In areas with cool summers, it can be grown in a greenhouse.

Appearance

The characteristic external signs of the Astrakhan watermelon are:

round or slightly elongated shape;
smooth surface without dents or protrusions;
elastic bark, approximately 2 cm thick;
the pattern is bright green, with wide light stripes, the contour of which resembles the shape of thorns;
the weight of a ripe watermelon can be more than 10 kg;
cut watermelon has bright red granular flesh, black or dark brown seeds;
The pulp is juicy and very sweet.

How to choose the right watermelon without nitrates

Maximum permissible concentration of nitrates in watermelon: 60 mg per 1 kg of berries.

We pay attention to the following signs of excess nitrates:

ROUGH YELLOW FIBERS IN THE PULP that go through the pulp to the peel are a reliable sign of excess nitrates.
UNEVEN COLOR OF THE PULP (sometimes lighter, sometimes darker, especially as the color intensity increases from the peel to the center) is another sign of excess nitrates.

CRACKS IN THE PULP ON THE HALF CUT: When there are cracks in the red flesh on the middle cut, then most likely there are a lot of nitrates in the berry. They were added to speed up ripening; as a result, the watermelon began to grow sharply and violently, causing the flesh to crack.
TOO SMOOTH FLESH can be both a sign of nitrates and a clear indication of a lack of sufficient sweetness. Sweet sugar watermelon has red flesh with a noticeable structure - pronounced sugar grains and “sugar islands” on the cut.

MULTI-COLORED SEEDS, when one watermelon has completely dark and light seeds.

NITRATE TEST WITH WATER

If you bought a watermelon, but are still in doubt, you can use a test with plain water. Crush a tablespoon of watermelon pulp with a fork in a glass of water (about 150 ml).

If after some time the water becomes slightly cloudy, you have a watermelon without excess nitrates.
If the water turns red, don’t risk eating your purchase! There are too many nitrates in the pulp.

It is especially advisable to carry out the test when serving watermelon to children or at a crowded feast, when the risk of poisoning affects many people, including the most vulnerable.

IMPORTANT! You can be safe from nitrates by selecting special pieces of pulp. Nitrates in watermelon are distributed unevenly - closer to the rind and to the stalk

In a situation you don’t understand, if you still want to feed your children watermelon, give them only the pulp cut out from the middle.

These are the main parameters for choosing the right watermelon. If you follow our recommendations, you and your loved ones will be satisfied with the choice and will not only benefit, but also enjoy the pleasant taste.

VIDEO: How to choose the right watermelon and 3 ways to cut it

The breeder Konstantin Dyutin managed to breed a huge round fruit with a smooth surface. Astrakhan watermelons, unlike other varieties of this melon crop, are unpretentious in care, which is why they are planted on farms and grown in dachas. The sweet berry not only has a pleasant taste, but also eliminates thirst, supplies the human body with vitamins and microelements, cleanses it of toxins, and relieves swelling.

Now there is no need to go to Astrakhan for watermelons, whose hot and dry climate is ideal for growing melons. You can buy this amazing berry anywhere; it is cultivated in different regions of Russia. Astrakhan watermelons are different:

dense and smooth crust;
oblong shape;
dark green color;
light stripes on the surface.

The pulp in the fruit pleases with a sweet taste and a subtle aroma of the fields. During prolonged drought, voids sometimes form in the berries, but Astrakhan watermelon does not lose its juiciness due to this. It ripens 75-80 days after emergence. Melon culture loves warmth, direct rays of the sun, does not like cloudy and cool weather, or high humidity. Astrakhan watermelons are extremely rarely affected by:

fusarium
gray mold;
mosaic disease;
anthracnose.

The characteristics and description of the variety interested farmers, because from one hectare, under favorable conditions, it is possible to collect 120 tons of watermelons, each of which weighs more than 8 kilograms. Summer residents who plant this melon crop on their plots claim that the sweetest and juiciest fruit has a contrasting color - a very dark skin and very light stripes. When pressed, a ripe berry produces a barely audible cracking sound.

Characteristics

Variety	Mid-season
Berry weight	from 7 to 12 kg
Productivity	50 t/ha
Growing season	70–80 days
Planting scheme	200x80
Soil type	Open; closed
Fruit shelf life	up to 2 months without loss of taste properties
Disease susceptibility	resistant to diseases and other negative environmental factors

Planting care

Birds and rodents can cause crop loss

The Astrakhan watermelon is unpretentious in care, but requires certain rules to be followed.

Watering is needed abundantly during the growth period of the vines, and moderate when fruiting begins.
Weeding is carried out after watering, when the water is absorbed. While the plants are small, this is done regularly, but if they have grown on the ground, then you can stop weeding. An alternative to weeding can be mulching the soil.

During the period of green growth, 2 mandatory feedings are carried out. Initially with nitrogen substances, and when the fruits begin to set - phosphorus-potassium. But if, as it grows, a lack of nutrients is noticed, you can do a few more feedings.
To prevent pests and diseases, it is necessary to spray watermelons with an infusion of ash and garlic. In case of illness or insects, it is worth turning to specialized preparations for treatment.
Birds and rodents can cause crop loss. To avoid this, repellers or something similar are installed on the site.
To obtain large fruits, after the formation of 2 ovaries on the shoot, it is pinched. In general, up to 10 watermelons can ripen on one bush.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros:

large watermelon with sweet juicy pulp;
good harvest even from a small area;
the possibility of growing both in open ground and in a greenhouse;
persistent drought tolerance;
the presence of “immunity” to major diseases characteristic of other varieties;
long shelf life;
immunity to transportation;
ease of care;
good profitability: low costs for purchasing seeds and care bring a large harvest.

Minuses:

sometimes additional fertilizers are required during the growing season;
grows only in dry, warm climates;
in severe drought, additional watering is required.

Video “How to determine ripeness”

To find out whether this crop is ripe in your garden, we recommend watching the video we prepared especially for you.

Watermelon is probably the most mysterious berry for a novice gardener in terms of determining its ripeness. Not only does it take a lot of effort to grow melons, but try and guess when to pick them in time.

ripe watermelon fruit

When I was faced with such a task, I remembered all the advice I heard at the market, from friends and by chance on the street, read 1001 articles on the Internet, identified the most common signs of a ripe watermelon in the garden and tried to determine the joyful moment of harvesting from them.

Growing

This variety prefers loamy or fertile sandy loam soils. The acidity should be neutral or slightly alkaline. When choosing a place to plant a plant, you should give preference to small hills with flat terrain. In general, the site should be sunny and protected from the wind: for this, tall plants are planted on the western and northern sides.

The soil for planting watermelons is prepared in the fall: humus and mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus are applied. The soil structure should be loose and soft. To harvest a large harvest, it is recommended to plant the plants in the place where legumes or potatoes were grown.

When forming holes, you must maintain the required depth - from 6 to 8 cm. Each seedling should be located at a distance of 50 cm from the other - this will ensure the full formation of the fruit.
There are two ways to plant a plant:

Planting seeds in open ground - suitable for areas with a long summer season. Planting period is mid or late May.
Seedlings - for regions with a short summer period (central Russia and the Moscow region). Planting occurs after two weeks of warm weather with temperatures ranging from +22 to + 28 °C.

Preparatory work

Preparatory work for growing watermelons consists of preparing the area for melons and seeds for sowing.

Site selection and preparation

When choosing a site for crops, the following factors must be taken into account:

Climatic conditions - hot and dry air, low humidity.
Light . After the appearance of 5-6 leaves, high illumination and daylight hours of 12 hours are required. The fruits do not set in long daylight hours; plant growth slows down when the light is less than 8 hours.
Soil - the crop does not like clay soils with excess moisture and high acidity. The best soil is light sandy and desert, well-cultivated virgin soil. Soil acidity - 6.6–7 pH. It is necessary to prepare the soil in the fall by adding humus and mineral fertilizers that contain potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen and magnesium.
Crop rotation . Repeated sowing of watermelons on the site is carried out after 3-4 years. The best areas are those where wheat, grasses, corn, alfalfa, root vegetables, onions, cabbage, and legumes grew. Planting sites after nightshades and melons should be avoided.

The sweetest watermelons grow in dry and hot places, so you can choose a plot on heated hillocks.
Chernozem soils can be diluted in half with river sand. Important! Watermelons grow small on chernozem soil due to the large amount of nitrogen, which promotes the growth of green mass to the detriment of fruit development.

The site should be protected from northern and western cold winds and drafts by planting tall crops or a fence, and prepare beds for watermelons on the south or southeast side.

Seed preparation

For seedling and non-seedling sowing methods, it is advisable to pre-germinate the seeds. Purchased seeds are usually processed and prepared for planting.

Otherwise, you should prepare the seeds yourself:

soak the seeds in a solution of “Epin Extra” or in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for 12 hours to soften the shell and disinfect;
after the time has passed, place the seeds in a damp cloth, cover with film and place in a warm place (+28°C) for 4–5 days, preventing the cloth from drying out;
ungerminated seeds can be shed with water +50°С…+60°С.

When the first shoots appear, you can begin planting either in seedling containers or directly in the soil.

Germination of seeds

It is best to germinate seeds in late April.

Stages of preparation:

It is necessary to dilute a weak solution of potassium permanganate
Place the seeds in the solution overnight to disinfect and soften the seed coat.
In the morning, remove the seeds and rinse under running water.
Carefully place the seeds on gauze and place in a warm but not hot place
Moisten the planting material with warm water every day until the seeds begin to germinate.

Within 5 days, sprouts usually appear that need to be hardened off. To do this, the germinated material is placed in the refrigerator overnight, and in the morning it is moved to its usual storage location. The procedure must be repeated for three days.

Young seedlings are distributed into cups - you can use peat products or ordinary plastic cups. The suitable container diameter for seedlings is about 10 cm. The cups are filled with peat or a mixture of river sand, turf and humus. To prepare the mixture, you need to take these 3 components in equal quantities.

The prepared composition should be poured with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and left to dry. After all manipulations, the mixture is ready for use.

Growing seedlings:

make a hole in a cup of soil up to 4 cm deep;
place no more than 2 seeds in one glass with their side;
pour water at room temperature;
cover with polyethylene;
Place in a warm, sunny room, with a temperature not lower than 23 °C.

Germination of sprouts traditionally occurs within a week. Next, for three weeks there is a period of seedling growth.

At this time, fertilizing is required:

A solution of mullein with water at the rate of 1 to 10. Water ten days after the first shoots are detected.
After 12 days, a second feeding is applied: 1 liter of water + 50 grams of superphosphate + 30 grams of potassium sulfate + 15 grams of ammonium sulfate.

There must be a distance between containers with seedlings so that the leaves do not touch.

After 30 days from the moment of seed germination, the sprouts are ready for planting in a permanent place.

When do watermelons ripen?

Useful properties of watermelon

Harvesting begins when watermelons reach technical maturity. This can be determined by appearance or by the time of development. A ripe watermelon is indicated by: a small light spot in the place where the berry touched the ground, a dry tail of the lash, a ringing sound when tapped on the bark. When you cut a ripe watermelon, you can hear a pleasant cracking sound, but there should be no white, unripe seeds inside.

After harvest, watermelons are stored for quite a long time without loss of taste or external qualities - about 2 months. They should lie in a dark, ventilated place at room temperature and low humidity.

The variety is easy to transport over short and long distances. Fruits do not deteriorate on the road if they were initially healthy and undamaged. And thanks to its excellent commercial qualities, Astrakhan watermelon is very popular on sale. It has beautiful flesh, sweet, aromatic - attracts customers.

Gardeners and consumers love the Astrakhan watermelon variety. It is sweet, tasty, juicy, healthy, and relatively easy to grow - what more do you need?

Maria False: “Astrakhan watermelons have been known to me since childhood. I love them very much and therefore I try to grow at least 5-7 of them on my own plot every year. Of course, this is a troublesome matter in the Moscow region, but it is quite possible if you approach cultivation correctly. I only grow my berries under film - in a temporary greenhouse. I open it at the beginning of the hot season and cover it again if the cold weather comes earlier than desired.”
Alexander Gubsky: “I think the Astrakhan watermelon variety is so popular because of its taste. This is a really sweet berry, and if you also put it in the refrigerator for 5-6 hours - how refreshing it is afterwards - just what you need for fruit drinks and drinks! We’ve been growing it on our property for about 5 years, but unfortunately we haven’t gotten the hang of it – they turn out too small, about 1 kg, but they’re sweet.”
Anton Mazur: “My growing method is a greenhouse. The Astrakhan variety of watermelons grows very well there. I grow it on a trellis. It’s not easy - you have to put a layer under each fruit and put it in a bag so that it doesn’t fall, but the yield is above all praise. Some goes for sale, some goes to the family.”

Planting seedlings in a greenhouse

The greenhouse must have the following parameters:

height - up to 2 m;
presence of windows, absence of drafts;
building material - polycarbonate;
In cold climates, an additional heating source is required.

Before planting seedlings, the surfaces of the greenhouse are treated with a solution based on copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture. Soil preparation begins in the fall: the soil is dug up 1/4 meter and fertilized with a mixture of 2 buckets of manure, 3 tablespoons of nitrophoska and 2 tablespoons of superphosphate.

The process of planting seedlings in a greenhouse begins in late May - early June, for this:

1. Dig a small hole and fill it with compost.

2. Water with water and place the seedlings in the hole along with a glass (if it is biodegradable) or with a lump of earth

3. When planting with a cup, the container should be level with the ground

For the favorable development of seedlings in the greenhouse, the following indicators must be met:

the presence of natural light for at least 12 hours and additional artificial light sources;
humidity level - no higher than 60%;
temperature - no more than 30 °C;
Irrigation with warm clean water; Water should not get on the leaves.

Transplanting seedlings into the ground

Planting seedlings in open ground is usually carried out at the end of May, at a stable daytime temperature of + 27 °C. The seedlings are first hardened: 3 days before planting, the sprouts are taken to a cool place with a temperature of about + 15 °C. Right before planting, seedlings should be watered generously.

Planting stages:

The sprout with a lump of earth is placed in the hole, and the lump should rise 1 cm above the ground.
The hole with the sprout is watered and sprinkled with earth.
The hole is mulched with sand or humus.

Planting should be done in the early morning. Seedlings in the soil are placed in rows 1 m apart from each other. The distance between seedlings in each row should be 80 cm, and the depth of the hole in the ground should be 8 cm.

Harvest and storage

The fruits are cut off from the vine along with the stalk. Collect carefully so as not to damage the skin. If long-term storage is intended, then harvesting occurs a week before final ripening.

Store watermelons in a cool place up to +10 degrees without exposure to sunlight. The room is dry, humidity not higher than 70-75%. There should not be other vegetables and fruits nearby.

Alternatively, watermelons can be hung in mesh bags or placed on wooden pallets and covered with straw.

Conditions for good growth

Fertilizer

Feeding is selected depending on the climate, for example, the southern regions are rich in black soil, and the plant practically does not require additional nutrients. In the central and eastern regions, fertilization is one of the main conditions for the full growth of watermelon.

Fertilizing should be done during periods such as:

the beginning of flowering - growth stimulants, potassium-phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers, as well as a manure solution in a ratio of 1/10 are used.
formation of the ovary - “Terraflex”, “Green”, “Megafol”, “Plantafol” are used as 2nd feeding.
fruit formation - 3 fertilizing calcium nitrate, applied a month before full ripening.

It is better to alternate fertilizers to avoid an excess of their components in the soil.

Watering and humidity

During the formation and growth of the stem, watering is done daily. At the end of fruit formation, for better ripening, the frequency of irrigation is reduced.

During the flowering period, the plant is watered once a week, when the ovaries form - 2 times a month, and during ripening, watering stops.

The basic rule for irrigating a plant is to water at the root, without touching the leaves.

Temperature

Suitable daytime temperatures for growing plants in open ground are from +29 °C to + 31 °C. Night - from +19°С to +20°С.

The Astrakhan variety tolerates hot weather up to + 35 ° C, maintaining the elasticity and color of the foliage. This feature is explained by the fact that the plant is capable of self-cooling.

Pests and diseases

Astrakhan watermelon is a disease-resistant variety, but full control over the condition of the plant is necessary. This will prevent the appearance of pests and other negative consequences.

What are the harm and benefits

Ripe watermelon is a unique dietary product that has virtually no contraindications when consumed regularly. In fact, 80% of its fruits consist of water, and the rest contains plant fiber, fructose, small amounts of glucose and sucrose, as well as microelements. Watermelon is characterized by a pronounced diuretic effect, so its pulp is very useful for those suffering from diseases of the joints, heart and blood vessels. Fructose is absorbed in the human body without the cost of insulin, which means that the sweet-tasting fruit can be consumed even by patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Striped juicy fruits are simply a storehouse of such a trace element as magnesium. With its chronic deficiency, blood pressure rises. It also promotes the binding of oxalates, which prevents the formation of kidney stones, and plays an important role in the processes of bile secretion and cholesterol deactivation. In addition, magnesium is involved in the normalization of intestinal motility, helps relieve muscle spasms and reduces nervous excitability.

In 100 grams of watermelon pulp, the content of this microelement, which is extremely important for human health, is as much as 224 milligrams. Only almonds can boast of a higher concentration. To satisfy the body's daily need for magnesium, it is enough to enjoy only 150 grams of ripe and tasty fruit.

This representative of melons and potassium is rich. True, its content is lower than in dried apricots, persimmons and bananas, beloved by adherents of many diets. Although if we also consider calorie content, then when consuming watermelon, the body will receive three times fewer calories compared to a banana.

However, it should be noted that watermelon is not good for everyone and not always. It should not be eaten by those suffering from diarrhea or intestinal upset. It is also contraindicated for those who are prone to edema. Diabetics should also be careful with this delicacy, given its high glycemic index.

In addition, harm from watermelon may be due to the use of certain chemicals during cultivation. Most often they are nitrates. Their use promotes rapid growth and high fruit weight. But at the same time, such substances are stored in the pulp and enter the human body with it, causing either acute poisoning or chronic intoxication due to gradual accumulation.

Diseases and pests of Astrakhan watermelon

Rains and cold weather negatively affect the condition of the melon crop. The set fruits have no taste and do not absorb juice. Although Astrakhan watermelons are resistant to fusarium and some other diseases, under unfavorable conditions they are affected by downy mildew, caused by a pathogenic fungus. To cope with it, the leaves of the crop are treated with Bordeaux mixture 3 times per season.

Expert advice

Expert opinion

Kuznetsov Sergey Ivanovich

Expert on melons and melons

Additional sources of heat can be ordinary bottles of water located next to the fruits. Bottles, heating under the sun, provide the ovaries with warmth.
It is recommended to turn watermelons on plantations to avoid accumulation of moisture, which causes rotting.
To make plants pollinated better, they can be sprayed with a solution of water and honey.
In cold summer conditions, plants need to be grown in greenhouses.
It is not recommended to plant watermelons and pumpkins next to each other, as cross-pollination harms the crop.

Useful tips

When growing and consuming watermelons, you can use useful tips and recommendations from knowledgeable gardeners and specialists:

for better pollination, you can plant honey plants next to the watermelons or spray the plantings with water with honey and sugar;
additional heat in the melon patch can be provided by bottles of water placed next to the ovaries - when heated in the sun, they will transfer some of the heat to the fruits;
to get rid of nitrates, it is enough to cut off the peel and part (2–3 cm) of the pulp;
in melon fields, watermelons should be turned over as they ripen so that moisture does not accumulate under them and rotting does not begin;
cross-pollination can damage the harvest, so you should not plant different varieties of pumpkin crops next to each other;
four medium pieces will provide the body with the daily requirement of vitamin C;
in addition to fresh consumption, you can prepare salted watermelons, candied fruits, nardek - watermelon honey for future use;
watermelon seeds should not be thrown into waste - they have many beneficial properties;
when eating watermelon, it is useful to drink a lot of mineral water, since due to the diuretic effect, mineral substances are washed out of the body;
When cut through a high-quality watermelon, sugar grains are visible; a glossy cut indicates poor quality;
The degree of ripeness of a watermelon can be determined by the following signs - a dry stalk, a characteristic cracking sound when squeezed, a large yellow spot from touching the ground, bright coloring.

Did you know? Candied mango, kiwi and pineapple produced in China have nothing to do with the listed fruits, but are made from not very sweet feed watermelon.

Having considered all the features of the Astrakhan variety of watermelon and taking into account the climatic conditions of your region, you can choose the right way to grow these plants - on the plot or in a greenhouse, and the reward for your efforts will be a bountiful harvest.

Questions and answers

Is it possible to plant Astrakhan watermelon seeds in open ground?

Yes. Seeds are placed in a moistened hole, 2 pieces at a time, and lightly compacted with earth. The depth of the holes is up to 6 cm. It is better to plant before 12 noon.

Where is the best place to plant a plant?

On flat, elevated areas without drafts, with plenty of sunlight. Areas where cucumbers, cabbage and pumpkins were planted are not suitable for planting watermelon.

How often should you fertilize?

No more than once a week. In hot weather, fertilizing is contraindicated.

How to determine the ripeness of a fruit?

By the presence of a dry stalk, cracking when squeezing the berry, and a dull sound when tapped.

How to pick berries correctly?

The watermelon is carefully cut along with the stalk. Damage to the fetal cortex should be avoided.

How to determine the ripeness of a berry?

The ripening time for watermelon is the end of August and the beginning of September. To determine maturity, you need to pay attention to the following: