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Melon blossom. Biology of flowering and pollination of melon. Caring for grafted melons

Central and Central Asia is considered to be the homeland of melon. However, the vegetable is grown almost all over the world and Russia is no exception. Based on the species classification, melon belongs to the genus of pumpkins. Its relationship with pumpkin is confirmed by the root system, which has many similarities with representatives of this family.

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, this melon crop can be grown not only in open ground, but also in a greenhouse or even on a balcony. Melon, of course, is more capricious and demanding to maintain than its relatives, pumpkins, but if you properly care for and fertilize it, then you can grow the crop in your own garden plot, the main thing is to make every effort and this delicious honey vegetable can be tasted at the end summer - early autumn.

Types and varieties of melon

Cantaloupe melon (cantaloupe) – this variety has a greenish-orange skin and an elongated shape. This vegetable is a frequent guest on the table of the Pope. Melon is practically seedless. It has sweet flesh and a rich orange hue.

– The vegetable’s homeland is Asia, but it is also cultivated in many other countries. The melon crop of this variety is an annual herbaceous plant with well-developed roots and long creeping stems. Melon fruits can be either cylindrical or spherical. The peel is white, green, brown or yellow with clear green stripes. The melon pulp is sweet, juicy and light yellow in color.

- is a medium-sized plant, with a thin weaving stem, on which are kidney-shaped, slightly notched small leaf plates. The fruits are not large, having a spherical shape. The bark is coarsely cellular, bright yellow. The pulp is white, crunchy and has a sweet taste and pleasant aroma.

– this variety differs from other varieties of melon in its bright red-brown skin with clear yellow stripes. In terms of its taste, the vegetable is comparable to pineapple. It has yellow, juicy and tender flesh.

– the ripening time of this variety is 110 days. The fruits have a long shelf life and tolerate transportation well. The shape of the melon is elongated, the peel has a yellow tint with a fine mesh. The pulp is white in color, and also has a light pleasant aroma, softness and juiciness.

The ripening time of this variety is 80 days. The shape of the melon is round, the peel is rough, hard, ribbed, yellow-green in color, divided into convex sections like segments. In appearance, this melon is very similar to a pumpkin. The pulp has a white tint and is also distinguished by its sweetness, juiciness and density. From ten squares of land, you can get a harvest of up to 20 kilograms.

– melon is grown in Japan in the city of Yubari. This variety was bred in 1961 in America. The vegetable has an oblong shape, a brown-orange cellular peel and orange pulp with a taste uncharacteristic of melons. Such taste qualities were achieved by adding volcanic ash to the soil on which the melon grows.

– the ripening time for melons of this variety is 95 days. The fruits have the shape of an elongated ellipse. The peel has a light orange tint. The pulp is white-pink in color and is fragrant, juicy and oily, reminiscent of pineapple in taste.

– the variety is characterized by early ripening, has an oval shape and a smooth, slightly segmented peel of a yellowish-orange color. The flesh may be white or light orange. It is grainy, aromatic and sweet.

– the ripening time of the variety is 90 days. The fruits have an elongated spherical shape with delicate, tasty beige pulp that melts in the mouth. This variety is disease resistant and stores well. From a plot of 10 square meters you can harvest up to 30 kilograms of crop.

Mid-season variety, the ripening time of which is 80 days. The fruits have a presentable appearance, oval shape with a golden, finely mesh skin. They have tender flesh with a yellowish-pink tint. Melon is used to make candied fruits and marmalade.

– refers to early ripening varieties that ripen in 50 days. Melons have an elongated shape and striped green skin. The pulp has a sweet honey taste, and is also juicy and whitish in color.

– this variety ripens in 60-65 days. The fruits are large, having an ideal oblong shape with a yellow, mesh, ribbed, dense peel. The pulp is juicy with a slight honey flavor and a light yellow tint.

– the variety is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and excellent taste. The fruits are oval in shape, yellow skin with a fine mesh. The pulp has a creamy or white color with a honey flavor and a delicate, juicy and crumbly structure.

– the variety was bred in Israel. The fruits are round or oval in shape with a yellow, smooth, mesh skin. The pulp has a greenish-white tint, juiciness, sweetness and a pleasant aroma.

The second name of this variety is avocado melon . Its homeland is Thailand. The shape of the fruit is elliptical, the peel has a bright yellow or brown tint. The pulp of the vegetable is similar to the pulp of an avocado, which it also resembles in taste.

– the variety is classified as mid-season. Its ripening time is 60 days. The melon has a round shape with a dark yellow, mesh-like skin. The vegetable has white flesh, characterized by sweetness, juiciness and aroma.

– characterized by frost resistance and long-term storage. The fruit has an elongated, oval shape with an orange, mesh skin. The pulp is white in color and is juicy, aromatic and sweet.

– the birthplace of melon culture is Central Asia. It is distinguished by ovoid fruits with a dark orange mesh skin. The pulp is light yellow with a sweet taste and pleasant aroma.

- an early ripening variety bred in Altai. The fruits are distinguished by their elongated oval shape with a mesh skin of yellow-orange color. The pulp has a pleasant aroma, orange tint and honey taste.

Melon planting and care in open ground

Melon is a heat-loving and light-loving plant. Therefore, it tolerates heat and drought well. The maximum moisture content for this melon crop is 60 to 70 percent.

Melon has a massive root system that can receive moisture from the ground even at a depth of more than a meter. For normal plant growth, it needs a lot of space. Since the crop does not tolerate shade, it must be planted in a sunny area, protected from cold winds.

Melon can be planted in a bed where legumes, grains, as well as cabbage, onions and garlic previously grew. To protect the plant from pest invasion and improve the taste of the fruit, it is necessary to plant radishes, turnips and basil next to it.

Undesirable neighbors for melon are potatoes and cucumbers. Their proximity leads to withering of the plant and bitterness of ripened fruits. A crop can be planted in one place for no more than two years without compromising its yield.

Melon is a capricious plant, so the soil for it should be selected carefully. A light, organically fertilized super-loamy soil mixture with neutral acidity is suitable for it. Before you start planting melons, the beds must be prepared in advance.

Preparing a site for planting melons

In the fall, the area for melons needs to be dug up, adding humus and river sand to the soil. In the spring, when the snow melts, the bed must be sprinkled with peat and covered with film so that the soil warms up faster.

When the top layer of the earth warms up to +13 degrees, the earth needs to be loosened by adding potassium and phosphate fertilizer to it, according to the instructions indicated on the package. Before planting begins, the area should be dug up and nitrogen-containing fertilizer applied.

Seed planting is permissible only in the southern region of the country. In all other cases, only mature young plants need to be planted. Melon should be planted in early April.

Landing is carried out as follows. First, holes are dug, the depth of which is 6 centimeters. The distance between them should be 0.7 meters, and between the rows one meter. Humus is placed in each hole and the soil is watered with warm water. Then 4 seeds are placed in the prepared soil or a young seedling is planted. The seed material is filled with dry soil, the holes with seedlings are filled with damp soil and lightly compacted.

It is best to plant plants after rain, when the soil is moist. During cold weather, future melons should be protected by covering the beds with film at night. It must be removed during the day.

Watermelon is also a member of the Cucurbitaceae family. It is grown when planted and cared for in open ground without much hassle, if you follow agricultural practices. You can find all the necessary recommendations in this article.

Watering melons

Since the homeland of melon is the arid east, it does not like excessive waterlogging. If the summer is very dry, the plant needs to be watered only twice a week with warm water, which should be applied at the root.

When cold water is used for irrigation and it gets on the leaves, the plant gets sick and dies. If the summer is very humid and rainy, it is recommended to cover the melon with film to avoid waterlogging of the soil, to which the plant reacts very painfully.

Soil for melon

Melon is very demanding on the soil, for this reason its composition should be taken care of in advance before planting. The earth mixture should be light and have neutral acidity.

To plant the plant, you should mix soil from the site, vegetable humus and river sand. The resulting mixture can be used to plant seedlings or seeds.

Melon transplant

Melon does not need to be replanted, since it is an annual melon crop.

After planting in open ground, it grows for several months until fruiting. And after harvesting, the plant dries out and dies completely.

Melon feeding

To feed plants, both mineral and organic fertilizers are used. Mineral fertilizers include calcium and potassium fertilizers, which are applied after watering, followed by loosening the soil and removing weeds, without which normal crop growth is impossible.

Organic fertilizers are rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compounds, as well as vitamins and microelements necessary for melon health. As organic matter, you should use a mixture of plant and animal humus, which should be applied under the bush in the form of a solution with a concentration of 1:5.

After feeding, you need to water to avoid the accumulation of harmful components. The plant needs to be fed 5 times during the growing season. The first time when planting, twice during flowering and twice when the fruits ripen.

Melon blossom

The male melon flowers begin to bloom first, of which there can be from 6 to 30 pieces. Their number depends on how early the variety is. A little later, female inflorescences appear, but they are mostly sterile.

Flowers are pollinated by thrips, ants and bees. Some time after pollination, the flowers dry up and fruits set in their place. The inflorescences have a bright yellow hue and a light aroma that attracts insects. Flowering time depends on the variety. It usually starts in early June and ends a few weeks later.

Melon processing

The plant is treated to protect it from diseases and pests. It is performed by spraying melon bushes, sprinkling its leaf blades with dry powders or watering with special preparations.

Treatment is carried out in the evening, only in dry, windless weather. Insecticides should not get on the fruits, as this can lead to their accumulation in ripening melons, and ultimately poisoning after eating the already ripe fruit.

Fungicides and insecticides are selected according to the disease or pest from which the crop must be protected.

Pinching a melon

To properly form the bush, pinching is used, which also has a positive effect on the speed of fruit ripening. On the main lash, pinching is carried out after the fifth leaf plate, and on additional lashes, immediately after the three leaves that are located under the ovary.

Thanks to this procedure, it is possible to preserve the substances necessary for plant growth, directing them not to the growth of vines, but to the formation of fruits. In addition, this procedure will prevent those ailments that can affect weakened melon bushes.

Melon growing from seeds

Melons are propagated by seed and seedling methods.

Before planting seeds in open ground, they should be prepared. Only three-year or four-year-old seeds are used for sowing. If you sow fresh seed, only male plants will germinate.

Before planting, the seeds must be disinfected by soaking them in a weak solution of manganese for an hour, after which they should be washed in warm water. Sowing in the ground should be done at the end of April. If you sow seeds in April, they should be dry, and if you postpone planting to May, then the seed material should be germinated.

The distance between holes should be at least 80 centimeters, and between rows no more than 1.5 meters, depending on how climbing the variety is. The depth of the hole should be made from 4 to 6 centimeters. Before planting seeds in the ground, the ground must be moistened and 3 to 5 seeds must be planted, covering them with a layer of dry soil.

Planting melon seeds for seedlings

In the central zone of the country, warm periods are much shorter than in the south, so melon must be propagated using grown seedlings. To grow it, you need to take seed material and sow it in separate pots with soil mixture.

Before planting, the soil should be moistened and 3 melon seeds added to it. After which the pots are placed on a tray and the temperature is maintained at + 22 degrees. When the seedlings sprout, you need to leave one strong sprout in each pot and carefully remove the rest.

The first watering is carried out when the first leaf blades appear. For irrigation, use warm water, which is carefully poured under the bush. Watering should be systematic. It is necessary to ensure that the top layer of soil does not dry out.

After the seedlings throw out the third leaf, the melons need to be pinched in order to form side lashes. In addition to watering, seedlings need to be fertilized with complex fertilizer every two weeks. Before planting young animals in the garden, they should be hardened for a week.

The seedlings are transferred to open ground in early June. Month-old planting material already has from 3 to 5 leaf blades. The beds should be designed according to the ridge type, planting seedlings on the ridges.

Grafting melon onto pumpkin

How resistant a plant will be to unfavorable environments and diseases depends on the root system. To improve the above indicators in melon, it is grafted onto a stronger pumpkin.

After grafting onto a pumpkin, the melon becomes stronger and more resilient, but the pumpkin weakens and slows down its growth.

Grafting should be done at the same time when seedlings are planted in open ground. The grafted plant is transferred to open ground only after a month and after the soil has warmed up to + 16 degrees.

Seeds for scion and rootstock should be sown in early May. If the stems of two plants have a large difference in size, then the graft most likely will not take root. Since pumpkin grows faster than melon, the melon should be sown 3 days earlier so that it grows slightly faster than the pumpkin. The grafting procedure is carried out when several leaf blades appear on the seedlings.

Methods for grafting melon onto pumpkin

To perform the procedure, you need to take a sharp blade, some plastic tape for tying, and grafting clamps. Before carrying out the procedure, the blade must be disinfected with alcohol, and one side must be wrapped with tape to avoid injury.

In addition to standard grafting into the cleft, three more effective methods are used, which provide up to 80% guarantee that the plant will take root.

Grafting into the center of a pumpkin seedling

This procedure is very complicated, so it is not suitable for beginners. Vaccination consists of the following stages:

• A rootstock is taken and the top above the first leaf blade and seed lobes is cut off perpendicularly;
• Then between the seed lobes, just in the center of the stem, a puncture is made with a thick needle to a depth of 1.5 centimeters;
• Next, the scion melon is carefully cut at ground level and the peel is peeled from the bottom of the plant to a height of 1.5 centimeters;
• After this, the scion stem is inserted into the puncture of the rootstock along its entire length.

The trunks of the rootstock and scion should be in close contact, so the grafting site should be tied with plastic tape and secured with a clamp.

Grafting by bringing plants together

This procedure is much simpler than the previous one, so it is ideal for beginners. It consists of the following steps:

• Melon and pumpkin seeds are sown side by side;
• When the plants sprout, remove the thin skin on both plants under the seed lobes to a length of 15 to 20 millimeters;
• Then, with the bare parts of the stems, the plants are pressed tightly against each other, wrapped in a strip of polyethylene and secured with a clamp.

There is also a second option for this type of vaccination. A rootstock and scion plant are taken and equal-sized cuts of 1.5 centimeters are made on the stem of each in directions opposite to each other. After this, the resulting tongues should be inserted into each other with a lock and secured with a clamp.

After 5 days, the melon stem slightly below the graft should be crushed with your fingers. This procedure is carried out daily until it dries. After 8 days, the pumpkin stem above the grafting site must be removed. When planting in open ground, the melon root system must be cut off.

Grafting into the side of the stem

From a pumpkin seedling, it is necessary to remove the growth bud so that the first leaf blade and cotyledon leaves remain. Then a straight cut up to 2 centimeters long from top to bottom is made on its stem. In depth, the cut should reach the middle of the stem of the seedling.

The melon seedling is cut off near the ground. On both sides of the stem, from the side of the cotyledon leaf plates, remove the peel with the same length as on a pumpkin. Then the pumpkin stem is bent slightly in order to open the cut and a melon seedling is inserted so that the trunks are in close contact, after which the grafting site is wrapped in polyethylene and secured with a clamp.

Caring for grafted melons

After grafting is completed, the soil around the plants is mulched with wet sawdust, then a plastic bottle is placed on top of each melon after cutting off the bottom. During the week, humidity should be maintained at up to 95% and temperature +25 degrees.

To create such a microclimate, containers with plants are placed on a windowsill, shaded from direct sunlight. The inner walls of the bottle must be sprayed with warm water. Plants should be ventilated daily by opening the pots for a few minutes. Watering should be daily. The water must be used warm and poured under the bush.

If the grafting has taken root, then after 5 days you will notice how the melon begins to develop a growing point. When this happens, the plants will need to be ventilated longer, and after a few days the improvised caps should be removed altogether.

Then it will be necessary to maintain the temperature during the day + 25, and at night + 18. Watering should be carried out only when the earthen ball dries out. 2-3 days before planting, the plants are fed with mineral fertilizer for seedlings and hardened in the fresh air. After planting grafted young plants, care for the melon as you would a pumpkin.

It should be noted that grafted plants, unlike ordinary melons, take root with difficulty and produce a much smaller harvest, so you should not graft all the plants at once. You must first learn how to make high-quality vaccinations, and only after that switch to melon-pumpkin.

Diseases and pests

The most common diseases affecting melons are of fungal etiology and are represented by powdery mildew and peronosporosis.

If the gardener replaced what White spots appeared on the melon leaves , then this indicates that the plant is affected by powdery mildew. Over time, the whitish spots will turn brown, causing the leaves and stems to dry out. To get rid of this disease, you should use 80% sulfur powder. The beds need to be processed every twenty days. A month before harvest, treatment is stopped.

Downy mildew manifests itself in the form of yellowish spots on leaf blades . If the soil is waterlogged, then a gray coating also appears on the back of the leaves. To combat the disease, use a urea solution in a 1:1 ratio, which should be used to spray the beds. Soaking seeds in potassium permanganate before planting helps prevent the development of the disease.

Among the insects that attack melon can be distinguished spider mite , melon aphid , scoop And wireworms . If signs of damage by these insects appear, the plant can be sprayed with soda solution. However, experienced gardeners recommend treating melon with the Actellik insecticide. To prevent the appearance of these pests, it is enough to remove weeds and dead lashes in a timely manner. And in the fall, when preparing the beds, deep digging should be done.

Why is melon bitter?

Melon pulp can be bitter for various reasons. They are often presented:

• Improper care for melons and melons during fruit growth and ripening;
• Harvesting before it ripens - melons that do not ripen on the bushes often acquire an unpleasant, bitter taste.
• Excess of nitrates in melon pulp - an increased content of these substances in a vegetable when consumed can cause severe poisoning;
• Fungal diseases and ailments of melons Fungal etiology also significantly affects the change in the taste of melon, and not for the better.
• Dents and cracks on the fruit when buying a melon , the fruit should be selected only with intact peel and without dark spots or other defects. It is through them that harmful microorganisms enter under the skin of the melon, which provoke the appearance of bitterness.

Melon beneficial properties and contraindications

The benefits of this vegetable lie in its composition. It is rich in fiber, vitamins C, PP, B, carotene, phosphorus, copper, carbohydrates, silicon, organic acids, magnesium and calcium. Eating melon will have a beneficial effect on the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, immunity, vision, hair and skin condition.

Melon pulp improves mood and helps fight the negative manifestations of PMS. 100 grams of vegetables contain only 33 kilocalories, so you can safely include it in your diet.

People who have problems with blood vessels, liver, cystitis or kidney stones should include melon in their menu. Since melon pulp is well absorbed and stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to use it for digestive problems. During long-term antibiotic therapy, doctors recommend their patients to eat melon in order to reduce the harmful effects of drugs.

The benefits of melon for women

Melon is useful for expectant mothers. It is an excellent prevention of constipation, anemia and hemorrhoids. Melon juice in folk medicine is used for helminthic infestations, urolithiasis and runny nose.

It is also necessary to give melon juice to children, as it does not cause allergies and is rich in a whole range of useful substances.

A melon compress placed on the back and chest helps with bronchopulmonary diseases and asthma attacks. Melon peel resolves bruises and abscesses, thanks to the increased content of chlorophyll in it.

Since melon has virtually no calories, nutritionists recommend including it in the menu for those people who want to lose weight. By following a melon diet in a month, you can lose up to 10 kilograms without harm to your health, and also cleanse your intestines of toxins.

An allergy attack can be relieved by a warm bath with the addition of melon juice. Melon is useful not only for its pulp, but also for its seeds, which are taken for sexual impotence and as a diuretic.

Melon is also useful for female beauty. In cosmetology, toning and moisturizing masks for the face and décolleté are made from its pulp. They improve the condition of the skin, making it more elastic.

Melon contraindication

Despite the fact that melon is low in calories, it is not recommended for diabetics, as it leads to an increase in blood sugar levels. Those who have a history of gastritis and ulcers should not eat melon.

In general, the vegetable is very healthy and therefore must be present in everyone’s summer diet.

Simple melon recipes

Melon is not only beneficial for the body, but also has excellent taste, which is why it is used in many cuisines around the world.

Below are several recipes that fully reveal the rich taste of melon and allow you to try it in different dishes.

This unusual appetizer based on pork ham and melon is very popular in Spain, but what’s stopping you from preparing it in Russia?

Ingredients:

• Jamon (pork ham) – 200 grams;
• Melon – 20 pieces;
• Balsamic vinegar - to taste;
• Pepper and salt - to taste;
• Olive oil - to taste;
• Lemon juice - to taste.

Preparing jamon with melon:

Cut the melon in half, take half, peel, remove the seeds and cut into large cubes. Sprinkle it with lemon juice, season and pour olive oil.

Then we take the jamon, cut it into thin slices and wrap each one around a melon slice so that we get a rose. We put each delicious rose on a toothpick, put it on a dish and serve.

Candied fruits are as healthy as melons, and they are also an excellent treat that is lower in calories than sweets. Therefore, we highly recommend that those with a sweet tooth try making them.

Ingredients:

• Melon - 1 kilogram;
• Sugar - 1 kilogram;
• Lemon juice – 3 tbsp. spoons.

Preparation of candied melon:

To prepare candied fruits, it is best to choose an unripe melon, so as not to end up with puree instead of elastic pieces. Wash the selected melon, remove the peel, remove the seeds and cut the pulp into small pieces.

Then sprinkle the melon with sugar and leave for two hours so that it releases the juice. After the required amount of time has passed, pour in lemon juice and place the candied fruits on the stove. After they boil, boil them for 2 minutes and turn off. Leave for 10 hours. Repeat the above steps 4 times. Ready candied fruits should be translucent.

When they reach the desired condition, put them on a sieve, drain the syrup, take a baking sheet, cover it with foil and place the candied fruits on it. Place them in the oven and dry them for 5 hours with the door open at a temperature of 80 degrees.

Take out the finished candied fruits, remove from the baking sheet, sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve as a treat for tea or coffee.

You won’t need much time to prepare a refreshing summer melon compote, and the result will exceed even your wildest expectations.

Ingredients:

• Melon – 600 grams;
• Citric acid - to taste;
• Sugar – 100 grams;
• Water – 1.5 liters.

Preparation of melon compote:

Take a melon, peel it and remove seeds, cut into pieces. Pour water into a saucepan and add melon slices, citric acid and sugar.

Place the compote on the stove and wait until it boils. After boiling, boil it for a minute and remove from heat.

We wait until it cools, strain and serve with ice and mint leaves.

An appetizing and airy melon pie will be an ideal option for morning tea with the whole family. Be sure to try this delicious pastry and delight your family.

Ingredients:

• Melon pulp – 300 grams;
• Salt - a pinch;
• Butter – 100 grams;
• Baking powder – 1 teaspoon;
• Eggs – 3 pieces;
• Kefir – 1 glass.

Preparing melon pie:

Take a medium pie pan. Beat eggs with sugar and salt. Then add kefir and melted butter to them. Next, add the semolina and mix thoroughly.

Add baking powder and flour to the resulting mixture. Stir thoroughly until there are no lumps.

Cut the peeled melon into small pieces.

Grease the mold with oil, pour the dough into it and place the melon on top. Bake the pie at 190 degrees for 40 minutes until caramel crust.

Cool the finished cake, remove from the mold, sprinkle with almond petals and serve. Bon appetit.

This exotic spicy salad goes well with meat dishes, so if you are going to enjoy kebabs, chops, pork roll, or ribs baked on the grill, it will come in handy.

Ingredients:

• Melon – 150 grams;
• Salt and pepper - a pinch;
• Grapes – 100 grams;
• Lemon juice – 1 tbsp. spoon;
• Cheese – 100 grams;
• Olive oil – 2 tbsp. spoons;
• Nuts – 50 grams;
• Lettuce – 5 pieces.

Preparing melon salad:

Take the cheese and cut it into thin strips. Cut the grapes in half and remove the seeds. Peel and seed the melon and cut into small cubes. We chop the nuts.

To prepare the dressing, mix lemon juice, pepper, olive oil and salt. Mix all the salad ingredients, pour over the dressing and put it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

After the time has passed, we take out, tear the lettuce leaves, add them to the already brewed dish, mix and serve.

Canned melon

Ingredients:

• Melon of medium ripeness - 1 kilogram;
• Citric acid – 1 tbsp. spoon;
• Granulated sugar – 2 cups;
• Water – 1.5 liters.

Preparation of canned melon:

Take the melon, wash it, remove the peel and seeds. Cut it into small cubes.

Take water, mix it with sugar and citric acid, mix, pour into a saucepan and boil. The amount of syrup is enough for a volume of 3 liters.

Place the chopped melon in jars, fill with syrup and cover with lids.

Pour water into a large saucepan, place a jar of melon on the bottom and sterilize for 10 minutes. We roll up the jars and cover them with a warm blanket until they cool, then transfer them to the pantry.

Granulated sugar – 1 kilogram.

Preparing jam:

Take a melon, peel it and remove seeds. Cut into thin slices, add sugar and leave for 4 hours.

After the time has passed, put the jam on the fire and boil for 7 minutes, then remove from the stove and cool. After three hours we repeat the procedure. After the jam has cooled, boil it again for about 20 minutes.

Pour the finished jam into jars and close the lids.

Why do you dream of a melon in a dream?

If a melon in reality brings only benefits, then seeing it in a dream is not always good. Usually a melon in a dream is an omen of the onset of some illness or major material loss.

• If a woman dreams of a melon, then this is interpreted as the occurrence of ailments or the beginning of a dark streak in life.
• If you dream that you are eating melon in a dream, this means that you may soon get sick.
• A ripe melon dreams of success and fulfillment of desires.
• Dreaming of buying a melon at the market means wasting your talents.

It’s up to you to believe in such dreams or not, but if you are still afraid that they will come true, then simply take into account the warning from above and do everything to avoid future problems.

And most importantly, remember that we ourselves are the builders of our own destiny and can adjust it the way we want, especially if the universe gives competent advice in this direction.

Melon- an annual herbaceous plant of the Pumpkin family, which came to Europe from Central or Asia Minor. There are practically no wild melons left in nature. All were cultivated even BC. e., and only a few grow in natural conditions.

The fragrant melon fruits are very popular. They are consumed raw, dried and dried, and used to make honey and jam. Melons grow almost everywhere, but for normal growth they need special conditions.

Description of melon

The common melon is a plant creeping along the ground with rounded-faceted stems and tendrils extending from them. The leaves are green, large, round or palmate, alternate, without stipules. Melon blooms in mid-June - early July (it all depends on the climate), the flowers are pale yellow, divided into male and female.

Melons grow in lighted areas. To obtain a good harvest, melons are planted in sunny places protected from the wind.

The plant is extremely heat-loving; seeds are sown in open ground at the dacha after the soil has warmed up and the temperature has reached above zero at night. Bakhcha (the field where melon and watermelon grow) needs regular but moderate watering. When favorable conditions are created, melons grow well in the middle zone, including in the Urals and even in Siberia.

Growing seedlings

All melons are quite fragile, which is why many vegetable growers do not plant them in advance, which is fundamentally wrong.

In order to get sweet melon fruits at the beginning of August, it is better to plant the seeds in special peat tablets or small cups. In this case, it will be possible to avoid death due to a sudden drop in ground temperature. Melons grow in cups the same way as in open ground.

Seed preparation

For planting, select seeds collected 2 or 3 years ago. Last year's seeds grow into plants with powerful stems, but a minimal number of ovaries (flowers are predominantly male). It is unlikely that you will be able to get a good harvest of melons.

Before planting you need to:

• check the quality of seeds;
• carry out hardening;
• stimulate growth rate.

To check the quality, the seeds are dipped in a solution of table salt and kept in it for at least 25 minutes. Floated seeds are considered unsuitable for planting.

To protect future seedlings from weather changes and to ensure better germination and growth rate, the seeds are hardened.

For this:

• heat the water to a temperature of 35 degrees and fill the container with the seeds with it;
• leave in this position for a day in a warm room;
• after 24 hours, the seeds are removed from the water and placed in the refrigerator for another 18 hours.

If the weather outside is warm or the seeds are planted in a greenhouse, then hardening is not necessary.

It is enough to fill it with zinc sulfate (or use another growth stimulant) 12 hours before the planned planting.

To protect the seeds from rotting during the growth process, they are placed for 15-20 minutes in a 2% solution of potassium permanganate (1 teaspoon per 0.3 liter of water).

Planting seeds

Technology for planting seeds at home:

It is important to remember that melon is heat-loving; until the first shoots appear, the room temperature must be maintained at 27-30 degrees. Seeds do not grow well in the cold.

When planting seeds in containers, particular importance is attached to the quality of the soil mixture.

Seedlings grow best in soils consisting of the following elements:

• humus;
• garden soil;
• sand;
• purified peat.

Everything is taken in equal quantities and must be enriched with mineral fertilizers designed specifically for melons.

Seedling care

Care includes the following:

• The first shoots will appear after 10-15 days, but seedlings are planted in open ground no earlier than after 30-35 days.
• After seed germination, the air temperature in the room is reduced to 20-25 degrees.
• The seedlings are watered with warm water. Do not flood the pots; water should not get on the leaves.
• About a week before planting in open ground, melons begin to harden, for which the air temperature is reduced. This is done gradually, during the day the air in the room is heated to 17 degrees, at night only to 12-14.
• The room is regularly ventilated.
• No earlier than 10 days before planting, complex fertilizers are applied to the soil.

How to grow more crops?

Any gardener and summer resident is pleased to receive a large harvest with large fruits. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to obtain the desired result.

Plants often lack nutrition and useful minerals

It has the following properties:

• Allows increase productivity by 50% in just a few weeks of use.
• You can get a good one harvest even on low-fertility soils and in unfavorable climatic conditions
• Absolutely safe

How do melons grow in open ground?

Seedlings from cups are planted in open ground after 3 to 5 leaves appear on each plant. The soil for planting is prepared in the fall by digging it up and fertilizing it with humus. In spring, the soil layer is saturated with calcium, phosphorus and potassium.

In order for the seedlings to grow well and not get sick, “steam” beds are set up, for this:

• At least 30 centimeters of the top layer of soil is removed and horse manure is placed in its place.
• The collected soil is poured on top of the manure.

Melons grown in a warm bed will not lack warmth, which will have a beneficial effect on their growth and the formation of the largest possible number of ovaries.

Choosing a landing site

For heat-loving melons, choose a well-lit place, sheltered from wind and drafts. Seedlings do not like a lot of moisture; it is preferable to plant them on a small hill where water will not stagnate. Melons grow best on loamy and suspended soils.

Melons are extremely picky about their neighbors in the garden. To grow juicy and sweet fruits, you cannot plant it next to cucumbers and zucchini. They will also be good neighbors.

Melon should also be planted exclusively after crops:

• Solanaceae;
• roots;
• legumes;
• greenery;
• leafy and bulbous vegetables;
• salad.

Melon and watermelon do not get along well; their close proximity is undesirable for good growth; the harvest of both will be small.

If desired, you can plant melons next to the pumpkin. In this case, additional grafting of plants will be required, but the result of the effort will be pleasing. Both melon and yam will have an unusual taste and aroma.

Planting seedlings in open ground

Let's consider the features of transplanting seedlings into the ground:

Planting seeds in open ground

Seed planting scheme:

1. The bottom of the holes prepared in advance is filled with nitrogen fertilizer. For 1 hole, up to 5 centimeters deep, 1 teaspoon of nitrophoska is enough.
2. Place 2-3 seeds in each hole and sprinkle with dry soil.
3. The distance between holes should not be less than 0.5 meters, and between ridges - 0.8 meters. Otherwise, the plants will interfere with each other's growth.
4. The planted seeds are sprinkled with soil, watered, and the soil is mulched.
5. Planting is done when the ground warms up to 12 degrees, otherwise the seeds will die.

Caring for melons on the site

Melon needs constant care.

After the seeds germinate, the beds are thinned out, leaving 1-2 of the strongest stems in each hole.

To reduce the area occupied by melons and protect the fruits from rotting when they come into contact with the ground, trellises are used:

1. They are installed in the garden bed after the first elongated stems have sprouted., which are attached to the trellis using ropes.
2. The fruits are also tied up so that, being in limbo, they do not break off.
3. For this purpose, you can use regular gauze (mesh), attached to a trellis, or special stands.

Vertically located melon vines are better illuminated, which contributes to the formation of more fruiting ovaries on them.

Options for arranging vertical beds

General rules of care

Melons love light; lack of light is a common cause of poor growth, falling ovaries and lack of sweetness in the fruits. In order for melons to grow better, receiving maximum heat and moisture, the soil around them is regularly loosened. This is done carefully so as not to damage the roots located close to the surface.

Weeds that deplete the soil are also removed regularly. Plants tolerate drought well. With proper care, you can get a good harvest even from a small bed of 3-4 holes.

Watering and fertilizing

Pinching and shaping

After pinching the tops on the trellises, the melons begin to branch heavily. To form a bush, the 2 most developed shoots are selected, the rest are cut off. The remaining shoots are tied to the trellis. As a result, the plant takes on a beautiful shape.

Stories from our readers!
“I am a summer resident with many years of experience, and I started using this fertilizer only last year. I tested it on the most capricious vegetable in my garden - tomatoes. The bushes grew and bloomed together, they yielded more than usual. And they did not suffer from late blight, this is the main thing.

Fertilizer really gives more intensive growth to garden plants, and they bear fruit much better. Nowadays you can’t grow a normal harvest without fertilizer, and this fertilizing increases the amount of vegetables, so I’m very pleased with the result.”

Diseases and pests

Like all melons, melons are not resistant to diseases and pests. Often, a well-growing crop dies due to damage to plantings by bacterial, viral or fungal infections; spider mites and other pests can also attack.

Pests and their control

Lack of attention to planted seedlings can lead to the death of all plantings due to the attack of pests dangerous to melon crops.

Pest	Description
melon aphid	A small sucking insect that settles on the underside of a leaf and feeds on plant juices. The leaves attacked by the pest curl and dry out, and the flowers fall off. How to fight: To prevent aphids from breeding, all plant debris must be removed from the beds. Affected plants are sprayed with a solution of Karbofos, laundry soap or Actellik.
	The pest settles on the reverse side of the leaf and feeds on plant juices. Its appearance is signaled by the web. Deprived of most of the vital juices, the plants turn yellow and wither. How to fight: To combat ticks, acaricides, sulfur and phosphorus compounds are used. It is difficult to get rid of the insect; it quickly becomes immune to the poison used.
Wireworms	The beetles feed on seeds and underground parts of the stem, and penetrate the fruits, where unsightly holes appear. In order to prevent the appearance of beetles, observe crop rotation. Wireworms do not feed on crops planted in the garden for the first time. How to fight: To expel beetles from the soil, weed baits are used. To make bait, dig several holes, fill them with grass soaked in water and cover them with soil. After 2 days, the trap is opened and the grass is burned along with the beetles. In addition, you can pour 1 teaspoon of crushed eggshells into each hole with a melon, which will also protect the plant.
Gnawing cutworms	It is not the butterflies themselves that are harmful to the melon, but their caterpillars, which live in the upper layer of soil and gnaw on young stems. To protect the plant, the soil around it is constantly loosened. To combat the caterpillar, they use drugs such as: "Decis"; "Volaton"; “Bazudin” (granular product applied to the soil directly when planting seedlings). These drugs are used according to the instructions.

Diseases and treatment

Melons that do not receive the necessary care often get sick. Insufficiently strong plants are affected by powdery mildew, fusarium, anthracnose and peronospora.

Disease	Description
Powdery mildew	It affects the leaves of the plant, they become covered with small white spots, turn brown and dry out on the stem. Infection occurs directly from the soil. The disease is transmitted by the remains of weeds and cultivated plants grown in the garden last year. What to do: Sick melons are treated with a solution of colloidal sulfur throughout their growth. The last spraying is done no later than 20 days before harvest.
Fusarium wilt	The bacterium infects seedlings and plants with fruits that are ready to ripen. Leaves and stems acquire an unnaturally light shade and are covered with a gray coating. The plant dies within a week. What to do: To prevent this from happening, the seeds must be disinfected and the melons must be grown in high beds. When buds appear, plants are sprayed with potassium chloride.
Anthracnose	The leaves become covered with gradually growing brown or pink spots. Over time, holes appear in place of the spots, the leaves curl and dry out. The stems become thinner, the fruits affected by the bacterium shrink and rot. What to do: To protect the plantings, the soil is regularly loosened. During active growth, melons are sprayed using a 1% boric acid solution or sulfur powder is sprayed over them. Treatment is carried out every 2 weeks.
Downy mildew	The bacterium has a detrimental effect on young leaves. The disease is signaled by the appearance of yellow-green spots that are constantly increasing in size. With high humidity, the lower part of the leaf becomes covered with a gray coating. What to do: To protect the plants, melon seeds are disinfected before planting. Sick plantings are treated with urea solution, Topaz or Oxyx.

Features of growing melon in a greenhouse

Around the 10th of May, they begin to prepare the greenhouse or greenhouse for planting seedlings. For this:

1. Holes are formed in the ground, up to 0.7 meters deep. Up to 1.5 kilograms of compost is placed in each hole.
2. Sprinkle the compost on top with a layer of soil. 2-3 centimeters.
3. The holes are watered with warm water and seedlings are planted. after establishing the air temperature in the greenhouse during the day at 15-20 and at night at 5 degrees.
4. An earthen ball with roots is buried shallowly(1.5-2 centimeters above the surface of the bed).
5. After a week, the rooted seedlings are watered with a solution of nitrogen fertilizer. Up to 2 liters of warm water are poured into each well at the rate of 10 liters per 20 grams of saltpeter). Feeding is done every week.
6. If the night air temperature fluctuates downward, the greenhouse is covered with polycarbonate. You can make special shields from polycarbonate and cover young seedlings with them also in case of bad weather.

How do melons grow at home?

Melons can also grow in an apartment:

1. To do this, it is enough to have a spacious window sill or balcony. To ensure that the fruits grown in such spartan conditions are juicy and ripe, only 1 shoot is left, which is tied to a trellis.
2. A support is also placed under the fruit itself. Water the plants only after the soil layer has completely dried.
3. Melons grown on window sills and terraces provide additional lighting.
4. To prevent plant death due to pests and diseases, you need to carefully ensure that they do not get into the house along with indoor flowers and vegetables brought from the market.
5. Pollination is carried out independently. To do this, use an ordinary brush, with the help of which pollen is transferred from male flowers to female flowers (at the base of female flowers there are ovaries, but male flowers do not have such ovaries).

When choosing a melon variety, take into account climatic conditions, soil quality, the presence of neighbors in the plant bed, and growth rate.

For greenhouses, you can choose any variety, but in the Moscow region climate the following varieties feel best:

• Kuban collective farmer;
• Torpedo;
• A sybarite's dream;
• Altai;
• Titovka;
• Ethiopian;
• Krinichanka;
• Lada;
• Dina;
• Kasaba (Kassaba);
• Caramel;
• Aikido f1;
• Chamoe;
• Vietnamese;
• Cantaloupe (cantaloupe).

"Aikido"

Vietnamese melon

Cantaloupe

"Kuban Collective Farm Girl"

"Torpedo"

"The Dream of a Sybarite"

Altai melon

"Ethiopian"

"Krinichanka"

"Lada"

"Kassaba"

Harvesting and storage

The ripening of melons begins in mid-August and continues until the first days of September.

The shelf life of melons differs for different varieties:

• Early ripening varieties are stored for no more than a week,
• mid-early varieties do not lose their taste for 2-3 weeks.
• Mid-ripening and late-ripening melons retain their visual appeal and taste for six months.

The collected melons are left in the beds for 2 weeks, turning over every 4-5 days. This harvesting method allows for safe transportation and longer storage of ripe fruits.

Video: How to grow watermelons and melons in the country?

Summarizing

Melon is a tasty and healthy plant that grows not only in the garden and greenhouse, but also in an apartment on an ordinary windowsill. She loves warmth and light. To get a good harvest, the soil needs to be loosened and the plant needs to be fed.

The soil layer should not become waterlogged. Ripe fruits are mostly consumed fresh. Their shelf life depends on the degree of ripeness, collection method and variety.

Melon is a heat-loving plant, the sweet, aromatic fruits of which came to Europe from Central and Asia Minor. In a temperate climate, it is difficult to grow large melons weighing up to 10 kg, as in Asian countries, but interesting hybrid varieties open up new opportunities for gardeners. Favorite heat-loving varieties of melon can successfully bear fruit in a greenhouse.

There is an opinion that the best varieties of melons are grown in the south. But even in a temperate climate you can get tasty, aromatic fruits. Breeders have developed many varieties that differ in ripening time and taste.

• Amal - is resistant against fungal diseases - fusarium, dry rot and downy mildew, the fruits are large, oblong, weighing 2.5-3 kg;
• Mae is a mid-early hybrid, resistant to fungal diseases, melons are formed uniformly and abundantly, their weight is 3.5–4 kg, the plant is powerful;
• Caramel is an early hybrid of the Pineapple variety, the ripening time from planting seedlings into the ground is 50–55 days, it produces a large harvest, the fruit weight is about 2 kg, and has an excellent taste and aroma.

When buying the seeds of the melon you like, you need to ask in what climatic conditions it grows. For growing in cool climates, it is better to choose ultra-early and early-ripening varieties.

A popular variety, known since the 40s of the last century, which is suitable for areas with risky agriculture (Ural, Volga region, etc.) is the “Kolkhoznitsa” melon. Its fruits are small, no more than one and a half kilograms, but sweet and aromatic, with thin skin and white pulp. This variety is mid-season, so it is recommended to grow it only through seedlings.

Before planting, the seeds are germinated by placing them between two wet wipes. After 3 or 4 days, fresh seeds sprout. You can sow dry seeds. They are carefully placed in moist, loose soil, and sprinkled with a layer of soil of about 3 cm on top.

When the first leaves appear from the ground, the plant is placed in additional light. If the seedlings do not have enough light, they will stretch out. For normal development, seedlings need 10 hours of daylight. The air temperature for germination is about +25–30 °C.

It is important not to overfeed the melons and water them moderately so that they do not stretch too much. It is not necessary to use a large container for them; seedlings grow well in pots with a diameter of 10 cm (1 seed in each container). The soil for seedlings is prepared from 1 part humus, 2 parts garden soil and 1 part sand.

When to plant melon seedlings

Since melon has a long growing season, it is advisable to grow it through seedlings. From the moment the seeds germinate until they are planted in open ground, about 25 days should pass.

Taking into account the climate of the region, you can accurately calculate when to plant melon seedlings. In central Russia, where seedlings can only be transplanted into open ground at the end of May, the seeds should be sown in mid-April.

Nuances of caring for seedlings

In addition to long daylight hours, seedlings need additional feeding. You can use store-bought complex fertilizers or prepare nutrient mixtures yourself.

The first feeding is done in the phase of appearance of the first leaf. You can feed melon seedlings with yeast (add 10 g of pressed yeast and 4 or 5 tablespoons of sugar per 1 liter of water). After 4 or 5 hours, the feeding is ready.

The second feeding is needed 2 weeks after the first. It is prepared from a solution of ash. For 3 liters of water add 1 tbsp. wood ash (water should be hot). Let it sit for a day, dilute it 1 to 10, and water the seedlings. The last fertilizing is done 5 days before planting in the ground.

Selecting a site and preparing the soil for planting seedlings

Melon should not be planted next to cucumbers; if they are pollinated, the fruits will turn out bitter. The proximity to pumpkin is not harmful for the melon, and does not affect the taste in any way.

The bed for planting is prepared in the fall. They clear the weeds, dig them up, and add rotted manure or compost to the soil. If the soil is heavy, add coarse sand. In the spring, before planting seedlings in the garden bed, it is leveled and the holes are prepared.

Melon seedlings are planted in open ground in May, when the weather is consistently warm. The holes are filled with fertile soil, the same in which the seedlings were grown. You can use a mixture of garden soil, vermicompost and ash.

The planted plants are watered abundantly with warm water and mulched with peat on top. Planted at a distance of 50–60 cm from each other.

It is advisable to dig 5-liter plastic containers without a bottom between the seedling bushes to a shallow depth. It will be convenient to water the plants through them when the vines grow, so that a dry crust does not form on the surface.

It is advisable to cover newly planted seedlings with spunbond, stretching it over special round frames. Covered plants grow faster and are not damaged by insect pests. In summer, spunbond will protect plants from sunburn.

How to properly care for melon

Growing melon in open ground begins with the correct formation of seedlings. It is necessary to pinch the seedlings in time so that they can grow stronger and grow in a short period. On the melon, the central stem is pinched, since male flowers are formed on it, which do not set an ovary. Female flowers grow on the side shoots and form ovaries.

The stem is pinched over 3 or 4 leaves, leaving 2 or 3 side shoots. 2 or 3 fruits are left on each shoot; the more ovaries there are, the smaller the melons will be. The ends of the shoots are then also pinched so that the plant spends energy only on ripening the crop.

During the growing season, it is advisable to feed the melons to get a larger harvest. For fertilizer, you can use preparations intended for melons. It is advisable to do foliar feeding 2 or 3 times per season. When the plant begins to grow, then, when buds and flowers appear, and during the filling of fruits.

Melon needs moderate humidity; water it constantly, but not excessively. If the soil is too wet, the roots may suffocate.

Growing melon in a greenhouse

At the beginning of May, melon seedlings are planted in a greenhouse at a distance of 60 cm from each other. Add 2 tbsp to the well. compost, 1 tbsp. ash, 1 tsp. superphosphate, water with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or Fitosporin. The seedlings are not deeply buried. Pinch off the central stem, and then the side ones, leaving the required number of ovaries on each.

By growing melons in a greenhouse where there are no pollinating insects, the flowers pollinate on their own. To form ovaries on the side shoots, you need to pick a male flower from the central shoot on one of the plants and pollinate the female flowers with it. Without this procedure, the harvest will not be possible.

Ripening fruits in the greenhouse are tied up, placed in nylon nets so that they do not lie on the ground. Fertilize 3 times during the growing season, and water as the soil dries. Melon does not like high air and soil humidity.

You can grow juicy and sweet melon, similar in taste to an exotic fruit, using modern hybrid varieties. It is necessary to select a zoned variety that is well adapted to the conditions of the region.

Asia is considered to be the homeland of the melon, which belongs to the pumpkin family. Here, in hot summer conditions, from Central Asia to the tropical regions of India, the largest number of cultivated and wild species of this plant existing in the world ripen. The real center of the origin of melon as an agricultural melon crop is the Central Asian region, Afghanistan, Iran, China and India.

But it is unlikely that it will be possible to see anywhere the ancestor of the melon varieties and varieties obtained to date. Over thousands of years of selection, cultivated forms have become strikingly different from wild species growing to this day. And the growing larger and sweeter melon fruits arrived in northern Africa with trade caravans and armies of the Romans and other conquerors.

There is evidence that in European countries they learned about the existence of melon and its unforgettable taste only in the Middle Ages, and in the territory of Rus', for example in the Volga region, melons, imported from Persia and Central Asia, were grown already in the 15th century.

Central Asian varieties of melons: names, photos and descriptions

Although many people are not familiar with the Central Asian names of melon varieties, their photos invariably amaze both melon growing experts and ordinary consumers. Such a variety of forms and types of melons as in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other countries in the region cannot be found anywhere in the world. Here, melon growers managed to obtain not only the largest-fruited melons, weighing up to 25 kg, but also the most delicious melons.

In this case, the shape of the fruit can be completely different from flattened and spherical to elongated ellipsoidal. The palette of colors on the smooth or dotted with small cracks peel is also surprising.

The illustration shows varieties of melons that have a variety of shapes, skin colors and consumer characteristics:

Among the Central Asian varieties, there are summer-ripening melons that are ready for consumption immediately after being picked from the vines, and there are varieties that are stored fresh for at least 5-6 months and show their best qualities only in the spring of next year.

Melons of the Kassaba variety, in the photo the names of the varieties of these melons can be seen under numbers 1 and 4, are also called winter ones, since their ripening begins extremely late.

After harvesting, the fruits are braided with reeds and hung in dry rooms or under sheds for aging and storage. Only by March the hard greenish pulp becomes juicy and sweet.

Chogara melon, number 2, or, as it is more often called in Russian-speaking regions, Bukharka, has thick white, very sweet pulp and produces oval fruits with a slightly pointed end, weighing up to 6 kg. Due to their high juiciness, these melons can rarely be found far from Central Asia, but here the variety is in demand and widespread.

But the Gulyabi melon, pictured at number 5, is well known in the territory of the former USSR. It's rare that a plant manages to play a role in a feature film. This variety of Central Asian melon was lucky enough to star in the film “Station for Two,” although under a pseudonym. Everyone who watched this film remembers the alien melons sold by the main characters. In fact, there is no such variety, but the large, egg-shaped fruits of Charju melons, weighing up to 3–5 kg, were well known in the Soviet Union.

This variety, bred in the Chardzhui region of Turkmenistan, is distinguished by dense white pulp, sweetness, good keeping quality and transportability, so it is not surprising that fruits were brought by rail from the Uzbek or Turkmen SSR to the European part of the country even in late autumn.

The third number in the photo is pineapple melon or Ich-kzyl, which produces medium-sized oval fruits. The weight of such a melon ranges from 1.5 to 4 kg. And although this summer variety was not familiar to a wide range of melon growers and gourmets in central Russia, the pink, high-sugar pulp of this delicious melon is valued in its homeland, in Uzbekistan.

Today, under the name Pineapple Melon, in our country, breeders offer an early ripening variety, reminiscent of Ich-Kizil in shape, exotic notes in taste and a network of cracks in the peel. True, in just 60–75 days from the moment of planting, a modern variety can, even in the conditions of the Non-Black Earth Region, please the melon grower with fruits weighing up to 2 kg, which Central Asian melons are not capable of.

The Torpedo melon, in the photo, is a late-ripening variety; its large oblong fruits, due to the shape of which the plant got its name, tolerate transportation well. In Uzbekistan, where this old variety, which has a history of at least three centuries, comes from, the fruits are called Mirzachul melon.

In ripe fruits, the color of the peel, covered with a fine network of cracks, becomes soft yellow with a pink tint, the pulp acquires an exquisite aroma, is distinguished by sweetness and juiciness.

European melons: varieties, names and photos of popular types

Particularly popular in the East are early-ripening Khandalyaki melons, with their round shape and small size very reminiscent of the most famous melon variety in our country, Kolkhoznitsa.

As you can see in the photo, melons of the Kolkhoznitsa variety are small, weighing up to 2 kg, fruits with white or yellowish pulp, which even in the difficult climatic conditions of Russia pick up a good amount of sugar. Despite the emergence of new hybrids, due to its unpretentiousness and early ripening, the Kolkhoznitsa variety, pictured in the photo at the time of harvesting melons, is the most widespread melon crop of this genus.

The photo with the names and varieties of melons at number 6 shows another ancient variety of plant with an enviable and difficult history. This is a musk melon originally from Afghanistan or Iran, which, by the will of fate, came to Europe through Armenia and Turkey, or rather to the table of the Head of the Catholic Church.

The taste of the Cantaloupe melon hidden under the thick skin of the bright pulp, as in the photo, was so liked by the Pope that the fruits of this variety have since been named after the papal estate in Cantalupo in Sabina, where an entire melon plantation was established.

Today, Cantaloupe melon is the most famous and sought-after variety in Europe and the USA, which has served breeders a lot to create new productive and unpretentious varieties.

As you can see in the photo, the Cantaloupe melon has an oval or slightly flattened shape and is covered with a dense network of whitish cracks.

This makes Cantaloupe similar to the Ethiopian melon. This melon has oval-rounded fruits, like a cantaloupe, with a rough lobed surface and reach a weight of 3 to 7 kg. But if the “Papal melon” has a rich orange flesh, then according to the description, the Ethiopian melon has white, very juicy and sweet flesh.

Banana melon or the elongated variety of cantaloupe, which is gaining popularity in the West, growing up to 80 cm in length, has a delicious taste and aroma. Moreover, the fruit not only resembles a banana in shape and color of the pulp, but also the taste of melon is just as soft, buttery and delicate. Try growing this unusual variety of melon on your plot next to carrots and other vegetables.

The closest relative of this unusual variety is the Silver melon or Armenian cucumber, which has common roots with cantaloupe, but is so different from the usual melon fruits.

From the cultivated melon, the ripe fruit, up to 70 cm long and weighing up to 8 kg, has only a melon aroma left, and the Armenian cucumber is eaten while still green. Moreover, the plant is extremely unpretentious to growing conditions and bears fruit until frost.

Exotic melons: photos and names of varieties

From a number of relatives, the Vietnamese melon stands out with a bright pattern of alternating light yellow and brown stripes. However, this is not the only advantage of the variety.

It’s not for nothing that the variety from Vietnam is called pineapple melon. It has a very good taste, a strong characteristic aroma and soft, pleasant flesh. Many compare this variety with the famous southern and Central Asian melons, but the weight of Vietnamese melons barely reaches 250 grams.

Melothria rough or mouse melon from the Maldives claims to be the smallest representative of the genus. In their homeland, wild plants are.

In Europe and the USA, recently the crop is often called dwarf watermelon and under this name the melon variety, in the photo, is grown indoors and in closed ground. The fruits are edible, but not sweet, but have a sour, refreshing taste and are suitable for preservation and fresh consumption.

Kiwano, another exotic crop related to melons, came to Europe from Africa. The herbaceous vine, which produces yellow or orange fruits up to 12–15 cm long, is not for nothing called the horned melon, since the bright pumpkins are decorated with conical soft thorns.

Unlike the usual varieties of melon, where the edible part is the pulp, kiwanos eat the greenish core, where there are numerous white or light green seeds. The sweetish juicy pulp of horned melon, similar to a refreshing jelly, can be consumed both fresh and used for making jams, marinades and pickles.

Video about Torpedo melon

Melon is a light- and heat-loving plant native to southern Asian countries. However, it is also grown in areas with a temperate climate - in Siberia, the Urals, and central Russia. Although the short summer of these regions is still not enough for the fruits to grow to large sizes. Melons growing in open ground are smaller than Central Asian ones and are slightly inferior in taste. The situation can be changed with the help of greenhouses, and of course – experience and proper agricultural technology. It is worse if the melon blooms, but with male flowers that do not form ovaries. Why are there no ovaries, and what to do in this case?

• To have a lot of ovaries, you need to take high-quality seeds collected 2-3 years ago. Last year's seeds are not mature enough to produce a large number of ovaries, resulting in more male flowers.

You should not water melons at the beginning of flowering; watering should be stopped for several days.

• There will be no ovaries when the temperature drops; it should be no lower than +15 degrees, so this plant is planted in open ground with the arrival of real warmth, so that it is warm even at night.

High soil and air humidity harms the plant. If in a greenhouse these indicators are easy to regulate, then in the open ground you just have to rely on the mercy of the weather.

• Irrigation with cold water is contraindicated for melons; such procedures cause root rot and reduce the number of female flowers. The water temperature should be at least +20 degrees.

Increased use of nitrogenous fertilizers promotes good growth of shoots and leaves, but there will be fewer flowers and ovaries; fertilizing must be done correctly and in a timely manner.

• Melon does not like acidic soils. Acidity is checked with special instruments, and if necessary, slaked lime or dolomite flour is added to the soil.

Drafts, as well as stagnation of moist and cool air in the greenhouse, will cause the ovaries to shrink. It is very easy to combat this with the help of ventilation, additional lighting and heating. Ventilation is carried out on warm and dry days, without creating drafts.

• Lack of pollination is another problem that vegetable growers face when growing melons in greenhouses. To attract insects on sunny days, you need to open the windows and spray the plants with a solution of honey or sugar. In addition, honey-bearing flowers with a similar flowering period can be planted nearby. Sometimes you have to carry out pollination manually, the work is carried out from morning to 12 noon, later the pollen of male flowers will become unsuitable for fertilization. Male flowers differ from female flowers in size - they are smaller, they are torn off, the petals are removed and carefully applied with the stamens to the female flowers.

In melon, female flowers appear several days later than male ones. Male flowers grow on the main shoot, and female flowers on additional shoots, so don’t despair, you just need to wait a little. After 4-6 leaves, the shoots are pinched so that female flowers appear on new shoots.

• In greenhouses or summer cottages with a small number of plantings, the shoots are tied to a trellis; experienced vegetable growers claim that this helps to increase the ovaries. At the same time, excess shoots are removed, leaving only 2 of the largest and strongest shoots.

A large number of ovaries is an unbearable burden for the plant. To ensure that the fruits are large and full-fledged, no more than 6 ovaries are left, the rest are removed.