Greetings, dear readers!
Soon, every self-respecting market and every more or less large store will sell berries that mark the end of summer - watermelons. Unlike strawberries or raspberries, whose ripeness is easy to determine by color, the green "minke" loves mystery and does not change color under any circumstances. How to choose a ripe watermelon and not give money for an unripe "carcass"? And how to avoid seasonal poisoning with this fruit?

When can you buy watermelon?

About 30 years ago, life was easier for buyers: the melon season began, and mountains of striped “carcasses” grew in the markets. Now it's getting harder to choose sweet watermelon you can even in the middle of winter, supermarkets are happy to provide us with such an opportunity ... Unless, of course, we are not embarrassed by hothouse berries, probably stuffed with preservatives.

If you want exactly a ripe fruit from open ground, grown to the maximum vivo, be patient: the second half of August, September, the first half of October are considered “watermelon months”.

Important! The first "swallows" may appear on the markets in July. But how do you choose a good watermelon from them, knowing that the ripening of each of them has certainly been chemically accelerated? That's right, calm down your "I want" and wait for the season. It's worth it!

The main signs of a ripe watermelon

1. Yellow, sometimes even orange "cheek", that is, a speck on the side. The smaller and brighter the spot, the sweeter the berry will be. But a whitish spot is a signal of immaturity.
2. Contrasting stripes. The more intense the color of the dark stripes looks against the background of the light ones, the better the flesh under the skin.
3. Hard peel. How to choose the right watermelon? Lightly poke it with your fingernail: if you can’t make a deep “puncture”, feel free to choose this berry.
4. A dull sound when struck with the knuckles. This method of "minke whales" was also selected by our great-grandfathers (grandmothers still use it now, choosing in their garden ripe watermelon for grandchildren). However, there is one important “but” here: an overripe berry also sounds muffled. So if you come across a “sonorous” watermelon, inspect it well - are there any rotten areas?

If you are still unlucky (before choosing a watermelon, you did not read this article) and, having cut the “minke whale” at home, you saw a white or barely pink flesh - do not expect it to lie down on the window and ripen. This only happens with tomatoes. Better find a recipe for pickled watermelons - an unripe "individual" is perfect for him.

Important! Some buyers choose a watermelon with a dry tail. But unfortunately, this sign has nothing to do with the ripeness of the berry: pick even a green fruit, hold it on the counter for 3-4 days, and the tail will dry out.

What does the girl look like?

It is popularly believed that this berry has “sexual characteristics” that divide all watermelons into boys (there are about 80% of them in each batch) and girls. The latter have the glory of being especially sweet.

But how to choose a watermelon girl in a common pile? It's simple: look at the "ass" of this berry, that is, the end opposite the tail. If the “ass” is slightly concave inward, and there is a small dry spot on it (very tiny) - you have a boy in front of you. If the watermelon at the end is even, flat, but with a wide, noticeable spot, you are holding a girl in your hands.

Which of these fruits is sweeter? Many buyers believe that it is really a girl, but the sellers treat this as a superstition ... The easiest way is to buy two "opposite-sex" watermelons and check it out for yourself!

We will not allow nitrate watermelon on our table!

It’s bad when this berry is green - but in this case you can even put it on conservation, but it’s easy to get poisoned by the “Mendeleev’s table”. But how to choose a delicious watermelon, ripe and not spoiled by nitrates and other machinations of chemists? Attention to the skin, especially early fruits! For example, if the fetus was inflated with a syringe, spots with characteristic injection holes will remain on it.

Approach the layouts on which the incised watermelons are laid out. Their pulp will tell a lot. Refrain from buying if:

• the flesh is unevenly colored (say, pink near the peel, scarlet in the center),
• all the pulp just "burns" bright color- it is red, up to a purple or violet hue,
• it contains hard fibers of a yellowish color,
• there are cracks inside
• half of the stones are white, immature, and half are black,
• there is no "sandiness" characteristic of a ripe fruit, granularity - the pulp is too smooth.

Important! Did your children steal away with spoons the middle of the “minke whale” you bought? Don't be quick to scold them. It is believed that most of the nitrates "sit" under the very skin, and the middle of the fetus is as clean as possible from them - that is, the kids got the best that is in the watermelon.

An overripe watermelon is also evil

Signs of a not yet rotten, but already dangerously “overexposed” fruit:

• dull sound on impact
• bad smell on the cut
• oily, matte skin.

How is choosing in the market different from visiting a supermarket?

Supermarket

How to choose the right watermelon here? You can (and it is very desirable) ask for documents about this batch. Most of all, you are interested in the time of the collection of the party. The fact is that these sweet berries can not be stored indefinitely, but only from 2 to 3 weeks (they may be longer, but using the achievements of chemical science - you are unlikely to be interested in such).

In addition, fruits are often sold here in pieces, wrapped in cling film. This is economically beneficial (besides, it is easier for a girl-customer to bring home a couple of kilograms, and not a ten-kilogram monster). But before you choose a watermelon "slices", think:

• why they cut it (maybe they cut off the rotten side),
• it is unlikely that it was washed, and the knife might not be clean - that's the bacteria on every piece,
• the film creates a greenhouse effect, so if a ripe fruit lies in it on the counter for not an hour, but a day, it will begin to actively deteriorate.

Market

Theoretically, the sellers should have documents for the goods here too, but most of them will probably answer: “I don’t know, I’m a hired person, wait for the owner - he will arrive by eight in the evening.” Therefore, buying here is almost a lottery.

The danger lies not only in stale goods. Firstly, the proximity of roads and constant sunshine guarantee the fruits not Better conditions storage. Secondly, often a small incision is made in the “carcasses” in order to demonstrate the ripeness of the party - but the danger of incisions has already been discussed above. Moreover, do not take the “minke whale” that has fallen and split.

Important! Wherever you buy your favorite treat, wash it before serving, preferably with soap.

Instead of an afterword...

In general, the choice of this berry is a whole science. However, the benefits are enormous! Ripe watermelon is bought not only for desserts, but also for medicinal purposes - for example, to cleanse the kidneys, intestines or liver. Some girls seriously rely on watermelon diet and are ready to buy sweet "minke whales" almost in tons. However, doctors assure: even such a useful and juicy berries there are contraindications. These include the presence of kidney stones, as well as colitis. Well, if you do not suffer from such diseases, you can safely feast on red watermelon pulp - that's what summer is for! Moreover, you already know how to choose a watermelon for ripeness and purity from nitrates!

So another carefree summer has flown by, taking with it green meadows, birdsong and sunny warm days. It is gone, leaving us only pleasant memories that will long remind us of a great time. With the onset of autumn, nights lengthen, rains fall and cool winds blow. Bright colors fade and gradually disappear, and the leaves falling from the trees, like a multi-colored blanket, cover the roads.

At this time, in stores you can see counters overflowing with watermelons, which are simply impossible to pass by. We buy a large 10 kg watermelon to please the whole family and hope that it will be ripe, juicy and sweet. But, unfortunately, hopes do not always justify themselves. Today you can eat deliciously, and tomorrow you can buy a spoiled watermelon, which will immediately “fly away” into the trash. How to choose a watermelon and avoid unpleasant surprises? This is what we will talk about today.

What to look for when choosing a watermelon

The main criteria by which you need to choose a large berry:

• Watermelon season. The first watermelons appear on store shelves in early July, but the season for these berries begins in the second half of August. This is the first thing to pay attention to. If you're craving a watermelon and thinking about buying it in early summer, remember that it's not a berry, it's a nitrate bomb. You need to buy the first watermelons in August!
• Hard shiny crust. Outwardly, the “striped bun” should look beautiful - a hard shiny crust that is poorly pierced with a fingernail, the rich color of the stripes and correct form. When the fruit ripens, it stops absorbing moisture and soon the peel hardens. That is why it is important to pay attention to the watermelon crust.
• Whole and unharmed. The watermelon crust, as we have already said, should be hard, shiny and beautiful, but also there should not be any cracks or dents on it. The fact is that through microcracks, and even more so through damaged places, bacteria penetrate into the sweet juicy pulp and actively multiply there. If you eat a piece of such a watermelon, you can get serious food poisoning.
• Yellow barrel and dry tail. When the “minke whale” is on the field, he “keeps” a barrel for himself, which should be yellow or orange color. When ripe, the tail of the watermelon dries up and then it detaches from the melon. That is why many people believe that a dry tail is an indicator of ripeness. But in fact, this is not entirely true. The tail can also dry up in unripe fruits that have been picked for a long time, for example, during storage or transportation, so we do not recommend attaching great importance to this feature.
• "Sounding" watermelons. When choosing a watermelon, tap on it. If he responds loudly to a pat, then this is a good watermelon, but if the sound is muffled, then it is better to choose another berry. But to completely discard all doubts, try putting a watermelon to your ear and squeezing it with both hands. If it crunches and the peel sags, then this is what you need.
• The existence of a document. You have every right to demand a quality certificate, and the seller, in turn, is obliged to present it to you. Remember that any kind of product has a quality certificate. If they tell you that they do not have such a document, you can leave without hesitation, since we are talking about your health and the health of your family. You don't want your kids to eat watermelon of dubious quality, do you? If, at your request, the seller shows a photocopy of the document, pay attention to the seal. It should be wet (colored) and not xeroxed along with the text.

1. Many people mistakenly believe that nitrates are injected directly into the watermelon, so if the injection hole is not visible on the skin of the fruit, then you can safely make a purchase. So, this is not true! A chemical injection is made in the leg when the watermelon is still on the field.
2. If you think you bought a watermelon with nitrates, then check it out. Type cool boiled water into a glass and dip a piece of watermelon pulp into it. If the watermelon loses its color and the water turns pink, then you are not mistaken - there are nitrates in the watermelon.
3. If you cut a watermelon, you will see that the veins yellow color, which means that watermelon is nitrate. The veins should be pink.
4. Never buy cut watermelons, even if they are in transparent bags.
5. Never buy watermelons from the road. Do not do this because it is always dusty and dirty there. If the fruit falls somewhere and even cracks a little, a huge amount of microbes will get into the pulp. Also, roadside workers do not have quality certificates, which only means that the risk of buying spoiled watermelon increases.
6. We bring to your attention that watermelon is a bisexual berry. The “boys” have a convex side, having screwed up the tail, and the “girls” watermelons have a flat side with a wide circle. Why do I need to know this? - you ask. In order to choose a sweeter and delicious fruit. In "girls" there are fewer seeds and more sugar. Therefore, if possible, it is better to buy a female fetus.

Finally

Before use, be sure to wash the fruit, and store the cut watermelon only in the refrigerator. Now that you know how to choose a watermelon, nothing will stop you from buying a ripe, juicy, sweet and delicious fruit. We have talked a lot, but maybe you have your own secrets for choosing a watermelon?

Today we will find out by what signs they choose ripe and tasty Astrakhan watermelon! And we will also see it in the photo and analyze important points when choosing.

Color

The color of the watermelon is dark, and the stripes are light. It will be juicy and fragrant if the contrast between the colors is strong.
Seeds are only black, but by no means white. The presence of a “piglet” indicates that the watermelon ripened on its own and was not stuffed with chemicals.

If you notice a large spot on the berry, be careful, it was cold and there was not enough sun for it. It won't be as sweet and watery. On a real Astrakhan watermelon will be displayed sun glare and not a matte finish.

Sound

A ripe berry will crackle if you start squeezing it with both hands. And if you clap, then a ripe watermelon will buzz loudly.
If you start cutting an unripe watermelon, then because of the pulp, the sound will be difficult to hear. A ripe watermelon will diverge with a strong crack.

The size

Astrakhan watermelon of medium size weighs five to seven kilograms. And if you have a friendly big company, then take a few watermelons or one big one, twenty kilograms.

Danger signs

When buying, be sure to carefully examine the watermelon to see if there is a rotten spot on it. If there is, this is a trace from the injection of a syringe with a solution of nitrate. You don't need to buy this watermelon. Found cracks or dents, it is best to also put it aside.

The "tail" itself is yellow and dried. If it is dried, it means that the watermelon has been stored and transported for a long time. And if the tail is torn off, then you should not buy such a watermelon.

Of course, a fairly hot climate is necessary for growing and caring for watermelons, but you can try to do this in a greenhouse.

Description of the watermelon plant

Watermelon - annual herbaceous plant having fruit. Every year, watermelons are planted and grown from scratch. With competent agricultural technology, they give abundant harvests, and their fruits are distinguished by high palatability.

Three types are known: wild, table, or ordinary, and fodder. Hundreds of new varieties with good taste and commercial qualities have been obtained through selection.

The homeland of the plant is considered to be Equatorial and South Africa, where it still grows wild in the Kalahari semi-desert. Watermelons can successfully grow and produce crops at daytime temperatures up to 45-50°C and night temperatures up to 30°C. A special place in the conditions of the tropics and subtropics is occupied by measures for. First of all, they protect crops and seedlings from damage by birds.

The cultivation of the plant began in Ancient Egypt many centuries BC, as evidenced by the inscriptions and drawings on the walls of ancient Egyptian pyramids. From Egypt, the watermelon culture spread to Arabia, Persia, China, Syria, Ancient Greece. Already in those distant times, the Arabs used berries as a medicine, noting the ability to "cleanse" the body and drive out diseases, if consumed constantly before meals. V Western Europe watermelon appeared only in the XI-XII centuries. thanks to the crusader knights.

The watermelon plant has a creeping, strongly branched, pubescent 5-sided stem up to 5 m long with hard hairs. The leaves are rigidly pubescent, deeply dissected into 3 pinnately incised lobes, gray-green, large.

Flowers grey-yellow, unisexual; women's are larger than men's. The fruits are mostly spherical, but there are cylindrical and oval shapes, 10-75 cm long, weighing up to 8-12 kg. The color of the fruits is often variegated, but sometimes they are painted uniformly in white, green or almost black.

The pulp is red, pink, sometimes yellow or white, at the beginning of ripening it is crispy, juicy, later it undergoes maceration.

The seeds are flat, ovoid, white, yellow, red, brown, black and marbled. Weight of 1000 seeds up to 100 g. Seeds remain viable for up to 5-8 years.

You can find all the best varieties of watermelons and their photos on this page, but for now, learn about growing these plants.

Planting, caring for and growing watermelons in your garden in the open field

For growing and caring for watermelons in open ground a number of conditions must be met.

The soil. Watermelons prefer sandy and light sandy soil. Dense clay soil is unsuitable for growing watermelon: the roots of the plant hardly break through it, which negatively affects the crop. grow better on neutral soils with pH 6.5 - 7.0.

Light. When planting and caring for watermelons in the open field, do not forget that this crop belongs to the so-called short-day plants. He needs a lot of light. Does not tolerate shading. In cloudy weather, the process of photosynthesis proceeds slowly. The fruits accumulate little sugar and dry matter. The most important thing is to provide the plant with normal illumination in the phase of 4 - 5 true leaves.

Humidity. It is best to care for watermelons in the open field with an air humidity of 45 - 60%. Combination high humidity soil and air with cold temperatures is unfavorable for watermelons. Of all the gourds, they are the least adapted to such conditions. They are more prone to fusarium, anthracnose and alternariosis.

The low humidity of the air during the flowering period also negatively affects the yield - it is poorly pollinated, the ovaries fall off. But during the period of fruit ripening for the plant, it is necessary to create conditions of low humidity.

The level of soil moisture depends on the phase of its development. When planting watermelons in your garden, remember that the plant needs the most water during the period of increased growth. If, after planting at this time, the watermelon does not receive enough moisture, the yield will be low. Optimal Humidity soil during the period of growth and development of the plant is 70 - 75%. During the ripening period, soil moisture is reduced to 65 - 70%. As the fruits begin to form, the need for moisture decreases.

Predecessors. Planting watermelons in open ground is best done in areas previously used for winter wheat after black fertilized fallow, fodder corn and perennials. In addition, root crops can be predecessors,.

Growing and caring for watermelons will be ineffective if zucchini, squash, and sunflowers grew in this area in the previous year. In one place, plants can be grown for no more than 2 years.

Time from planting to germination of watermelon seeds

Watermelon is a thermophilic plant. Germination of its seeds occurs at +16 - 18 °C. but optimum temperature germination - +25 - 30 °C. At +16 - 18 ° C, the time from planting to germination of watermelon seeds is 12 - 14 days, and at +25 - 30 ° C - on 7 - 8 days.

During the growing season, normal growth and development take place at temperatures above +15 °C. If the temperature is kept at +15 °C, the development of the watermelon stops. At +10 °C, the synthesis processes in the plant stop; at +1 °C, growth stops. When caring for watermelons, remember that at temperatures below -1 ° C, the plant dies. Even short-term spring and autumn frosts are detrimental.

At the same time, watermelon is better than other melon crops capable of self-cooling. Thanks to this feature, it is able to withstand air temperatures up to +43 °C and soil temperatures up to +63 °C. Pumpkins and melons experience temporary wilting of leaves on hot days.

Fertilizers and top dressing of watermelons in the open field

When caring for watermelons in the ground, it is necessary to apply fertilizers, especially phosphorus ones. However, the plant does not like high content nutrients in the soil.

Mineral fertilizer for watermelons in the open field is applied by spreading. It is strongly recommended to apply fertilizer fractionally. For example, if during the growing season you immediately apply the entire norm nitrogen fertilizers, the yield will increase dramatically, but the fruits will be less sugary.

Usually, 20–30 kg of humus, 240–250 g of superphosphate, 130–150 g of ammonium nitrate and 100–120 g of potassium salt are added for digging per 10 m2.

The first top dressing of watermelons in the open field with complex mineral fertilizers carried out 7 days after planting seedlings in the ground. For 10 l warm water take 20 g of ammonium nitrate. Top dressing is prepared at the rate of 2 liters per bush.

The second and third feeding with the same composition is carried out with an interval of 2 to 3 weeks.

If one of the fruits on the bush begins to grow rapidly, while others stop developing, wither away, then the plant lacks nutrients. In this case, additional feeding is carried out. During the period when the ovaries appear, it is also recommended to alternately fertilize with slurry (1 part of manure per 10 parts of water) and urea. In addition, the plants are periodically watered with a pink solution of potassium permanganate.

The amount and type of fertilizer affect the shelf life of fruits. An excess of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil leads to the fact that watermelons are weak and poorly stored. Excessive content of potassium in the soil also negatively affects the quality of fruits.

When breeding watermelons through seedlings, the first top dressing is carried out 7 to 8 days after transplanting the bushes into the ground. For 10 liters of water, dilute 40 - 50 g of superphosphate, 32 - 35 g of ammonium sulfate and 15 - 18 g of potassium salt.

The second dressing is carried out at the beginning of the formation of lashes. As a fertilizer, take an infusion of mullein (1 part of mullein per 8 parts of water) or an infusion of bird droppings (1 part of litter per 20 parts of water). For every 20 liters of organic fertilizer infusion, add 10 g of potassium salt and 20 g of superphosphate.

The third feeding is carried out during the formation of the first ovary. For 10 liters of water, dilute 10 g of superphosphate, 24 g of ammonium sulfate, 35 g of potassium salt.

How to water watermelons: proper watering in the open field

Watermelon is a moisture-loving crop. A young plant needs about 200 ml of water per day. With the onset of flowering of female flowers, watering is reduced by 2 times, and with the appearance of fruits, they stop altogether. In dry hot weather, watering watermelons in the open field is rare, but plentiful.

How to water watermelons to achieve good harvest? If possible, the plants are watered by sprinkling. This saves energy and resources. Almost the entire process is automated. When using sprinkling machines and installations, it is possible to regulate the rate of water consumption and water the plantings at any time of the day.

In amateur farms, furrow irrigation is most often practiced. Young bushes are watered under the root warm water(not lower than +22-25 °C). After the formation of stems and shoots is completed, irrigation furrows are drawn along the rows. First, at a distance of 40 - 50 cm from the bush, when the watermelons grow up, the furrows are carried out in the middle of the row spacing.

Water is released through these furrows during irrigation. It must penetrate to the depth of the entire arable layer. After the water is absorbed into the ground, the hole is sprinkled with dry earth from above, and the furrows are loosened or leveled.

Adult plants are watered with water at a temperature of +18 - 20 ° C. Use cold water it is impossible: it slows down growth, provokes the development of root rot.

Watermelons are watered in the morning so that the soil has time to warm up by evening. In the heat, watering is transferred to the evening.

Loosening and weeding watermelons

Until the bushes have grown and the rows of plantings are clearly visible, after each watering and rain, it is necessary to loosen the soil. When the rows close, loosening will be impossible: the risk of damaging the plants is too great.

In addition, the beds should be regularly weeded, and weeds should be destroyed immediately, as they can become a source of the spread of diseases and pests.

During the growing season, cultivation in combination with manual weeding is carried out 3-5 times.

Immediately after harvesting the predecessor crop, the area planned for planting watermelon is treated with disc cultivators, or disc harrows. Stubble peeling is carried out to a depth of 8-10 cm in two directions.

If perennial grass grew on the site as a predecessor, then 10–12 days after the first tillage, the soil is peeled a second time to a depth of 14–16 cm with ploughshares. Do the same if the soil is littered with root weeds.

After fertilization, autumn plowing is carried out.

On the sandy soils processing is carried out to a depth of at least 23 - 25 cm, on southern and ordinary chernozems - to a depth of 25 - 27 cm.

In early spring, harrowing is carried out with heavy tooth harrows in one or two tracks. This is necessary to maintain a supply of moisture.

Before planting seedlings, the soil is cultivated by 10 - 12 cm.

Loosening is carried out 3-4 times per season to a depth of 10 cm. At the same time, the beds are weeded. After weeding watermelons, weeds are immediately destroyed to avoid the appearance of diseases and pests.

The first time watermelons are loosened immediately after planting. Then, until the rows close, loosening is carried out after each watering or rain.

The scheme of planting watermelon seeds in open ground

Planting watermelons with seeds in open ground is carried out according to a certain scheme.

The standard scheme for planting watermelons in open ground is as follows:

Row spacing 2 meters. In a row, 5-10 seeds per meter are sown. In the future, the strongest seedlings are left 1 meter between plants. Following the scheme of planting watermelons, make a hole 8 cm deep. Pour 1-2 liters of water there. Wait until the water is completely absorbed. Then they lay the seeds flat, cover the hole with earth and trample the hole a little. In no case do not water the hole after this, because a crust will form and all moisture will evaporate.

Is it possible to grow watermelon in a greenhouse: planting and care technology under film

The answer to the question “is it possible to grow watermelon in a greenhouse” is obvious - of course you can! In some regions, it is quite difficult to grow heat-loving gourds in the open air. In this case, they resort to growing watermelons in a greenhouse, and a large greenhouse is also suitable for these purposes. Watermelons in a greenhouse can be grown on a vertical trellis along with tomatoes (to save space). If young plants are planted in an unheated film greenhouse, then they must be additionally covered overnight with a second layer of film on metal arcs spaced along the rows.

Observing the technology of planting watermelon under the film, the soil for melons must be prepared since the fall. To do this, humus (10 kg) and superphosphate (40-50 g) are introduced into the greenhouse. Before planting watermelons in a greenhouse, you can add 30-40 g of potassium sulfate or potassium salt. It is allowed to use ash instead of potash fertilizers (300 g per sq.m.).

Below you will learn how to care for watermelons in a greenhouse to get a decent harvest.

Planting watermelon seeds for seedlings

Planting watermelon seeds for seedlings is carried out 3-4 weeks before planting seedlings in the greenhouse. The older the seeds, the better. Plants grown from fresh seeds often lack female flowers. Transplantation adversely affects young plants, so watermelon seedlings are usually not dived. Seeds are planted immediately in separate containers, immersed in the soil to a depth of 2 cm. It is best to use ready-made soil for pumpkin plants for seedlings, in which case the likelihood of diseases is reduced.

The temperature for planting watermelon seeds for seedlings should be at least + 15 ° C, the optimum is temperature Range from +25°С to +30°С. Such conditions are created by placing seedlings in a greenhouse or biofuel greenhouse. Before planting watermelon seedlings in a greenhouse on permanent place, it is tempered.

When buying seeds, you should pay attention to the following.

Place of production of seeds. Take the material from your region, adapted to your climate.

Period from fruit set to maturity. A short period guarantees fruit, and with a long period you risk being left without a crop.

Fruit size. Do not believe the forecasts of "unearthly" number of large watermelons and melons. Giant gourds ripen only in the south! In the greenhouse, medium-sized berries will ripen faster, there are usually a lot of them - they are better tied.

Best before date. Take seeds "with a margin." Fresh material germinates better.

How to plant and care for watermelons in a greenhouse: planting pattern and pollination

Upon reaching the seedlings of 20-25 days of age, it must be planted in a greenhouse. In older plants, overgrown roots can be damaged during transplantation. Most simple circuit planting watermelons in a greenhouse - in a checkerboard pattern, maintaining intervals between holes of 50-70 cm. Can be planted in pairs. In this case, the distance between rows in a pair is 40 cm, between pairs - 90 cm. The plants themselves in a row are planted at intervals of 35 cm.

Immediately before planting, pour 1 liter of solution into each well blue vitriol(0.5%). So you protect the plants from diseases. The plant is planted in a hole along with a clod of earth, watered and sprinkled with dry earth. You can mulch the holes with sawdust to prevent root rot. To do this, sawdust is mixed with bird droppings, ash and nitroammophos.

When caring for watermelons in a greenhouse, watering the plants begins on the 7th day after planting the seedlings. Watered with warm water. At different stages of growth, plants consume different quantity water. On the early stages watering should not be plentiful, otherwise the plants may get sick. But during the period of fruit ripening, moisture consumption will increase significantly. Dry soil can cause the fruits to crack. Keep an eye on the humidity of the air - it should not exceed 70%. To do this, the greenhouse should be regularly ventilated.

During the first week after planting in the greenhouse, watermelons are tied to vertical trellises. This is done so that the leaves do not come into contact with the ground, which can lead to plant diseases. The lower shoots (up to the fifth leaf) are best removed to increase ventilation. Spiral the stem around the trellis, and when the plant reaches the top, transfer it to the adjacent trellis. When the fruits are about the size of an apple, place them in the net and hang them on the trellis.

Usually through open doors and vents fly into greenhouses and hotbeds of bees. You will have to manually help pollinate the watermelon in the greenhouse when there are no bees. The male (without ovary) flowers bloom first. Keep in mind that they open early in the morning, and die off after a few hours. Smaller in appearance - female - bloom for 2-3 days.

For manual pollination of watermelons, the male flower is plucked, the petals are removed and applied to the stigma female flower his anthers several times. The optimal time for carrying out the described procedure is in the morning, when the temperature is at the level of 18-20 ° C or in cool weather during the day (at 22-25 ° C). If the temperature fell below 12 ° C the night before, then manual pollination will not bring results. In this case, you will have to expect the appearance of male flowers and good weather.

How to form a watermelon in a greenhouse: the rules for plant formation

The formation of a watermelon in a greenhouse must be done then when the berries are the size of egg. 2-3 fruits should remain on one lash, the rest of the ovaries are removed. If watermelons are not formed in the greenhouse, then the stem simply will not have time to grow all the fruits. The remaining watermelons are hung in nets.

How to form a watermelon in a greenhouse on next step? With a value of goose egg watermelons are placed with the stalk up. By following the rules for the formation of watermelons, all sides of the fruit grow evenly, and the taste of the pulp improves.

With the advent of the first ovaries, watering is resumed. During this period, each plant requires 3 liters of water.

Before the appearance of fruits, soil moisture is maintained at a level of 65 - 70%.

During the fruiting period, watering is stopped.

Experienced gardeners are advised to carry out regular feeding of plants. For top dressing, use a solution of chicken manure or mullein and complex ballast-free fertilizers. It is necessary to feed the plants during the flowering period every week, during the fruit ripening period - twice as often, alternating organic fertilizers with minerals.

Description of the best varieties of watermelons and their photos

Check out the photos and descriptions of watermelon varieties suitable for open ground and greenhouses.

Crimson Sweet translates as "raspberry sugar". Is an the best representative early maturing varieties. Watermelon variety Crimson Sweet is resistant to fusarium and anthracnose, has good transportability.

Crimson glory F1. It is resistant to diseases, has a fairly long shelf life. This one of the best varieties watermelon tolerates transportation well. Fetus round shape- average weight of watermelon: 12-15 kg.

Densuke. Watermelons "Densuke" are distinguished by a unique black color of the peel and bright red sugar pulp. These watermelons are sold in special black boxes that emphasize their natural color.

Producer- one of the most famous mid-season varieties of watermelon. Ripening time at optimal conditions cultivation - 70-75 days. The plant forms fruits of a round or oval shape, weighing 8-12 kg with bright red flesh. This popular watermelon variety for open ground and greenhouses has a high palatability.

Among the many hybrids special attention deserves not quite familiar to our country yellow watermelon. According to the description, this variety of watermelons is practically no different from an ordinary watermelon in the red middle, but when cut, it reveals the flesh not of a red color, but of bright yellow.

Watermelon variety Chill bred by crossing 3 varieties on the basis of the GNU Bykovskaya melon breeding experimental station (Volgograd region). The watermelon variety Kholodok is included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation. Kholodok is a mid-late variety, 85-97 days from germination to the first fruit harvest. The plant is powerful, there are many lashes, the main lash is more than 5 m. The leaf is large, green, with medium pubescence, narrow-lobed, medium dissected.

Bomb F1. A modern watermelon hybrid of Israeli selection, medium-early ripening, with a huge yield potential. From planting seedlings to fruit ripening 70-72 days. This one of the best varieties of watermelons has beautiful, glossy fruits with a rounded shape, with an attractive dark green skin coloration. Fruit weight reaches 12-15 kg (when grown on irrigation, with an intensive agricultural background, the berries reach a mass of 25 or more kilograms).

Watermelon Barkhan F1- a hybrid hero, strong, hardy and reliable. The plant is powerful with short, well-leafy lashes that cover the fruits from sunburn. Ripens 60-64 days after transplanting. The fruits are beautiful, oval-round with a malachite pattern of dark green longitudinal stripes on a lighter background, leveled, with an average weight of 9-11 kg. The flesh is bright red, crispy, without fibers, juicy and tasty with an unforgettable watermelon flavor. Due to the strong peel and dense pulp, it is perfectly transported over long distances.

Watermelon Bogatyrsky- mid-late (90-95 days from germination to the first harvest of fruits) variety for cultivation in open ground (southern regions) and film greenhouses. Combines excellent quality of large fruits with high productivity even in unfavorable summer. The plant is powerful, climbing, the main whip is more than 5 m. The fruit is elongated-spherical, with a pattern of dark green, almost black spiny stripes, the average weight is 5.2 kg (with good care up to 7-8 kg). The bark is thin, leathery. The flesh is bright red, fine-grained, honey, juicy, with a rich watermelon aroma. The variety is resistant to major diseases, the fruits are well stored (3 months after harvesting).

Watermelon Victoria F1- a reliable mid-early variety with high commercial and taste qualities. The period from full shoots to the beginning of maturation is 70-80 days. The fruits are broadly elliptical, weighing 4-5 kg ​​or more, light green, with wide dark stripes, thick-skinned. The pulp is rich dark red, tender, dense, excellent taste, high in sugars and lycopene.

Blurred stripes
Watermelon pale color with blurry stripes is better not to buy. There's a good chance he's loaded with chemicals.

Sound
Tap the watermelon with your fingertips - a ripe berry should have a ringing sound.

pulp
If the pulp is unnatural burgundy shade and there are yellow streaks in it, it is better not to eat this dessert.
This indicates a high content of nitrates and nitrites.

Tail
Pay attention to the tail: if it is dry, then the berry was picked when it was fully ripe.

Elasticity
Squeeze the watermelon on both sides - the ripe berry is noticeably springy and slightly crunchy

Nitrates
Dip a piece of watermelon into the water. A berry with nitrates will color the liquid pink or red.

Mikhail Ginzburg, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Director of the Samara Research Institute of Dietology and Diet Therapy: Early watermelons are all chemistry

Watermelons contain a huge amount of dietary fiber, which is extremely beneficial for human health. They can lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of gallstones. Watermelons are especially useful for women. After all, they have a higher risk of developing gallstones than men. In addition, dietary fiber slows down the absorption of fats and sugars.

It is worth noting that watermelons are quite high in calories: 100 grams of berry pulp contains at least 10 grams of sugar. And for a sitting, you can easily eat a couple of kilos of watermelon. I would not recommend using a large number of pulp of watermelons to hypertensive patients, people prone to fullness and with kidney disease.

I do not advise buying early watermelons, which appear in stores before the beginning of August.

As a rule, they contain nitrates. This is due to the fact that watermelons were simply overfed with fertilizers. Nitrates, entering the human body, cause intoxication, which is accompanied by pain, nausea and indigestion.

As a rule, the main amount of nitrates accumulates near the crust.

Sometimes small watermelons are injected and injected with a special compound for rapid growth, which is also not very useful. It is almost impossible to find an injection mark in an "adult" watermelon. The only way to avoid such a "surprise" and possible poisoning- just do not buy early watermelons.

How to distinguish the official melon collapse

Sellers of melons and gourds must have the relevant documents: a certificate of conformity confirming the safety of products, a certificate for placing an outlet, a seller's medical book and a certificate of checking weights.

Please note that there are certain requirements for a mesh stall - it must have a pallet. Sellers of watermelons are required to comply with storage rules, according to which berries cannot be stacked just on the ground.

You can not put official melon breaks everywhere.

For example, it is forbidden to sell watermelons along city highways, on lawns and in the arches of buildings, as well as closer than 10 meters to bus stops. land transport and closer than 25 meters to metro stations.

It is strictly forbidden to sell cut berries or halves at official melon breaks.