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, the ripeness of which can be easily determined by color, the green “stripe” 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 simpler for buyers: the melon season had begun, and mountains of striped “carcasses” grew up in the markets. Nowadays everything is more difficult: you can choose a sweet watermelon even in the middle of winter, supermarkets are happy to provide us with this opportunity... Unless, of course, we are confused by greenhouse berries, probably loaded with preservatives.

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

Important! The first “swallows” may appear on the markets as early as July. But how to choose a good watermelon from them, knowing that the ripening of each of them was probably accelerated by chemical means? 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 spot 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. Contrast stripes. The more intense the color of the dark stripes looks against the background of the light ones, the better the pulp 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. Our great-grandfathers used this method to select “minke whales” (our grandmothers still use it now, choosing from their garden beds). ripe watermelon for grandchildren). However, there is one important “but”: overripe berries also sound dull. So if you come across a “sounding” watermelon, carefully inspect it - are there any rotten areas?

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

Important! Some buyers choose watermelon with a dry tail. But unfortunately, this sign has nothing to do with the ripeness of the berry: even pick a green fruit, keep 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 (about 80% of them in each batch) and girls. The latter have a reputation for being especially sweet.

But how to choose a watermelon girl from the general pile? It's simple: look at the “butt” of this berry, that is, the end opposite the tail. If the “butt” is slightly concave inward, and there is a small dry spot on it (very tiny), then you have a boy. 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 she really is a girl, but sellers treat this as a superstition... The easiest way is to buy two “different-sex” watermelons and check it personally!

We will not allow nitrate watermelon on your table!

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

Approach the layouts on which cut watermelons are laid out. Their flesh will tell you a lot. Avoid purchasing 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, even purple or violet,
• it contains hard yellowish fibers,
• there are cracks inside
• half of the seeds are white, immature, and half are black,
• There is no “sandiness” or graininess characteristic of a ripe fruit - the flesh is too smooth.

Important! Did your children stealthily eat the middle of the stripe you bought with spoons? Don't rush to scold them. It is believed that most of the nitrates “sit” under the skin itself, and the middle of the fruit 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 fruit that is not yet rotten, but already dangerously “overexposed”:

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

How is shopping at the market different from visiting a supermarket?

Supermarket

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

In addition, fruits are often sold here in pieces, wrapped in cling film. This is economically beneficial (besides, it is easier for a girl buyer to carry home a couple of kilograms, rather than a ten-kilogram monster). But before you choose slices of watermelon, think:

• why did they cut it (maybe they cut off the rotten side),
• It’s unlikely that it was washed, and the knife might not have been clean - that’s why there are bacteria on every piece,
• the film creates a greenhouse effect, so if a ripe fruit lies on the counter in it for a day rather than an hour, it will begin to actively deteriorate.

Market

Theoretically, 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’ll arrive around 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 that the fruits will not Better conditions storage Secondly, often a small cut is made in the “carcasses” in order to demonstrate the ripeness of the batch - but the danger of cuts has already been discussed above. Moreover, do not take a “stripe” that has fallen and split.

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

Instead of an afterword...

In general, choosing this berry is a whole science. However, the benefits from it 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” in almost 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 enjoy the red watermelon pulp - that’s why it’s summer! Moreover, you already know how to choose a watermelon based on ripeness and purity of nitrates!

Watermelon selection- that's pretty interesting activity which requires certain knowledge. And how exactly to do this so as not to be disappointed later with the result - you can learn about this from this article.

Today, watermelons appear in markets and stores literally as early as June, but there is no need to rush to make such a purchase. Real watermelons that will delight you with a rich taste and will not disappoint with the presence of synthetic ones harmful substances, don't go on sale until August, and it is during this period that you should plan your first trip for such fruits.

The ripest and sweetest watermelons with a rich taste appear on sale no earlier than August!

Where can I buy?

And first of all, you need to decide where exactly you will go to make such an acquisition. Choosing a fruit from those sold on the side of the highway, among dust and exhaust, is not a very good decision, but not always good choice buying fruit in a supermarket becomes a problem. The fact is that large retail chains purchase unripe fruits, intending to wait for them to fully ripen during storage and sale, and this approach definitely does not add taste to the fruits. Early watermelons in nets are also a bad decision. It is best to buy them in the markets, where they are presented in abundance and it is possible to choose the fruit from a large number of options.

What does a good watermelon look like?

In order to understand how high-quality the watermelon is being offered to you, just look at the appearance of such a fruit, which will immediately tell you a lot. First of all, the color of this melon berry is worthy of attention: the more contrasting stripes visible on her body, the better. However, the watermelon should not be matte; gloss will be a good sign. But this sign often turns out to be difficult to determine, since enterprising sellers rub their goods with rags to give them an attractive presentation. Another important one external sign in the matter of color, this is the presence of a yellow spot, which every good watermelon should have. It won’t tell you anything about the degree of ripeness, but it can clearly tell you about the taste. A watermelon that has a spot measuring 5-10 cm has excellent taste.

It is best to buy watermelons in markets where they are available in abundance and you can choose from a large number of options.

Sound as an indicator

Most people know very well that a watermelon needs to be tapped, but not everyone knows exactly what the sound should be. Some will say that the sound should be dull, but it is not. The sound of a watermelon should be loud, because this is exactly what will allow us to say about the porosity of the berry, and therefore, that it is ripe. Also, a good watermelon crackles when squeezed, this is also a good sign of its ripeness and taste.

The question of the stalk

It is also very important to inspect the stalk, which is another important indicator of the quality of the fruit. The tail should be yellow and moderately dry; if it is too dry, then we can say that the fruit was stored or transported for a long time, and this probably affected its taste and condition. If there is no tail, it is better not to buy a watermelon, because there is a high probability that it was torn off deliberately.

The sound of a watermelon should be loud, because this is what will allow us to say about the porosity of the berry, and therefore, that it is ripe.

A few more signs

It is worth noting thata ripe fruit will not drown in water, even the juiciest one. And when cut, a high-quality watermelon will crack at the touch of the blade. Bones in good fruit will be brown or even black. But if they are white, the fruit is unripe or pumped with nitrates.

Unfortunately, in last years people began to like watermelons less and less. And this is not due to the fact that someone stops liking the taste of dark red pulp with a wonderful aroma, but to the fact that the chances of purchasing a good and ripe watermelon are very small. What can they do with them to speed up ripening! They pump you full of nitrates, give you an injection of urea to quickly turn red - they use any means to quickly sell their products to customers. Naturally, both quality and taste suffer from this. This is why so many buyers remain disappointed. So, how to check a watermelon for ripeness? Let's try to answer this question.

Time to buy

Time is the main indicator. The first watermelons appear in markets and stores long before their normal ripening time, which means they have clearly been helped. It is not worth purchasing such products. The optimal time to buy watermelons is from late August to mid-October.

How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by its rind

The rind of a ripe watermelon is harder, woodier, and if you press on it with your fingernail, it will not damage it. The striking contrast between the stripes on the rind also shows that the crop was harvested at the optimal time. Characteristic yellow spot- this is also an indicator of ripeness, but it should not be too large.

How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by the tail

Contrary to popular belief, a dry tail does not guarantee the ripeness of a watermelon. You can only use this as a guide if you are waiting own harvest- during the period of maturation, the lash begins to gradually die off. In store-bought watermelons, a dry tail can indicate both ripeness and the fact that unripe berries have been in storage for a long time. However, it is worth paying attention to the “button” - a small calloused seal at the point where the whip is attached. If it is dense, light and convex, then the watermelon is ready to eat.

How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by sound

A ripe watermelon makes a very characteristic sound when tapped - light, ringing and slightly rattling. This is due to the fact that ripe berries have looser starchy pulp, which resonates well. This same property explains the good buoyancy of watermelons - a ripe berry should float at least halfway. When squeezed, ripe watermelons crackle.

How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon using smell

Unripe watermelons have a strong grassy smell. Ripe berries have a different aroma - lighter and sweeter. It is difficult to explain this in words, but with a little practice you can learn to distinguish watermelons well by smell.

This explains how to tell the ripeness of a watermelon without cutting. However, it is best to determine quality and ripeness by appearance pulp. It should be red, starchy, without large yellow streaks. The optimal weight for a good watermelon is 5-7 kg. Remember: the main indicators of the presence of nitrates are large veins, as well as the coloration of water pink color when stirring a piece of pulp in it. For watermelon without nitrates, the water will become cloudy, but will not change color. You should not buy cut watermelon, even if it is ripe - there is no guarantee that microbes have not already settled in it.

Of course, growing and caring for watermelons requires a fairly hot climate, but you can try doing this in a greenhouse.

Description of the watermelon plant

Watermelon – annual herbaceous plant having fruit. Every year, watermelons are planted and grown, so to speak, “from scratch.” With proper agricultural technology they give bountiful harvests, and their fruits are distinguished by high taste.

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

The plant's homeland 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 tropical and subtropical conditions is occupied by activities. First of all, they protect crops and seedlings from damage by birds.

Cultivation of the plant began in Ancient Egypt many centuries BC, as evidenced by inscriptions and drawings on the walls of ancient Egyptian pyramids. From Egypt, watermelon culture spread to Arabia, Persia, China, Syria, Ancient Greece. Already in those distant times, the Arabs used the berries as a medicine, noting the ability to “cleanse” the body and drive out diseases if consumed constantly before meals. IN Western Europe watermelon appeared only in the 11th–12th centuries. thanks to the crusading knights.

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

The flowers are gray-yellow, unisexual; Women's are larger than men's. The fruits are predominantly spherical, but are found in 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 uniformly colored white, green or almost black.

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

The seeds are flat, ovoid, white, yellow, red, brown, black and marbled. Weight of 1000 seeds is 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 in the meantime, learn about growing these plants.

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

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

The soil. Watermelons prefer sandy and light sandy loam soil. Dense clay soil is unsuitable for growing watermelon: the roots of the plant have difficulty breaking through it, which negatively affects the harvest. Grow better on neutral soils with pH 6.5 – 7.0.

Light. When planting and caring for watermelons in open ground, 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 open ground at an air humidity of 45 - 60%. Combination high humidity soil and air with cold temperatures are unfavorable for watermelons. Of all the melon crops, they are the least adapted to such conditions. They are more susceptible to fusarium, anthracnose and alternaria.

Low air humidity during the flowering period also has a negative effect on the harvest - it is poorly pollinated and the ovaries fall off. But during the period of fruit ripening, low humidity conditions must be created for the plant.

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 intense growth. If after planting at this time the watermelon does not receive enough moisture, the harvest will be low. Optimal humidity soil during the period of plant growth and development is 70 - 75%. During the ripening period, soil moisture is reduced to 65 - 70%. As the fruits finish forming, 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 vegetables can be precursors.

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

Time from planting to germination of watermelon seeds

Watermelon is a heat-loving plant. Germination of its seeds occurs at +16 – 18 °C. However optimal 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 the 7–8th day.

During the growing season normal height and development take place at temperatures above +15 °C. If the temperature is kept at +15 °C, the development of watermelon is suspended. At +10 °C the plant’s synthesis processes 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 destructive.

At the same time, watermelon is better able to self-cool than other melon crops. Thanks to this feature, it is able to withstand air temperatures up to +43 °C and soil temperatures up to +63 °C. On hot days, pumpkin and melon leaves temporarily wilt.

Fertilizers and fertilizing of watermelons in open ground

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

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

Typically, 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 per 10 m2 for digging.

The first feeding of watermelons in the open ground 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. Fertilizer 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 - 3 weeks.

If one of the fruits on the bush begins to grow intensively, while the others stop developing and wither, it means that the plant does not have enough nutrients. In this case, additional feeding is carried out. During the period when the ovaries appear, it is also recommended to alternately feed with slurry (1 part manure to 10 parts water) and urea. In addition, the plants are periodically watered with a pink solution of potassium permanganate.

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

When breeding watermelons through seedlings, the first feeding is carried out 7 - 8 days after transplanting the bushes into the ground. 40–50 g of superphosphate, 32–35 g of ammonium sulfate and 15–18 g of potassium salt are diluted per 10 liters of water.

The second feeding is carried out at the beginning of the formation of lashes. As a fertilizer, take an infusion of mullein (1 part mullein to 8 parts water) or an infusion of bird droppings (1 part droppings to 20 parts 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. 10 g of superphosphate, 24 g of ammonium sulfate, 35 g of potassium salt are diluted per 10 liters of water.

How to water watermelons: proper watering in open ground

Watermelon is a moisture-loving crop. A young plant needs about 200 ml of water per day. When female flowers begin to bloom, watering is reduced by half, and when fruits appear, it is stopped altogether. In dry, hot weather, watermelons in open ground are watered rarely, but abundantly.

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

In amateur farms, furrow irrigation is most often practiced. Young bushes are watered at 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 older, furrows are made in the middle of the row spacing.

Water is released along these furrows during irrigation. It should penetrate to the depth of the entire arable layer. After the water is absorbed into the ground, the hole is sprinkled with dry soil on top, 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 and provokes the development of root rot.

Watermelons are watered in the morning so that the soil has time to warm up by evening. In hot weather, watering is postponed 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 together, loosening will be impossible: the risk of damaging the plants is too great.

In addition, the beds should be weeded regularly and weeds should be destroyed immediately, as they can become a source of 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 hullers, or disc harrows. The stubble is peeled to a depth of 8–10 cm in two directions.

If the site grew as a predecessor perennial grass, then 10 - 12 days after the first treatment, the soil is peeled a second time to a depth of 14 - 16 cm with plowshares. Do the same if the soil is clogged with root shoot weeds.

After applying fertilizers, fall plowing is carried out.

On sandy loam soils treatment 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 toothed harrows in one or two tracks. This is necessary to maintain moisture reserves.

Before planting seedlings, the soil is cultivated to a depth of 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, the 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 are closed, loosening is carried out after each watering or rain.

Scheme for 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 is 2 meters. 5-10 seeds per meter are sown in a row. Subsequently, the strongest shoots are left 1 meter apart between plants. Following the watermelon planting pattern, make a hole 8 cm deep. Pour 1-2 liters of water into it. Wait until the water is completely absorbed. Then they lay the seeds flat, cover the hole with earth and trample the hole a little. Under no circumstances should you water the hole after this, because a crust will form and all the moisture will evaporate.

Is it possible to grow watermelon in a greenhouse: technology of planting and care 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, heat-loving melons are grown under open air It's hard enough. In this case, they resort to growing watermelons in a greenhouse; 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 at night with a second layer of film on metal arcs placed along the rows.

Following the technology of planting watermelon under film, the soil for melons must be prepared in the fall. To do this, humus (10 kg) and superphosphate (40-50 g) are added to 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 (300 g per sq.m.) instead of potash fertilizers.

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 the seedlings in the greenhouse. The older the seeds, the better. Plants grown from fresh seeds often have an insufficient number of female flowers. Transplantation has a detrimental effect on young plants, so watermelon seedlings are usually not picked. The 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 this case the likelihood of diseases occurring is reduced.

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

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

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

The period from fruit set to ripening. A short period guarantees fruit production, but with a long period you risk being left without a harvest.

The size of the fruit. Do not believe the forecasts of an “unearthly” number of large watermelons and melons. Giant melons ripen only in the south! In a greenhouse, medium-sized berries will ripen faster; there are usually a lot of them - they set better.

Best before date. Take seeds with reserve. Fresh material germinates better.

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

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

Immediately before planting, pour 1 liter of solution into each hole. copper sulfate(0.5%). This way you will protect your plants from diseases. The plant is planted in a hole along with a lump of earth, watered and sprinkled with dry soil. 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. Water with warm water. At different stages of growth, plants consume different quantity water. On initial stages Watering should not be abundant, otherwise the plants may get sick. But during the period of fruit ripening, moisture consumption will increase significantly. Dry soil can cause the fruit to develop cracks. Monitor the air humidity - 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 to prevent the leaves from coming into contact with the ground, which can lead to plant diseases. It is better to remove the lower shoots (up to the fifth leaf) to increase ventilation. Twist the stem in a spiral around the trellis, and when the plant reaches the top, transfer it to the adjacent trellis. When the fruits are the size of an apple, place them in a net and hang them on a trellis.

Usually through open doors and bees fly into greenhouses and greenhouses. You will have to manually help pollinate the watermelon in the greenhouse when there are no bees. The male flowers (without an ovary) bloom first. Please note that they open early in the morning, and die off a few hours later. The smaller ones, female ones, bloom for 2-3 days.

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

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

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

How to shape a watermelon in a greenhouse next stage? With a value of goose egg Watermelons are placed with the stem facing 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 appearance of the first ovaries, watering is resumed. During this period, each plant requires 3 liters of water.

Until fruits appear, soil moisture is maintained at 65–70%.

During the fruiting period, watering is stopped.

Experienced gardeners advise regularly fertilizing plants. For feeding, use a solution of chicken manure or mullein and complex ballast-free fertilizers. Plants need to be fed every week during the flowering period, and twice as often during the fruit ripening period, 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 translated as "Raspberry Sugar". Is the best representative early ripening varieties. The watermelon variety Crimson Sweet is resistant to fusarium and anthracnose and has good transportability.

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

Densuke. Densuke watermelons are distinguished by their unique black rind and bright red sugar pulp. These watermelons are sold in special black boxes that highlight 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 produces round or oval fruits, weighing 8-12 kg with bright red flesh. This popular watermelon variety for open ground and greenhouses has high taste.

Among the many hybrids special attention deserves something not quite familiar to our country yellow watermelon. According to the description, this variety of watermelon is practically no different from a regular watermelon with a red center, but when cut, the flesh is not red in color, but bright yellow.

Watermelon variety Chill bred by crossing 3 varieties on the basis of the State Scientific Institution 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 medium-late variety, 85-97 days from germination to the first harvest of fruits. The plant is powerful, there are many vines, the main vine 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 huge yield potential. From planting seedlings to ripening of fruits 70 - 72 days. This one of the best varieties of watermelons has beautiful, glossy, round-shaped fruits with an attractive dark green peel color. The weight of the fruit reaches 12-15 kg (when grown under irrigation, with an intensive agricultural background, the berries reach a weight of 25 kilograms or more).

Watermelon Barkhan F1- a hybrid hero, strong, hardy and reliable. The plant is powerful with short, well-leafed vines that cover the fruits from sunburn. Ripens 60-64 days after planting seedlings. The fruits are beautiful, oval-round with a malachite pattern of dark green longitudinal stripes on a lighter background, aligned, with an average weight of 9-11 kg. The pulp is bright red, crispy, fiber-free, juicy and tasty with an unforgettable watermelon aroma. Thanks to its strong peel and dense pulp, it is perfectly transported over long distances.

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

Watermelon Victoria F1- a reliable mid-early variety with high commercial and taste qualities. The period from full germination to the beginning of ripening 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, with a high content of sugars and lycopene.

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 remind us of a great time for a long time. With the onset of autumn, the nights lengthen, it rains and cool winds blow. Bright colors fade and gradually disappear, and the leaves falling from the trees cover the roads like a multi-colored blanket.

At this time, in stores you can see counters overflowing with watermelons, which are simply impossible to pass by. We buy a large ten-kilogram watermelon to please the whole family, and we hope that it will be ripe, juicy and sweet. But, unfortunately, hopes are not always justified. Today you can have a tasty treat, 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 you need to pay attention to. If you're craving watermelon and are thinking of buying it at the beginning of summer, remember that it's not a berry, but a nitrate bomb. You need to buy your first watermelons in August!
• Hard shiny crust. Externally, the “striped bun” should look beautiful - a hard shiny crust that is difficult to pierce with a fingernail, a rich color of the stripes and correct form. When the fruit ripens, it stops absorbing moisture and soon the peel hardens. This is why it is important to pay attention to the rind of the watermelon.
• Safe and sound. The watermelon rind, as we have already said, should be hard, shiny and beautiful, but it should also not have any cracks or dents. The fact is that through microcracks, and even more so through damaged areas, bacteria penetrate into the sweet, juicy pulp and actively multiply there. If you eat a piece of such watermelon, you can get serious food poisoning.
• Yellow flank and dry tail. When the “minke whale” is on the field, he “tracks” his barrel, which should be yellow or orange color. Once ripe, the tail of the watermelon dries out and then it becomes detached from the melon. This is why many people believe that a dry tail is an indicator of ripeness. But in reality this is not entirely true. The tail can also dry out on unripe fruits that have been picked long ago, for example, during storage or transportation, so we do not recommend giving this sign much importance.
• "Sounding" watermelons. When choosing a watermelon, tap it. If it responds loudly to the pat, then it is a good watermelon, but if the sound is dull, then it is better to choose another berry. But to completely cast aside all doubts, try putting a watermelon to your ear and squeezing it with both hands. If it crunches and the skin gives in, then this is what you need.
• Availability of 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 type 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're talking about about your health and the health of your family. You don’t want your children to eat watermelon of dubious quality, do you? If the seller shows you a photocopy of the document at your request, 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 you can’t see the injection hole on the skin of the fruit, then you can safely make a purchase. Well, this is not true! A chemical injection is given into the leg while the watermelon is still in the field.
2. If you think you bought a watermelon with nitrates, then check it out. Fill a glass with cool boiled water and drop a piece of watermelon pulp into it. If the watermelon loses color and the water turns pink, then you are not mistaken - the watermelon contains nitrates.
3. If you cut a watermelon, you will see that the veins yellow color, which means watermelon is nitrate. The veins should be pink.
4. Never buy cut watermelons, even if they are in clear bags.
5. Never buy watermelons near the road. This is not worth doing because it is always dusty and dirty there. If the fruit falls somewhere and cracks even a little, a huge number of microbes will get into the pulp. Also, roadside workers do not have quality certificates, which only means that the risk of buying a spoiled watermelon increases.
6. Please note that watermelon is a bisexual berry. The “boys” have a spoiled tail with a convex side, 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. “Girls” have fewer seeds and more sugar. Therefore, if possible, it is better to buy a female fetus.

Finally

Before eating, be sure to wash the fruit, and store 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 tasty fruit. We've told you a lot, but perhaps you have your own secrets for choosing a watermelon?