When in the summer heat I want to quench my thirst, a cold watermelon comes to mind. Indeed, it is impossible to spend the summer period without tasting these wonderful juicy fruits. However, such a culture is not limited to only the most famous varieties. There are other types of watermelons that are not inferior in taste and varietal qualities to those berries that we are used to.
The purpose of breeding new varieties
Due to climate change, it is becoming increasingly difficult to grow gourds. Therefore, breeders are trying to develop new varieties of watermelons, which are less whimsical and can adapt to changes in weather conditions. It would be useful to learn about such varieties for every gardener, since some of them can be grown in the northern regions. Having familiarized themselves with such information, perhaps farmers will want to radically change the conduct of their crop farming. The article provides a description of the varieties of watermelons. The photos below illustrate the external differences of these amazing fruits.
Botanical description of watermelon
Creeping plant with flexible, far-growing shoots, reaches from 3 meters in length or more. Each of the stems has a branched mustache and dissected individual leaves. The flowers are pale yellow, large.
The fruit is a false berry, the classic color of which varies from light pink to bright scarlet. The peel of the watermelon is mainly green in color with a variety of stripes or dashes. The shape of the fruit is spherical or oval.
Brief information
Watermelon is a herbaceous culture belonging to the pumpkin family. The plant is successfully cultivated in regions with short winters and long hot periods in the summer. Melon culture is drought-resistant, and it feels great in the steppe territories and the Mediterranean.
In Russia, watermelons are grown on a large scale in the Volga region and southern regions. In these regions, the fruits have time to ripen on their own in the fields. In the northern regions, farmers have to use auxiliary methods to fully ripen watermelons. For this purpose, greenhouses and special dung pits sprinkled with earth in the form of a hill are used. Experienced farmers manage to get rich harvests of watermelons and not in very favorable conditions for this crop.
What do novice farmers need to know?
To get a good harvest of tasty and juicy berries, novice farmers should find out what varieties of watermelons are grown in their area. The right choice of seed always ensures the expected result.
In special stores you can buy seeds of watermelon, growing even in Siberia. There is a sufficient selection of crops that can tolerate lower temperatures, and also have a strong immunity to anthracosis. There are early and late types of melon.
For the middle zone of the country, a suitable option is to grow a crop in a greenhouse. For the arrangement of such premises, thick film or polycarbonate is usually used. This material allows air and light to penetrate, which are necessary for seed germination and plant vegetation.
Seeds before planting watermelons should be treated with copper sulfate. This will protect plants from diseases.
Early cultures
Fruits with early ripening are usually not large and have less pronounced taste qualities characteristic of watermelons. But their plus is that already 45 days after the formation of the first leaves, you can enjoy their fruits, even in cities such as Oryol and Kaluga.
Here are some names of watermelon varieties bred for early cultivation: Ultra-early, Twinkle, Siberian lights. Below, we consider each type of pumpkin culture separately:
- Ultra early. The most resistant variety to temperature extremes. The bright scarlet berry is rich in sucrose. Pulp with veins and medium-sized seeds of black color. Full ripening of the fetus occurs after 2.5 months.
- Twinkle. One of the earliest types of watermelons, the fruits of which can be removed after 45-50 days after emergence. The culture quickly adapts to new climatic conditions after landing and is unpretentious in leaving. Fruits are round, with a plain dark green peel. The pulp is sweet, watery. Weight - 1-3 kg (the first fruits are usually less).
- Siberian lights. The culture is adapted for adverse climatic conditions and is resistant to fusarium infection. Suitable for regions with short summers and lack of sunlight. It is grown in seedlings with transplantation in open ground or in greenhouses. The duration of plant development from planting to harvest is about 80 days. Watermelons of this species have a dark green color and narrow small lines. The variety Siberian Lights is characterized by a thin peel of the fruit and small beige seeds. The pulp is a light shade, sweet, has a porous structure.
Late varieties of watermelons
- Chill. This variety is distinguished by good transportability and keeping quality of fruits. Juicy red berry has large brownish seeds with specks. The fruits are round, richly green in color, with dark stripes of an indefinite shape. The bush is characterized by a strong vegetative development. Its powerful lashes grow by 4-5 m. The ripening period of watermelons is 2.5-3 months, the weight of the fetus can reach up to 5 kg.
- Icarus. Among other types of watermelons, one can distinguish such characteristics of the variety as crop stability and a long storage period of fruits. Under the right conditions, berries can be stored for up to 6 months and are suitable for preservation and salting. The plant tolerates drought and is resistant to fusarium, but is not protected from anthracnose. Bush with a long leading lash. The leaves are dissected, with a faint gray coating and a barely noticeable fluff. Dark green fruits with a pattern in the form of studded stripes, the peel is not thick, elastic. Inside, the berry has a raspberry or red color, sweet, with a pronounced watermelon aroma. Sunflower seeds are brownish, small. The average weight of one fetus is 5.5 kg.
Photos of watermelon species of early and late varieties can be found in the article.
Mid-season
- Astrakhan The most popular watermelons in demand among buyers and farmers. They are valued for high yields, disease resistance, and shelf life of the fruit. Massive berries with a thin skin can reach a weight of 6 kg. They have a fresh aroma and amazing sugary taste - this is the sweetest sort of watermelon. The shape of the fruit is oblong, with a striped surface. The pulp has a pronounced red color. Seeds are black, medium in size.
- Black Prince. It is resistant to temperature fluctuations and is characterized by good preservation of fruits. The bush is large with a long main lash and wide green leaves. The fruits have an oval, fairly elongated shape. The inner contents of the berry are bright red with dark seeds in a dot, and a loose structure. The skin is medium density. The average ripening period is 95 days.
Unusual types of pumpkin culture
Thanks to their efforts and ingenuity, some farmers turn everyone's favorite berry into a curiosity. For example, a farmer from Arizona managed to grow a real giant watermelon. The huge berry, which was called Carolina Cross, reached a weight of 122 kg.
There are large varieties of watermelons in our country. These include the following types of culture: Palladin F1 (20 kg), Crimson Glory F1 (up to 16 kg), Astrakhan (10 kg), Charleston Gray (up to 12 kg) and Russian size (over 60 kg).
Farmers from Japan found it necessary to diversify the shape of the fruit for a successful transportation. Regardless of the types of watermelons, their fruits grow square. As soon as small ovaries appear on the bushes, they are carefully placed in wooden boxes in which they continue to grow and eventually acquire their shape.
There is a unique variety of gourds of miniature size (2cm), which is considered a delicacy. You can taste this fruit only in the chic restaurants of America. It does not have the classic taste of watermelon and looks more like a cucumber.
In Russia, you can find watermelons with a white and slightly greenish peel. Their flesh is cream and white. Light lemon flavor fruits are also grown, which are described below.
- Lunar. One of the most non-traditional varieties for this culture is watermelon yellow. The unusual color of the pulp with small brown seeds does not detract from the taste of the berry. In its shape, the fruit is similar to an ellipse, its surface is smooth, green, with dark stripes. A bush with medium sized lashes and small leaves. The period from sowing seeds to the full ripening of watermelons is about 90 days. Fruits weighing up to 3 kg can be stored for 30 days after harvest.
- Vector. It has a nutmeg taste and has a large number of monosaccharides. This peculiar aftertaste distinguishes a watermelon against the background of all its “brothers”.
Unique types of watermelons and photos with their image can be viewed below.
Harvesting
The fruits of the culture in question do not have the ability to ripen after removing them from the bushes. Therefore, the task is to correctly establish the full maturity of the watermelon. The types of varieties do not matter here, since all signs of the suitability of the fetus are determined by the vegetative appearance and touch.
- The first thing they pay attention to is the stalk and mustache. They must be completely dry. Accordingly, the fetus no longer receives proper nutrition and is ready for use.
- A yellow spot in the place where the watermelon was in contact with the ground, indicates its maturity.
- If you hit the watermelon with a light click and at the same time it will ring deafly, then you can safely tear the fruit from the bush.
- In species of watermelons that have a thin peel, you can hear the crackling of the pulp when squeezing the fetus.
Methods of growing watermelons in regions with a cold climate
Gardeners who decided to plant southern culture in more severe conditions did not regret it. Undoubtedly, diligence and experience are important here. But there are two ways that significantly accelerate the ripening of fruits in the short period of time that the northern summer gives.
On the site, the lightest and warmest place is chosen, and warm beds are prepared on it. They need to be placed so that different types of watermelons do not grow too close to each other, and are not pollinated. Since it is common for pumpkin culture to spread out, a distance of about 80 cm should be left between the compost grooves.
The beds are deepened by 40-50 cm and laid with dry grass, straw, hay and organic waste. Sprinkle with compost or humus on top, and the last layer with fertile soil. Such compost "pillows" are prepared in the fall. They can be covered on top with any material so that moisture remains in them until spring.
The second method is to grow watermelons in greenhouses in an upright position. Trellis is prepared in advance for tying plants. Shrubs form, leaving two lashes on them. When the fruits grow up and gain weight, they are partially placed in the so-called mesh nets, which are securely tied to the base. When heat occurs, the film on the greenhouse must be removed so that the watermelons develop in natural conditions.
Application
Most often, berries are used for salting and preservation. For this purpose, they can be removed a little immature.
Jam and candied fruit are cooked from the peel of watermelons, and also used as a medicine. Crusts from ripe watermelons are washed, cut into thin strips, and dried well on the street or in special dryers. Infusion from this part of the plant relieves puffiness.
If from summer to prepare dried watermelon flowers, then in winter such a medicine will serve as an excellent expectorant.
Fruit value
Fresh watermelon berries, as well as products made on their basis, have positive effects on many processes in the human body. They cleanse the kidneys and even contribute to grinding and removing stones. Watermelons improve the process of blood formation, strengthen the immune system, normalize the functioning of the prostate gland, and help in the treatment of colitis, sclerosis, dropsy and arthritis.
Conclusion
We hope that the types of watermelons, photos, and the names of some of them provided in our article will help to draw certain conclusions and choose the appropriate variety for your area.