What do we know about Astrakhan watermelons?
Watermelon, a sweet berry, is a favorite treat at the end of summer. The Russian people have a well-aimed language: what someone said, “it is not the watermelons that begin, but the summer ends,” which is the best way to describe when you need to be saturated with the southern fruit. Why are Astrakhan watermelons considered the best? There are many reasons and they are associated with the properties of the berry. How to get a sweet fruit far from Astrakhan, in the Moscow region or in Siberia? Is it possible to subjugate a southern vegetable to a Siberian, we'll talk about this.
The history of the appearance of watermelon in Russia
In the middle of the 19th century, watermelons from Astrakhan began to be floated for sale along the Volga. The peasants from Tsaritsyn to Kamyshin also started melons. Today Astrakhan watermelons are looking for and waiting all over the country. The fact is that in this area, watermelons are grown without chemicals, ecological. To protect your product from counterfeiting, a special brand has been developed that is glued to each watermelon.
Astrakhan, the watermelon capital, celebrates Astrakhan Watermelon Day in August. This is a fun harvest festival with a theatrical performance. Each party participant can taste the moon watermelon and take a piece of summer with him.
How does a watermelon grow?
What does a watermelon need to grow big and sweet? When sowing watermelon seeds, the ground must be warmed up for at least 14 0... In the future, the roots develop well and drive food into the berry at a temperature of 30-32 0... The air temperature is 24-300... When the fruit is tied, the average daily temperature does not drop below 18 0.
The total energy mass of solar activity for the ripening of the fruit should be 2000-3000 0 depending on the early maturity of the variety. This means that it takes a lot of hot days and very warm nights to grow watermelons.
In addition, during the development of 5-6 leaves, the illumination should reach 10,000 lux with a daylight less than 12 hours. If the day is longer, the fruit does not set well, and if the light is about 8 hours, the plant freezes. Bad weather and low temperatures will provoke the development of diseases, low filling, bad fruit taste. Therefore, growing a watermelon is not easy.
Where is it possible to create such conditions? In the Astrakhan region. Watermelons are traditionally the sweetest and most delicious there. At the same time, Astrakhan watermelon is a brand under which a group of varieties is cultivated:
- Astrakhan;
- yarilo;
- scorik;
- chill.
The moon watermelon, a yellow miracle, is also grown here. In other places, these watermelons taste like pumpkin, and in Astrakhan they are a favorite delicacy of the villagers. This is a very delicate fruit with a thin crust, unsuitable for storage and transportation. Therefore, a lunar watermelon in Moscow during the day with fire cannot be found.
Astrakhan watermelon is distinguished by the contrast between dark and light stripes closer to the tail. The spot that remains from touching the ground should be small and orange. The tail is dry, but not dry. When do Astrakhan watermelons ripen? They may appear in Moscow only in August.
Which watermelon should you not buy?
It doesn't matter what kind of watermelon you bring home - Astrakhan, Uzbek or from Kazakhstan, you cannot buy a watermelon in the following cases:
- on the side of busy highways, as watermelons absorb gases and become polluted;
- a large white or light spot indicates a lack of heat for ripening;
- damage to the peel - a puncture says that the watermelon was pumped with saltpeter for quick ripening, a rotten rind - about internal rot;
- the watermelon should not be damaged;
- no tail - expect a catch;
- you need to choose an average specimen weighing 5-7 kg.
The main danger awaits the impatient lovers of early watermelons, which are grown with shock doses of fertilizers. Therefore, it is a good idea to get a device for measuring nitrates in greenery.
How to grow a watermelon at home?
You can grow a delicious watermelon by observing the heat and light conditions. In addition, it is important to comply with all requirements:
- choice of landing site;
- sowing or planting seedlings in warm ground;
- timely watering and feeding;
- disease and pest control;
- lash formation.
Depending on the region, methods have been developed on how to grow watermelons at home. You can cultivate open ground, in greenhouses or in greenhouses. Usually at home in central Russia, watermelons are grown through seedlings. The seedling period is responsible for development, especially during the formation of the fifth to sixth leaves. Needed seedling illumination during the growing period on the windowsill.
The choice of landing site is very important. The plant should be exposed to light for at least 10 hours. Loves watermelon virgin soil or sod land. In suburban conditions, it can grow after onions, cabbage, root crops, beans or peas. He likes sandy loam soil. Watermelon grows well in biologically heated manure beds. Since at the beginning of summer in the middle lane the land warms up late, the cultivation of watermelons in greenhouses and on warm ridges is better. The distance between plants is 70 cm, between rows in the open field is 1.4 meters.
In protected ground, the lashes are led with a vertical garter and hanging the pouring fruits so that they do not break the bush with their weight. Usually, no more than three watermelons are left on the plant. The more ovaries, the longer it will take to pour and ripen. And in the middle lane and northern regions there is no such time.
Watermelons are responsive to watering and feeding, but it should be borne in mind that nitrogen components accumulate in the fruits and spoil their taste. It is generally accepted that fertilizing with saltpeter can be done only in the first half of summer, later, under the influence of solar energy, this nitrogen will have time to turn into useful substances. Abundant watering of the plant should be reduced as the fruit is poured. During ripening, watermelons are not watered. Often, fruits grow smaller at home, but tastier than those brought from warm regions.
Video about growing watermelons
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng6DFvwD0BU