Elongated watermelon. Photos and descriptions of common and unique varieties of watermelons

Watermelons - along with my favorite peppers (here) - love the bright sun during the day, warm at night, loose sandy soil in the root area and in the root collar zone. For cool regions, you need to choose special varieties and the best hybrids of watermelons - not too picky, and then they work out better in greenhouses through seedlings. Only the most hardy forms of hybrid watermelons of special selection varieties are suitable for open ground. IN recent times new representatives of these berries have appeared, bearing massive fruits in any territory.

The traditional cultivation areas for watermelons are Central Asia, the North Caucasus, and the Lower Volga (Astrakhan). The advancement of this melon culture to the North required significant breeding efforts. Selection on the basis of early maturity was not enough. For watermelons, unlike radishes (there are plenty to choose from), the power of solar radiation is of great importance.

As we will see below, the emphasis - for the most part - is placed on the plantings of the best varieties of watermelons that have been repeatedly (more than five years) tested by all kinds of weather. An exception is given to the varieties "Barrel of Honey" and "Striped Torpedo", for three years of cultivation (here everything is about) they deserve only positive reviews in different regions and areas.

The best early watermelons for any area (versatile)

Many modern varieties and hybrids of watermelons have a growing season of 60-80 days; they are considered early maturing. They are distinguished by increased unpretentiousness - they endure both heat and cold snaps. In the southern regions, they gain weight more than 10 kg, in the northern ones - more modestly.

Hybrids

Lady F1

The Dutch company "Nunems" specializes in the creation of super early melons and gourds. Watermelon Lady F1 is on the list of her best achievements. This hybrid was included in the Russian State Register in 2000, without regional restrictions. The first fruits ripen two months after germination. These are extremely early dates. The commercial qualities are very high.

Lady F1 is the earliest of oval-shaped watermelons. Even in the northern regions, it can grow more than 5 kg, and in the south it pulls out by 11-18 kg. The accumulation of sugars occurs at a rapid pace. Sugar content is very high (11%). In the intensely colored pulp, there are no hard veins. The seeds are small.

The skin is of moderate thickness, does not burst; covering stripes are even, rather wide. Watermelons can be transported and stored for a month and a half.

The hybrid is not affected by fusarium wilting. The main stem and side shoots are long (about 6 meters); in the northern regions, pinching and verskovation, normalization of ovaries are necessary. It tolerates a lack of ground moisture, but prefers a good water supply. From ten square meters remove at least 30-40 kg of watermelons.

Eureka F1

The hybrid was entered into the Russian Register of Seeds in 2010. Launched at the Seminis Dutch subsidiary of Monsanto Corporation. Fruits need 60-75 days to ripen. This watermelon is zoned in the Lower Volga region, but it is successfully cultivated in the Far East, Siberia and Altai, in the Urals, in the Moscow region. In the northern regions, it grows 6-7 kg in greenhouses, 3-5 kg ​​in street ridges and greenhouses. In the south, the weight reaches 13-14 kg.

Watermelons are spherical or slightly elongated in shape, striped. The skin is strong, withstands transportation well. Keeping quality is moderate. The taste is excellent.

The stems are not too long, the bush takes up little space. Does not require abundant watering. It perfectly withstands temperature stresses (cold snaps, heat). Not subject to fusarium wilting and anthracnose.

Ataman F1

The Dutch hybrid has been zoned in Russia since 2011. It takes 56-66 days to ripen. State tests took place in the North Caucasus, but Ataman F1 came to the court in other regions. For example, it shows excellent results in the Amur region, on ridges with mulch film. In cloudy, rainy seasons, the yield is moderate. But if the weather is favorable, then the fruits grow by 10-18 kg, becoming a worthy competitor to Central Asian supplies.

The minimum weight of watermelons is 2.5-4 kg. They are spherical or slightly elongated; blurry stripes. The cover tissue is moderately thick, allowing the product to be transported and stored for about a month. The grains are small. The pulp is juicy, sugar accumulation depends on the weather - from normal to very good (about 6.5%).

The bush is powerful, bears up to five ovaries. Genetically tolerant to anthracnose and fusarium. On ten square meters, 22-30 kg of marketable watermelons are ripening.

Ataman F1 should not be confused with the non-hybrid Krasnodar variety Atamansky.

Honey Giant super F1

The skin is unusual - grayish with malachite detailing. The ripening period ranges from 65-80 days. The fruits are cylindrical, with a record length of half a meter and a weight of 15 kg. Average weight 4-5 kg. The pulp is light raspberry, with a good sugar content. The shoots are quite long (about 4 meters). fusarium, anthracnose. Thanks to their strong peel, watermelons can withstand long-term transportation.

Prince of Denmark F1

A new hybrid from the Sedek agricultural firm, in the State Register since 2013. Ripening period - from 75 days. Watermelons are spherical, slightly elongated. Average weight - 5 kg, maximum - 17 kg, minimum - 1.8 kg. The surface is dark green, banding is indistinct. The pulp is deep pink with wonderful sweetness. The seeds are small. The keeping quality of fruits is 1 month. Transportation should be neat - the skin is not too dense.

Crimson Ruby F1

The growth period before the first harvest is 65-80 days. This hybrid form was created by breeders of the French branch of the Japanese agricultural firm Sakata. Included in the Russian State Register in 2010. Under the northern sky, fruits gain weight 3-4 kg, in greenhouses and in the south - 9-14 kg. Sugar content from moderate (4%) to excellent (7%).

The watermelon is slightly elongated, the stripes are uniform. The rind is of moderate thickness. Shelf life - from 3 to 9 weeks (depending on conditions).

The leaf apparatus is rather large, the main stem is long. The hybrid is resistant to dry soil, cold snaps, fusarium wilting. Grows well outdoors on light sandy soils. Fees per square meter are 2.5 - 3.9 kg.

Crimson Sweet F1 seedless

This is a hybrid of special selection: there are no seeds in it at all. For the successful formation of ovaries, the bushes are planted next to simple varieties of a similar flowering period. It is necessary to enable pollinating insects to carry pollen from male flowers. Slightly oval watermelons grow in weight from 3 to 9 kg, tender and sweet. The skin is thick, does not burst during transportation.

Simple

Crimson Sweet

A popular Dutch variety, the ancestor of many modern varieties and hybrids. Sometimes it is marketed under the translated name - "Raspberry Sweet". Unpretentious. You can get your seeds from it. Watermelon in terms of early or mid-early (approximately 65-80 days pass from germination to the first harvest). Weight ranges from 3-12 kg. Fruits are round or slightly elongated. The integumentary stripes are distinct, but not even, but slightly mosaic. The pulp successfully accumulates sweetness even in the northern regions.

Miracle berry

This is an original early variety from breeders Russian company"Aelita". "Wonderful" in it is the golden pulp of a lemon shade - with a smell, with honey sweetness. There are very few seeds. "Berries" weigh 3-6 kg. The bushes are powerful, cold-resistant. About 30 kg of fruits are removed from ten square meters.

Mid-season and mid-early varieties of the best watermelons for southern soil and northern greenhouses

In the North Caucasus and in the lower reaches of the Volga, these watermelons build up a large mass in the open air - they have enough solar energy and heat. In the more northern regions, the fruits have time to ripen only in greenhouses and greenhouses, and then on condition of planting seedlings and decent agricultural technology.

Hybrid varieties

Krimlong F1

Long translates to long. The name indicates the beautiful elongated shape of this hybrid watermelon. The plant needs at least 3 months to grow fruits weighing up to 10 kg, and accumulate sugar content. Strong peel contributes to excellent preservation and hassle-free transport harvested... Long lashes with large foliage do not get sick with fusarium wilting and anthracnose, they put up with a lack of moisture.

Striped torpedo F1

Another hybrid with a "speaking" name. It takes 12-13 weeks from germination to ripening. The breeding novelty from the agricultural firm "Gavrish" was included in the State Register in 2015, zoned in Kalmykia, as well as in Saratov, Astrakhan, Vologda regions. Here, in open field conditions, the average weight of one watermelon is 5 kg, a record - 12 kg. The sugar content is very good - about 7-8%. The stem is rather long, branched; the yield of the crop is long-lasting. The shelf life is 1 month.

Bushes are not affected by anthracnose and fusarium. The hybrid is hardy to high temperatures and low humidity in the root zone. On southern non-irrigated lands, the yield is 18-23 kg from ten square meters. Plants do not develop well in wet weather.

Florida F1

This Russian hybrid has been in the State Register since 2010. Recommended for growing on the Lower Volga. Maturing time - from medium early to medium (70-100 days). Weight 4-8 kg. Sugar accumulation is good. The fruits are elongated, the stripes are blurred. The covering tissues are dense. Watermelons are suitable for transportation, they are stored for one and a half to two months.

Spreading bushes, high yield - on irrigated lands up to 3.5 kg per square of usable melon area. The hybrid puts up with short cold snaps.

Simple

Atamansky

The variety differs significantly from the early maturing Dutch hybrid with the similar name Ataman F1. Watermelon Atamansky was obtained by scientists of the Krasnodar Territory, zoned in 1998 for the Lower Volga agricultural zone. By the terms of fruiting - medium early (70-90 days). The variety is distinguished by the rapid and harmonious growth of the first wave of the harvest.... The average weight of a watermelon is about 3-4 kg.

The fruits are slightly oval. The color is original, patterned - light gray with a greenish undertone and openwork green drawing. The skin is thin, but excellent transportability. Keeping life - 1 month. Sugar content is more than 7%. The pulp is juicy. The growth vigor of the bush is moderate. The variety is not afraid of anthracnose and fusarium wilting. It is tolerant to a lack of moisture, but on irrigated lands, fees double, reaching 2.5 kg per square meter.

Refined sugar

The ripening time for this Russian variety from the Aelita agrofirm is medium early. Commercial watermelons are received in 80 days. Fruits are spherical, grayish-green marbled color. By weight, they are not too large, 3-4 kg each, but they stand out with a very high sugar content. The pulp is melting, the skin is thin. On one bush we let three or four ovaries grow, pluck the rest.

A barrel of honey

A new variety from Russian breeders that received a State patent in 2015. From germination to ripening of the first fruits, at least three months pass. Watermelons have a beautiful cylinder shape. Weight 2.5-6 kg. The pulp is pinkish, sugary. The skin is not too thick, but firm. The fruits are well transported. Climbing bushes. The average collection from ten square meters is 15 kg.

The next three varieties are presented in packages from the "Altai Seeds" agrofirm. However, in Altai and Siberia, it is realistic to grow them only in greenhouses. The ripening period is medium early and medium, the fruits are large. These watermelons do better in warmer regions.

Nice

This watermelon was bred in Krasnodar, entered into the State Register in 2001. It is offered for cultivation in the Lower Volga and the North Caucasus. For these regions, the variety is considered early. Watermelons begin to ripen 80-90 days after germination; the first fees are already abundant. Fruits are spherical, slightly elongated, average weight - 5 kg. In the southern regions, the accumulation of sugar is excellent - up to 8%. The seeds are small.

Scourges of moderate length. Plants are relatively resistant to fusarium wilt and anthracnose. The crop is well transported, stored for about a month. Seasonal harvest from ten square meters of ground melon - up to 43 kg.

Charleston Gray

The original variety of the Kuban selection, zoned since 2013 in the North Caucasus. The surface of the skin has a special shade - light green, with an implicit mesh-mosaic drawing. Watermelons grow in a beautiful cylindrical shape, weighing from 3.5 to 8 kg, record fruits are pulled by 15 - 18 kg. Ripen 75-90 days after germination. The sugar content is standard: within 6-7%.

The pulp is red-pink, firm, not watery. The skin is moderately thick, does not break during transportation. The keeping quality of fruits is long - at least one and a half months. The variety shows anthracnose tolerance. The yield on irrigated southern lands reaches 45 kg from ten square meters.

Big sugar

The growing season before the beginning of fruiting is 80-90 days. Watermelons grow up to 10 kg. They are round or slightly oval in shape. Raspberry pulp, good sugar content. Stems are long, branched.

The best varieties of early ripening watermelons for the northern zones

Special northern selection prioritizes such traits as early maturity and cold snap hardiness. The fruits usually grow not too large, so there is no point in planting such varieties in the south. But in cool regions, they give out a stable harvest in greenhouses, the simplest greenhouses and in open ground beds.

Hybrids

Orange Medoc F1

Ball-shaped watermelons grow up to 2.5 kg in weight. On the cut, they are "with a surprise" - bright orange. The taste is sweeter than southern watermelons. Sugar content is very high - up to 11%.

Kai F1

The exclusive seller of this hybrid in Russia is the St. Petersburg agricultural firm Biotekhnika. Plants are genetically resistant to cold snaps and lack of solar energy. The best results are shown in greenhouses, where record fruits can be poured up to 10 kg.

It is recommended to grow the hybrid through seedlings. The stem is long, actively developing. Ripe fruits begin to shoot 70 days after germination. By this time, the pulp successfully accumulates sugar, turns crimson, and becomes juicy. The skin is small, the seeds are very small.

Gift to the North F1

Exclusive hybrid from the NK-Russkiy Ogorod company. Watermelons ripen in the early and mid-early stages: 75-85 days. They are spherical, juicy, sweet, with a strong skin. Indoors, this hybrid is capable of growing up to 10 kg, in the ground, the weight of the fruits is more modest. The bushes are resistant to diseases, cold snaps, soil drought.

Champagne Pink F1

Another branded hybrid from the "Russian Garden". It is recommended to grow it by seedling method. The minimum weight of rounded fruits is 2-4 kg, the maximum is 6-7 kg. Ripe pulp is loose, reddish-pink, very tasty, contains a lot of juice.

Prince Arthur F1

This hybrid watermelon grows in 70 days even outdoors. Fruits are oval, striped, juicy, low-seeded. The average weight is 1.5 kg, and the maximum weight is 2 kg. 3-4 ovaries are left on each plant, the rest are removed. The taste of watermelons is excellent.

Beijing joy lying F1

The fruits begin to ripen 80 days after the start of the growing season. Ovaries grow quickly, their optimal number is 3 or 4 pieces per bush. The weight of each watermelon does not exceed 3.5 kg. The pulp quickly builds up sugar. The seeds are small. The skin is solid, long shelf life.

Simple

SRD-2

In the State Register since 2001. Ultra-early variety (55 days) with excellent sugar content (7%) and excellent fruit weight (average 5 kg). The maximum weight can be doubled. The intensive plant is fruiting. The main stem grows only 2 meters, the branches are small. Thickened fit possible. The yield from a dozen square meters reaches 70 kg (especially with proper moisture supply).

One bush is able to fully endure 2 or 3 ovaries. The shelf life of ripe watermelons is up to 3-4 weeks. They are not suitable for long-term transportation - the skin is too thin and soft. The variety shows good resistance to aphids, anthracnose, powdery mildew.

Ultra early

Variety of Siberian selection with moderate growth of vegetative mass and fast filling of ovaries. It ripens even in open greenhouses due to its increased cold resistance. The weight of watermelons is from 2 to 6 kg. The skin is thin, dark. The pulp is low-seeded, sugary.

Description of the variety:

• Ripening time from the moment of germination: 70-81 days.
• The fruit is round or slightly oblong in shape with a smooth surface.
• The color is green, the pattern consists of spike-like stripes of dark green.
• The pulp is bright red, the taste is very sweet and juicy.
• Average weight of a watermelon: 8-10 kg.

Crimson sweet

Description of the variety:

• Ripening time from the moment of germination: 67-82 days
• The fruit is round, the surface is smooth
• The color and pattern is very similar to the Astrakhan one, only in the light it shines more distinctly
• Has a delicate sweet flesh
• Average weight of watermelon: 4-5 kg

Crimson Glory F1

Description of the variety:

• Round fruit
• Differs in resistance to diseases, has a sufficiently long shelf life, well tolerates transportation
• Average weight of watermelon: 12-15 kg

Madera F1

Description of the variety:

• Ripening time from germination: 70 days
• Round or slightly elongated fruit
• Peel color light green, pattern in the form of spots and stripes
• The pulp has a juicy crunch and a sweet taste
• Average weight of watermelon: 6-8 kg

Charleston gray

Description of the variety:

• The fruit is oblong, looks a bit like a squash
• Peel color light green, no patterns
• The pulp is monotonously red, characterized by the ability to maintain a fresh sweet taste for a long time
• Average weight of watermelon: 12 kg

Chill

Description of the variety:

• Ripening time from germination: 85-97 days
• The fruit is spherical
• Dark green color with light spots
• The pulp is bright red, with a sweet taste
• Average weight of watermelon: 7 kg

Photon

Description of the variety:

• Slightly oblong fruit
• The crust has a bright light green color, a pattern in the form of green stripes
• Has a delicate flesh
• Average weight of watermelon: 4 kg

Skorik

Description of the variety:

• Fruit shape - ball
• Thick rind, dark green in color. Drawing in the form of dark broken lines
• The pulp is exceptionally tender
• Average weight of watermelon: 3 kg

Twinkle

Description of the variety:

• Ripening time from germination: 71-87 days
• Perfectly spherical fruit
• The color is black-green, no visible patterns. The crust is thin
• The pulp is tender, red
• Average weight of watermelon: 2 kg

Sugar baby

Description of the variety:

• Ripening time from germination: 75-85 days
• The fruits are round.
• Fruit color is dark green
• The pulp is bright red, very sweet
• Average weight of watermelon: 4 kg

Gift of the Sun

Description of the variety:

• Ripening time from germination: 67-73 days
• Oblong fruits
• The rind color is yellow, resembles a melon or pumpkin
• At the same time, the pulp is standard red, tender and sweet
• Average weight of a watermelon: 4 kg.

Watermelon has a sweet, juicy pulp, rich in vitamin composition and allows you to improve health and vitality in the summer-autumn period. The size and shape of the green berry is different, and the weight ranges from 1.5-50 kg. Melons can be planted in different areas, there are even varieties of watermelons for Siberia.

Early types of melon

The types of melons given below are good for the middle lane, as they are easily tolerated low temperatures and fruit damage by anthracosis. These are the best varieties of early ripening watermelons.

In the middle lane, melon is best planted in greenhouses with an appropriate temperature maintained until sprouts appear. Greenhouses should be covered with a dense film or made of polycarbonate, which allows light and air to pass through well.

Tip: Before planting, the seeds should be treated with copper sulfate to avoid the development of plant diseases.

When preparing a watermelon for planting in greenhouses, take the following seeds:

1. Watermelon variety "Siberian Lights" - the period from planting seeds to maturity is 80 days. Melon is dark green with small stripes. The pulp is light reddish, sweet, has porous fibers. The seeds are small, light brown, the skin is thin. These early varieties of watermelon can be grown in greenhouse conditions or outdoors. The main condition for ripening is soil temperature +14 0 С.
2. Ultra early - berry of early ripening for a period of up to 80 days, more resistant to temperature fluctuations. The pulp is scarlet, streaked. Contains a large amount of sucrose, black seeds, medium.
3. Watermelon variety Chill - fruits ripen within 75-85 days, fruits of a round shape of a green saturated shade with blurred stripes. The pulp is scarlet, juicy. Sunflower seeds are light with brown blotches, large. The average weight of the fetus is 5 kg. The positive side is long-term keeping quality and resistance to transportation.
4. Variety Astrakhansky - the period from the appearance of the first shoots to the ovary takes 1.5 months. The fruit is round, without striping, weighing up to 6 kg. The pulp is dark red, with large black seeds, the rind is thick.
5. Twinkle- has the earliest ripening dates. The weight of Ogonyok berries is about 4 kg. Easily adapts to the planted area, without being whimsical to care for. The shape of the fruit Spark is round, without stripes, dark green. The spark has a juicy, sweetish taste. Ripening time - 1.5 months.

Tip: Early berries have a sweet taste and aroma. The yield from one lash allows you to collect up to 7 kg, the berries easily endure weather adversities, do not require special care. The main rule is watering.

Other early varieties

Good early types of melons include:

1. Early ripe watermelon variety Producer - it takes 70-80 days to ripen. The fruit is round without bulges, smooth with a shiny rind, berry weight - 5 kg. Stripes white clear, thin crust, light green color. The pulp is fibrous, slightly pinkish, tender. The fruits do not deteriorate during long-term storage.
2. Early Skorik watermelon variety - large with wide white stripes. Seeds are black, large, in a large number... The pulp is fleshy, sweet. The ripening period is 70 days. Weight - 1.3-3.7 kg. The yield is excellent, it is not whimsical to care for and can be grown both in a greenhouse and in a garden bed. The crop is not exposed to diseases and pests.
3. Ataman - ripening time takes about 66-83 days. The fruit is elongated, stripless. The rind is of medium thickness, pale green. Berry weight - 6-8 kg. The pulp is purple-pink, porous, with big amount small seeds.
4. Charleston gray - ripening time is in late July and early August. The yield is stable - 100 t / ha. The gray variety is old, the plant has a whip up to 5 m long. The berry is oval in shape with wide stripes, smooth, weighing 12-18 kg. The crust is thick, 1.5-2.5 cm thick. The color is light green, the flesh is scarlet, porous. The seeds are brown, large. This type of berry does not lose its taste during storage.
5. Top gun - 58-62 days of seedling and 65-67 days of sowing. Top gun hybrid contains a high percentage of sucrose, the pulp is very sweet with large black seeds. With proper care, top gan gives a consistently rich harvest. Top gun occupies a leading position among other watermelon species due to its fast ripening, good keeping quality, resistance to temperature changes and diseases.
6. Karistan - a hybrid, the commercial qualities of which do not change for two weeks after harvest. A positive feature of the Karistan variety is its early maturity and excellent taste. Watermelon Karistan is not exposed to fusarium and anthracnose, which is good for its storage. Caristan has a light green color with stripes of different widths. The crust is smooth, the shape resembles an ellipse, the seeds are whitish in large quantities. The pulp is crispy, sweetish. Melon Karistan weighing up to 12 kg. The harvest can reach harvesting up to 250 kg / ha.
7. Varieties of sweet watermelons for outdoor use: Melitopolsky 142 and Stokes 647/649 ... The weight of the first type of berries barely exceeds 4-5 kg. The pulp has many small seeds, it is tasty, fibrous in structure. Watermelon of the second type has orange-red flesh, it is not very sweet, juicy. These types of melons are most suitable for Siberia, as they are less whimsical to care for, and are resistant to weather changes.

Tip: Early types of melons easily tolerate cold, high humidity, do not deteriorate during long-term transportation and storage.

The best late varieties

Among the best late-ripening varieties, the following are noted:

1. The late-ripening watermelon variety Crimson Sweet - late harvest, from sowing to ripening it takes 85-90. The fruits are large, their weight reaches 10-12 kg, sweet, the pulp is bright red, tender, with small seeds. The peel is bright green with a white splash. Transportability is good, the yield is stable - from 1 ha to 200 kg.
2. Kai - late, easily tolerates low temperature conditions and lack of light. It takes 85 days to harvest. Fruit with wide stripes of barely noticeable white color. The core is porous, very sweet, Pink colour... It lasts for 75 days. The berry is oval in shape, light green in color with pale stripes. The pulp is juicy, fibrous, deep red with small seeds.
3. Impulse is a late variety of delicious elongated watermelon, stripless, rich green color. The rind is very thin. The pulp is scarlet, watery with medium seeds. The average berry weight is 8-20 kg. Productivity up to 300 kg per one hundred square meters.
4. Beijing Joy - Hybrid, Early. From sowing to the ripe state of the fruit, it takes 105-115 days. Peking watermelon has a dark-colored, rounded ball-shaped peel with white stripes. The pulp is sweet, dark red, watery.

Late watermelon varieties are resistant to diseases, excess moisture and lack of watering. The best varieties delicious watermelons are early and early ripening, grown on summer cottage... The fruits ripen quickly, after two months you can harvest. High-yielding watermelons are the most unpretentious to care for, and ripe berries have excellent taste.

When in 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, this culture is not limited to the most famous varieties. There are others that are not inferior in their taste and varietal qualities to those berries to which we are accustomed.

The purpose of breeding new varieties

Due to climate change, it is becoming more difficult to grow melons and gourds. Therefore, breeders are trying to develop new varieties of watermelons that are less whimsical and can adapt to changes in weather conditions. It would be useful for every gardener to learn about such varieties, since some of them can be grown in the northern regions. After reviewing such information, farmers may want to radically change the management of their crop production facilities. 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

A creeping plant with flexible, far-growing shoots, reaches 3 meters in length or more. Each of the stems has branched whiskers and dissected individual leaves. Flowers are pale yellow, large.

The fruit is a false berry, the classic color of which ranges from light pink to bright scarlet. The rind of the watermelon is generally green in color with various stripes or dashes. The shape of the fruit is spherical or oval.

Brief information

Watermelon is a herbaceous crop related to the plant. It is successfully cultivated in regions with short winters and long hot summers. The melon culture is drought-resistant, and it thrives on the steppe and the Mediterranean.

In Russia, watermelons are grown on a large scale in the Volga 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 the watermelons. For this purpose, greenhouses and special manure pits are used, sprinkled with earth in the form of a hill. Experienced farmers manage to get rich harvests of watermelons even in not very favorable conditions for this culture.

What does a novice farmer 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. Right choice seed material always serves as a guarantee of the expected result.

In special stores you can buy them growing even in Siberia. There is a sufficient selection of crops that can tolerate a drop in temperature, and also have a strong immunity to anthracosis. There are early and late types of melon.

For the middle zone of the country suitable option is the cultivation of crops in a greenhouse. For the arrangement of such premises, a dense film or polycarbonate is usually used. This material allows air and light to penetrate, which are necessary for seed germination and

Seeds should be treated with copper sulfate before planting watermelons. This will protect the plants from disease.

Early cultures

Fruit with early date ripening is usually not large and have a less pronounced taste characteristic of watermelons. But their plus is that already 45 days after the formation of the first leaves, it will be possible to enjoy their fruits, even in cities such as Oryol and Kaluga.

Here are some names of varieties of watermelons bred for early cultivation: Ultra early, Ogonyok, Siberian fires. Below we will consider each type of pumpkin culture separately:

• Ultra early. 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 maturation of the fetus occurs in 2.5 months.
• A twinkle. One of the earliest types of watermelons, the fruits of which can be removed after 45-50 days after germination. The culture quickly adapts to new climatic conditions after planting and is unpretentious in care. Fruits are round, with a solid dark green skin. The pulp is sweet, watery. Weight - 1-3 kg (the first fruits are usually less).
• Siberian lights. Culture adapted for unfavorable climatic conditions and is resistant to fusarium. Suitable for regions with a short summer period and lack of sunlight... It is grown in seedlings with a transplant 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 Siberian Lights variety is characterized by a thin fruit skin and small beige seeds. The pulp is light in color, sweet, has a porous structure.

Late varieties of watermelons

• Chill. This variety is distinguished by good transportability and keeping quality of fruits. The juicy red berry has large brownish speckled seeds. Fruits are round, deep green in color, with dark stripes of indefinite shape. The bush is characterized by 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 fruit can reach up to 5 kg.
• Icarus. Among other types of watermelons, one can distinguish such features of the variety as the stability of yields and a long shelf life of fruits. Under the right conditions, the berries can be stored for up to 6 months and are suitable for conservation and pickling. The plant tolerates drought well and is resistant to fusarium, but is not protected from anthracnose. A bush with a long leading lash. The leaves are dissected, with a faint gray bloom and barely noticeable down. Dark green fruits with a pattern in the form of spiked stripes, the skin is not thick, elastic. Inside, the berry has a raspberry or red color, sweet, with a pronounced watermelon aroma. Seeds are brownish, small. The average weight of one fruit is 5.5 kg.

Photos of early and late varieties of watermelons can be found in the article.

Mid-season

• Astrakhan The most popular watermelons, in demand among buyers and farmers. They are valued for their high yields, disease resistance, and long shelf life. Massive berries with a thin skin can weigh up to 6 kg. They have a fresh aroma and an amazing sugary taste - this is the sweetest variety of watermelon. The shape of the fruit is oblong, with a striped surface. The pulp has a distinct red color. The seeds are black, medium in size.
• Black Prince. It is resistant to temperature fluctuations and is characterized by good fruit preservation. The bush is large with a long main lash and wide green leaves. The fruits are oval, rather elongated. The inner content of the berry is bright red with dark, dotted seeds and a loose structure. The skin is of 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 wonder. For example, a farmer from Arizona managed to grow a real giant watermelon. The huge berry, which was named Carolina Cross, reached 122 kg in weight.

There are also 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 vary the shape of the fruit for successful transportation. Regardless of the type of watermelon, their fruit grows square. As soon as small ovaries appear on the bushes, they are carefully put into wooden boxes in which they continue to grow and take on their shape over time.

There is a unique variety of gourds of miniature size (2 cm), which is considered a delicacy. You can taste this fruit only in the chic restaurants of America. It doesn't have the classic watermelon flavor and looks more like a cucumber.

In Russia, you can find watermelons with white and slightly greenish peel. Their pulp is creamy and white. Fruits with a light lemon flavor are also grown, which are described below.

• Lunar. One of the most unconventional varieties for this culture is yellow watermelon. 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 branches and small leaves. The period from sowing seeds to 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 flavor and is rich in monosaccharides. This peculiar taste makes the watermelon stand out 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 being removed from the bushes. Therefore, the challenge is to correctly establish the full ripeness of the watermelon. The types of varieties do not matter here, since all signs of the suitability of the fruit are determined by vegetative appearance and to the touch.

• The first thing they pay attention to is the stalk and mustache. They must be absolutely dry. Accordingly, the fetus no longer receives proper nutrition and is ready for use.
• A yellow spot where the watermelon touched the ground signals its ripeness.
• If you hit the watermelon with a light click and at the same time it will ring dully, then you can safely tear off the fruit from the bush.
• In watermelon species that have a thin skin, you can hear the crackling of the pulp when the fruit is squeezed.

Methods for growing watermelons in cold regions

Gardeners, who decided to plant a southern culture in more severe conditions, did not regret it. Undeniably, 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.

The lightest and warmest place is chosen on the site, and prepared on it warm beds... They need to be placed so that different types watermelons did not grow too close to each other, and were not pollinated. Since pumpkin crops tend to spread, 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 on top with compost or humus, and the last layer with fertile soil. Such compost "pillows" are prepared in the fall. They can be covered with some material on top so that moisture remains in them until spring.

The second method is growing watermelons in greenhouses in an upright position. Trellises are prepared in advance for tying plants. The bushes are formed, 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 the heat comes, the film on the greenhouse must be removed so that the watermelons develop in natural conditions.

Application

Most often, berries are used for pickling and preservation. For this purpose, they can be removed a little immature.

Jam and candied fruits are made from the peel of watermelons, and also used as a medicine. The crusts from ripe watermelons are washed, cut into thin strips, and dried well outside or in special dryers. Infusion from this part of the plant relieves puffiness.

If you prepare dried watermelon flowers in summer, 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 help break up and remove stones. Watermelons improve the process of hematopoiesis, 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, the names of some of them provided in our article will help you draw certain conclusions and choose the right variety for your area.

And to this day they grow in the desert dry valleys of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and other countries of the region. Unlike cultivated varieties, wild plants can be called neither sugar nor large. The pale yellow or white flesh inside 250 gram fruits is either fresh or even bitter.

Watermelon transformation

Nevertheless, wild watermelons in Africa were highly valued, since for travelers and caravans they sometimes became the only available sources of moisture. It was with trade caravans that watermelons came to the Middle East, to Asia Minor and Central Asia.

Attempts to obtain larger and sweeter fruits were made back in Ancient egypt, watermelons were grown in India, Persia and China. Culture did not spread to Europe until the 16th-17th centuries, and those varieties of watermelons, as in the photo of one of the still lifes of that era, were much inferior to fruits ripening in modern beds in terms of sweetness, juiciness and color of the pulp.

Only in the last hundred years, breeders have been able to obtain an incredible number of new varieties and hybrids, giving gourmets the opportunity to taste the pulp not only of a red or pink hue, but also of yellow or almost white. And the bark of watermelons in today's beds can be not only dark green or striped, but also yellow, white, spotted or with a marble pattern.

Summer residents and farmers are offered several hundred cultivars and hybrid forms that yield sweet fruits weighing from one to 90 kilograms. What are the varieties of watermelons shown in the photo " Carolina Cross ”, growing on average up to 30-50 kg, but sometimes reaching a weight of almost 200 kg.

The era of Astrakhan watermelons

In Russia, watermelons have long been grown in Little Russia, in the Kuban and in the south of the Volga region, where weather conditions allowed large sweet fruits to ripen. IN Soviet times and until now, watermelons from near Astrakhan have enjoyed special respect and demand among buyers. The phrase “Astrakhan watermelon” meant that under a thin crust there would certainly be a scarlet, sugary pulp of inimitable sweetness and aroma.

This area was considered the main melon of the Soviet Union, and the main variety on the plantation was the Astrakhansky watermelon.

The first harvest of oval-shaped striped fruits was obtained in 1977, at the Astrakhan Institute of Vegetable and Melon Growing. The watermelons ripening 70–80 days after sowing turned out to be so productive that up to 120 tons of sugar watermelons were harvested from a hectare of melons, which, moreover, could be stored for up to 2.5 months and could easily be transported. These circumstances made Astrakhan watermelons the most popular and beloved in the country.

Volgograd watermelons from the village of Bykovo

The second place in the number of cultivated melons and gourds in Russia is occupied by the Volgograd region. Here, on the basis of the only specialized melons and gourds in the USSR Bykovskaya selection and experimental station, such famous varieties of watermelons were obtained, in the photo as Holodok, Bykovsky 22, Triumph and more than four dozen more unpretentious to the conditions of the zone of risky agriculture and very productive varieties of everyone's favorite culture.

The Volgograd watermelon is still considered a masterpiece of melon breeding. Chill of late ripening, easily stored until the New Year and during this time does not lose either its excellent taste or juiciness. For cultivation in summer cottages, this particular variety is most often chosen.

Watermelon Crimson Sweet

If Soviet and Russian breeders followed the path of obtaining varieties of watermelons that are most resistant to all the vicissitudes of the local climate, then foreign biologists have a slightly different goal in the first place. Here, the greatest demand is for large-fruited, spectacular in shape and color of bark and pulp, watermelons with high consumer and commercial qualities, which have a high resistance to diseases. True, to grow a good harvest in this case, you will have to spend more effort and make a lot

Of the foreign varieties, our summer residents are best known for the Crimson Sweet watermelon, obtained by American breeders. The fruits of this variety are not large in size and weigh on average up to 5 kg. The variety, outwardly similar to the famous Astrakhan watermelon, has a moderate sweetness and gives stable yields in 65–80 days.

On the basis of the popular variety of watermelon Crimson Sweet, many varieties have been obtained over the years, larger than the ancestor, and also able to be stored longer.

Sugar Baby: Watermelon Suga Baby

Another old foreign variety known in Russia, Suga Baby or Sugar Baby, gives round dark green fruits with red pulp 75–80 days after planting. Watermelon Sugar baby outwardly resembles Ogonyok, famous among summer residents, but somewhat larger. Sugar Baby watermelons weigh from 3 to 4.5 kg, and their flesh is distinguished by pronounced granularity and sweetness.

If the Ogonyok variety, which appeared in the USSR back in 1960, became known in the West, perhaps its round fruits with a dark bark without stripes would be called “black watermelon”. And in Japan, Ogonyok could compete with the world's most expensive Densuke watermelon with the same rich color peel, and it is thanks to it that costs up to $ 250 apiece.

Moon and stars on a watermelon peel

Obviously, on the basis of some old variety of black watermelon in 1926 in Missouri, a variety with the romantic name "Moon and Stars" was obtained. Bright yellow spots of various sizes are scattered over the black-green bark of this watermelon and even over the foliage, resembling night lights against the background of the night sky.

For almost a century, this variety of watermelon, as in the photo, remains popular, and today hybrids have appeared not only with pink-red, but also with yellow pulp. Not uncommon among the "star" fruits and elongated watermelons, which are popular with consumers, weighing from 9 to 23 kg.

Marble watermelon

Another variety of fruits is called marble watermelons due to a thin network of dark green veins on a light background of the bark. Usually these are oblong watermelons weighing from 5 to 15 kg with juicy, pink or red flesh, few seeds and excellent taste.

An example of a marbled watermelon is the French variety Charleston Gray, which gave rise to a whole family of fruitful orts and hybrids. Russian breeders do not lag behind their Western colleagues and presented to gardeners the early-ripening Honey Giant, a watermelon variety, as in the photo, giving large fruits up to 60 cm long and weighing up to 15 kg, well withstanding drought and common crop diseases.

White watermelons can be sweet

If the bark of marbled watermelons has a light green hue with an inconspicuous pattern, then the watermelon of the American variety Navajo Winter has an almost white rind.

The flesh of this white watermelon can be either pink or red, but it is necessarily crispy and very sweet. The variety is considered drought-resistant, and the fruits are easily stored for up to 4 months.

If gardeners and consumers have already got used to the multi-colored peel of watermelons, then the white or yellow pulp of these sweet fruits is still a wonder for Russians. But it is precisely such unusual hybrids obtained from the crossing of cultivated varieties of watermelons and wild varieties that are at the peak of popularity and can have pulp of all shades from creamy orange, yellow to translucent white.

True, sometimes, under the guise of a white watermelon, gullible summer residents are offered Peruvian figurative pumpkin, ficifolia, both in the shape of the foliage and in the appearance of the fruit, resembling a marble watermelon, but not able to compete with it in sweetness.

What does yellow watermelon taste like?

Watermelons with yellow flesh are now offered to customers under the name pineapple, although the similarity of these fruits is limited only by the beautiful shade of the slices, and the color change does not affect the taste of yellow watermelon.

Russian breeders offer summer residents to try pineapple watermelons collected from their own beds. Watermelons of the Lunny variety are ready to harvest in 70–75 days from the moment the seedlings hatch. Fruits with an attractive striped skin grow up to 3.5–4 kg and have excellent taste characteristics.

The hybrid of domestic selection Prince Hamlet F1 is not only distinguished by early maturity. Its main "highlight" is hidden under a dense thin bark. The pulp of this pineapple watermelon weighing up to 2 kg is lemon-yellow, sweet.

But the variety of watermelon, in the photo, Gift of the Sun can be easily confused not with pineapple, but with melon, since the fruits of this plant have a surprisingly yellow smooth bark, very reminiscent of the peel of another popular melon culture. This yellow watermelon, due to the accumulation of up to 12% sugar, has a great taste, juicy pulp consistency and early ripening.

Today breeding companies in the Netherlands, the USA and Japan are actively working in the field of obtaining diploid hybrids that produce seedless watermelons. For several years now, such fruits, completely devoid of seeds or having only their rudiments, have been grown in our country.

An example of this is a hybrid of a yellow watermelon Prince Hamlet, and an oblong watermelon of American selection Stabolite F1.

Video about growing different varieties of watermelons