Melons and pumpkin crops are heat-loving plants. Germination of pumpkin seeds begins at a temperature not lower than 12°C, melon 13-15, watermelon 16-17°C. In years with a cold, long spring, shoots of melon plants appear on the 19-27th day after sowing, in favorable years on the 10th day. At temperatures below 12°C, plants develop poorly, pollen does not ripen, and fruits do not set well.
To form a normal harvest of even the earliest ripening varieties of watermelons, a frost-free period of 90 - 100 days is required, for mid-season varieties 120-130 days. For early ripening varieties of melons, a frost-free period of 80 - 90 days is sufficient. The best temperature for growth, development and maturation is 22-30°C.
Pumpkins and squashes can cope better with cooler, wetter summers. Frosts are detrimental to melon plants, although there have been cases where seedlings in the cotyledon and first true leaf phases survived light, short-term spring frosts without damage.
Watermelons and melons are especially demanding of heat and sunlight during the period of fruit formation and ripening. Cool, cloudy, rainy weather during this period, it delays ripening, reduces sugar content, taste and reduces yield. Pumpkins are lighter and tolerate moderate temperatures.
Melon plants, especially watermelons, are relatively resistant to air drought in the presence of moisture in the soil. They do not tolerate soil drought well due to intense evaporation with large leaf surface. Pumpkins are the most moisture-loving. Watermelons can extract moisture from deep layers of the subsoil because... root system they are well developed. The main root grows almost vertically and goes to great depths. The lateral roots branch strongly and penetrate the soil in all directions in a layer of 5-40 cm.
Melon plants are especially demanding of moisture during the period of seed germination and emergence of seedlings. About a month after the emergence of seedlings, the root system begins to grow rapidly and the plants can take moisture from the lower layers of the soil. Lack of moisture in the soil and dry air during flowering and fruit growth have a negative effect. Excess moisture during this period reduces the sugar content in fruits, taste quality, and contributes to the spread of diseases.
Melons They grow well on virgin and fallow lands, as well as on layers of perennial grasses. Using these predecessors, the yield is higher, harvesting starts 7-12 days earlier, and the plants are less affected by diseases. In the absence of a layer, melon crops can also be placed on old arable lands.
When choosing areas for melons, especially for watermelons and melons, it is necessary to give preference to areas with a gentle southern or southwestern slope, if possible, protected from cold winds. These slopes are better warmed up, well lit by the sun, and there is less chance of spring frosts and weaker fluctuations in night and day temperatures, plants suffer less from anthracnose.
Melon crops grow better on light-textured, well-warmed soils with a sufficient content of organic matter. It also grows well on heavy loamy soils when organic fertilizers are applied.
Watermelons and melons develop well on pine sands located along the edges of ribbon pine forests or in clearings in the forest. On soils with light mechanical composition, ripening is accelerated and the sugar content of fruits increases.
Melon crops are responsive to the application of fertilizers. Good results are obtained by adding 300-500 g of humus, 20 g of superphosphate and 10 g of potassium salt into the hole. Large doses of manure applied to watermelons and melons delay the ripening of fruits, deteriorate their quality, and also increase disease damage. Pumpkin tolerates increased doses of manure best of all.
Techniques pre-sowing preparation diverse. For sowing, it is better to use seeds that have been stored for 2 - 3 years. When sown with seeds from last year, the plants produce later and in smaller quantities. female flowers, and the yield is lower. However, if prepared accordingly, they are not inferior to seeds stored for 2-3 years.
In this case, pre-sowing heating of seeds at a temperature of 40-50°C for 5-7 hours or at a temperature of 60-70°C for 2 hours is effective. In this case, the temperature must be increased gradually, and the seeds must be scattered in a layer of no more than 10 cm. Seeds from the previous year, stored in a cold room in winter, when heated for 5 hours at a temperature of 50°C, increase the yield by 20-30%, and the productivity of the first harvests by 1.5-2 times.
Air-thermal solar heating of seeds before sowing significantly reduces the period before emergence, increases field germination and seed germination energy, accelerates seed ripening and increases yield. Positive results are obtained by soaking seeds in a 0.05% solution of manganese sulfate for 16 hours.
Experienced melon growers know that good harvest can be obtained from large, full-bodied seeds. The most accessible way to select such seeds is in a 9% saline solution, in which the seeds are kept for 2-3 minutes, then washed with clean water.
In some cases good results obtained by treating seeds with variable temperatures - seed hardening, which is carried out in the following way: seeds in gauze bags are soaked in water for 12 hours, after which they are placed in glass jars and leave for 12 hours (day) in a room with a temperature of 15-20°C.
For the next 12 hours (night), the seeds are buried in the snow. Thus, the seeds are processed for 10 days. In cold, protracted spring conditions, sowing seeds in unheated soil does not give positive results. Under such weather conditions, it is better to postpone sowing to a later date, and store the seeds this time on a glacier, in a refrigerator at a temperature of 1-3°C. Treatment of seeds with variable temperatures, as experiments have shown, is best carried out in this mode: maintain for 8 hours at a temperature of 15-20°C and 16 hours at a temperature of 1-3°C.
Melon seeds at low temperatures and high humidity soil and air do not germinate for a long time (up to 3 weeks). Therefore, at very early sowing In unheated soil, seedlings do not appear for a long time, and in prolonged cold weather they may not appear at all or will be sparse. If planted late, the fruits may not ripen. top scores obtained by sowing watermelons in mid-May, melons on May 15-20, and pumpkins on May 10-20. Pumpkins tolerate better than other melon crops early dates seva.
Depending on the weather conditions deadlines may change. With an early friendly spring on the southern slopes, sowing can be done earlier. The depth of seed placement depends on the mechanical composition of the soil. On light soils, seeds are sown deeper than on heavy soils; taking into account the conditions, watermelon seeds are sown to a depth of 4-8 cm, melons 3-6, pumpkins 7-10, zucchini, squash 6-8 cm.
To obtain an earlier harvest, 20-25 day old seedlings should be grown in the same way as cucumbers. Seedlings are planted after the end of frost (June 10-15). The distance between the holes is 50-70 cm; two to three plants are planted in each hole. The technique for planting seedlings is the same as for cucumbers. Sow seeds in holes of 5-8 pieces, and after thinning, leave two to three plants. Watering is carried out regularly and only warm water. After each watering, it is necessary to loosen the soil well. Long-climbing pumpkin varieties are best placed along the edge of the garden, while short-climbing pumpkin varieties can be grown inside the garden at a distance of 1 m.
Zucchini and squash are cut regularly, preventing the fruit from overgrowing. The pumpkin is harvested when completely ripe. Zucchini fruits are harvested when they are no more than 10-15 cm, they are cut with a knife. Melons and watermelons are harvested selectively. The onset of removable ripeness of watermelons is determined by the drying of the stalk, melons by a change in color, free separation of the stalk from the fruit, and a strong aroma.
Due to proper storage the fruits of melons and melons can significantly extend the period of their fresh consumption. It has been established that it is better for storage to take fruits grown on light sandy loam soils. If the area is irrigated, then watering must be stopped for 2-3 weeks before harvesting. Fruits of mid-late and late-season varieties are stored better late varieties, collected in dry sunny weather.
For storage, ripe fruits with a stalk are collected. They must be transported to the storage location carefully, laid in one layer on a soft bedding made of straw, chaff or other materials.
Watermelons and melons are stored on racks in one layer; they can be stored in containers in 4-5 layers at a temperature of 8-10°C and a humidity of 80-85%. The fruits are placed on a bed of dry straw, chaff, peat, and dry sand. It is better to lay it on the side that faces the sun (the bark is the strongest on this side). IN refrigeration chambers should be stored at a temperature of 4-6°C; at lower temperatures (0-2, 2-4) the fruits freeze slightly.
Unlike watermelons and melons, pumpkin of almost all varieties is suitable for long-term storage. IN room conditions stored until the next harvest. Optimal conditions are temperature 3-10°C and humidity 70-75%. In damp, cold rooms, the storage period is sharply reduced.
This is interesting
The pumpkin genus is large and diverse. The largest or main pumpkin, the table pumpkin, has three types: hard-barked from Asia Minor, large-fruited from South America, nutmeg from Central America. The most common in our country is hard-barked and large-fruited pumpkin. Pumpkin has been introduced into culture since time immemorial. It has been grown in Russia since the 16th century.
Watermelons and melons, the fruits of these crops are highly nutritious, have a pleasant, refreshing taste, they can be equated to the best fruits. berry crops. They contain from 7-21% sugar, mainly fructose, sucrose, iron salts, necessary for the formation of blood.
Pumpkin fruits contain a lot of vitamins B2, E, T. Pumpkin products are easily absorbed by the body. From it you can prepare more than 30 delicious dietary dishes. Zucchini, squash, crooknecks, zucchini are boiled, fried, marinated, stewed, cooked with caviar, stuffed. Products made from them are easily absorbed by the body, preventing obesity and the accumulation of cholesterol in the body. Contains 4-6% dry matter, 2.0-2.5% sugar, iron salts, potassium, calcium, magnesium.
Their distinctive feature is their long stems with tendrils. If supports are placed next to these crops, the vines will begin to “climb” them. In order to correctly apply the growing technology, which will be outlined below in the article, you need to know exactly which crops are melons.
These are melon, pumpkin, watermelon, squash, zucchini and some others.
In melon crops, two-year-old seeds are considered the most suitable for sowing. If possible to get one planting material no, you can use annual ones. However, in this case they need to be heated to 60 degrees for 2 hours. In order for the shoots to be more friendly, the seeds of melons and melons are also germinated. To do this, they are wrapped in gauze and immersed in warm water for four hours. Then they are placed in damp burlap and kept for a day or two.
Melon crops for the most part prefer sunny places, warm weather and are resistant to long-term absence of moisture. The thing is that the homeland of all these crops is the hot regions of the planet. Watermelons, for example, in wildlife grow in South Africa, and melons and pumpkins are found in Asia.
Melons not only tolerate dry air well, but also produce tastier and sweeter fruits in such conditions.
Seeds are planted in the ground only when the summer weather becomes stable, that is, in early June. In order to get the harvest a little earlier, melons can be grown seedling method. For this purpose they use peat cups, because these plants do not tolerate transplantation well. Melons are planted in the ground either in a nesting manner or in rows. Each such plant requires a lot of space. Firstly, they have long vines that need space to develop, and secondly, they have large fruits, which is why they require a huge amount of nutrients.
Melon crops are planted in groups of 2-3. Melons and watermelons - to a depth of 4 cm, pumpkins - 6 cm. warm weather shoots appear on the tenth day of sowing, and the first true leaf appears another week later. Depending on the variety, the main shoot may begin to form in 15-40 days.
Then shoots of the second order, third, etc. branch off from it. The flowers of these plants are heterosexual - both female and male specimens bloom on the same plant.
As for fertilizing, during the season, melon crops in the early stages of development can be fertilized with mullein infusion. In the fall, after harvesting, potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are applied during digging, and in the spring, when preparing the beds, nitrogen fertilizers are applied. Although plants of this family are drought-resistant, they still produce higher yields when watered. During the season, the soil under them is well moistened 9-12 times. However, during fruit ripening, plants should be watered as little as possible. Otherwise, the fruits will grow watery and not too sweet.
Growing melons and melons is quite a difficult task, since the climate in Russia is not very suitable for them. Often, even with proper care, the gardener still does not receive a harvest. The result largely depends on weather conditions. If you still want to grow watermelons or melons on your plot, then you should try it. If you're lucky, you can diversify your diet with tasty and incredibly healthy fruits.
Melon crops.
These include watermelon, melon, pumpkin. The fruits of these plants are very rich in sugar, vitamins, organic acids, potassium salts, iron, phosphorus, and are superior to carrots in provitamin A content.
Melons are light-loving and heat-loving plants; they develop normally only when high temperature air and soil.
Shoots, after sowing the seeds, appear on the fifth or sixth day. The formation of the first true leaf begins after three to five days; the second true leaf again after three, five days and so on. The plant branches after five or six days, then the first flower appears after five or six days.
Watermelon more heat-loving than melon and pumpkin, but melon is more drought-resistant. Pumpkin is a more cold-resistant plant than watermelon and melon.
Optimal temperature for flowering and fertilization of melons and melons, at least 20 degrees Celsius at night and from 20 to 25 degrees during the day. Frosts are detrimental to melons and melons.
These crops are considered drought-resistant because the plants have a strong root system, dissected leaves, covered with hairs, but these crops, especially pumpkin, require a lot of soil moisture.
All are good predecessors for melons vegetable crops and corn.
In autumn, deep plowing (digging) of the area for melons is necessary; before sowing, weeding and loosening of the soil are carried out.
To obtain vigorous shoots, the seeds are soaked, germinated, and treated with various preparations. The sprouted seeds are planted in warm and always moist soil.
Since pumpkin is a more cold-resistant plant, it is sown first, then melon and watermelon. The seeding depth is from three to seven centimeters. The depth of placement depends on weather conditions, soil type, how dry upper layer soil. When sowing in holes, it is better to place the seeds on different depths. If the top layer of soil is dry, it must be removed to the moist layer, the seeds embedded in the moist soil, and sprinkled on top with a thin layer of dry soil so that a crust does not form on the wet soil.
To create favorable conditions for the growth and development of melon crops, weeds must be destroyed; carry out thinning of plants in holes; loosening the soil; powdering and pinching the lashes; pest and disease control; watering; feeding.
When weeding and loosening in rows, the soil is poured under the cotyledon leaves, thereby creating a favorable air mode soil, plants form additional roots.
Sprinkling melon vines is very useful. To prevent the wind from turning over or twisting the lashes, sprinkle a knot located three-quarters of the length from the base of the lash. If the branches are pinched, this increases the yield and also increases the size of the fruit.
In order for the plant to form additional roots at the beginning of its growth and development, when weeding and loosening, the plants are hilled up by adding soil under the cotyledon leaves.
Melon crops, and watermelon and melon especially, need watering during the period of flowering and fruit formation.
To obtain early production of melons, protected soil is used; sow early ripening varieties; cultivation through seedlings, it is obtained in greenhouses and greenhouses or film shelters are used.
As they ripen, the melons are harvested. A watermelon is considered ripe if a tendril dries out in the leaf axil, near the stalk. The surface of the fruit acquires shine and a clearer pattern, and when struck with a click, a dull sound appears.
A melon is considered ripe by the change in color of the bark from green to yellow; aromatic odor is acquired; The fruit is easily separated from the stalk.
The ripeness of the pumpkin is determined by the dried, suberized stalk; it is removed before frost.
Zucchini, squash, zucchini, belong to the pumpkin family and are early ripening crops. The fruits are harvested 1.5-2 months after sowing and harvesting is completed before frost appears.
For food, zucchini and squash eat 6-8-day-old fruits; they are harvested after 2-3 days.
These plants are bushy, internodes are short, and there are almost no side shoots. The leaves are large, green, the root is highly branched, going deep into the soil. The flowers are unisexual and pollinated by insects.
Zucchini and squash-zucchini have elongated fruits, the color of the fruits ranges from pale green to dark green with a pattern. In zucchini squash, the fruit pulp is very tender and juicy.
The fruits of squash are disc-shaped and bell-shaped, the flesh is denser than that of zucchini.
Zucchini and squash are grown by sowing in the ground or by seedlings when the threat of spring frosts has passed.
The best predecessors for zucchini and squash are early vegetables, onions, root vegetables, tomatoes, legumes, potato.
The area before sowing or planting seedlings in open ground, dig up and add organic and mineral fertilizers, and also fertilized with ash.
Seeds are sown in three holes, the distance between holes is 60-70cm.
Seeds can be soaked before sowing for faster germination, but required condition sowing only in moist soil.
During the period of seedling development, they need watering, further watering may be less frequent, but plentiful. After emergence, weak plants are removed and one plant is left in the hole.
Further care for plants of zucchini, zucchini, squash, consists of regular watering; loosening the soil; hilling and fertilizing plants.
These fruits have good shelf life and portability.
Our grandmothers, growing garden strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, did not particularly worry about mulching. But today this agricultural technique has become fundamental in achieving High Quality berries and reducing crop losses. Some might say it's a hassle. But practice shows that labor costs in in this case pay off handsomely. In this article we invite you to get acquainted with the nine the best materials for mulching garden strawberries.
The Egyptians used mint as early as 1.5 thousand years BC. It has a strong aroma due to great content various essential oils with high volatility. Today, mint is used in medicine, perfumery, cosmetology, winemaking, cooking, ornamental gardening, and the confectionery industry. In this article we will look at the most interesting varieties of mint, and also talk about the features of growing this plant in open ground.
Looking at the variety of tomato varieties, it’s hard not to get confused - the choice is very wide today. Even experienced gardeners He's annoying sometimes! However, understanding the basics of selecting varieties “for yourself” is not so difficult. The main thing is to delve into the peculiarities of the culture and start experimenting. One of the easiest groups of tomatoes to grow are varieties and hybrids with limited growth. They have always been valued by those gardeners who do not have much energy and time to care for their beds.
Once very popular under the name of indoor nettle, and then forgotten by everyone, coleus today is one of the most colorful garden and indoor plants. It is not for nothing that they are considered stars of the first magnitude for those who are primarily looking for non-standard colors. Easy to grow, but not so undemanding as to suit everyone, coleus require constant monitoring. But if you take care of them, bushes made of velvety unique leaves will easily outshine any competitor.
Salmon backbone baked in Provençal herbs provides tasty pieces of fish pulp for a light salad with fresh wild garlic leaves. The champignons are lightly fried in olive oil and then sprinkle with apple cider vinegar. These mushrooms are tastier than regular pickled ones, and they are better suited for baked fish. Wild garlic and fresh dill get along well in one salad, highlighting each other’s aroma. The garlicky pungency of wild garlic will permeate both the salmon flesh and mushroom pieces.
Conifer tree or shrubs on the site is always great, but a lot of conifers is even better. Emerald needles various shades decorates the garden at any time of the year, and phytoncides and essential oils, released by plants, not only aromatize, but also make the air cleaner. As a rule, most zoned adults coniferous plants, are considered very unpretentious trees and bushes. But young seedlings are much more capricious and require proper care and attention.
Sakura is most often associated with Japan and its culture. Picnics in the canopy flowering trees have long become an integral attribute of welcoming spring in the Land of the Rising Sun. Financial and academic year here it starts on April 1, when the magnificent cherry blossoms bloom. Therefore many significant moments in the life of the Japanese are marked by their flowering. But sakura also grows well in cooler regions - certain species can be successfully grown even in Siberia.
I am very interested in analyzing how people's tastes and preferences for certain foods have changed over the centuries. What was once considered tasty and was an object of trade, lost its value over time and, conversely, new fruit crops conquered their markets. Quince has been cultivated for more than 4 thousand years! And even in the 1st century B.C. e. About 6 varieties of quince were known, and even then methods of its propagation and cultivation were described.
Delight your family and prepare themed cottage cheese cookies in the shape of Easter eggs! Your children will be happy to take part in the process - sift the flour, combine all the necessary ingredients, knead the dough and cut out intricate figures. Then they will watch with admiration as the pieces of dough turn into real ones. Easter eggs, and then with the same enthusiasm they will eat them with milk or tea. How to make such original cookies for Easter, read our step by step recipe!
Among tuberous crops, there are not so many decorative deciduous favorites. And caladium is a true star among the variegated inhabitants of interiors. Not everyone can decide to own a caladium. This plant is demanding, and first of all, it requires care. But still, rumors about the extraordinary capriciousness of caladiums are never justified. Attention and care can avoid any difficulties when growing caladiums. And the plant can almost always forgive small mistakes.
We have prepared a hearty, incredibly appetizing and simply easy-to-prepare dish for you today. This sauce is one hundred percent universal, as it goes with every side dish: vegetables, pasta, or anything. Chicken and mushroom gravy will save you in moments when you don’t have time or don’t want to think too much about what to cook. Take your favorite side dish (you can do this in advance so everything is hot), add some gravy and dinner is ready! A real lifesaver.
Among the many different varieties We will tell you about three of these most popular vegetables, which are distinguished by their excellent taste and relatively unpretentious growing conditions. Characteristics of the eggplant varieties “Almaz”, “Black Beauty” and “Valentina”. All eggplants have pulp medium density. In Almaz it is greenish, while in the other two it is yellowish-white. What unites them good germination and excellent yield, but in different time. Everyone's skin color and shape are different.
Agriculture is one of these types human activity, the successful outcome of which is not always directly proportional to the efforts made. Unfortunately, nature does not necessarily act as our ally when growing plants, and often, on the contrary, even throws up new challenges. Increased reproduction of pests, abnormal heat, late return frosts, hurricane winds, drought... And one of the springs gave us another surprise - a flood.
With the coming of the season dacha work the question arises about growing strong and healthy seedlings our favorite vegetables: cabbage, tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplants and many other crops. At the same time, the question arises - how to grow decent seedlings and subsequently get healthy plants and a decent harvest from them? For example, I have been growing seedlings for several seasons now and protecting my garden from diseases with the help of biological drugs Alirin-B, Gamair, Glyokladin, Trichocin.
Let me confess my love today. In love with... lavender. One of the best unpretentious, evergreen and beautifully flowering shrubs that can be successfully grown in your garden. And if anyone thinks that lavender is a Mediterranean or at least southern resident, then you are mistaken. Lavender grows well in more northern regions, even in the Moscow region. But to grow it, you need to know some rules and features. They will be discussed in this article.
Melon crops have high heat requirements. Watermelon and melon are plants of the sultry south. The homeland of watermelon is Africa, melons are Central and Asia Minor. This determined their main areas of distribution: primarily the southern regions of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Transcaucasia and Moldova.
Nutritional value and chemical composition. The fruits of watermelon and melon are consumed mainly fresh and in the canning industry for the preparation of watermelon and melon honey (nardek and bekmes), various confectionery products, candied fruits, marmalade, jam, marshmallows and other products. IN Central Asia The pulp of the melon fruit is dried and eaten in this form or compotes are made from it. Non-standard young watermelon fruits are suitable for pickling. Melon seeds accumulate a lot of high-quality oil, which is used in the confectionery industry and for other purposes. Dry watermelon seeds contain 14...19% oil, melon seeds - 19...35%, pumpkin seeds 23...41%. Pumpkin and watermelon seeds are processed into oil
The resulting cake is valuable feed for livestock.
The fruits of melons and pumpkins are widely used as valuable succulent food for animals.
Table 1. Chemical composition of melons and melons
In terms of area occupied, first place belongs to watermelon, second place to melon, and only 10% belongs to pumpkin. It does not belong to such sugar-bearing plants as watermelon and melon, but is characterized by higher productivity - when grown according to intensive technology over 100 t/ha.
Botanical description. Watermelon, melon and pumpkin belong to the Pumpkin family (Cuicurbitaceae), which includes more than 100 genera and about 400 species. The fruit is berry-shaped (pumpkin), reaching a weight of 20...40 kg or more. Fruits are distinguished by shape, color and pattern of the bark, color and structure of the pulp, shape of the seeds and other characteristics. Different kinds The Pumpkin family differs in anatomical structure, but general structure The fruit is preserved for all melons. The fruit consists of bark, pulp, placenta (sperm filaments or ovary sites from which the ovules arise) and seeds. Placentas in pumpkin are dry, in melon - dry 1 or wet, in watermelon they grow and grow together with the walls of the fetus. The bark consists of several layers. Upper, bordering external environment, - single-layer epidermis covered with cuticle. Its purpose is to protect the fetus from drying out, evaporation, and other unfavorable external influences, limiting transpiration. Under the epidermis layer there is a chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma of 8...10 cells. Each variety has its own coloring and pattern.
At the Research Institute of Plant Growing (VIR), among the diversity of its varieties, T. B. Fursa identified ten ecological and geographical groups: Russian, Asia Minor, Western European, Transcaucasian, Central Asian, Afghan, Indian, East Asian, Far Eastern, American. The identification of groups is based on the anatomical and physiological characteristics of plants and, first of all, the degree of xero- or mesomorphic appearance, manifested in the morphology and anatomical structure of the leaf blade, in the different suction strength and water-holding capacity of the leaves of these groups.
Russian ecological-geographical group combines varieties of table watermelon, common in the Lower Volga region, the North Caucasus, in the southern regions of Ukraine, as well as early ripening varieties grown in the northern regions of Ukraine, in Western Siberia. General form plants bears the features of a xeromorphic organization, which is manifested in the morphology and anatomy of the leaf, its relatively high sucking force. This type was formed in a hot, dry climate with intensive selection for sugar content and improved taste. Local varieties of the Russian group are valuable raw material for breeding due to its high ecological plasticity and adaptability to unfavorable environmental conditions. According to the sexual type, the varieties of this group are predominantly andromonoicistic - they produce male and bisexual flowers on one plant. Such varieties are only slightly pollinated when sowed together with others, which is important for establishing standards for spatial isolation. Among the watermelons of the Russian group there are varieties with uncut leaves: Tselnolistny 215, Yubileiny 72, etc. This trait can be used as a signal to obtain heterotic watermelon hybrids with free cross-pollination of the original forms. Most of the watermelon varieties currently zoned in Russia belong to the Russian ecological-geographical group.
Asia Minor Ecological-Geographical Group, uniting watermelons grown in Turkey is similar to the Russian one, for which it was the source. Asia Minor watermelons probably penetrated into the southern Russian steppes through the Greek colonies on the Black Sea, found here favorable conditions and gave rise to a more cultural type, ecologically close to the original one. The xeromorphic nature of the organization is more pronounced in Asian Minor varieties than in Russian ones. Among them there are many drought-resistant forms that are promising for use in breeding. There are almost no breeding varieties in the group; variegated and poorly cultivated populations predominate, but there are individual samples with a high sugar content in the fruit.
Western European Ecological-Geographical Group unites watermelon varieties cultivated in Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Greece, and Italy. A significant part of it was probably formed on the basis of the Russian assortment, but in general it is characterized by a more mesomorphic plant species, in accordance with the soil and climatic conditions of the region. Heterogeneous in composition and selection significance.
The Far Eastern ecological and geographical group is represented by varieties watermelon cultivated in the Primorsky and partially Khabarovsk territories Far East. In the conditions of the moderately humid climate of Primorye, a unique ecological type was formed. Far Eastern watermelons are the fastest ripening among the entire world assortment - the period from germination to ripening is 60-70 days. They are characterized by a poorly developed vegetative mass, very small fruits with low-sweet, tasteless pulp containing many seeds. The general appearance of the plants is mesomorphic; sexual type of monocyst. There are samples with lemon-yellow flesh. Varieties, as a rule, are represented by variegated populations, among which sugary forms can be selected. Far Eastern watermelons are of interest for breeding due to their exceptional precocity.
Transcaucasian ecological-geographical group represented by varieties of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Occupies an intermediate position between varieties of Russian and Central Asian ecological and geographical groups. Armenian watermelons are closer to Russian and Asian Minor ones, and Azerbaijani and Georgian varieties are closer to Central Asian ones. The appearance of plants is characterized by well-defined mesomorphism. The leaves, as a rule, are slightly or moderately dissected, the fruits are large and thick-barked. The assortment is dominated by local populations, and the sugar content is usually low.
Central Asian Ecological-Geographical Group unites varieties from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Southern Kazakhstan and Western China. It is very polymorphic both in morphological and economically valuable characters. Local varieties predominate, represented by variegated populations. The general nature of the varieties is mesophilic, the sexual type is monocysts and anddromonocysts, found in equally. The varieties of this group are characterized by large fruits with thick bark and rough pulp; many of them are valuable for their high keeping quality.
Afghan Ecological and Geographical Group unites watermelons from Iran and Afghanistan, which are in many ways similar to Central Asian ones. Iranian varieties are more diverse than Afghan ones in shape, fruit color, pulp, sugar content, but in general they constitute one ecological type; it can be defined as rude, uncultured. The fruits of varieties of this group are usually large, often irregular shape, thick-skinned, with coarse, fibrous, pale-colored pulp with a low sugar content. The varieties represent mainly heterogeneous populations, among which there are forms that are valuable for breeding. Heterogeneity is manifested by sexual type (along with andromonocysts, which predominate in this group, there are also monocysts), as well as in appearance plants, xeromorphic in some varieties and mesomorphic in others. Among the varieties of this group there are forms unusual for watermelon with yellow and orange coloring of the fruit.
Indian Eco-Geographical Group represented by varieties of North-West India and Pakistan
thana.Prevail large-fruited varieties,Have a thick bark, the flesh is pale-colored.
They have food value.
East Asian group(Japan, China, Korea) - small-fruited with thin bark with a yellow or orange color predominate. Valuable for greenhouses.
American group- large-fruited varieties with cylindrical or oval fruits are evenly resistant to anthracnose and fusarium wilt (a source of resistance in breeding).
In each ecological-geographical group, certain morphological types of varieties are identified, which are based on the shape and color of the fruit, that is, distinctive approbation characteristics.
Based on these characteristics, the entire variety of watermelon varieties fits into 32 varieties:
1. Globular, white, without a pattern or with mesh elements.
2. Globular, golden yellow, without a pattern or with unclear stripes.
3. Globular, orange-yellow, without a pattern, segmented.
4. Globular, light green or light green, without a pattern, segmented.
5. Globular, light green, with mesh or mesh stripes.
6. Cylindrical, light green or white, with mesh or mesh stripes.
7. Globular, light green, with narrow mesh (filamentous) stripes.
8. Oval, less often spherical, gray-green, with mesh or mesh stripes.
9. Globular, light or gray-green, with dark green strokes at the stalk (marble pattern).
10. Globular or oval, gray-green, with dark green reticulated stripes.
11. Globular, whitish or light green, with whitish spiny stripes..
12. Globular, whitish or light green, with narrow dark or black-green spiny stripes.
13. Oval or cylindrical, whitish, with narrow dark or black-green spiny stripes.
14. Globular, whitish or light green, with wide stripes.
15. The same, but with completely closing processes (mosaic pattern).
16. Cylindrical, light green, with wide green spiny stripes.
17. Globular, light green, with blurred green stripes.
18. Globular, light green, with dots and dark green blurred stripes (calico pattern).
19. Globular, light green, with wide dark green blurred stripes, almost covering the background.
20. Cylindrical, light green, with wide blurry green stripes.
21. Globular or oval (pear-shaped), green with mesh and mesh stripes.
22. Cylindrical, green, with mesh or mesh stripes.
23. Globular, green, with an unclear pattern.
24. Cylindrical or oval, green, with an unclear pattern.
25. Globular, green, with black-green narrow spiny stripes.
26. Globular, green, with dark or black-green wide spiny stripes.
27. Cylindrical or oval, green with wide dark green spiny stripes.
28. Globular, green, with dim green blurry stripes.
29. Globular, green, with dark green blurry stripes.
30. Globular, dark green, with black-green spiny stripes.
31. Globular, black-green, with hidden pattern or without a picture.
32. Cylindrical or oval, black and green, with or without a hidden pattern.
Table 2. Inheritance of the main approbation characteristics of watermelon in a hybrid
The most promising option for hybrid watermelon seed production is the use of lines with genetic male sterility and marker traits for culling non-hybrid plants.
