Watermelon Sugar Baby

Citrullus lanatus - Sugar baby

The cultivated form of melon appeared approximately a thousand years before Christ, in the Mediterranean or subtropical Africa. Melon is a cucurbit fruit vegetable. Its growth habit is creeping or climbing. The fleshy shoots grow to a length of 100 - 250 centimeters. There are many types of melons. Among the most well-known are: sugar melons, which are more aromatic, with softer and firmer flesh and a typical pineapple aroma. Charentais melon with its sweet aromatic taste often resembles pineapple or papaya and has an intense, pungent aroma. Galia is light both inside and on the surface. It has a light yellow color and its taste resembles nectarines. Honeydew melon has a very sweet, aromatic and very harmonious taste. It is light yellow on the outside and transitions from green to yellow on the inside. By crossing netted melon and cantaloupe melon, Ogen melon was bred in Israel. Thanks to its slightly acidic fruity taste, it is exceptionally refreshing and delicious. Tendral is related to honeydew melon. It tastes very similar, but has almost no aroma. The last and most famous type of melon is watermelon. It has a bright red flesh color and black seeds. The flesh is crisp, has a fresh, not too sweet taste and subtle aroma.

Consuming melons is beneficial to health, this vegetable strengthens and cleanses the body. The fruits contain 90 to 95% water and 3 - 5% sugars. They also contain vitamin C. The fruits are very low in calories. In any case, above all they taste great!

How to Grow Melon

• It is suitable to use black non-woven fabric for cultivation, which accumulates heat. They require a sunny location. Abundant watering, especially during fruit formation.

• We start sowing at the end of March. Sowing is done in seed trays or in pots. We sow 1 - 2 seeds in one pot. The optimal temperature for germination is 22°C. A special substrate designed for sowing and propagation is suitable, we keep it constantly slightly moist. We place the pots in a bright location. Seeds will germinate within 14 days. At the beginning of May, we start hardening the seedlings and placing them in their final location. We plant the plants at a spacing of approximately 1.5 x 1 m. Or we plant them traditionally in a row, 2 seedlings at intervals of 30 - 40 cm.

• The soil should be permeable and have a neutral reaction (pH in the range of 6.5 to 7.0). The soil must be prepared in autumn by digging or plowing. In spring, we work farmyard manure or compost into the soil so that later fertilization is not necessary.

• It is suitable to use universal liquid fertilizer (Cererit, Kristalon - fruit and flower). When the fruits are in the development phase, we apply fertilizer every 14 days. As soon as the fruits ripen, we reduce fertilization. In autumn or spring, it is necessary to work in organic fertilizer, e.g. well-rotted compost or manure.

• Black rot of cucumber fruits is a dangerous disease that attacks almost all cucurbit vegetables. It manifests itself by browning of leaves from their edges and waterlogging and subsequent browning of shoots. After infection, it is necessary to carry out spraying. For example, the highly effective product Rovral Aqua Flo or alternatively Talent can be used.

  Two-spotted spider mite attacks a large number of vegetable species. It especially attacks plants grown in greenhouses. Light spots appear on affected leaves, later spider webs are visible on the plants. Against spider mites, for example, Talstar, Omite and other acaricides are effective.

  Plants are also attacked by powdery mildew and aphids. For aphids, we use Mospilan. Against powdery mildew, we choose copper-based fungicides.

  Fruit cracking is caused by irregular water supply to the plant. Magnesium deficiency can be recognized by light leaves with dark green veining. Yellowing of leaves in melons is a manifestation of excess water.

  Plants are also attacked by slugs and birds.

• The first melons can be harvested around mid-August. We recognize a ripe melon, for example, by tapping. With a gentle tap, it should produce a hollow sound. We can safely recognize a ripe melon by its drying and twisting stem.