What is good about Astrakhan watermelon and why farmers love it so much

Today, the easy-to-care Astrakhan watermelon grown throughout Russia, although this was not always the case. Breeders had to work for decades so that the southern fruit could grow in more severe climatic conditions.

This variety produces high yields and is stored for quite a long time. Our article will tell you how to distinguish the Astrakhan variety from others and how to grow it.

What type of watermelon is this?

The popularity of the variety is associated with increased resistance to various diseases and excellent shelf life - the fruits are sweet and tasty, and retain these qualities for about two months.

History of origin and distribution

Initially, all the fruits of this plant grown in the Astrakhan region were considered Astrakhan watermelon. And only in 1977, a variety with that name was registered.

Interesting! Peter 1, who tried watermelons in Astrakhan, was so amazed by their taste that he ordered them to be started cultivation near Moscow. However, nothing came of it right away, and only in the 19th century did the first varieties appear that successfully bear fruit in cold climates.

During the time of Peter 1, watermelons were produced in two types - for sale and for livestock feed. People bought large fruits that weighed more than 10 kg; the rest, which did not fit the weight, were fed to animals.

Characteristics and description

The Astrakhan variety is thermophilic, and under favorable conditions the harvest is of high quality.The plant produces side shoots of medium length; it is recommended to leave no more than three.

On long loops, it is enough to leave two ovaries, then the fruits will ripen better and receive more juice.

Distinctive features

The fruits of Astrakhan watermelons are large, weighing at least 8 kg. Ripe, well-ripened fruits have excellent taste, tolerate transportation well and are stored for more than 2 months. In addition, the variety is characterized by high productivity; with proper cultivation techniques, more than 12 tons of watermelons are obtained from 10 acres.

Most of the diseases that plague melon crops are not terrible for the Astrakhan variety. It is resistant to fusarium and anthractic blight. Undemanding to soil and conditions. It has a medium-early ripening period - ready for harvest 75 days after emergence.

Description of the fruit, appearance

The fruits of the Astrakhan variety are round, less often slightly elongated, the peel is smooth, even with stripes of dark and light green shades.

Interesting! Professionals believe that the greater the difference in tones between the dark and green stripes of a watermelon, the sweeter it will be.

A ripe watermelon is bright red inside, the flesh is sugary and juicy, and exudes a pleasant fresh aroma. The seeds are dark, brown, less often black. An important difference between this variety is the presence of a thick peel.

Reference! The tail of a ripe watermelon should be dry, and a specific ringing sound can be heard when you tap the peel.

Composition, properties

Watermelons are 80% water. The remaining 20% ​​is fructose, vegetable fiber and microelements. Watermelons are most beneficial for those who have problems with the heart, blood vessels and joints. The product has a strong diuretic effect. Sweet pulp, when consumed in moderation, will not cause harm to insulin-dependent patients suffering from diabetes.

Of the microelements, watermelon contains the most magnesium, which is especially useful for high blood pressure. The berry prevents the appearance of kidney stones, stimulates the bile ducts and helps remove cholesterol from the body. Magnesium helps reduce nervous excitability, relieves muscle spasms and normalizes intestinal function.

Interesting! 100 g of watermelon pulp contains 224 mg of magnesium, only almonds contain more. For the daily requirement, it is enough to eat 150 g of watermelon per day.

Watermelon doesn't have as much potassium as some other fruits. But when counting calories, watermelon still wins. It is not recommended to eat watermelon if you have an upset stomach, diarrhea, or a tendency to edema.

Important! Watermelon grown with nitrates will gain weight and ripen faster, but if ingested, it will cause severe poisoning. It is dangerous to consume such fruits.

How to distinguish from other varieties

Externally, different varieties of watermelons are similar, but if you look closely, their stripe patterns are different. The Astrakhan variety is distinguished by jagged stripes of two colors. As a rule, one of them is light and almost white, and the second is dark emerald.

Also, these fruits differ from other varieties by the presence of a thick rind - at least 2.5 cm. Astrakhan watermelons are sold with the appropriate stickers; they are large (about 10 kg) and green.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The main advantage of Astrakhan watermelon is its sweet sugar pulp and the ability to quench thirst even in extreme heat. This dietary product is used both fresh and pickled.

Fruits of Astrakhan watermelons:

• for a long time are stored after harvest;
• they are easy to transport - they do not lose their appearance, do not crack, and the taste does not deteriorate;
• the variety is unpretentious in cultivation, does not require complex care;
• can be grown both outdoors and in a greenhouse;
• not prone to most diseases typical of melons;
• gives a large harvest.

In fact, no defects of the variety have been recorded, except for the thick rind.

Growing regions

Since watermelon is still thermophilic, it prefers to grow in the southern regions. But the variety has fully adapted to central Russia; Astrakhan watermelons are grown in Moscow region, in the Urals and in Siberia, but mainly in a greenhouse way.

Features of agricultural technology

In the southern regions, seeds are sown directly in open ground, and in colder regions, the seedling method is used. To do this, the seeds are first sown in special containers, followed by planting in places with a larger area.

Landing

Before planting, watermelon seeds are kept for a day in an aqueous solution with potassium permanganate and zinc. This procedure will harden the seeds and disinfect them, protecting them from certain diseases. After 24 hours, they are wrapped in gauze and placed in a saucer with water.y. The air temperature must be at least 27°C, so the seeds remain until they sprout.

In about a month, the seeds will hatch and can be sown on the plot or in a container for seedlings. The soil should be fertilized with peat, and the containers can be completely filled with it. When four leaves appear, it is time to plant the plants in a permanent place.

Important! Seven days before planting seedlings in the ground, the air temperature is gradually reduced to 21°C.

Choose the sunniest place for planting. There should be no trees or tall buildings nearby that could block the sun. Before planting, the area is thoroughly cleared of weeds.

Interesting! Watermelons grow well after potatoes, legumes and corn. You should not plant them after other melons, cucumbers or cabbage.

Neutral soils are suitable for watermelon; they do not tolerate acidic soils well.

Care

To ensure that the watermelon gets more heat, the ground is covered with mulch - this will keep the temperature around +10°C and prevent the ground from drying out. Watermelon responds to nitrogen-containing mixtures and potassium-phosphorus compounds.

Weed regularly. Water infrequently, but increase it during the growth of the main stem.. When the fruits have formed, the volume of water is reduced so that ripening occurs faster:

• once a week during the flowering period;
• twice a month when the ovaries are forming;
• do not water during the ripening period.

Possible problems and their solutions

Most often melons are harmed by:

• aphid;
• spider mite;
• wireworm

At home and for small plantings, it is easy to use a solution of wood ash and garlic. A month before harvesting, no preventive or therapeutic work should be performed. If the plant is severely damaged, it is removed from the melon and burned.

Since the Astrakhan variety is not susceptible to diseases, problems during cultivation rarely arise. In case of plant damage, it is best to use specialized preparations.

Among the folk methods, an infusion of mullein diluted with three parts of water will help in the fight against bacteriosis and powdery mildew. From purchased drugs you can use Bordeaux mixture, Decis, Skor.

Optimal conditions for good growth and rich harvest

The Astrakhan variety does not ripen before August. It is not until September that the harvest peaks.

Interesting! It is not possible to grow a good crop of watermelons on black soil - a large amount of nitrogen in the composition feeds the tops, and the fruits remain small.

When planting watermelons in the ground, the distance between them is left at least 80 cm, and between the rows - more than 1 m. The seeds are not buried more than 4 cm. The soil temperature during planting should be +16°C and above.

Watermelon will grow tasty and juicy if the daytime temperature does not fall below +29°C, and the night temperature does not fall below +19°C. It is important to follow the watering regime.

The presence of groundwater close to the surface will also have a bad effect. It is better to choose another area for planting watermelons.

How to protect against cold and other adverse factors

If the seedlings have just been planted in the ground and an unexpected cold snap occurs, then the easiest way is to cover the planting with film. This will keep the plants warm and prevent them from freezing. As soon as good weather arrives, the shelter is immediately removed - the sun's rays are vital for the watermelon. In general, a short-term cold snap will not cause much harm to the watermelon; the main thing is to insulate the roots, and mulching with a layer of at least 5 cm will help with this.

Harvest and storage

Watermelon is picked only when it is fully ripe. A picked green fruit will not be able to ripen.

Signs of a ripe watermelon:

• inspect the stalk and tendrils - they should be dry;
• the rind of the fruit becomes shiny, the pattern is clearer, and the colors are brighter;
• a large yellow spot appears near the ground;
• When struck with the palm, a loud ringing sound appears.

Cut the watermelons with a knife, leaving the tail about 4 cm.

A dark, dry room with good ventilation is suitable for storing watermelons. The air temperature should be no more than 7°C.

Conclusion

Astrakhan watermelons are tasty and sweet; they ripen in August or September, but not earlier.They are easy to care for and can be stored for a long time under the right conditions. Useful watermelon is indicated for certain diseases and perfectly quenches thirst in the heat.