Early ripe hybrid watermelon “Top Gun” from Dutch breeders
Watermelon is consumed fresh, juices and cocktails are prepared from it, fried in batter, and jam is made from the rinds. In order not to look for a tasty and ripe watermelon on supermarket shelves, gardeners prefer to grow it themselves. The Top Gun hybrid is one of the most popular large crops. It is distinguished by a short ripening period and sugary pulp.
Let's look at what a Top Gun watermelon looks like, what its advantages are and how to grow a rich harvest.
Description of the watermelon variety
The hybrid is early ripening, the harvest is harvested 70-80 days after the appearance of the first shoots. In central Russia, Top Gun is planted as seedlings, in the south - as seeds in open ground.
Distinctive features
Plants are branched and spreading. The leaves are medium sized, dark green in color.
The bushes are resistant to the main diseases of the crop - fusarium and tobacco mosaic. Care does not require special knowledge or skills.
Composition, properties, benefits, calorie content
The calorie content of watermelon is 25 kcal per 100 g. The fruit consists of 90% water and has a strong diuretic effect. Watermelon contains vitamins A, B, E, folic acid, dietary fiber, and antioxidants.
Eating watermelon reduces swelling, cholesterol levels, and helps avoid stomach diseases. Watermelon is consumed in large quantities during diets, it helps to get rid of excess weight.
Fruit characteristics and yield
The oval fruits have a smooth glossy surface. The peel is striped and green.The weight of a watermelon varies from 7 to 12 kg.
The pulp is sugary, bright red, tastes juicy and sweet. From 2 to 5 large and beautiful fruits are collected from one bush.
Seeds of watermelon
Seeds small. Since this is a variety, they are not suitable for further planting. The color is dark brown, with small spots. The fruits contain few seeds and are not eaten.
How to grow a hybrid yourself
The procedure begins with preparing the seedlings. Let's look at the step-by-step instructions for growing Top Gun watermelon.
Preparing and growing seedlings
Seedling material is prepared at the end of March. To do this, the seeds are placed in seedling containers with prepared soil. The soil used is a mixture of soil from the garden and ready-made soil from the store. They are mixed, fertilized with peat and ash, and watered with a solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. Peat tablets or pots, plastic cups, and wooden boxes are used as containers.
Important! The seeds are placed in grooves 1 cm deep. They are sprinkled with earth on top and watered abundantly, covered with film. It is removed after 5-7 days. Store seedlings in a warm and sunny place.
Caring for seedlings consists of regular watering and fertilizing. Watermelon is a moisture-loving crop, but it is important to avoid overwatering. It leads to diseases and slow growth. Water the seedlings once every 4 days as the soil dries out.
After the first leaves appear, fertilizing with liquid organic matter is organized. Chicken droppings or mullein are suitable for this. A week before planting in the garden, watering is stopped.
Growing in stages and care
Watermelon is planted on hilly and spacious beds. The recommended planting pattern is 70x50. Loamy sandy soil fertilized with humus is suitable for melons.The beds are dug up and loosened, cleared of debris and weeds, and row spacing is organized.
For planting, choose a cloudy and dry morning: make grooves in the soil, pour water into them and place watermelon seedlings. The base of the stem is sprinkled with earth, sprinkled with mulch - sand, sawdust, shavings. Mulching protects young shoots and nourishes the roots.
Care consists of the following procedures:
- Watering. About 1 liter of water is consumed per bush. For convenience, a drip irrigation system is used - water is used sparingly and goes directly to the root. The best time to water is morning or evening. Leaves and stems do not get sunburned, and water does not evaporate.
- After 10 days, mineral fertilizer is applied. The hybrid is positively affected by nitrogen-phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. It is recommended to alternate mineral and organic nutrition, so 10 days after minerals, organic matter is added to the beds - nettle infusion, charcoal, liquid manure. Fertilizers improve the taste of fruits and their marketable qualities.
- After the formation of a large lash and several fruits, the plant is formed. Small lateral shoots are removed, leaving a few large ones. If the lashes are long and tangled together, then they are untangled and laid on the ground, sprinkled with earth in several places.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
When growing the Top Gun hybrid, they follow the feeding regime. You cannot add only organic matter or only minerals - the diet must be balanced. For reliability, it is recommended to record the dates and names of the drugs added.
In addition to root fertilizers, foliar fertilizers are also used - spraying with a spray bottle and powdering. For foliar procedures, use a solution of potassium permanganate or iodine, an infusion of nettle or burdock.They protect against diseases and improve immunity.
Important! If the fruits are too large and heavy, wooden boards are placed under them. Watermelons should not lie on the ground, this increases the risk of disease.
Don't forget about weeding the beds. Gardeners keep the garden clean and tidy and regularly remove debris and weeds. Before watering, loosen the soil, this saturates the roots with oxygen. Timely weeding protects against pests.
Diseases and pests characteristic of the hybrid
Diseases appear due to rain and humidity, heat and fog. Diseases also occur due to improper care:
- Fusarium occurs in greenhouses and open beds. Plants become covered with bloom, fruits become limp and watery. Fusarium is treated with Bordeaux mixture or colloidal sulfur.
- Powdery mildew occurs due to excessive moisture. A white coating appears on the leaves, which can be removed by spraying with whey.
- Bacteriosis is a consequence of contaminated soil. Due to the disease, the fruits wither and become deformed. For prevention, use “HOM” or a solution of copper sulfate. Infected bushes are removed from the beds and burned.
Pests include melon aphids, wireworms and whiteflies. Insects appear due to weeds or infected neighboring beds. For preventive purposes, spraying with ash is used. For treatment, the drugs “Keltan” or “Karbofos” are used. If measures are not taken in time, pests will destroy the entire crop.
Harvesting and application
A ripe watermelon becomes glossy and stops growing. When tapped, a ringing sound is heard, one side of the fruit acquires a yellow tint, and the stalk dries out.
The hybrid is harvested in mid-August.The fruits are wiped with a dry cloth and stored in a dark place, for example, in a cellar or basement.
Prepared from watermelon jelly and jam, sorbets and juices. The juicy pulp goes well with ham, cheese, olives, and shrimp. The fruits are used to make fruit baskets and are used for fruit salads and snacks.
Watermelon harmoniously goes well with the taste of melon, banana, raspberries and other fruits and berries.
Interesting! In Japan, cube- or heart-shaped watermelons are grown. To do this, during the growing process, the fruits are placed in special containers, and the watermelon gradually takes on its shape.
Advantages and disadvantages of a hybrid
Among the advantages are resistance to diseases and pests, immunity to cold. Top Gun is grown in greenhouses, hotbeds or open ground. Top Gun is universal in use, suitable for fresh consumption and for preparing desserts, salads and snacks.
It is distinguished by consistently high yield, tasty pulp and attractive appearance.
The disadvantage is that hybrid seeds can only be purchased in specialized stores for gardeners.
Reviews
Why do gardeners love Top Gun watermelon? Let's study several reviews and find out if everyone was satisfied with the harvest.
Vladimir, Rostov-on-Don: “Watermelon Top Gun pleases with large and beautiful fruits. I grow for myself and for sale. The pulp is appetizing, red and sugary. The hybrid does not get sick, I fertilize it with ash and yeast. I rate the productivity as a solid A.”
Galina, Perm: “I planted a Top Gun watermelon for the first time in a greenhouse. In March, I prepared the seedlings and cared for them according to all the rules. But the hybrid did not take root on the site; the fruits set slowly. I only picked 3 watermelons from the garden, I was expecting a lot more.”
Evgeniy, Ufa: “Top Gun is an excellent, tasty hybrid. I use the pulp to make desserts: I add it to ice cream and make milkshakes. I recommend for landing."
Conclusion
Hybrid Top Gun is suitable for the middle zone and southern regions. It is planted on sandy loamy soils. The best predecessors are cabbage and potatoes; it is not recommended to plant them after pumpkin or melon.
Harvest in August, when the stalk becomes dry and the fruits become shiny. The harvest is stored for up to 3 months and can be transported over long distances.