Melon (Cucumis melo) is an annual species from the gourd family. It comes from Asia Minor, where its cultivation began several centuries before our era. In Europe, the melon appeared in the Middle Ages.
Ingredients:
- Melon - description and characteristics
- When and how do we sow a melon?
- Melon: requirements and position
- Melon: plant care
Melon - description and characteristics
Melon is an annual plant whose creeping shoots reach a length of 150-300 cm. Large, large leaf blades have an almost circular outline. It is a monoecious plant. The yellow, mixed-sex flowers are insect-pollinating. First, male flowers appear on the main shoot, then female flowers appear on the side shoots. The fruit can be oblong, cylindrical or round in shape, and the skin is brown, white, green or yellow with green stripes on the surface. The color of the flesh can be light green, yellow, white or orange.
Melons have high heat requirements. Thanks to the work of breeders, more and more varieties are created that are adapted to cultivation in our climatic conditions. Therefore, we can successfully grow melons in the ground, without the need to cover them.
When and how do we sow a melon?
In Poland, melons are grown only from seedlings due to the long growing season. Already in the 2nd half of April, we place pots in which we sow 3 melon seeds in greenhouses, heated frames or on the window sill (on the south side).The ideal temperature for germination is 18oC at night and about 20-25oC during the day. A week after sowing, the first seedlings should appear (leave them for the strongest ones), and after the next 4 weeks, we can plant the plants into the ground. Before planting, the seedlings should get used to the conditions outside. Start hardening the cuttings 2 weeks before planting them in a permanent place. For this purpose, the temperature during the day should be lowered to 15-17oC, and at night to 12-15oC, and the duration of the hardening procedure should be gradually extended. In the ground we plant the plants at a distance of 100-120 cmx50-60, while under covers 50-80x40-50 cm
Melon: requirements and position
Melon is a thermophilic species, so a well-lit and warm place that is sheltered from cold winds should be selected for cultivation. It is good for the melons to grow on the south side of the garden. The indicated temperature during the melon's growth and fruiting period is 26-28 °, while its decrease below 15 ° C stops the plant growth.As a result of large daily temperature fluctuations, flowers and fruit buds fall. In order to maintain the right temperature of the plants in the ground, we can cover them with a white polypropylene fabric. Just remember to remove the covers when the flowers appear, because melons are insect-pollinating plants.
The substrate for the melon should be light, well-drained, fertile, with a neutral pH. Melon can grow in dry soil, but it will not do well in heavy, wet and acid soil. It is recommended to mulch the soil (black or black polypropylene fabric for gardening) in order to raise its temperature, limit the growth of weeds and isolate the fruit from the ground. If we use mulch-less cultivation, it is worth considering planting plants on mounds or shafts.
The best pre-crops for melons are: corn, cucumbers, garlic, cabbage, winter wheat, barley, onions and legumes. It is not recommended to plant a melon in the same place two years in a row. Tomatoes and carrots are considered to be the worst forecrops.
A good neighborhood for a melon is: basil, beans, leaf beet, sorrel, corn, turnips, radish and radish.
Melon: plant care
The most important treatments in melon cultivation are fertilization, watering and cutting.
Melon requires intensive feeding. It responds well to organic fertilization - we grow it in the first year after manure. In addition to manure, we also use mineral fertilization containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Due to the melon's sensitivity to chlorine, we use chloride-free potassium fertilizers. We feed the plants at intervals of 3-4 weeks, starting from the emergence of flowers.
Strongly branched but shallow melon root system makes it necessary to water the plants intensively. The period of fruit setting requires the greatest amount of water. Ripening fruit has much less needs in this regard. Water in the soil should not stagnate as we expose plants to fungal infections.
Melon responds well to cutting. After the plant has produced 8-9 leaves on the side shoots, they should be cut after 6-7 leaves. When the fruit buds reach the size of a walnut, remove the growth tips, leaving 2 leaves above the bud. We also remove weak, small seedlings, leaving 5-6 pieces on the plant. All these treatments are aimed at improving the size and quality of the crop.
Melon fruits reach maturity 45-60 days after flowering. They start to ripen at the end of August, and September is the full season. We recognize maturity by changing the color of the skin to a lighter and intense fragrance. Fruits ready for harvest can be easily torn off the stalk. Melons cannot be stored for a long time, therefore immediate consumption is recommended.
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