Melonis a vegetable belonging to the gourd family. It is one of the species of cucumber and thereforegrowing melonis quite similar to growing cucumbers. It is worth appreciating not only the taste ofmelonbut also its healing and he alth effects. See whatgrowing melon in Poland looks like , choose the bestmelon varietiesfor your garden and learn the secrethow to eat melonsto fully reveal their taste qualities.
Melon - cultivation in Poland in the garden of one of our forers.
Fig. Emil, forum.PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Melon - properties
Melon , sometimes also referred to ascucumber melon(Cucumis melo), grows wild in Africa and tropical regions of Asia and moderate. As a cultivated plant, it was very well accepted and spread in warm European countries. Although in our country it is much less popular, as it turns outgrowing melon in Poland , in the conditions of an allotment or backyard garden, is possible and often ends with success!
Worth a try growing a melon in your own gardenbecause of its delicious taste. We will not experience this taste in melons bought in grocery stores and supermarkets, as they are harvested unripe in order to endure a long journey from exotic countries. Meanwhile, only fully ripe melon reaches its taste qualities. It will not achieve this taste when it ripens on ships and in stores.
Melonsmay be white, orange or greenish depending on thevariety.They also differ in taste and aroma, although most of them are sweet and juicy. In addition to the taste, it is also worth appreciating the nutritional andhe alth properties of melonsAlthough they contain a lot of sugar, they are low in calories. Recommended as a source of beta carotene, folic acid, pectins, as well as many vitamins (including B group vitamins) and minerals (including potassium, iron and magnesium).
In natural medicine, is appreciated healing properties of melon , and this fruit is recommended as a dietary component for people struggling with, among others. with rheumatic pains, kidney and liver ailments and in convalescence after long-lasting diseases. Due to the content of carotenoids, it is believed thatconsumption of melons delays aging , enhances the vision process and acts against cancer.
Yellow honey melon. Photo freeimages.com
Melon - varieties
There are severaltypes of melons , differing in appearance, fruit size and color of the flesh.The most popular types are: yellow honey melon (oblong fruit with a yellow skin and bright orange flesh, juicy and sweet), galia melon (spherical in shape, yellow-brown peel, covered with a characteristic reticulation, white-green flesh, aromatic and sweet) and cantaloup (spherical , often longitudinally ribbed, yellow-orange flesh). For cultivation on a plot or in a home garden, it is worth choosing one of thePolish melon varieties , which are successful in our climate.
Melon Bosman- an early variety for cultivation under cover and in the field, in a sheltered area. Spherical, medium-sized fruit with a weight of approx. 1.5 kg. The flesh is very juicy, sweet, orange in color, with a delicate texture.
Melon Emir F1- a melon variety with high resistance to diseases and withstanding low temperatures well, it also yields reliably in the ground in colder years. Fruits over 1 kg. The flesh of the fruit, 4-5 cm thick, orange, very tasty, aromatic and sweet.
Junior F1- the variety tolerates low temperatures well, thanks to which it yields in the ground also in colder years, and is also tolerant to downy mildew. It is distinguished by exceptionally tasty fruits. Orange flesh, 4-5 cm thick, tasty, aromatic and sweet.
Melon Malaga F1- another heterotic variety of cantaloup melon. Plants with very high vigor and high tolerance to downy mildew are well suited to cultivation in the field. The fruit is almost spherical, clearly ribbed, weighing 1-1.5 kg. The peel of ripe fruit is yellow-orange, covered with a delicate mesh. The flesh is intensely orange, thick, very juicy, with an original aroma, sweet.
Melon Melba- an early variety for cultivation under covers and in the field. Oval fruit weighing 0.7 kg and a cream skin covered with a mesh. They mature slowly. Orange, aromatic pulp, 3 cm thick.
Melon Oliwin- an early, fertile variety, reliably yielding, tolerant to cold weather, for cultivation under cover and in the field. Fruits weighing 1 kg. Yellow, smooth skin. Thick, light green, aromatic flesh.
Melon Seledyn- very early melon variety, the earliest of the Polish varieties, adapted for cultivation in the field. Plants with vigorous growth and high tolerance to downy mildew. Oval-spherical fruit weighing 1.0-1.4 kg. The peel of the ripe fruit is yellow-orange with a fading green color and a very delicate mesh on the first fruits. Thick, aquamarine-creamy flesh, very juicy, with an excellent taste and aroma.
Melon cantaloup. Photo freeimages.com
Melon - cultivation in Poland
Melons are grown similarly to cucumbers to which they are closely related.Growing a melonbegins with the preparation of seedlings, which takes about a month. For this purpose,melon seedsare sown in April on a seedbed or window sill, in pots of 2 (after emergence, the weaker seedling should be removed) and we provide them with a temperature of at least 15 ° C. In mid-May, when the risk of frost is over, the seedlings are planted into the ground or under a foil tunnel. Growing meloncan also be successful from sowing directly into the ground. The seeds are then sown in mid-May and covered with foil until they germinate.
Melon requiressoil that is warm and sunny and sheltered from the wind. Before planting seedlings, the soil should be enriched with compost or well-composted manure. Plants are planted 50 cm apart, creating a row in the middle of each bed. The distance between the beds should be 120 cm. On average, 2 plants are planted per square meter.
Before planting the seedlingsthe shoots of the melons are prunedafter the 3rd true leaf, which is to speed up fruiting (the melon bears fruit on the 2nd row shoots). In the ground, the melon shoots run freely on the ground. Under the covers, you can lead them next to the strings, twisting the growing shoots (2 to 3 pieces) around the string. This will allow better use of the surface in the tunnel.During the growth phase, melons require constantly moist soil, so remember to water them regularly.In the 2-3 leaf stage, plants can be fed with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer at a dose of about 5-7 g / plant. The next dose of fertilizer is given during flowering.
Note!Melon is an insect-pollinated plant, pollinated by bees. Therefore, it is worth planting plants that attract bees, e.g. borage plant next to melons.
3 to 6 fruits develop on one plant. If there are more than 6 buds, it is worth removing their excess. Growingmelon fruitmay rot as a result of contact with the ground, so it is worth placing a small pot or a board under the fruit, unless we planted melons on agrotextile, which solves this problem. Depending on the weather conditions and the characteristics of themelon variety , the fruit may ripen between August and September. Ripe melons give off an intense aroma, they are easy to detach from the stalks, and their peel acquires a color characteristic of a given variety (e.g. as it matures, it turns from green to yellow).
Melon from garden cultivation. Photo Emil, forum.PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Melon - how to eat
Now that we know how to grow sweet and juicy melons in our own garden, now it's worth learninghow to eat a melonto fully taste it. Melons are usually eaten fresh, raw. It is important that they are fully ripe. Then they are aromatic, juicy, and the flesh is soft.
To peel the melon, cut it in half lengthwise, and then remove the seeds with a spoon. Then you can cut each half lengthwise into 3-4 pieces and gently cut off the skin with a knife.
Good to know!Always serve the melon slightly chilled, because then its flesh has the right consistency and the aroma is gradually released.
Melon fleshcan also be cut into small cubes and sticking on toothpicks (can be combined with blue or yellow cheese, olives or pickled onions) or added to fruit and vegetable salads or ice cream .If our melon is a bit bland, sprinkle it with lemon juice and sugar, which will enhance its flavor. A very popular combination are pieces of melon wrapped in aromatic Parma ham. This set is considered a delicious appetizer.
