Content
In 1979, the golden melon was zoned in the Lower Volga and North Caucasus regions and entered into the State Register. The variety was developed by the Krasnodar Research Institute of Vegetable and Potato Farming. In addition to Russia, it gained popularity in Moldova and Ukraine.
Description of golden melon
The mid-season annual cross-pollinated melon crop bears fruit with juicy yellow (lemon) melons with a slight orange tint that appears towards the end of ripening. The shape of golden melons is round, slightly elongated at the ends. The dense white pulp with a yellowish core is distinguished by its sweetness, tenderness and juiciness. On average, each fruit weighs 1.5-2 kg.
The middle (main) lash grows small in length, the side ones are shorter. The leaves are green with a whole edge. The surface of the fruit does not have a network when collected en masse; it can be seen only on the very first melons.
From the emergence of shoots to the technical maturity of the melon, an average of 75-85 days pass. The time for sowing in open ground, depending on the region, is the end of April or the first ten days of May. Golden melon is harvested in August and the first ten days of September. Only manual collection is used.The disease-resistant Golden melon variety needs a hot climate and low humidity. With the recommended planting density (1x1.4 m or 1x1.5 m), the yield reaches 2.5 kg per 1 m2, and on an industrial scale, up to 100 c can be obtained from 1 hectare.
Pros and cons of the variety
According to gardeners, Golden melon stands out for its advantages:
- Stable yield. Drought or lack of sunny days negatively affects ripening time, the amount of sugar in the pulp, but not the yield. Soil fertility is much more important for the successful cultivation of golden melon.
- Excellent transportability. The high density of the pulp and the hardness of the skin make it possible to transport the crop over long distances. This explains the wide geography of sales of the variety in our country.
- Excellent keeping quality. At a temperature of about + 4 0C, humidity within 70-80%, without access to sunlight, shelf life is 3-4 months.
- Disease resistance. Infection of melons by fungal and viral diseases occurs only at consistently high air humidity and low temperature, as well as in greenhouses when agricultural practice recommendations are violated.
- Golden melon is suitable for growing in open ground, as well as in greenhouses, where vines and fruits are tied to trellises.
Flaws:
- The Golden melon variety is not suitable for processing. To prepare candied fruits and obtain juice, varieties with denser pulp and a high concentration of sugars are traditionally used.
- In terms of yield, Golden melon cannot compete with other popular varieties, but this flaw is compensated by the stability of its indicators. When there is a poor harvest in neighboring areas, Golden plantings are always distinguished by a large number of ovaries.
Growing golden melon
Planting material – seeds. They are collected from fully ripened melons whose flesh has become soft. Seeds of the third year demonstrate the best germination, as is observed in many other melon crops. Therefore, if the package of golden melon seeds says “this year’s harvest,” then it is better to sow them in a year or two.
Preparing seedlings
Golden sowing is often done in open ground. Seedlings are used for greenhouses. Initially, small plastic or peat pots are prepared and filled with soil. A ready-made substrate for cucumbers is suitable. You can prepare the soil yourself. To do this, add 1 liter of sand and a glass of wood ash to 10 liters of universal soil.
The seeds are buried 2-2.5 cm. Water all the pots thoroughly and place them in a warm, well-lit place. The optimal temperature for the emergence of golden melon shoots is + 20 0C. You can place several seeds in one pot, but of the sprouts that appear, only one is left - the strongest. As the soil dries, water it, but it is important not to over-water the seedlings, as they really don’t like it. Plants aged 25-30 days are considered mature.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
Choose a site for planting golden melon that is well-lit and without shading. There should be no cucumbers, pumpkins or watermelons nearby, as cross-pollination will worsen the taste of the crop. If the amount of seasonal precipitation in a given area is too low, gardeners provide artificial watering. In the fall, the soil is dug up and humus is added to it. In the spring they dig up again, harrow and apply mineral fertilizers.
Consumption of mineral fertilizers per 1 m2 the sown area is as follows:
- 35-45 g of superphosphate;
- 15-25 g of potassium salt;
- 15-25 g of nitrogen-containing fertilizer.
Landing rules
In regions for which the Golden melon variety is zoned, seeds are sown for seedlings in the first ten days of April, and 25-day-old plants are transplanted into open ground. If they are transplanted into a greenhouse, the sowing time can be shifted by 1-2 months.
The recommended planting pattern for open ground is 1 m between rows, 1.5 m between individual bushes in a row. In greenhouse planting, 1 m is left between plants, but trellises must be used. After the ovary has formed, the fruits are placed in mesh bags and tied to supports.
Since the root system of seedlings is very delicate, gardeners prefer to use peat pots rather than plastic containers for germinating seeds. The main thing is that when transplanting, the earthen ball with roots remains intact. It cannot be buried; it is better that it protrudes slightly above the soil level.
If it was not possible to harden the seedlings due to weather conditions (it is carried out from the 15th day after emergence), then the planting must be shaded in the first few days. To do this, a net is pulled over the beds. If shade cannot be provided, then cloudy days are chosen for replanting. With a sharp cold snap down to + 10 0Film shelters are used, which are stretched over arcs of thick wire.
Watering and fertilizing
Melon is a drought-resistant crop. She does not need daily watering and rain. It is enough to provide access to moisture once a week. Moreover, after the formation of the ovaries, experienced gardeners recommend stopping artificial watering completely.This is the best guarantee that fruits will gain the maximum possible amount of sugar. Artificial watering is carried out so that water flows only under the roots of plants, but not on the foliage or ovaries.
The formation of side shoots on the bush is a signal to start feeding. Repeated watering with fertilizers is carried out during the forcing of flower buds. The main thing is to use nitrogen-containing fertilizers very carefully, as they significantly delay the ripening period. Solutions of chicken manure or mullein are applied before flowering, and after that only mineral fertilizers are allowed.
2 weeks after planting the seedlings, it is recommended to add a solution of ammonium nitrate. It is prepared at the rate of 20 g of fertilizer per 10 liters of water. 2 liters of solution are poured under each plant. The next feeding is best done with a mullein solution diluted in a ratio of 1:10. A nutrient solution prepared at the rate of dilution in 10 liters of water has proven itself:
- 50 g superphosphate;
- 30 g ammonium sulfate;
- 25 g of potassium salt.
Formation
When growing Golden melon in open ground, the method of pinching the main shoot is used. In this case, it is shortened after the appearance of 4 leaves. Side lashes are expelled from the leaf axils. A total of up to 6 ovaries are left on them. It is enough to leave 2 shoots, and each with 3 ovaries.
The same applies to greenhouse cultivation of golden melon. In this case, the main shoot is cut off above 3-4 leaves, the 2 strongest ones are selected from the side shoots and then they are carefully tied to trellises up to 2 m in height.All other shoots of the Golden melon variety are pruned.
Harvesting
The signal for harvesting the Golden melon is the wilting of the foliage and the juicy yellow color of the melons. The fruits are easily separated from the stalks. Usually this time occurs in the second half of August. It is worth noting that Golden melon is distinguished by its rapid ripening. It is not worth harvesting ahead of time, unless the weather allows you to give the crop time to reach maximum ripeness. However, you can also collect slightly greenish melons, which ripen well in boxes in the sun and indoors.
For long-term storage of golden melon, boxes are prepared, the bottom of which is lined with sawdust or straw. It is best to send them to the cellar, where the temperature is about + 4 0C. Melon of the Golden variety does not suffer during transportation and can be stored until mid-winter.
Diseases and pests
The Golden melon variety is resistant to diseases and pests. In greenhouses, sometimes, due to violations of the watering regime, there are isolated cases of infection by fungi, as well as spider mites, melon aphids and cutworms. In the first case, it is important to carefully inspect the plantings and remove affected leaves and spray them with fungicides. Fitoverm and Iskra-Bio solutions help against pests.
If traces of powdery mildew are detected, all plants are treated with sulfur powder. Consumption: 4 g per 1 m2. Golden melon will need re-treatment after 3 weeks. 20 days before the harvest date, all treatments for pests and diseases are stopped.
Reviews about the Golden melon variety
Conclusion
Golden melon is a variety that has proven itself well in the southern regions of our country, where it is grown in open ground and in greenhouses. Excellent shelf life of fruits, consistently high yields, resistance to diseases and pests, ease of care - all this distinguishes Zolotistaya from its competitors. Feedback from gardeners is positive, as are buyers from various parts of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova.
