Content
Growing melons requires a special approach. First of all, you should choose the right variety. It can be an early or mid-season melon, round or oblong in shape with different taste qualities. Melon Idyll is popular among gardeners and vegetable gardeners due to its many positive qualities.
Description of the melon variety Idyll
This variety was bred in the North Caucasus. The plant has heart-shaped leaves. Refers to medium bushy plants. For half a century, it has managed to capture the hearts of most melon lovers. Melon fruits of this variety can reach 5 kg in weight. The color of ripened fruits is yellow with a continuous mesh of white pattern. Melon Idyll is shown in the photo:
The pulp is white with a faint greenish tint. The graininess of the fruit is pronounced. Melon seeds Idyll are yellow, lanceolate. The plant contains flowers of both sexes. According to the ripening period, melon belongs to the mid-late varieties. The entire cycle from seed to seed is completed in 80 days.
It tolerates low temperatures well, but will not be able to grow normally without water.
Pros and cons of the variety
Each variety has its own advantages and disadvantages. Melon Idyll is suitable for wholesale buyers because it has a long shelf life.In addition, the advantages of the Idyll variety include:
- resistance to many diseases and pests;
- good transportability indicators;
- high yield (up to 28 tons can be harvested per hectare);
- the taste is also excellent.
But there are also some disadvantages:
- does not tolerate drought well, it is necessary to monitor watering;
- It grows in open ground only in the southern regions.
If all the nuances of agricultural technology are fully observed, the Idyll melon ripens in September and pleases sweet tooth lovers with its aroma.
Growing melon Idyll
To get the maximum yield, you need to plant the melon correctly, as well as follow all the nuances of its cultivation. First of all, it is important to choose the soil and place where the future melon crop will grow.
Preparing seedlings
Before planting a crop, it is necessary to properly grow or select seedlings. To grow, you need to select the strongest seeds and pre-soak them. Then the swollen seeds are placed in nutrient soil or in a peat cup.
After two weeks, the seedlings begin to be fed with complex mineral fertilizers. After the seedlings form 5 leaves, it is necessary to harden them. This is a procedure in which the seedlings are taken out into the open air for 15 minutes, and the time is gradually increased to 1 hour.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
The planting site should be sunny without shade. Also, there should be no drafts in the selected area. Bad predecessors for melon are carrots and pumpkin.
Melon does not like clay soil, and therefore it is better to add river sand to such soil before planting. For 1 sq. half a bucket of sand is enough.
In the spring, when digging up an area for planting melons, it is necessary to apply potassium and phosphorus fertilizers. Experts advise applying nitrogen fertilizers immediately before planting. Rotted manure will also work instead.
Landing rules
You can plant melon not only in open ground, but also in a greenhouse. For greenhouse planting, the dates can be moved a couple of weeks earlier. For the northern regions, the greenhouse planting date is May 20.
It is necessary to plant the melon at such a distance that it can weave freely. The optimal time for planting seedlings of the Idyll variety is mid-May. In open ground, the scheme for planting seedlings is 140 X 100 cm. In a greenhouse, 70 X 70 cm.
Watering and fertilizing
Particular attention should be paid to watering Idyll. This variety is demanding on soil moisture and may not produce a harvest if there is drought. At the same time, it is not recommended to waterlog the area so that the plant is not affected by powdery mildew. The best option would be to organize drip irrigation, as well as mulch the seedlings to maintain sufficient moisture in the soil.
Particular attention must be paid to feeding. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied at the time of flowering and pollination. 20 g of fertilizer per 10 liters of liquid is enough.
In order for the plant to tolerate extreme heat, potassium fertilizers are suitable. Also, with timely application of potassium fertilizers, the melon ripens faster.
Once a month, it is recommended to water the Idyll melon with an ash solution.
Formation
If the plant grows in a greenhouse, then it must be tied to trellises.This is not necessary in open ground. Formation begins when the bush has its fourth normal leaf. The stem is pinched above the fourth leaf, then the side shoot that appears is also pruned after the 5th leaf.
This is done for normal pollination. Only male flowers can be found on the main shoot. For the appearance of female flowers, the presence of side shoots must be ensured.
When growing in open ground, it is important to ensure that the leaves and shoots do not block the emerging fruits from the sun. It is necessary to put linoleum or a board under the fruit so that the fruit does not lie on the ground and begin to rot.
Harvesting
The Idyll melon harvest begins at the end of August. More precise dates depend on climatic conditions and the specific growing region, as well as on the method. Melon, unlike many fruits, does not ripen outside the bush, and therefore it cannot be picked and placed for ripening. Harvesting is necessary only when the melon is completely ripe.
The ripeness of a melon can be determined by its characteristic color, white mesh, as well as the special aroma that only ripe fruits emit. When grown in a greenhouse on trellises, it is recommended to place the fruits in a net so that they do not break off or fall to the ground. The mesh is also tied to the trellis and removed along with the fruit after full ripening.
Diseases and pests
Melon Idyll is considered a resistant variety to most classical diseases and pests. But if the rules of agricultural technology, planting, or improper care are violated, the following diseases may occur:
- powdery mildew, false and real;
- anthracosis
To avoid such pathologies, it is recommended to provide correct, but not excessive watering, and also remove all leaves that are suspected of being infected.
For prevention, it is not recommended to plant melon in areas where there were related plants, so that the crop does not catch common diseases. At the first signs of powdery mildew, the plant should be treated with special preparations. They should be diluted strictly according to the instructions.
Reviews of melon Idyll
Conclusion
Melon Idyll is suitable for growing in open ground or in a greenhouse. Does not require special care and is not susceptible to most diseases. It is important to feed the bush and form it correctly so that the plant has both male and female flowers. Then pollination will occur successfully and the harvest will be sufficient. Optimal soils are light soils with high organic values.
