Content
Serpentine melon, Armenian cucumber, Tarra - these are the names of one plant. Serpentine melon is a variety of melon, genus Cucumber, family Cucurbitaceae. Melon crop has an unusual appearance, its shape resembles a vegetable, but with the smell and taste of fruit. Melon is widespread in the Middle East and Iran. A hybrid form of cucumber and melon was cultivated in Crete, Afghanistan, and North African countries. In Russia it is grown in garden plots.
Description of snake melon
Snake melon is a herbaceous climbing plant. The main lash reaches 3 m in length. Forms many side shoots. The stem is rigidly lowered, creeping. The foliage is pale green. The shape resembles cucumber and melon leaves. The leaf blade is large, rounded, hard, with small hairs.
The fruits are oblong in shape. The color is light green. There is a slight drooping silver tint. The length of the serpentine melon reaches half a meter. Weight 1 kg. However, there are specimens weighing up to 6 kg. Unripe fruits are bright green. A sign of ripeness is the appearance of a yellow color. The skin becomes thinner. The surface acquires an uneven, rough texture.
There is no air space inside the snake-shaped fruit.The pulp is crispy, juicy, and has a delicate consistency. White color. There is a pronounced melon aroma. The watery contents have many small seeds.
Fruits are formed on the main shoot, as well as on second-order vines. The flowers of the serpentine melon are mostly heterosexual. Their color is yellow. However, bisexual flowers are also found. They are white in color.
The serpentine melon can easily be transported over long distances. One plant can grow up to 10 fruits.
Application
Serpentine melon is a melon crop that combines a variety of tastes and smells. Therefore, it is not surprising that the snake-shaped fruit is used in cooking. Eat in fresh salads and as a snack. They are also used to make preparations for the winter. However, it is worth remembering that hybrids will only be tasty when ripe.
In addition to nutritional value, the fruits are medicinal. They are used in folk medicine to treat urolithiasis, constipation, atherosclerosis, obesity, arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, and the gastrointestinal tract. Vitamins contained in the pulp of the serpentine melon in large quantities improve blood flow, intestinal motility, and stimulate the secretion of gastric juice.
Growing snake melon
There are no particular difficulties in the process of caring for a serpentine melon. Agricultural technology is similar to the principles of caring for an ordinary cucumber, which involve timely weeding, watering, fertilizing, and tying.
Preparing seedlings
Sowing serpentine melon in the ground is possible when the ground temperature is at least + 15 °C. Optimal parameters + 18-25 °C. The soil on the site usually warms up completely in the second half of May.For simultaneous germination, planting material is pre-soaked in water with a root formation stimulator. The breeding rules and the norms of the stimulant drug are indicated on the package with the seeds. If the amount of moisture in the soil meets the norm, then after a week the first shoots will appear.
In regions with colder climates, serpentine melon is grown in seedlings. The time for planting seeds in boxes is the end of April. To avoid the diving procedure, you can sow melon directly into cups.
To plant serpentine melon in the ground, it is advisable to give preference to glazed seeds. They have already been treated with special disinfectants. Each seed has its own shell, which contains the nutrients necessary for growth. Although you can try to prepare planting material yourself. To do this, select a fully ripened fruit. Remove the seeds from the middle and wash them thoroughly under running water. Next, the seeds need to dry. Store them in paper packaging or glass containers. Shelf life: 36 months.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
Serpentine melon is not demanding on the chemical composition of the soil. It tolerates light soil salinity without problems. Grows in clay soils. Good yields were observed when the crop was grown in fertile soils with low moisture levels. However, for full development, the soil must be loose and light.
Snake melon grows well in sunny areas. Direct exposure to ultraviolet rays does not have a negative effect on the plant, but, on the contrary, stimulates active growth.
Before planting, the area must be dug up and leveled. Delete weeds along with the roots. If the soil is severely depleted, it is recommended to carry mineral fertilizers.
Landing rules
The technology for planting snake-shaped melon is simple. Before planting seeds in open ground, it is necessary to check their quality. Especially if the planting material was collected with your own hands. To do this, place the seeds in a container with potassium permanganate. Unusable seeds will float to the surface. They should not be planted, as they will not produce results.
23 seeds are placed in each hole. Planting depth is 5 cm. The distance between holes is 70-80 cm, and row spacing is 150 cm.
When planting seedlings, you should follow the algorithm of agrotechnical practices:
- make a shallow hole;
- place a seedling in the center;
- sprinkle the roots with soil;
- There is no need to compact the soil tightly;
- water generously.
Since the procedure is performed after the end of spring frosts, the plants do not need shelter.
Watering and fertilizing
Serpentine melon reacts negatively to excess moisture. Therefore, watering should be plentiful, but not frequent. In dry, hot weather, once a week will be enough. If there are rainy days, the number of procedures should be reduced to twice a month.
It is preferable to choose organic fertilizers as fertilizers. In spring, you can use nitrogen-containing preparations. After planting, the serpentine crop should be fertilized with a weakly concentrated solution of mullein, and then alternated with minerals.
Vegetable crops require frequent weeding and loosening of the soil.Weeds can inhibit the growth of snake melon or shade the sun's rays. Loosening the soil must be done at least 2 times a week.
Formation
The serpentine melon does not need pinching or pinching. To prevent snake-like fruits from lying on the ground, wooden trellises are installed. Vertical supports are installed on opposite edges of the bed. A string is stretched between them, to which the twine lowered down is attached. The shoots are directed to grow on them. This promotes better ventilation, lighting and less plant-soil contact.
Harvesting
Serpentine melon is an early-ripening hybrid variety. The ripening period is 70 days from the moment the first shoots appear. One bush can grow 7-10 fruits. Fruiting lasts until the first frost.
When the harvest is ripe, it is plucked from the vines along with the stalk. Thus, the shelf life of snake melon fruits increases. The ripened vegetable is placed outside under a canopy. Straw must be laid under it to minimize the risk of fruit rotting. On average, a fully ripened snake-shaped melon can lie without loss of taste for 30-45 days.
Diseases and pests
Serpentine melon is valued by gardeners for its high resistance to powdery mildew. Tolerates temperature changes without consequences. With such immunity, it is possible to grow a natural product that is not subject to chemical treatments. The main enemy of melons is aphids. She feeds on the juice of a serpentine hybrid. Sucking out moisture, it affects most of the lashes, leading to the death of the bush. At an early stage, this insect is fought with an onion solution:
- 200 g onions;
- 50 g wood ash;
- 10 g liquid soap;
- 20 g ground black pepper;
- 10 liters of warm water.
Peel and chop the onion to a paste. Combine with remaining ingredients. To stir thoroughly. Then strain the mixture. Apply the liquid to the surface of the shoots on all sides. Repeat the procedure several times at intervals of a week.
For rare fungal infections, serpentine melon bushes are sprayed with systemic fungicides, at intervals of 7-10 days. Pests are destroyed with insecticides.
Conclusion
Serpentine melon will not only quench your thirst, but also delight you with its exotic taste. The melon crop is valued for its high yield, resistance to infections and weather conditions, and ease of cultivation. The fruits contain a rich chemical composition and have nutritional value. The plant helps in the treatment of serious diseases.
