Varieties and types of watermelon. The best early varieties of watermelons Which variety of watermelon is the most delicious

And to this day they grow in the desert dry valleys of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and other countries of the region. Unlike cultivated varieties, wild plants cannot be called either sugar or large. Pale yellow or white pulp inside 250-gram fruits is either insipid or completely bitter.

Watermelon transformation

Nevertheless, wild watermelons were highly valued in Africa, because for travelers and caravans they sometimes became the only available source of moisture. It was with trade caravans that watermelons came to the Middle East, to Asia Minor and Central Asia.

Attempts to obtain larger and sweeter fruits were made in ancient Egypt, watermelons were grown in India, Persia and China. The culture spread to Europe not earlier than the 16th-17th centuries, and those varieties of watermelons, as in the photo of one of the still lifes of that era, were much inferior to the fruits ripening in modern beds in sweetness, juiciness and color of the pulp.

Only in the last hundred years, breeders have been able to obtain an incredible number of new varieties and hybrids, giving gourmets the opportunity to taste the flesh not only red or pink, but also yellow or almost white. Yes, and the bark of watermelons in the current beds can be not only dark green or striped, but also yellow, white, spotted or marbled.

Summer residents and farmers are offered several hundred cultivars and hybrid forms that produce sweet fruits weighing from one to 90 kilograms. What are the varieties of watermelons shown in the photo “ Carolina Cross", on average growing up to 30–50 kg, but sometimes reaching a weight of almost 200 kg.

The era of Astrakhan watermelons

In Russia, watermelons have long been grown in Little Russia, in the Kuban and in the south of the Volga region, where weather conditions allowed large sweet fruits to ripen. In Soviet times and until now, watermelons from near Astrakhan enjoyed special respect and demand among buyers. The phrase "Astrakhan watermelon" meant that under a thin crust, a scarlet, sugary pulp of inimitable sweetness and aroma would be found.

This area was considered the main melon of the Soviet Union, and the main variety on the plantation was the Astrakhan watermelon.

The first crop of striped oval-shaped fruits was obtained in 1977 at the Astrakhan Institute of Vegetable and Melon Growing. Watermelons ripening 70–80 days after sowing turned out to be so fruitful that up to 120 tons of sugar watermelons were harvested from a hectare of melons, which, moreover, could be stored for up to 2.5 months and easily endure transportation. These circumstances made Astrakhan watermelons the most popular and beloved in the country.

Volgograd watermelons from the village of Bykovo

The Volgograd region occupies the second place in terms of the number of melons and gourds grown in Russia. Here, on the basis of the only specialized melon and gourd Bykovskaya breeding and experimental station in the USSR, such famous varieties of watermelons were obtained, in the photo as Kholodok, Bykovsky 22, Triumph, and more than four dozen more unpretentious to the conditions of the zone of risky farming and very productive varieties of everyone's favorite culture.

The Volgograd watermelon Kholodok of late ripening, easily stored until the New Year and during this time not losing either excellent taste or juiciness, is still considered a masterpiece of melon selection. For cultivation in summer cottages, this variety is most often chosen.

Watermelon Crimson Sweet

If Soviet and Russian breeders followed the path of obtaining varieties of watermelons that are most resistant to all the vicissitudes of the local climate, then foreign biologists have a slightly different goal in the first place. Here, large-fruited watermelons, spectacular in shape and color of the bark and pulp, with high consumer and commercial qualities, which are highly resistant to diseases, are in the greatest demand. True, in order to grow a good crop in this case, you will have to spend more effort and make a lot of money.

Of the foreign varieties, our summer residents are best known for the Crimson Sweet watermelon obtained by American breeders. The fruits of this variety do not differ in large sizes and on average have a mass of up to 5 kg. The variety, outwardly similar to the famous Astrakhan watermelon, has moderate sweetness and yields stable crops in 65–80 days.

Based on the popular variety of watermelon Crimson Sweet, many varieties have been obtained over the years, larger than the ancestor, and also able to be stored longer.

Sugar Baby: Sugar Baby Watermelon

Another old foreign variety known in Russia, Shuga Baby or Sugar Baby, produces round dark green fruits with red pulp 75–80 days after planting. Watermelon Sugar Baby outwardly resembles the famous Spark among summer residents, but is somewhat larger. Sugar baby watermelons weigh from 3 to 4.5 kg, and their flesh is characterized by pronounced graininess and sweetness.

If the variety Ogonyok, which appeared in the USSR back in 1960, had become known in the West, perhaps its round fruits with dark bark without stripes would have been called “black watermelon”. And in Japan, Ogonyok could compete with the world's most expensive Densuke watermelon with the same deep-colored skin, and it is thanks to it that it costs up to $ 250 apiece.

Moon and stars on a watermelon peel

Obviously, based on some old variety of black watermelon in 1926 in Missouri, a variety with the romantic name "Moon and Stars" was obtained. On the black-green bark of this watermelon and even on the foliage, bright yellow spots of various sizes are scattered, resembling night luminaries against the background of the night sky.

For almost a century, this variety of watermelon, as in the photo, has remained popular, and today hybrids have appeared not only with pink-red, but also with yellow flesh. Not uncommon among the "star" fruits and oblong watermelons that are popular with consumers weighing from 9 to 23 kg.

marbled watermelon

Another variety of fruits due to a thin network of dark green veins on a light background of the bark is called marbled watermelons. Usually these are oblong watermelons weighing from 5 to 15 kg with juicy, pink or red flesh, a small amount of seeds and excellent taste.

An example of a marbled watermelon is the French variety Charleston Gray, which gave rise to a whole family of fruitful orts and hybrids. Russian breeders do not lag behind their Western counterparts and presented to gardeners the early ripe Honey Giant, a watermelon variety, as in the photo, producing large fruits up to 60 cm long and weighing up to 15 kg, well resistant to drought and common crop diseases.

White watermelons can be sweet

If the bark of marbled watermelons has a light green tint with an inconspicuous pattern, then the watermelon of the American Navajo Winter variety has a skin that is almost white.

The flesh of this white watermelon can be either pink or red, but it is sure to be crunchy and very sweet. The variety is considered drought-resistant, and the fruits are easily stored for up to 4 months.

If gardeners and consumers have already gotten used to the multi-colored peel of watermelons, then the white or yellow pulp of these sweet fruits is still a curiosity for Russians. But it is precisely such unusual hybrids, obtained from crossing cultivars of watermelons and wild varieties, that are at the peak of popularity and can have flesh of all shades from creamy orange, yellow to translucent white.

True, sometimes, under the guise of a white watermelon, gullible summer residents are offered the Peruvian fig-leaved pumpkin, phycifolia, both in the shape of the foliage and in the appearance of the fruit, reminiscent of a marbled watermelon, but not able to compete with it in sweetness.

What does yellow watermelon taste like?

Yellow-fleshed watermelons are today offered to customers under the name pineapple, although the similarity of these fruits is limited only by the beautiful shade of slices, and the color change does not affect the taste of yellow watermelon.

Russian breeders offer summer residents to try pineapple watermelons collected from their own beds. Lunny watermelons are ready for harvest in 70–75 days from the moment the seedlings hatch. Fruits with an attractive striped skin grow up to 3.5-4 kg and have excellent taste characteristics.

The hybrid of domestic selection Prince Hamlet F1 is distinguished not only by precocity. Its main "highlight" is hidden under a dense thin bark. The pulp of this pineapple watermelon weighing up to 2 kg is lemon yellow, sweet.

But the variety of watermelon, in the photo, Gift of the Sun can be easily confused not with pineapple, but with melon, since the fruits of this plant have a surprisingly yellow, even bark, very reminiscent of the peel of another popular melon crop. This yellow watermelon, thanks to the accumulation of up to 12% sugar, has a great taste, juicy pulp texture and early ripening.

Today, breeding companies in the Netherlands, the USA and Japan are actively working in the field of obtaining diploid hybrids that produce seedless watermelons. For several years now, such fruits, completely devoid of seeds or having only their rudiments, have been grown in our country.

An example of this is the hybrid of the yellow watermelon Prince Hamlet, and the oblong watermelon of the American selection Stabolit F1.

Video about growing watermelons of different varieties

Watermelon has rightfully earned the title of "Sweet King of Summer". After all, this berry is not only very tasty and sweet, but also healthy - the pulp contains beta-carotene, vitamins C and PP, and fiber. It has been proven that regular consumption of watermelon reduces the likelihood of cancer. Now on the shelves of supermarkets and markets you can see a crazy variety of watermelon varieties: striped and plain, round, oval and square, seedless, red, pink, yellow and white. But the most popular among agronomists and consumers are early varieties of watermelons. It is about them that we will discuss further.

spark

This is an old variety of Kharkiv selection, notable among experienced vegetable growers. It is not without reason that it belongs to the earliest varieties of watermelons, because the harvest period from the moment of germination begins only on the 80th day. The fruit is spherical in shape, weighing up to 2.5 kg, has a thin glossy dark green skin without stripes. The seeds are very small, and the pulp is scarlet with a pronounced smell.

Growing this variety is not difficult, because it is surprisingly unpretentious and resistant to anthracnose and, in part, to powdery mildew. The only disadvantage of this variety is the short shelf life. Therefore, it is not suitable for wholesale cultivation - only for the home garden.

gift to the north

Before 70 days, you definitely will not harvest this variety. But on the 75-80th day after the emergence of seedlings, you can start harvesting. The fruits are similar in shape to the Light, but the difference is that the Gift to the North has recognizable light green stripes. The flesh is red, crispy and sugary.

This variety is excellent for open ground and mass cultivation. Seeds begin to germinate in April-May. It is transportable, long-lasting, resistant to disease and drought. The maximum fruit weight is 10 kg.

Crimson Ruby F1

This hybrid can be called very early, because the time for fruiting comes already on the 63-68th day. Oval-shaped berry with a powerful root system and spreading leaves. The skin is firm, dark green in color and barely visible wide white lines. The flesh is scarlet and the seeds are black or brown. This watermelon on the scales usually shows from 4 to 9 kg.

Ataman F1

The fruit ripens in 70-85 days. This is a powerful plant with well-developed roots and leaves. The fruit is ellipsoid, green, with pale stripes. Inside the watermelon is a bright red color with a rich sugary taste. The hybrid is high-yielding and long-term. 100 tons of crops are harvested from one hectare.

Farao F1

The ripening time is identical to the previous relatives of the Farao. This is an elongated dark green berry with light green stripes and a thin shiny skin. And the pulp is scarlet, with maroon bones. The seeds of this hybrid germinate in any soil, and the adult plant is resistant to diseases. The ripened berry does not exceed 6 kg.

Top Gun

The berries of this variety are early ripe: 60–65 days are needed for full development. This is the largest variety of all early watermelons. Its average weight is 14 kg. This is a green-yellow minke whale with scarlet flesh. The variety is resistant to fungal diseases; as a result, 20–22 kg of crop can be obtained from one grown bush.

Photon

Sowing with seeds begins in May, and planting seedlings in early June with a 100 × 100 planting pattern. The ripened berry has an oval shape, an elastic, grassy-colored peel, and red flesh. The seeds are large and black. Fruits weighing from 6 to 9 kg are harvested in July.

Bonta F1

Ripening period 60-80 days. The fruit is round, relatively small: weighing up to 7 kg. Light green skin with dark stripes. Inside the watermelon is bright red, it tastes one of the sweetest.

Sludge delicate F1

About 70 days the fruits of this variety ripen. It looks like a watermelon “like from a picture”: bright green, with clearly defined stripes, scarlet inside. It is not grown on all types of soil, and only in warm, well-lit places. The fruits come out relatively small - 2-3 kg.

sweet diamond

This variety needs only 75 days to fully mature. The shape is round, slightly elongated, weight - 3-6 kg. The bark is thin and striped. The flesh is blood red, juicy, sugary. Transportability and safety at a high level.

Nice

Watermelon with long - from 1.5 m - lashes. Fruits are oval, glossy, weighing 5-6 kg on average. The skin is not thick - only 1-1.5 cm, and under it is light red flesh. The shelf life of this variety is a month.

Due to the long lashes, this watermelon cannot be called easy to care for. Constantly need to tie up and cut off the shoots. Productivity, in comparison with other grades, low. But watermelon is resistant to various diseases.

Sugar Lightning F1

Another ultra-early watermelon that grows well in central Russia. Harvest can be obtained in just 60 days. The name of the variety corresponds to the taste of the fruit. This berry tastes cloyingly sweet, like honey. Its flesh is scarlet-red, fragrant, and the peel is dark, without stripes. The leaves are small, widely dissected. A feature of this variety is its cold resistance.

Skorik

Watermelon Skorik does not differ in precocity from its early relatives. This variety was bred back in 1997, but is still popular and has a good reputation. The ripening period is 65–85 days. The fruit has a rounded shape and a striped color. This variety requires sunny weather and fertile soil. Excessive rate of organic fertilizer adversely affects its development. It is better to use phosphorus-potassium top dressing.

Sorento F1

Watermelon Sorento F1 is a high-yielding early hybrid. From one hectare you can collect 60 tons. This watermelon ripens up to 80 days. You can plant both indoors and outdoors, only the planting pattern will be different. If for open ground the optimal size is 140 by 100 cm, then for closed ground it is 70 by 70 cm. As a result, medium-sized fruits weighing 9 kg are obtained. Its flesh is tender, rich red, with a rich aroma, and the peel is green and striped.

Lady F1

Dutch breeders have bred the vigorous watermelon Lady F1. Its lashes can reach a length of 5 m. The plant is round-elongated with dark green wide veins.

The peel is thick - 2.5 cm, and the flesh is red, without fibers. This early variety is renowned for its resistance to cracking, anthracnose and fusarium.

It is better to buy watermelon seeds in specialized stores, where they provide agronomic advice and guarantee germination.

Video "Overview of the best varieties of watermelon"

In this video you will hear about the best varieties of watermelons.

Watermelons are a favorite treat for both children and adults. Therefore, be sure to allocate at least a small area in your garden for planting gourds. On how to choose a delicious variety and get a good harvest, I will share my experience. Among them are not only ordinary, but also exotic, with various combinations of colors, unusual shapes and excellent sweet, sometimes even fruity taste. All varietal watermelons can be ordered from me.

Planting a watermelon in the Krasnodar Territory

The end of April and the beginning of May are always hot in Kuban. Planted seedlings at this time take root for a very long time. But there is one way to avoid this.

Place to land

• I usually choose a place for planting gourds with autumn.
• With a shovel I dig several parallel trenches at a distance of 0.6-0.7 m from each other, to a depth of 30-40 cm.
• At the bottom of the groove I put fresh manure and various garden organic debris (small branches, leaves, etc.), and on top I fall asleep with earth.

Transplanting

• In the spring, when all the snow melts and the soil warms up, I add a little more earth.
• Having spilled the grooves in the evening with a hot solution of manganese, in the morning I plant seedlings in them. The tops of the seedlings should not rise above the soil level (the edges of the trench).
• To protect the seedlings from the bright sun, I shade them with willow branches, which I stick with a tent into the edges of the ditch. And that's it, you can forget about seedlings for a week or two.
• During this time, the plants will take root perfectly and quickly grow. Only after that you can already remove the shelters.
• The feeding area of ​​each seedling was determined to be approximately 1 m², and the plants began to develop under the open sun.

Soil for planting

The taste and aroma of watermelons, like melons, largely depends on the composition of the soil.

• Heavy, clayey and poor soils are not suitable for growing watermelons and melons.
• Melons prefer light sandy, fertile soils without stagnant water and are very fond of the sun.
• The more sunny days, the sweeter the fruits.

Photo: Watermelon variety Cream Of Saskat

Watermelon care: watering, pinching, prevention

In order to get the most delicious fruits of watermelons already in August, you need to take care of this in advance: pinch and pinch plants on time and correctly, monitor watering, and apply organic top dressing for growth, development and disease prevention.

Pasynkovanie watermelons

1. To do this, you should trim the extra lashes - the plant spends its strength on them, and absolutely all the fruits that have begun to ripen in the conditions of the middle lane will not be able to ripen, this is a proven fact.
2. Therefore, watermelons need to cut out all the side lashes, leaving only the main one - female flowers form on it.

How to stepson watermelons:

Do not pinch the main stem!

• We pluck out stepsons.
• Large-fruited varieties leave 3-4 fruits.
• Small-fruited 4-6 fruits.
• We leave 6-7 leaves and pinched the top.
• Leave 1-2 shoots per plant. And on a watermelon, both 7 and 8 stems usually grow ...
• Between the leaf and the main stem there is a stepson, like a tomato or cucumber, you pluck it!

watering watermelon

1. After planting a watermelon bush in the ground around it, I form deepening with a radius of at least 1 m, in which regular watering should be carried out so that the water immediately goes under the root, and does not spread in different directions.
2. Also a must mulch the surface of the soil, and it doesn’t matter what you have - straw, hay, grass, any husk is suitable for these purposes. The trunk circle is mulched with a radius of 0.5-1 m.

top dressing

1-2 weeks after planting, the watermelon will begin to grow actively. At this time, you need to start feeding him.

• You can feed with herbal infusion or yeast - both of these top dressings are optimal for watermelon.
• Watermelon should be fed regularly every 10-15 days.

Prevention of late blight

• Watermelons suffer greatly from phytophthora.
• Top dressing in the form of a yeast solution saves the plant from this scourge.

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I shared about the varieties and features of growing melons in my other article:

Varieties of watermelons

Many have their own proven favorite varieties that are grown year after year. But not every gardener knows that the world of melons is very diverse and counts in thousands of varieties, including amateur ones. In this note I want to talk about the varieties of watermelons that I was lucky to grow.

I think many gardeners would like to try to grow at least a few plants of such a miracle on their site. After all, many of these varieties, in addition to all of the above, have excellent decorative qualities.

Photo: Varieties of watermelon Snake of Georgia

Cream Of Saskatchewan (Watermelon Cream, Saskatchewan)

An old variety allegedly brought by Russian immigrants to Canada. Productive, drought tolerant. Round fruit with light green thin skin and dark green stripe. White or creamy flesh, excellent very sweet taste. It can reach a weight of up to 10 kg, but usually 4-5 kg. Well suited for the northern regions, ripening 80 days.

Photo: Cream Of Saskatchewan variety

Orange Peach - An exotic, rare, early ripening variety from the USA. The period from germination to harvest is 90 days. The fruits are round - elongated, green with dark green stripes, weighing 5 - 6 kg. The flesh is yellow-orange, very tender and sweet. The plant is productive and disease resistant. The supplier country is the USA.

Photo: Variety Orange Peach

Peach (Peach) - Early variety, ripening period - 90 days. The fruits are round - elongated, green with dark green stripes, weighing 5 - 6 kg. The flesh is orange-pink, reminiscent of a peach in color and taste, very tender and sweet. Exotic, rare variety!

Photo: variety Peach (Peach)

Tender Sweet Bi-Colour - Medium climbing plant, early maturing (85-90 days). The fruits are round, slightly flat, green in color with dark green stripes and with a yellow spot on the side. The flesh is red, with an orange tint. Very tasty, sweet, refreshing, delicious taste. Weight on average 3-4 kg.

Photo: Tender Sweet Bi-Colour

Tender Sweet Orange - 85-90 days. Delicate watermelon of sweet orange-pink color. The fruits are elongated, dark green in color with light green stripes and yellow spots. The flesh is orange with a pink tint. Very tasty, sweet, refreshing, delicious taste. This is one of the best varieties of watermelon with orange-pink flesh. Weight on average 4-5 kg, but can grow up to 20 kg.

Photo: Variety Tender Sweet Orange

Yellow Wonder - An early maturing variety that ripens 70-75 days after sowing. The fruits are elongated-oval, leveled, with a strong bark of a beautiful rich yellow color. The average weight of the fruit is 4.5 kg. The pulp is bright red, juicy, aromatic, with a taste of carrots. The sugar content is 10-11%. Seeds are small, black.

Photo: Yellow Wonder variety

Snake of Georgia - Variety Snake of Georgia, you will not immediately understand that this is a watermelon. The pattern on the bark is exactly like snake skin. An early variety, suitable for outdoor cultivation in central and southern Russia. The plant is climbing, the main lash is of medium length to long. The fruit is oblong-oval, smooth, salad green, with prickly light green stripes of medium width. Fruit weight 10 kg. The pulp is bright scarlet, sweet, with a unique aroma.

Photo: variety Snake of Georgia

Golden - Variety from China. Ultraearly, 63-70 days. The plant is medium climbing, medium leafy. The fruits are not large, rounded, bright green-golden in color, thin-skinned. The flesh is intensely golden yellow, soft-grained, juicy, sweet with the aroma of watermelon and exotic fruits. The average fruit weight is 1-2 kg. High yielding, drought tolerant variety.

Photo: Variety Golden

Golden teacher - Variety with golden-green-yellow bark. Early maturing: from germination to ripening - 68-73 days. The plant is short, compact. The fruits are smooth, rounded, weighing 3.5-4.5 kg. The flesh is bright red-orange, tender-grainy, juicy and very sweet. The sugar content reaches 10.4-11.0%

Photo: Variety Golden teacher

Shining Cream - American selection. Mid-season. The fruits are round, the skin is white-yellow-cream, with green longitudinal stripes. The flesh is orange-pink, very sweet. Weight up to 3 kg. Up to 8 fruits are knitted on one bush.

Photo: variety Shining Cream

Fu-Then - The plant is long-branched, widely branched, early ripening up to 60 days. The fruits are oval, weighing 1-2 kg. The bark is thin, white-golden with faint green strokes, the flesh is bright red, juicy, sweet. High yield both in the greenhouse and in the open field, sets up to 8 fruits at the same time.

Photo: Variety Phu-Then

Hong Tsai Bao - Early (70-80 days). Miracle of the Chinese collection. The plant is long-leafed, medium leafy, simultaneously sets up to 25 fruits. The fruits are round, portioned, weighing 1-2 kg, they are distinguished by a delicious taste and precocity. The bark is dark green with a black pattern. The pulp is bright yellow, sugary-granular, with an amazing honey taste. It has a particularly long fruiting period. This variety is easy to care for, grows well both in open ground and in a greenhouse. Can be grown even on the balcony, the fruits in this case will be 300-500 g

Jing-Kang-Xiao-Huan - (Beijing small yellow stove) (China) - a variety of very early watermelon with yellow flesh of the highest quality. Long fruiting period. The fruits are beautiful, rounded, weighing 1.5-2 kg. The correct pattern stands out on a light green peel. The pulp is crystal yellow, sweet, refreshing, tender, the peel is thin. It can be grown both on the ground and on a trellis.

Photo: Variety Jing-Kang-Xiao-Huan

Miracle berry - An early ripening thin-skinned variety with juicy yellow-creamy-pink flesh, a vegetative period of 80-90 days, round fruits of dark green color. Cultivation is simple, sowing in open/protected soils is possible. Timely sowing and removal of lateral shoots will bear fruits weighing from 2 to 4 kg. The berry is indispensable in the preparation of nutritious watermelon honey, candied fruits. Seeds of medium size (length 13.0-14.0 mm, width 8.0-9.0 mm), light brown, smooth.

Amber - A medium-sized, round-oval watermelon with a dark green skin with light strokes, similar to the sun's rays. Juicy, sweet pulp, unusual bright orange color with small dark few seeds.

Photo: Variety Amber

The taste is simply outstanding - reminiscent of a real sherbet, will give everyone great pleasure. The skin is so thin that the watermelon consists almost entirely of pulp. For better ripening, 1-2 fruits are left on the plant. From sowing to ripening 80 days. The weight of one berry is 3-4 kg.

Photo: Variety of watermelon Yantar

Until recently, watermelon was a real miracle from the South, and long queues lined up at retail outlets for it. Now you won’t surprise anyone with a watermelon, the price for them is low, and if you have a desire, you can grow a watermelon even in the center of Russia.

Thanks to the work of breeders of varieties and hybrids of this crop, 210 pieces are quite enough in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. Of course, it makes no sense to describe all of them. We decided to tell you about those watermelons that can, firstly, be purchased at retail, and secondly, which have already gained popularity in the market.

The best new varieties of watermelon:

Azhur Suite F1, the originator of the hybrid agricultural company "SeDeK", is an F1 hybrid, characterized by a medium early ripening period, weaving with an extended main lash. The leaf blades of the plant are medium, grayish-greenish, dissected and slightly wrinkled. Watermelon has a rounded shape, slightly prickly dark green stripes of medium width, located on a green background. The mass of pumpkin reaches 8 kilograms. The crust is medium in thickness, conceals scarlet pulp, medium in density, good taste. The seeds of the hybrid are small, brownish in color with a dotted pattern. From a square meter, you can collect up to six kilograms of fruit (600 centners per hectare). After harvesting, the fruit can lie without damage for one month.

cultivar Erofei, the originator of the variety, the Gavrish company, is a variety that is distinguished by an average ripening period, weaving with a long main lash. Leaf blades are large, grayish-greenish, dissected and wrinkled. Watermelon has a rounded shape and a green background, devoid of stripes. The mass of the fruit of the variety reaches 6 kilograms. The crust is medium in thickness, conceals a dark pink-red flesh, very dense, of good taste. The seeds are small, brownish in color with a dotted and spotted pattern. From a square meter, you can collect up to 4.5 kilograms of fruits of the variety (450 centners per hectare). After harvesting, the fruit can lie without damage for a month. Of the undoubted advantages, it is worth noting the excellent transportability of products.

Star, the originator of the Poisk agricultural firm, is a variety characterized by a medium early ripening period, plaiting with a long main lash. Watermelon leaf blades are large, greenish, dissected and slightly wrinkled. Watermelon has a cylindrical shape and a green or dark green background, devoid of stripes, but with spots. The mass of the fruit of the variety reaches 12 kilograms. The crust is medium in thickness, conceals a pinkish-reddish pulp, medium in density, excellent taste. The seeds are large, brownish in color with a dotted pattern. From a square meter, you can collect up to five kilograms of fruit (500 centners per hectare). After harvesting, the fruit can lie without spoilage for up to 50 days.

Uchkuduk, the originator of the variety, the Gavrish company, is a variety that is distinguished by a medium early ripening period, weaving with a long main lash. Watermelon leaf blades are medium, grayish-greenish, dissected and wrinkled. The watermelon has a rounded shape and a light green background, devoid of stripes, but with spots. The mass of pumpkin reaches 6 kilograms. The rind is very thin, conceals a pinkish pulp, medium in density, good taste. The seeds of the variety are large, brownish in color with a dotted pattern. From a square meter, you can collect up to five kilograms of fruit. After harvesting, the fruit can lie without damage for a month.

Peasant F1, the originator - SeDeK agricultural firm, is a hybrid characterized by early ripening, wickerwork with a main lash of short length. The leaf blades of the plant are medium, oblong, greenish, medium dissected. Watermelon has a rounded shape, slightly prickly dark green narrow stripes located on a light green background. The mass of the fruit of the hybrid reaches 4 kilograms. The crust is medium in thickness, conceals a reddish pulp, medium in density, excellent taste. The seeds are small, brownish in color with a spotted and dotted pattern. The maximum yield is 12 kilograms per square meter. After harvesting, the fruit can lie without damage for about a month. Zoned in the middle lane Russia. Joy F1, the originator of the SeDeK agricultural firm, is a hybrid characterized by early ripening, weaving with a small main lash. Leaf blades are small, grayish-greenish, strongly dissected. Watermelon has a rounded shape, slightly prickly dark green narrow stripes located on a light green background. The mass of the fetus reaches 3 kilograms. The crust is medium in thickness, conceals a pinkish pulp, medium in density, excellent taste. The seeds of the hybrid are small, brownish in color with a dotted and spotted pattern. The maximum yield is 13 kilograms per square meter. After harvesting, the fruit can lie without damage for a little more than a month. Zoned in the middle lane Russia.

Suga Baby, the originator of the Poisk agricultural firm, is a variety characterized by early ripening, wickerwork with a main lash of short length. Leaf blades are small, grayish-greenish, strongly dissected. The watermelon has a round shape, stripes of medium width, colored darker than the background, which has a dark green color. The mass of pumpkin reaches 2 kilograms. The peel is thin, fraught with reddish pulp, very soft, excellent taste. The seeds are small, brownish in color with a spotted pattern. The maximum yield is 200 centners per hectare. Of the undoubted advantages of the variety, its resistance to low spring air temperatures should be noted. Zoned in the middle lane Russia.

American F1, originator of the hybrid agrofirm "Poisk". Approved for use in Nizhnevolzhsky region. This is a triploid, characterized by a medium early ripening period (up to 70 days), weaving with a main lash of medium length. The leaf blades of the plant are medium, greenish, dissected. Watermelon has a broadly elliptical shape, slightly prickly green stripes of medium width, located on a light green background. There is a slight spotting. The mass of the fetus reaches 5 kilograms. The crust is thin, conceals a scarlet pulp, medium in density, good taste. The seeds of the hybrid are small, sometimes they are not at all. The yield reaches 240 centners per hectare. After harvesting, the fruit can lie without damage for a little more than a month. Of the undoubted advantages should be called high drought resistance, resistance to low temperatures, good transportability. Barrel of honey, the originator of the variety Aelita Agrofirm, is a variety characterized by a medium early ripening period, wickerwork with an extended main lash. The leaf blades of the plant are medium, grayish-greenish, strongly dissected and slightly wrinkled. Watermelon has a cylindrical shape, blurred, dark green, wide stripes on a green background. The mass of pumpkin varieties reaches 3 kilograms. The crust is medium in thickness, fraught with pinkish flesh, rather dense, of good taste. Seeds are small, cream-colored, devoid of pattern. From a square meter, you can collect up to two kilograms of fruit (200 centners per hectare). After harvesting, the fruit can be transported over long distances.

Heather honey F1 North Caucasian and Nizhnevolzhsky regions. This is an F1 hybrid, characterized by early ripening (from 68 days), weaving with a main lash of medium length. Leaf blades of the plant are large, greenish, dissected and slightly wrinkled. The watermelon has a rounded shape, slightly prickly green and very narrow stripes, located on a light green background. The mass of pumpkin hybrid reaches 7 kilograms. The crust is medium in thickness, conceals scarlet pulp, medium in density, excellent taste. The seeds are small, brownish in color with a dotted and spotted pattern. The yield reaches 375 centners per hectare. After harvesting, the fruit can lie without damage for a little more than a month. Of the positive properties, one can also note excellent transportability, drought resistance, resistance to anthracnose and fusarium.

Volgogradets KRS 90, the originator of the variety is the agricultural firm Poisk. Approved for use in North Caucasian and Nizhnevolzhsky regions. This is a variety that is characterized by early ripening (from 65 days), weaving with an extended main lash. The leaf blades of the plant are medium, greenish, dissected. Watermelon has a broadly elliptical shape, slightly prickly, very wide green stripes and faint spots on a light green background. The mass of the fetus reaches 8 kilograms. The rind is thick, conceals a dark scarlet pulp, medium in density, good taste. The seeds are small, brownish in color with a dotted and spotted pattern. The yield of the variety reaches 478 centners per hectare. Of the advantages, it should be noted high transportability, drought resistance, resistance to short-term temperature drops. Deli F1, the originator of the hybrid agricultural firm SeDeK, is a hybrid characterized by early ripening, weaving with a main lash of medium length. The leaf blades of the plant are medium, greenish, dissected. Watermelon has a broadly elliptical shape, slightly prickly dark green narrow stripes located on a light green background. The mass of the fetus reaches 4 kilograms. The crust is thin, conceals a scarlet pulp, medium in density, excellent taste. The seeds of the hybrid are small, brownish in color with a dotted and spotted pattern. From a square meter, you can collect up to five kilograms of fruit. After harvesting, the fruit can lie without damage for a month. Transportability is weak, but high drought resistance.

Green torpedo F1, the originator of the hybrid is the Gavrish company. Approved for use by North Caucasian and Nizhnevolzhsky regions. This is an F1 hybrid, characterized by early ripening (from 64 days), weaving with a main lash of medium length. Leaf blades of the plant are large, greenish, dissected and slightly wrinkled. Watermelon has a cylindrical shape, prickly dark green, narrow, stripes located on a green background. The mass of the fruit of the hybrid reaches 6 kilograms. The crust is medium in thickness, conceals scarlet pulp, medium in density, good taste. The seeds are quite large, dark brown in color with a dotted and spotted pattern. The yield reaches 330 centners per hectare. After harvesting, the fruit can lie without damage for a little more than a month. Transportability is high, the hybrid is resistant to fusarium, anthracnose, heat-resistant and drought-resistant.

Irinka F1, the originator of the hybrid agricultural firm "SeDeK", is an F1 hybrid, characterized by early ripening, weaving with a main lash of medium length. The leaf blades of the plant are medium, greenish, dissected and slightly wrinkled. The watermelon has a rounded shape, slightly prickly green and narrow stripes, located on a light green background. The mass of pumpkin reaches 6 kilograms. The crust is thin, conceals a scarlet pulp, medium in density, good taste. The seeds of the hybrid are small, black in color with a dotted and spotted pattern. From a square meter, you can collect up to six kilograms of fruit. After harvesting, the fruit can lie without damage for about a month. Watermelons can be transported over short distances (up to 50 km). Carlson, the originator of the SeDeK agricultural firm, is a variety characterized by a medium early ripening period, weaving with a main lash of medium length. The leaf blades of the plant are medium, greenish, dissected and slightly wrinkled. Watermelon has a round shape, slightly prickly green, very wide, stripes located on a green background. The mass of fruits of the variety reaches 7 kilograms. The crust is medium in thickness, conceals scarlet pulp, medium in density, good taste. The seeds are small, brownish in color with a dotted and spotted pattern. From a square meter, you can collect up to four kilograms of fruit. After harvesting, the fruit can lie without damage for a month. Transportability is good.

These are the best new varieties and hybrids of watermelon, where there is no indication of tolerance regions, the originator indicates “all regions” everywhere. If any of you, our dear readers, grew any of these varieties or another, write to us about it in the comments, it will be interesting and useful for everyone.

When you want to quench your thirst in the summer heat, a cold watermelon comes to mind. Indeed, it is impossible to spend the summer period without tasting these wonderful juicy fruits. However, such a culture is not limited to the most famous varieties. There are others that are not inferior in their taste and varietal qualities to those berries to which we are accustomed.

The purpose of breeding new varieties

Due to climate change, it is becoming more and more difficult to grow gourds. Therefore, breeders are trying to develop new varieties of watermelons that are less whimsical and can adapt to changes in weather conditions. It would be useful for every gardener to learn about such varieties, since some of them can be grown in the northern regions. With this information, farmers may want to radically change the way they grow their crops. The article provides a description of the varieties of watermelons. The photos below illustrate the external differences of these amazing fruits.

Botanical description of watermelon

Creeping plant with flexible, far-growing shoots, reaches 3 meters in length or more. Each of the stems has branched tendrils and dissected individual leaves. Flowers pale yellow, large.

The fruit is a false berry, the classic color of which varies from light pink to bright scarlet. The rind of the watermelon is mostly green in color with various stripes or dashes. The shape of the fruit is spherical or oval.

Brief information

Watermelon is a herbaceous crop belonging to the plant. The plant is successfully cultivated in regions with short winters and a long hot period in summer. The gourd culture is drought-resistant, and it feels great in the steppe territories and the Mediterranean.

In Russia, watermelons are grown on a large scale in the Volga region and southern regions. In these regions, the fruits have time to ripen on their own in the fields. In the northern regions, farmers have to use auxiliary methods to fully ripen watermelons. For this purpose, greenhouses and special manure pits are used, sprinkled with earth in the form of a hill. Experienced farmers manage to get rich harvests of watermelons and not in very favorable conditions for this crop.

What does a beginner farmer need to know?

To get a good harvest of tasty and juicy berries, novice farmers should find out what varieties of watermelons are grown in their area. The right choice of seed material is always the key to the expected result.

In special stores you can buy growing even in Siberia. There is a sufficient selection of crops that can tolerate a drop in temperature, and also have strong immunity to anthracosis. There are early and late types of melons.

For the middle zone of the country, growing a crop in a greenhouse is a suitable option. For the arrangement of such premises, a dense film or polycarbonate is usually used. This material allows the penetration of air and light, which are necessary for seed germination and

Seeds before planting watermelons should be treated with copper sulphate. This will protect the plants from diseases.

Early cultures

Fruits with an early ripening period are usually not large and have a less pronounced taste characteristic of watermelons. But their plus is that already 45 days after the formation of the first leaves, it will be possible to feast on their fruits, even in cities such as Orel and Kaluga.

Here are some names of watermelon varieties bred for early cultivation: Ultra early, Spark, Siberian fires. Below we consider each type of pumpkin culture separately:

• Ultra early. The most resistant variety to temperature extremes. The bright scarlet berry is rich in sucrose. Pulp with veins and medium-sized black seeds. Full maturation of the fetus occurs after 2.5 months.
• Twinkle. One of the earliest types of watermelons, the fruits of which can be harvested after 45-50 days after germination. The culture quickly adapts to new climatic conditions after disembarkation and is unpretentious in care. The fruits are round, with a uniform dark green skin. The pulp is sweet, watery. Weight - 1-3 kg (the first fruits are usually smaller).
• Siberian lights. The culture is adapted to adverse climatic conditions and is resistant to Fusarium. Suitable for regions with a short summer period and a lack of sunlight. It is grown in seedlings with transplantation in open ground or in greenhouses. The duration of plant development from planting to harvest is about 80 days. Watermelons of this species have a dark green color and narrow small dashes. The variety Siberian Lights is characterized by a thin skin of the fruit and small beige seeds. The pulp is light in color, sweet, has a porous structure.

Late varieties of watermelons

• Chill. This variety is characterized by good transportability and keeping quality of fruits. Juicy red berry has large brownish seeds with speckles. The fruits are round, deep green in color, with dark stripes of indefinite shape. The bush has a strong vegetative development. Its powerful lashes grow to 4-5 m. The ripening period of watermelons is 2.5-3 months, the fruit weight can reach up to 5 kg.
• Icarus. Among other types of watermelons, one can single out such features of the variety as crop stability and a long period of fruit storage. Under the right conditions, the berries can be stored for up to 6 months and are suitable for preservation and pickling. The plant tolerates drought well and is resistant to fusarium, but is not protected from anthracnose. A bush with a long leading lash. The leaves are dissected, with a weak gray bloom and a barely noticeable fluff. Dark green fruits with a pattern in the form of studded stripes, the peel is not thick, elastic. Inside the berry has a raspberry or red color, sweet, with a pronounced watermelon flavor. Seeds brownish, small. The average weight of one fruit is 5.5 kg.

Photos of types of watermelons of early and late varieties can be found in the article.

Mid-season

• Astrakhan The most popular watermelons, in demand among buyers and farmers. They are valued for high yields, disease resistance, and long shelf life. Massive berries with a thin skin can reach a weight of 6 kg. They have a fresh aroma and amazing sugary taste - this is the sweetest variety of watermelon. The shape of the fruit is oblong, with a striped surface. The pulp has a pronounced red color. Seeds black, medium size.
• Black Prince. It is resistant to temperature fluctuations and is characterized by good preservation of fruits. The bush is large with a long main lash and wide green leaves. The fruits have an oval, rather elongated shape. The internal contents of the berry are bright red with dark dotted seeds and a loose structure. Skin of medium density. The average ripening period is 95 days.

Unusual types of pumpkin culture

Thanks to their diligence and ingenuity, some farmers turn everyone's favorite berry into a curiosity. For example, a farmer from Arizona managed to grow a real giant watermelon. The huge berry, which was named Carolina Cross, reached 122 kg in weight.

There are large varieties of watermelons in our country. These include the following types of culture: Palladin F1 (20 kg), Crimson glory F1 (up to 16 kg), Astrakhan (10 kg), Charleston gray (up to 12 kg) and Russian size (over 60 kg).

Farmers from Japan found it necessary to diversify the shape of the fruit for successful transportation. Regardless of the types of watermelons, their fruits grow square. As soon as small ovaries appear on the bushes, they are carefully placed in wooden boxes in which they continue to grow and eventually take on their shape.

There is a unique variety of gourds of miniature size (2 cm), which is considered a delicacy. You can taste this fruit only in chic restaurants in America. It doesn't have the classic watermelon taste and is more like a cucumber.

In Russia, you can find watermelons with white and slightly greenish skins. Their flesh is cream and white. Fruits with a light lemon flavor are also grown, the description of which is given below.

• Lunar. One of the most unconventional varieties for this culture is yellow watermelon. The unusual color of the pulp with small brown seeds does not detract from the taste of the berry. The shape of the fruit is similar to an ellipse, its surface is smooth, green, with dark stripes. Bush with medium size lashes and small leaves. The period from sowing seeds to the full ripening of watermelons is about 90 days. Fruits weighing up to 3 kg can be stored for 30 days after harvest.
• Vector. It has a nutmeg taste and has a large amount of monosaccharides. This peculiar aftertaste distinguishes watermelon from all its "brothers".

Unique types of watermelons and photos with their image can be seen below.

Harvesting

The fruits of the culture in question do not have the ability to ripen after they are removed from the bushes. Therefore, the task is to correctly establish the full maturity of the watermelon. The types of varieties do not matter here, since all signs of the suitability of the fruit are determined by the vegetative appearance and touch.

• The first thing they pay attention to is the stalk and mustache. They must be completely dry. Accordingly, the fetus no longer receives proper nutrition and is ready for use.
• A yellow spot where the watermelon touched the ground indicates its maturity.
• If you hit the watermelon with a light click and at the same time it will ring dully, then you can safely tear the fruit from the bush.
• In species of watermelons that have a thin peel, you can hear the crackling of the pulp when squeezing the fruit.

Watermelon Growing Methods in Cold Climate Regions

Gardeners who decided to plant a southern crop in more severe conditions did not regret it. Undoubtedly, diligence and experience are important here. But there are two ways that significantly accelerate the ripening of fruits in the short period of time that the northern summer gives.

On the site, the brightest and warmest place is chosen, and warm beds are prepared on it. They need to be placed so that different types of watermelons do not grow too close to each other, and do not pollinate. Since pumpkin culture tends to spread, a distance of about 80 cm should be left between the compost grooves.

The beds are deepened by 40-50 cm and laid with dry grass, straw, hay and organic waste. Sprinkle with compost or humus on top, and the last layer with fertile soil. Such compost "pillows" have been prepared since autumn. They can be covered on top with some material so that moisture remains in them until spring.

The second method is growing watermelons in greenhouses in an upright position. Tapestries are prepared in advance for tying plants. Bushes are formed, leaving two lashes on them. When the fruits grow up and gain weight, they are partially placed in the so-called mesh-juices, which are securely tied to the base. When heat sets in, the film on the greenhouse must be removed so that the watermelons develop in natural conditions.

Application

Most often, berries are used for pickling and conservation. For this purpose, they can be removed a little unripe.

Jam and candied fruits are cooked from the peel of watermelons, and are also used as a medicine. The crusts from ripe watermelons are washed, cut into thin strips, and dried well on the street or in special dryers. An infusion from this part of the plant relieves puffiness.

If you prepare dried watermelon flowers from summer, then in winter this medicine will serve as an excellent expectorant.

fruit value

Fresh watermelon berries, as well as products made on their basis, have positive effects on many processes in the human body. They cleanse the kidneys and even help to crush and remove stones. Watermelons improve the process of hematopoiesis, strengthen the immune system, normalize the functioning of the prostate gland, help in the treatment of colitis, sclerosis, dropsy and arthritis.

Conclusion

We hope that the types of watermelons, photos, names of some of them provided in our article will help draw certain conclusions and choose the right variety for your area.