Contents
Ethiopian melon is the result of domestic selection. It is distinguished by its compact size and good taste. The variety is suitable for cultivation in household plots and farms.
Description of melon Ethiopian
Ethiopian melon is a climbing plant that brings a crop in the middle terms. The period from seed germination to fruit ripening takes up to 3 months. The leaves are green, medium, slightly dissected.
- round shape;
- bright yellow with orange undertones;
- pronounced ribbing;
- weight from 2,3 to 2,8 kg.
The pulp is tender, orange. The aroma is strong, typical of the culture. The taste is good, sweet. Seeds yellowish, medium size.
Where is Ethiopian melon grown?
In 2013, the Ethiopian variety was included in the State Register for the Lower Volga region, but it is also suitable for planting in other southern regions. The hybrid is recommended for dry farming, where soil irrigation occurs in the spring when the snow melts. The variety is suitable for planting in private farms.
Pros and cons of the variety
Ethiopian Benefits:
- good taste;
- drought resistance;
- productivity;
- transportability;
- high content of nutrients in the pulp.
Недостатки дыни Эфиопка:
- the need for top dressing;
- susceptibility to fungal diseases;
- low resistance to temperature changes.
How to choose an Ethiopian melon
Ethiopian melon is often grown for sale. It goes on the market in August. First evaluate the integrity of the peel. It is best to find a fetus that is free of damage, dents, dark spots, and other defects. Ripe specimens have a yellow-orange color, a rough surface and a rough mesh.
You can choose a melon by sound. To determine ripeness, you need to hit the surface of the fruit. If the sound is deaf, then it is ready for use. A loud sound indicates that the fruit is not yet ripe enough.
Another way to determine ripeness is by the “tail”. If it is dry, then the fruit was picked ripe. You can also press on the attachment point of the stem. In a ripe Ethiopian melon, it is a little soft, in a green one it is hard. If this place is too soft, then the specimen is overripe and not suitable for use.
Useful properties of Ethiopian melon
Ethiopian melon stands out for its beneficial properties. The pulp contains fiber, potassium, vitamins B, C, PP, copper, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, carbohydrates, organic acids. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system and helps lower cholesterol. Vitamins B regulate metabolic processes, and trace elements ensure the functioning of the heart, blood vessels and other organs. Fiber stimulates intestinal activity, folic acid normalizes hormonal levels.
Melon is consumed fresh, frozen, dried, marshmallow and jam are prepared from the pulp. Fruits are added to the menu two hours before or after meals. The product is considered heavy on the stomach and can disrupt the digestive process.
The daily norm of the product is not more than 300 g. It is recommended to use it for diseases of the liver, bladder, atherosclerosis. You should first consult with your doctor.
Ethiopian melon calories
100 g of the product contains 33 kcal. Due to the low calorie content, the product is suitable for weight loss. The diet is followed for a month. For breakfast, they eat about 300 g of pulp, for lunch and dinner they prepare ordinary dishes, with the exception of flour products and sweets.
Ethiopian melon cultivation
Процесс выращивания сорта Эфиопка включает ряд этапов. Начинают с высадки семян на рассаду. Затем готовят участок, пересаживают растения и регулярно ухаживают за ними в течение сезона.
Preparation of seedlings
In the middle lane, the culture is grown through seedlings. For planting choose seeds three years ago. First, they are dipped for 15 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate or boric acid. To increase the germination of seeds, they are also kept in a growth stimulator solution.
Landing work begins in mid-April. It is best to use peat pots or small containers. A substrate is poured into each of them, consisting of peat and sand in a ratio of 9: 1. 3 seeds are planted in each container at a depth of 2 cm.
Seed containers are kept warm, which will speed up the emergence of seedlings. Melon sprouts a week after planting. Shoots are kept on the windowsill, for 10 – 12 hours daily they are provided with good lighting. Ethiopian seedlings are watered with warm water.
Among the shoots, leave the strongest plant and pinch it. Other sprouts are pruned so as not to injure the roots of the remaining seedlings. The Ethiopian variety is fed with complex fertilizers. 2 weeks before planting, the seedlings are moved to the balcony so that they can adapt to new conditions.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
The Ethiopian variety is provided with certain conditions:
- sunny, well-heated place;
- protection from cold wind;
- neutral light soil;
- lack of nearby beds with potatoes and cucumbers;
- neighborhood with turnips, radishes, corn, beans is allowed.
The culture develops well in loamy soil. Sandy, clayey, acidic and waterlogged soils are not suitable for growing. Melon is best planted after cucumbers, corn, onions, garlic, cabbage, legumes. It is not recommended to choose beds for the Ethiopian variety, where tomatoes or carrots grew a year earlier.
In autumn, the site is dug up and fertilized with humus. Sand is added to clay soil. In the spring, potassium salt and superphosphate are added to the soil. For 1 sq. m enough for 30 g of each fertilizer.
Rules of landing
Seedlings are planted in an open area at the age of 4 – 5 weeks. First, they wait until warm weather sets in and frosts pass. If there is a possibility of a cold snap, then the plants are covered with a film or agrofiber.
Seedlings of the Ethiopian variety are transferred to the holes. Plants are transplanted by transshipment. First they are watered, then carefully removed from the containers and try not to damage the roots. Seedlings are placed in increments of 60 cm from each other. 70-80 cm are left between rows with plants. The root collar is placed above the ground to avoid its decay. Then river sand is poured onto the bed.
Watering and top dressing
Уход за сортом Эфиопка сводится к поливу и подкормкам. Периодически рыхлят почву и пропалывают сорняки. Процедура улучшает впитываемость влаги и полезных веществ. После пересадки в открытый грунт дыню начинают поливать и подкармливать через 2 недели. За это время растение укоренится на новом месте.
It is best to water the plants in the morning or evening. Use warm settled water. When watering, make sure that water does not come into contact with leaves and stems. After adding moisture, loosen the soil between rows from days.
2 weeks after planting in the ground, the plants are fed with a solution of mullein or ammonium nitrate. Fertilizers are applied repeatedly when buds are formed. When ovaries appear, they switch to top dressing with superphosphate and potassium salt. 10 g of each substance is added to 35 liters of water.
Formation
The formation of the Ethiopian variety is necessary to obtain a high yield. After transplanting to a permanent place, the main stem of the plant is pinched so that it can direct its forces to the formation of the crop. Each seedling leaves one main shoot no more than two branches. Other shoots are eliminated.
When flowering, the plant leaves from 2 to 5 ovaries. When small fruits appear, they are placed in a net. Periodically, the melon is turned over so that it ripens evenly.
Ethiopian melon yield
The Ethiopian variety brings about 10 kg of fruit. The crop does not ripen at the same time. After the removal of ripe fruits, the next batch of melons ripens in 1-2 weeks. When grown on an industrial scale, 1-90 centners of the crop are harvested from 145 ha.
Diseases and pests
In case of violation of agricultural technology, the Ethiopian variety is susceptible to diseases. Insects cause significant damage to crops. To protect the landing, it is important to identify the cause of the defeat in time.
The main diseases of the culture:
- Powdery mildew. It looks like white spots, they spread along the leaves and stems. Gradually, the leaves curl up and dry out, the fruits become smaller and lose sugar.
- Peronosporosis. It appears as yellow-green spots that quickly spread along the leaf plate.
- Fusarium wilt. The leaves lighten, gray spots appear on them. After 10 days, the plant withers and dies.
Для борьбы с заболеваниями особое внимание уделяют обработке семян и грунта для посадки. В период вегетации культуру опрыскивают раствором серы, хлористого калия, препаратами Оксихом или Топаз.
Melon attracts melon aphids, wireworms, scoops, spider mites and other pests. Insects feed on the juice of the plant, as a result, melon leaves wither and its yield decreases. Against pests, drugs Karbofos, Iskra, Fitoverm are used. During the growing season, chemicals are replaced with wood ash and tobacco dust. Good prevention is digging up the soil in the fall, cleaning up plant residues, observing crop rotation.
Ethiopian melon reviews
Conclusion
Ethiopian melon is a successful domestic variety. She is valued for her good taste and unpretentiousness in care. The culture is grown in seedlings. It is important to choose a suitable place for her, water, feed and form a plant.
