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Melon Cinderella is recommended for growing in temperate climates. Reviews about melon Cinderella correspond to the characteristics declared by the copyright holder. The early ripe variety has proven itself well in Siberia and Central Our Country.
Description of the melon Cinderella
The melon variety Cinderella is early ripe, the fruits ripen in 2,5 months from the moment of sowing the seeds. Grown in open ground in the South and in greenhouses in temperate climates. The variety belongs to dessert. The fruits are consumed fresh, jam, juice, melon honey, candied fruits are made. The culture is high-yielding, forms female and male flowers, not self-fertile.
Description of the melon variety Cinderella:
- the plant forms a long (up to 2 meters) creeping rounded-faceted stem, gives a large number of shoots, female flowers form on shoots of the 2nd and 3rd orders;
- the leaves are large, together with the tendrils grow from nodular formations, the edges are serrated, the surface is corrugated with a small pile, well-defined light veins against a dark green background;
- flowers are large, bright yellow, bisexual;
- rounded melon weighing up to 2 kg, 20 cm in diameter, the surface is even without ribs;
- the peel is thin, bright yellow, at the stage of technical ripeness there is a small green pigment near the stem, without a pattern with a beige dense mesh;
- the pulp is creamy, juicy, crispy, a light green stripe is noted near the peel;
- fruits with a pronounced aroma, not very sweet, sugar content up to 8,5%;
- beige seeds, located in a closed placenta.
Melon Cinderella is not stored for a long time. To increase the term, the fruits are removed at the stage of technical ripeness, in this state they lie for up to 2 weeks, during which time they fully ripen.
Pros and cons of the melon variety Cinderella
The Cinderella variety is not afraid of changes in night and day temperatures. Vegetation does not stop at +18 ºC. Gives a stable harvest. It can be grown in a trellis way, like liana-like plants. And also the advantages of the variety include:
- high gastronomic quality of fruits;
- fast aging;
- unpretentiousness in care;
- drought tolerance;
- resistance to many types of fungal and bacterial infection;
- the possibility of growing in open ground and in a protected area;
- suitable for cultivation in temperate climate zone;
- a crop harvested at the stage of technical ripeness ripens well without losing taste and aroma;
- fruits do not crack;
- used for home preparations, does not lose active substances in the composition after freezing;
- thin, elastic skin.
The disadvantage of the Cinderella variety is a short shelf life. The melon does not tolerate transportation well, a dark spot forms at the impact site, the fruit begins to rot. For the formation of ovaries, pollinators are needed, mainly bees perform this function. The culture does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil. Does not give a full-fledged planting material.
Growing melon Cinderella
The culture is grown by the seedling method, the seeding is carried out in late April or early May. Landing on a permanent place of growth is carried out in early June, when there is no threat of return spring frosts, and the soil has warmed up not lower than +18 0C. Place seedlings in greenhouse 30 days after seeding. Therefore, the timing of sowing is oriented to the weather characteristics of the region.
Preparation of seedlings
Before sowing, melon seeds are soaked for 6 hours in a 5% manganese solution. Then dry and put in the refrigerator for 4 hours for hardening. The seeds are laid out on a damp cloth, covered with a cloth on top, moistened. Keep the seeds in a moist environment. After 3 days, sprouts appear, at this time they land in the ground.
A nutrient soil mixture is prepared from peat, soddy soil and organic matter in equal parts, wood ash is added. The best containers for seedlings are peat glasses. So that the plant does not hurt after transplantation, it is planted at a permanent place of growth along with peat containers. You can use plastic containers with high sides.
Sequence of work:
- Pour the soil mixture into the container.
- Make indentations of 2 cm, put the seeds.
- Water abundantly, cover with a film on top.
- Put in a room with good lighting and a constant air temperature of at least 27 0C.
After the emergence of seedlings, the film is removed, the seedlings are placed in a sunny place, they make sure that the topsoil does not dry out, and periodically water it. After the formation of 5 sheets, planting material is planted on the site.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
The site for melons is determined in an open space on the south side. Melon is a light-loving plant, so the harvest will be poor in a shaded place. If the melon is grown in a greenhouse, you need to take care of additional lighting. It is not recommended to plant a plant for more than 2 years in one place, it is necessary to observe crop rotation. The Cinderella variety grows well on the site after legumes and nightshade crops.
The composition of the soil should be neutral, suitable soils are sandy, chernozem, sandy. The site has been prepared since autumn, the increased acidity is neutralized with dolomite flour. Make compost, dig up, remove the roots of weeds.
Rules of landing
Cinderella melon seedlings are planted in Central Our Country in late May – early June. Pre-dig the site. They make holes or furrows, put organic matter and wood ash on the bottom. The plant is placed vertically together with peat cups, if the planting material is in a plastic container, it is pre-filled with water and the seedlings are carefully removed so as not to damage the root. Planting holes are dug 15 cm deep, 20 cm wide. The distance between plants is 0,6 m. The row spacing is 70 cm. Cinderella melon can be planted in a checkerboard pattern or in one line. Planting material is deepened, taking into account that 3 sheets remain on the surface.
Watering and top dressing
Watering the Cinderella melon in greenhouse conditions is regulated so that the topsoil does not dry out. Approximately watered 2 times in 10 days. The first top dressing is carried out a week after landing on the site, ammonium nitrate is added. After 3 weeks, the Cinderella melon is fertilized with superphosphate, after 14 days with potash fertilizers. Periodically, wood ash is added under the root in unlimited quantities. At the time of fruit formation, the plant is fed with nitrogen-containing agents.
Formation
The Cinderella variety needs the formation of a bush so that the fruits get more nutrients. A feature of the melon is the non-simultaneous appearance of bisexual flowers. On the primary shoots, male flowers are formed, on the processes of the second and third plan, female ones. After the appearance of the ovaries, no more than 5 fruits are left on the bush. Cut off excess shoots, break the top near the fifth leaf from the fruit, remove excess flowers and leaves.
Harvesting
You can harvest the Cinderella melon after full ripening or at the stage of technical ripeness. Fully ripened fruits are distinguished by a bright yellow color without a green fragment near the stalk, the top becomes soft, there is a melon aroma. Ripe fruits do not lie for a long time. If storage is necessary, unripe melons are removed, placed for 1,5 weeks in a dark place with good ventilation, after ripening, the melon does not differ in taste and appearance from fully ripened in the garden.
Diseases and pests
The Cinderella variety is adapted for growing in regions with short, often cold summers, has a stable immunity to most of the diseases inherent in the culture. Melon is cultivated in greenhouses or greenhouses, pests parasitize the variety extremely rarely.
With high humidity and insufficiently high temperature, Cinderella melon suffers from a fungal infection – powdery mildew. The disease manifests itself as gray spots on the stem and leaves, over time, the affected areas darken and dry out. To eliminate the infection, problematic fragments are removed, the bushes are treated with a solution of colloidal sulfur.
Conclusion
Characteristics of the variety and reviews of melon Cinderella gardeners are completely the same. The variety is early ripe, gives a stable harvest. Practically does not get sick and is not affected by pests. It has time to fully mature in the short summer of the Moscow region. Fruits of universal application, have good taste, aroma, trade dress. The plant is unpretentious in care.
Reviews of melon Cinderella
