Contents
- Description of the melon variety Collective farmer
- Pros and cons of the variety
- What is useful melon Kolkhoznitsa
- How to choose a melon Kolkhoznitsa
- How many calories are in melon Kolkhoznitsa
- Which melon is sweeter – Torpedo or Kolkhoz Woman
- How to grow melon Kolkhoznitsa
- How much does a melon Kolkhoznitsa weigh?
- Harvesting
- Diseases and pests
- Reviews about melon Collective farmer
- Conclusion
Melon Kolkhoznitsa differs from relatives in its unique taste and the presence of vitamins useful in the diet. This is a juicy and sweet fruit dessert that any novice gardener or gardener can grow in his garden. The first varieties of this gourd were cultivated on the territory of Central and Asia Minor. On the territory of Our Country, the Kolkhoznitsa melon is grown in warm regions, referring to the unpretentiousness of the culture to climatic conditions.
Description of the melon variety Collective farmer
False berries were obtained by screening varieties of weed-field species in the territory of Rostov in 1939. In the State Register of Breeding Achievements approved for cultivation in Our Country, the Kolkhoznitsa variety was entered in 1943. The originator of the melon is the breeding laboratory Biryuchekutsk. At the moment, the melon variety Kolkhoznitsa is grown in all regions, except for the northern strip of Our Country.
According to the description, Melon Kolkhoznitsa belongs to mid-season varieties with a short growing season, which is why summer residents and gardeners fell in love with it. After the appearance of the first true leaves, 70-90 days pass before harvest. The plant has a strong root system with a depth of up to 2 m, although most of the roots spread along the topsoil. The variety is an annual herbaceous culture, the stem of which has a rounded-faceted shape, spreads along the ground up to 3-4 m.
The foliage is regular, large, palmately lobed, develops on elongated petioles. Mustaches grow in the internodes. The collective farmer blooms bisexual flowers of pale yellow color. The fruit ovary occurs under the perianth of 3-4 fused fruit leaves. The fruit is spherical in shape, up to 25 cm in diameter.
The skin of the fruit is bright yellow, sometimes with a greenish tint. The ripe fruit is covered with a net or remains smooth and firm. The peel is of medium thickness, the melon does not wrinkle. Melon pulp is juicy and fibrous, snow-white in color. The taste of Kolkhoznitsa is sweet, with a barely noticeable sourness and a tart aroma. There are a lot of seeds. Melon Kolkhoznitsa is not initially considered a hybrid.
Pros and cons of the variety
For 80 years of growing gourds, gardeners have noted the following advantages of Kolkhoznitsa melon:
- high fertility;
- excellent taste characteristics;
- drought resistance;
- unpretentiousness to climatic conditions, soil composition;
- the ability to transport crops over long distances;
- short growing season;
- the possibility of collecting seeds for re-planting;
- portion fruits.
Among the shortcomings of the melon Kolkhoznitsa, susceptibility to fungal diseases is noticeable. For growing melons in a greenhouse, artificial pollination is necessary. Some consumers are not satisfied with the small size of the fruit. Also, ripe or overripe Kolkhoznitsa melons have a short shelf life.
What is useful melon Kolkhoznitsa
Among its relatives, the Kolkhoznitsa melon stands out for its multiple use of fruits. Due to its low calorie content, it is recommended to use it raw and in small amounts during the diet. The composition contains acids and minerals useful for the human body. It is also recommended to use melon raw – vitamins retain their usefulness.
The content of a large percentage of folic acid contributes to the harmonious development of the fetus during pregnancy. The presence of vitamin C prevents colds, relieves malaise. The pulp of the melon Kolkhoznitsa contains carotene, which improves the condition of the skin – the cover is not subject to dermatitis, the tone is evened out, there is no chapping. Nails and hair become strong if you use the daily rate of melon.
A large amount of the Kolkhoznitsa variety acts on the body as a laxative, which is useful for a melon diet designed for 3-4 days. The use of pumpkin outside the diet is recommended by nutritionists 2 hours before the main meal. Melon seeds Kolkhoznitsa increase male activity and are an aphrodisiac, useful in the treatment of impotence, planning conception.
In the fragrant variety Kolkhoznitsa there is a large amount of iron, which relieves stress, improves the functioning of the heart, liver and kidneys. Drinking juice prevents acne, increases the number of red blood cells in anemia, and prevents kidney disease. The pulp also contains serotonin, which normalizes sleep, restores nerve endings. Kolkhoznitsa melon provides certain benefits and harms to patients with diabetes. Kolkhoznitsa replaces sugar, but is not recommended for consumption in large quantities.
How to choose a melon Kolkhoznitsa
Before buying, it is necessary to take into account the nuances on which the taste and juiciness of the melon depends. The fruits of the Kolkhoznitsa variety absorb extraneous odors very quickly, and it is inconvenient to wash the rough surface from dust, so you should not buy pumpkins near the road and along the highway. A melon that has lost its presentation after mechanical damage is not suitable for consumption.
From a ripe berry, a pleasant aroma of vanilla, honey and pear should come. Otherwise, the fruit either did not ripen, or it was grown on artificial nitrogen fertilizers. Also, to the touch, the Kolkhoznitsa melon should be dense, when patted, it should reflect a deaf cotton without rattling. If you run your fingers along the peel, then furrows will appear on the ripe melon Kolkhoznitsa. Dents after pressure indicate overripe fruits and the presence of bitterness when consumed.
When choosing, you should pay attention to the stalk, which must be dried. The place of the flower should be elastic, but not soft. Ready-to-eat fruits appear in late August or early September. In an unripe fruit, the flesh is hard, greenish at the base of the peel, it can be poisoned.
How many calories are in melon Kolkhoznitsa
The collective farm woman is almost 90% water, the rest is given to vitamins and useful minerals. The calorie content of Kolkhoznitsa melon is quite low, which allows it to be consumed not only by those who keep a diet, but also by diabetics. On average, the calorie content of the fetus per 100 g is 30-32 kcal. Eating a melon in a different form, a person receives an unequal amount of calories. Dried melon contains 340 kcal, pomace from seeds has 899 kcal. In canned fruits, the calorie content almost does not change – 33 kcal. Juice is low-calorie – 46 kcal, so it is often recommended for fresh consumption. Fruit seeds are taken in dried form in small portions up to 100 g, so as not to get diarrhea. Frozen pulp contains 34 kcal.
Which melon is sweeter – Torpedo or Kolkhoz Woman
Disputes on the topic of the best variety among melons are conducted every season. The torpedo is several times larger than the Kolkhoz Woman melon. In shape, the fruits of the first are elongated and much heavier than the rounded and compact Kolkhoznitsa variety. They also differ greatly in taste. Based on consumer feedback, Torpedo is more watery, with a noticeable sour aftertaste, while Kolkhoznitsa is sweet and moderately juicy.
The pulp of the fruit is equally snow-white in color, but summer residents acquire unripe melon Torpedo more often. This is explained by the presence of a thick and tough peel, so the ripeness of this variety is determined by the sound upon impact and the presence of a smell. The calorie content of the Torpedo variety is slightly higher – 36 kcal. The ripening period for the Torpedo species is a little longer – 95-110 days. However, it is stored longer, but has fewer useful vitamins for health.
How to grow melon Kolkhoznitsa
The collective farmer is a heat-loving plant that is grown both in an open area and in greenhouses. Adaptation to the climate allows the cultivation of false berries at any positive temperature. In some cases, the Kolkhoznitsa melon is able to endure frosts from up to -5 ° C. When creating comfortable conditions, you can expect a large and juicy harvest.
Preparation of seedlings
Usually, summer residents purchase ready-made seedlings for planting, although some gardeners immediately grow Kolkhoznitsa melon in the open field. Purchased planting material should be large, without damage, when pressed, the seed should not be pressed through. Before soaking, the material is poured with water to identify pacifiers that float to the surface. Then it is soaked in a solution with growth accelerators for 2 days until the first shoots appear.
The hatched seeds are hardened – wrapped in gauze, put in the refrigerator for 15-20 hours. In peat cups with a ready-made substrate, the seeds are planted to a depth of 5-6 cm, watered with water at room temperature. Glasses, trays with seedlings are placed in a warm place, in daylight they are rearranged in a sunny place. Seedlings are ready for transplanting when the plants have 3-4 leaves.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
Variety Kolkhoznitsa needs an extensive and sunny site. The harvest will be fertile if the melon is planted on light or loamy soil. The level of groundwater is allowed from 2 to 3 m. The selected site should not be previously used for planting cucumbers or other melons. The harvesting of the seat is done in the fall or they purchase a purchased ready-made substrate. Before planting, it must be warmed up or treated with a diluted manganese solution.
For planting in a greenhouse, the soil is harvested after the first frost in late autumn. At low temperatures, most of the parasites freeze. The site is cleared of weeds, deep digging of the soil is done along with humus or manure. Melon Kolkhoznitsa does not grow well on acidic soils, so wood ash or dry slaked lime is added to the soil. For a greenhouse, you can purchase cassettes or peat cups with ready-made soil. It is also necessary to provide constant artificial lighting.
Rules of landing
Seeds are planted in warm soil in late April or early May. The deadline for planting is mid-May, so that the crop has time to ripen. Regardless of the region of landing, the air temperature should not drop to + 15 ° C. Otherwise, the growth and development of seedlings will be suspended, the plants may die.
Before planting, the site is dug up, beds are made or holes are dug for seedlings. The depth of the row should not exceed 50 cm. The beds are formed from the soil, which is mixed with organic fertilizers. The collective farmer does not tolerate transplanting well, so the finished seedlings are planted together with a preparatory substrate or peat cups, which will help the melon root system develop. The distance between plants is from 30 to 50 cm. Seedlings are watered with a small amount of water, the roots are sprinkled with small wooden shavings.
Watering and top dressing
In the first few weeks, the plants need to provide a microclimate, so the seedlings are covered with a polyethylene dome. At this stage, watering is carried out at dawn 3-4 times a week. For one small plant, 1-1,5 liters should go, an adult melon needs up to 5-7 liters with each watering. In the last month of fruit ripening, the frequency of watering is reduced to 1-2 times a week.
Humus, compost, manure or superphosphates can be used as fertilizers for the Kolkhoznitsa melon. The latter are introduced during the autumn preparation of the land for planting. Top dressing is done for 2 months of growing melon Kolkhoznitsa. Occasionally it is necessary to add manure in small quantities when watering. Plants will not interfere with diluted saltpeter or potash fertilizers, which are applied to the soil when pumpkins ripen.
Formation
Melon Kolkhoznitsa is formed in the presence of a stem that begins to creep along the ground. For trellis formation, a wire or wooden frame is required, to which a young plant is tied. As the lashes grow, they are tied in 3-4 places with fabric strips. For a garter, it is not recommended to take silk thread or wire, which can crush the stem. Forming a trellis is good because the bushes of the Kolkhoznitsa variety receive a sufficient amount of heat.
On the bushes, pinch the main stem over the 4-5th leaf in order to achieve an increase in the ovaries. If the stems are not attached to the trellis, then they are pinned in the ground. To do this, dig a hole under the leaf and sprinkle the petiole with a substrate. In addition, the formed roots will draw useful substances from the soil. Weeding and loosening is carried out when a large number of weeds and stagnant soil appear. With regular loosening, the roots will receive a sufficient amount of oxygen.
How much does a melon Kolkhoznitsa weigh?
On average, the collective farmer melon weighs from 1 to 2 kg. Overripe fruits lose 100-200 g in weight. The weight of a melon from a bush depends on the number of pumpkins left after thinning. From one bush in the south of Our Country, you can collect up to 7 kg, in regions with constant temperature changes, only 4 kg.
Harvesting
Young fruits are suspended from a trellis so that they do not fall away from the mother plant. If the bushes curl along the ground, then boards or slate are placed under the melons, which will protect them from rotting. Harvesting begins in late August or early September, when the melon acquires a bright yellow hue and the place of the ovary begins to dry. The fruits of the green melon Collective farmer are cleaned in a warm and dark place so that the ripening process takes place in 3-4 days.
After harvesting, the melons are laid out on a fabric tarp in one layer for 10-12 days under the sun. In the process of acquiring a presentation, the fruits are turned over every 4-5 days. Further, melons are woven from the stalks into braids or stored in a grid in a suspended state. The optimum storage temperature is from 0 °C to + 3 °C, air humidity for the Kolkhoznitsa variety is allowed within 60-70%. Also, the harvest is stored in wooden boxes with fabric litter in the basement until the onset of winter or the end of November.
Diseases and pests
Of the pests, the melon aphid and spider mite are the most dangerous. From both pests, the variety is sprayed 3 times per season with chemicals or a diluted sulfur solution. As a melon plant, a false berry is often exposed to fungal diseases:
- powdery mildew;
- blackleg;
- fusariosis;
- verdigris and root rot.
With powdery mildew, the foliage turns yellow, then becomes covered with a gray coating and dries. The disease also affects melons, which are dried right on the bushes and fall off. The black leg is dangerous for seedlings and spreads to neighboring plants. The adult stem begins to turn black at the base of the roots, and the infection spreads in spots throughout the stem. Through the root system, infection of other bushes occurs.
Fusarium deforms the fruits, they lose their presentation, the foliage withers, the stem dries out from the inside. Root rot affects the roots of an adult plant. Copperhead is immediately noticeable – rust spots appear on the leaves and fruits, the fruits quickly rot. Fungal disease spreads to neighboring plants.
In order to prevent powdery mildew at the initial stage, the Kolkhoznitsa melon is sprayed with pesticides, combustible sulfur. To prevent the appearance of a black leg, the seeds are disinfected in a diluted solution of manganese, then the seedlings are sprinkled with sifted sand. Root rot is not displayed in any way, so the affected plants and neighboring bushes are removed. Fusarium appears with an excess of moisture and potassium supplements. In this case, it is necessary to monitor the watering and the amount of potash fertilizer. At the first sign of copper melon, the collective farmer is sprayed with fungicides.
Reviews about melon Collective farmer
Conclusion
Melon Kolkhoznitsa is a juicy and fragrant melon culture. Bushes will delight summer residents and gardeners with a bountiful harvest, if shaping is carried out in time and the development of young plants is monitored. Subject to agrotechnical measures, the Kolkhoznitsa variety will produce juicy, tasty and nutritious fruits in any region of Our Country.