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Serpentine melon, Armenian cucumber, Tarra are the names of one plant. Melon serpentine – a kind of melon, the genus Cucumber, the Pumpkin family. The gourd culture has an unusual appearance, it resembles a vegetable in shape, but with the smell and taste of fruit. The melon is widespread in the Middle East, Iran. A hybrid form of cucumber and melon was cultivated in Crete, Afghanistan, and in the countries of North Africa. In Our Country, it is grown on household plots.
Description of the serpentine melon
Serpentine melon is a herbaceous climbing plant. The main whip reaches 3 m in length. Forms many side shoots. The stem is rigidly lowered, creeping. Foliage is pale green. The shape resembles cucumber and melon leaves. The leaf plate is large, rounded, rigid, with the presence of small hairs.
The fruits are oblong. The color is light green. There is a slight omission of a silvery 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 in color. 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 serpentine fetus. The pulp is crispy, juicy, delicate texture. White color. There is a pronounced melon aroma. The watery content has many small seeds.
Fruits are formed on the main shoot, as well as on the lashes of the second order. The flowers of the serpentine melon are mostly of different sexes. Their color is yellow. However, bisexual flowers are also found. They are white in color.
Serpentine melon easily tolerates transportation over a long distance. One plant can grow up to 10 fruits.
Application
Serpentine melon is a melon culture that combines a variety of tastes and smells. Therefore, it is not surprising that the serpentine-shaped fruit is used in cooking. Eat in fresh salads, as an appetizer. They also make preparations for the winter. However, it is worth remembering that hybrids will be tasty only when ripe.
In addition to nutritional value, fruits are medicinal. Used in folk medicine for the treatment of urolithiasis, constipation, atherosclerosis, obesity, arthritis, hypertension, diabetes, gastrointestinal tract. Vitamins contained in the pulp of serpentine melon in large quantities improve blood flow, intestinal motility, stimulate the secretion of gastric juice.
Growing serpentine melon
There are no special 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, feeding, tying.
Preparation of seedlings
Sowing a serpentine melon into the ground is possible when the ground temperature is at least + 15 ° C. Optimal parameters + 18-25 °С. The soil on the site is completely warmed up, usually in the second half of May. For simultaneous germination, planting material is pre-soaked in water with a root formation stimulator. Breeding rules and norms of the stimulating drug are indicated on the package with seeds. If the amount of moisture in the soil is normal, then after a week the first shoots will appear.
In regions with a colder climate, serpentine melon is bred in seedlings. The dates for planting seeds in boxes fall at the end of April. To avoid the dive procedure, you can sow the melon directly into the cups.
For planting serpentine melon in the ground, it is desirable to give preference to glazed seeds. They are already 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, choose a fully ripe fruit. The seeds are taken out of the middle and washed 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 the 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 have been seen when growing the crop in fertile soils with low moisture levels. However, for full development, the earth must be loose and light.
The serpentine melon grows well in sunny areas. Direct exposure to ultraviolet rays does not bring a negative effect to the plant, but, on the contrary, stimulates active growth.
Before planting, the site must be dug up and leveled. Remove weeds along with roots. If the soil is severely depleted, it is recommended to carry mineral fertilizers.
Rules of landing
The technology for planting a serpentine melon is simple. Before planting seeds in open ground, it is necessary to check their quality. Especially if the planting material was collected by hand. To do this, lower the seeds into a container with potassium permanganate. Unsuitable seeds will float to the surface. They should not be planted, because they will not give results.
23 seeds are placed in each hole. Planting depth – 5 cm. The distance between the holes is 70-80 cm, and the row spacing is 150 cm.
When planting seedlings, the algorithm of agricultural practices should be observed:
- make a shallow hole;
- place a seedling in the center;
- sprinkle the roots with earth;
- it is not necessary to compact the soil tightly;
- water abundantly.
Since the procedure is performed after the end of spring frosts, the plants do not need shelter.
Watering and top dressing
Serpentine melon reacts negatively to excess moisture. Therefore, watering should be plentiful, but not frequent. In dry, hot weather, 1 time per week will be enough. If there are rainy days, the number of procedures should be reduced to two times a month.
As top dressing, it is preferable to choose organic fertilizers. In the spring, nitrogen-containing preparations can be used. After planting, fertilize the serpentine culture with a weakly concentrated solution of mullein, then alternate with minerals.
Vegetable crops need frequent weeding and loosening of the soil. Weeds can interfere with the growth of the serpentine 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 and pinching. So that the serpentine fruits do not lie on the ground, wooden trellises are installed. On opposite edges of the beds, vertical supports are installed. A twine is stretched between them, to which the twine lowered down is attached. Shoots are sent to grow on them. This contributes to better ventilation, light and less contact between the plant and the soil.
Harvesting
Serpentine melon is an early ripe 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 cold weather.
When the harvest is ripe, it is plucked from the lashes along with the stalk. Thus, the shelf life of the fruits of serpentine melon increases. The ripened vegetable is placed on the street under a canopy. Straw must be laid under it to minimize the risk of fruit rotting. On average, a fully ripe serpentine 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. It tolerates temperature changes without consequences. With such immunity, it is possible to grow a natural product that would not be subjected to chemical treatments. The main enemy of melon culture is aphids. She feeds on the sap of the 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 of onions;
- 50 g wood ash;
- 10 g of liquid soap;
- 20 g ground black pepper;
- 10 liters of warm water.
Peel and chop the onion to a pulp. Combine with the rest of the ingredients. To stir thoroughly. After strain the mixture. Liquid treat the surface of the shoots from all sides. Repeat the procedure several times at weekly intervals.
With rare fungal infections, serpentine melon bushes are sprayed with systemic fungicides, with interruptions of 7-10 days. Insect pests are destroyed with insecticide preparations.
Conclusion
The serpentine melon will not only quench your thirst, but will also please you with an exotic taste. The gourds are valued for their high yield, resistance to infections and weather conditions, and ease of cultivation. Fruits contain a rich chemical composition, have nutritional value. The plant helps in the treatment of serious diseases.
