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Watermelon Kholodok is considered an achievement of domestic selection for a reason. This variety can be grown on both large farms and small plots. Watermelon gained its popularity due to its sweet and aromatic taste, as well as its long shelf life. In the article we will consider a detailed description of this fruit.
Selection history and region of growth
Chill owes its origin to the African deserts of Namib and Kalahari. The variety was bred by the ancient Egyptians several thousand years ago.
In Our Country, the fruit appeared in the eighth century AD. At first it was about the size of an orange and tasted bitter. But after it was cultivated, the fruit acquired a characteristic sweet taste and grew in size.
Video “Planting watermelons in a proven way”
In this video, you will learn about the proven method of planting watermelons.
Varietal characteristics of watermelon Chill
The fruit has a late ripening. The growing period from the first shoots to harvest is three months. This is a very powerful plant with many lashes. The length of the main whip reaches five meters. The plant has large green leaves and a wide dissected plate.
The fruits of the fruit are round, slightly elongated. Their average weight is eight kilograms. The fruits are dissected with black stripes, and the flesh is a bright scarlet hue. Watermelon Chill has a thick skin and a sweet taste. You can store it up to six months.
The seeds are one and a half centimeters long. They are brown in color and have a rough surface.
Advantages and disadvantages of culture
Due to a long list of advantages, this variety has become widespread in the post-Soviet space. These include:
- short maturation period;
- sweetness and juiciness of the pulp;
- attractive appearance;
- high level of productivity;
- long shelf life;
- ease of transportation;
- resistance to low temperatures.
Despite the long list of advantages, the variety also has disadvantages:
- watermelons need a large land area to grow;
- fruits constantly have lateral shoots that need to be cut regularly;
- The plant needs constant heat and light.
Planting seeds
Watermelon Chill is grown through seeds or seedlings. Landing is carried out in the middle of spring in specially prepared soil.
Order of work
It is worth choosing to plant seedlings in case of a short summer in the region. Seeds are planted in warm soil, saturated with sun and air. Before planting, they must be placed in warm water to speed up the emergence of sprouts. They need to be planted in wet sand.
Seeds germinate at a temperature of +25 °C. When small sprouts appear, they need to be transplanted into separate small containers of two pieces. You will need containers with a volume of 0,5 liters. Such containers will avoid picking.
If you are growing fruits at home, prepare a substrate of turf, sand and peat in proportions of 1:1:1.
Judging by the reviews, the containers need to be covered with a film and put in a warm place to speed up the growth process. When the first shoots appear, the film can be removed.
Care of seedlings
In order for the watermelon to develop faster, it must be watered frequently, kept for 12 hours in the light every day, and also carried out regular top dressing. Seedlings need to be watered only with settled water. When watering, make sure that moisture does not get on the leaves and stems.
When the first leaves appear on the plants, they can be fertilized with manure or a complex solution. Before planting in open ground, harden seedlings in the fresh air. To do this, leave the plants on the balcony for two hours, and then increase the time interval every day.
Landing in the ground
You can determine the time of planting in the soil by the number of leaves – their number should exceed 5 pcs. Choose a plot of land that will be well lit by the sun. Sprouts must be protected from the wind, for this, select the southern or eastern part of the site.
Before planting Kholodka, it is desirable that legumes, cereals or cabbage grow on the land. It is strictly forbidden to plant watermelon seedlings in areas where zucchini, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes and melons used to grow. Do not forget that after landing on this land, watermelons cannot be planted for another 6 years.
Planted watermelons need to be protected from the bright sun with paper. She needs to cover the sprouts for the first few days, until they gain strength. In regions with a cold climate, the plant is grown in greenhouses.
Features of care
This variety needs regular care, so it needs to be watered and fertilized intensively. In order to harvest a large crop, the plant must be regularly cut from excess shoots. Leave up to four fruits on each plant. In the greenhouse, it is important to ensure the flow of air for the fruits.
In closed ground, the culture must be tied to trellises, and the fruits are placed on stands and nets.
Watering
Fruits need to be watered every week. There are three buckets of warm water per square meter. The intensity of watering depends on the temperature outside. In high heat, water the plants twice a week. Additionally, water the soil between the beds.
Loosening
Wet soil needs to be loosened and rid of weeds. When the plants grow, you can not resort to the loosening procedure. This is due to the fact that garden tools can damage delicate fruits.
Additional fertilizing
Plants need to be fertilized twice a season: two weeks after transplanting into the soil and when buds are formed. The first feeding should be carried out with nitrogen. You can use natural fertilizers – chicken manure or mullein. Fertilize the roots of the plant.
For fertilizer, you can use ammonium nitrate. Dilute 10 g of fertilizer in a bucket of water. Nitrogen fertilizers contribute to the formation of green mass, but in the future their use should be abandoned.
Garter
When the sprouts get a little stronger, they need to be tied up. This procedure will save you time and effort. Tie the plant to a trellis at a height of half a meter from the soil. This is necessary so that each sprout receives a sufficient amount of heat and light.
In order to get large fruits, you need to regularly remove side shoots from tied watermelons.
Diseases and pests
This variety has medium resistance to powdery mildew and Fusarium. But if you follow all the necessary rules for growing, you can reduce the risk of ailments to zero. Most diseases occur due to fungal infections. They appear as dark and light spots on the leaves. The fungus impairs the taste of watermelons and also causes rotting.
If the fruits grow in greenhouses, they can be affected by a spider mite or melon aphid. As these pests drink plant sap, the leaves will dry out and spoil.
Growing delicious Kholodok watermelons is quite simple. This will require care and close attention. But by the end of the season, you can treat yourself to delicious and juicy fruits.