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Yellow watermelon is an exotic crop for us. Many mistakenly believe that GMOs owe their color to the flesh of the fruit. However, the breeders managed to achieve a yellow tint in a natural way. In the article we will talk about the benefits of fruits and the features of their cultivation.
How yellow watermelons appeared
For the first time, yellow watermelon, or janosik (as it is popularly called), was collected in the Mediterranean. It is a hybrid of wild and cultivated watermelon. To date, this variety is grown mainly in the southern regions.
Outwardly, the berry is very similar to its red counterpart – oval or round in shape, green or striped peel. But the flesh varies significantly – it is yellowish or even orange. The hue depends on the climatic conditions and the air temperature at which the culture grew.
The weight of the fetus in special cases can exceed 11 kg. The hotter the climate, the higher the chance of picking large yellow watermelons. In cold regions, their weight will fluctuate between 1-6 kg.
Video “How to grow a yellow watermelon”
From this video you will learn how to grow yellow watermelons.
Popular varieties
To date, more than a dozen varieties are known, each of which has its own characteristics. The most famous are:
- A sunny gift – it is yellow on the outside and orange on the inside;
- Kavbuz is a find of Ukrainian breeders who managed to give watermelon a pumpkin flavor;
- Hamlet – breeders bred a fruit with lemon-colored flesh and pineapple flavor;
- Golden Grace – has a mild sugar taste and resistance to frost;
- Lunar – has an original taste of honey and mango, contains a lot of fructose.
Despite the fact that these varieties are considered exotic, they are rapidly gaining popularity in the post-Soviet countries. This is due to the long shelf life and suitability for long-distance transportation.
Composition and useful properties
If a watermelon is yellow, this does not mean that its chemical composition will be strikingly different from red-fleshed fruits. The culture is rich in fiber, glucose and fructose, vitamins A, B, C, D, antioxidants, folic acid, iron, selenium and magnesium. This variety will appeal to people who control their weight, since one slice contains only 30 kcal, 1 g of fiber and 10 g of carbohydrates.
Thanks to this composition, the culture has the following useful properties:
- strengthens the body and saturates it with vitamins;
- does not harm the health of people with gastrointestinal diseases;
- useful for the visual system;
- strengthens nails and hair;
- useful for people with blood diseases;
- fights against slagging of the body;
- relieves the body of cholesterol;
- useful for pregnant women, as it prevents toxicosis;
- speeds up metabolic processes.
Agrotechnics of yellow watermelon
In order to grow this variety, you can resort to one of several methods. The most popular is growing in the garden. But you can first grow seedlings from seeds, and then transfer them to the site.
Like other gourds, the yellow berry loves light and warmth. Therefore, it is necessary to take the choice of a place for planting a crop with particular seriousness. The plant loves moisture, so it will have to be watered often and plentifully. But do not fill it, otherwise the fruits may burst.
Despite the fact that the whip is fragile and thin, it can withstand large fruits.
Seed preparation
You can buy seeds at any garden store or market. Before planting in the ground, they must be prepared. Experienced gardeners recommend soaking the seeds in hot water for a couple of hours. After that, they must be soaked for another hour and a half in a potassium solution. After this period of time, rinse the seeds in running water and dry.
Sowing and caring for seedlings
The most favorable time for planting seeds is the middle of spring. They can be planted in March if you have a greenhouse or greenhouse. Seeds are planted in open ground only at positive temperatures, when the earth has warmed up sufficiently.
Prepare a container that needs to be two-thirds filled with earth. Put the seeds, pour them with warm water and cover with a mixture of peat and sand. Now they need to be watered with a little water. Cover the container with foil and wait until the first thin shoots appear. You can speed up this process with the help of special lamps for heating seedlings.
Seedlings need to be watered every other day. It is important to observe moderation so as not to flood the ascending shoots. Pour the liquid around the edges of the container and gently loosen the damp soil. When three leaves appear on the shoot, the ground can be fertilized with mineral additives.
The soil should be illuminated for at least twelve hours a day. If it is cloudy outside, you can substitute the sprouts under a regular table lamp or purchase a special device.
Transplanting into the ground
Before planting sprouts in the soil, you need to choose the right place. Choose a site that is well lit by the sun, and on the south side it has no shadows. As for the soil, for accelerated growth, you need to opt for sandy and sandy loamy soil.
Harden the soil before planting seedlings. To do this, reduce the intensity of watering a couple of days before planting. Do not forget about daily ventilation. You need to plant an earthen ball as a whole, while the soil must be moist and warm. Be careful to keep the roots and shoots intact.
Peculiarities of growing
For the first time after planting, the plants must be covered at night. Thus, they can be protected from temperature changes. In the early days, seedlings are watered every other day, and then the number of waterings can be reduced to 1-2 times a week.
This plant does not need serious care. You need to feed it like a pumpkin culture. A week after planting in the ground, seedlings must be fertilized with ammonium nitrate. In the future, you can feed the watermelon with superphosphates and liquid mullein.
After the appearance of the ovary, the plant is fertilized with a mixture of potassium and phosphorus. In order to grow large berries, leave the first fruits that have grown, and pinch the lash behind them after a couple of sheets.
Harvesting
Culture grows until mid-summer. To prevent ripened fruits from rotting, place plywood sheets under them. In order for the pulp to be sugary, reduce or completely stop watering. If you see that the fruit has stopped growing in size, you need to wait two weeks, and then harvest. Another sign of maturity is a yellowed area of the peel in contact with the ground. It also gives out the readiness for eating the fruit, shine on the peel, a dull sound when tapped and a dry tail.
Note that the fruit does not ripen after being picked. Do not tear off the stem, it is better to cut it off. Harvest watermelons carefully so as not to hurt the peel. Store berries at 8 to 14°C. It is important to keep the humidity of about 85%.
Differences between red and yellow watermelons
The main difference between red and yellow fruit is the shade. As for the seeds, there are fewer of them in the yellow variety or they are completely absent. The taste of the varieties also varies. Yellow is distinguished by the taste of mango and other exotic fruits. Red watermelon has a classic taste without impurities.
Yellow fruits ripen earlier. Their crust is dry and hard, so jam and candied fruits are not made from this variety, unlike red. As for the cost, the seeds of yellow berries are more expensive.
Yellow watermelon should become a garden dweller for all gardeners who want not only to enjoy an unusual taste, but also to get health benefits. In addition, this culture is easy to care for, so even an amateur gardener can get large ripe fruits.