Is it worth buying watermelon seeds "Producer": an overview of the variety of American breeders, its advantages and disadvantages
American watermelon The producer is famous for his appearance and taste. Watermelon is sweet, grown for personal use and for sale. The producer is resistant to diseases and pests of crops; regions with a temperate climate and fertile land are chosen for cultivation.
In the article, we will consider in detail the description of the Producer variety and find out the secrets of its cultivation.
The content of the article
Description of the watermelon variety
The Producer variety is grown both in greenhouse conditions and in the open air. The variety is early maturing, the harvest is harvested in 55-65 days from the moment the first shoots appear.
Distinctive features
The bushes of the variety are powerful, medium-sized. The leaf is dark green, large. In cultivation, the Producer is capricious, requires increased attention. The yield directly depends on the irrigation regime and top dressing.
Composition, properties, benefits, calories
Watermelon is classified as a dietary product, 100 g contains only 25 kcal. It has a choleretic effect and is good for the kidneys. The pulp contains macro- and microelements: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron. They improve human immunity, help to lose extra pounds.
Watermelon eliminates inflammation in the stomach, cleanses blood vessels and removes from the body cholesterol. Fiber in the composition of the product has a delicate laxative effect and normalizes the bowel function.
Fruit characteristics and yield
The shape of the fruit is oval, the bark is thin, striped. The color is dark or light green. The weight of a watermelon varies from 8 to 14 kg.
The pulp is juicy and sugar. About 12 kg are harvested from 1 m² ripe harvest.
Seeds
The seeds are small, black. The seeds contain pectin - it removes heavy metals and pesticides from the body.
Interesting! Dried seeds are 35% protein, they are useful for muscle growth, saturate the body with energy. It is recommended to fry the seeds in a saline solution before eating. This makes them tastier and crisper. The seeds are cooled before serving.
How to grow this variety yourself
Variety Producer is planted with seeds in open ground or using seedlings. The second method is more practical - it protects young plants from diseases and unfavorable climate.
Preparing and growing seedlings
Preparation begins with disinfection of seeds. Disinfect them with a solution of potassium permanganate, the drug "Epin", aloe juice or Bordeaux liquid. The seeds are placed in a cloth and dipped in liquid for 10-15 minutes. After it is dried and germinated, wrapped in a damp cloth for several days.
For seedlings, wooden boxes with plastic pallets are suitable. They are filled with earth and grooves are made at a distance of 7-10 cm from each other. 1-2 seeds are placed in each hole and sprinkled with earth on top. Seedlings are watered abundantly with warm water and placed in a sunny and bright place.
Important! As a soil, they use land from a garden plot or a purchased ready-made composition. The second option is preferable, since the soil is pre-disinfected and enriched with nutrients for plant development. Soils "Universal" and "Krepysh" are popular among gardeners.
Care consists of timely watering and feeding.Warm water is used for moisturizing, cold water provokes the development of diseases. Water the seedlings 1 time in 5-7 days, as the soil dries.
For fertilization, urea, chicken droppings, compost, superphosphate are used. The first feeding is applied after 2 weeks from the moment of planting, the second - after another 15 days.
Planting in the garden and step-by-step care
The producer loves loose sandy loam and loamy soils... The beds should be spacious, as the variety has a powerful root system. The best place to plant is light soil away from groundwater. They dug it up beforehand, remove debris and weeds, foliage and remnants of last year's plants. Watermelon is advised to be planted after potatoes, cabbage, pepper. It is not recommended to use the beds after pumpkin or melon.
Important! The Producer variety is planted after the last frost, approximately in early - mid-May. Planting scheme in open ground 1.5 x 1. Thickened planting leads to the development of viruses and fungal infections. In the first week, the seedlings are covered with thin glass or plastic wrap to protect against sudden changes in the weather.
Before the formation of ovaries, the plant is watered in the morning and in the evening, during the flowering period - 2-3 times a week. A drip irrigation system is suitable for the variety - it is convenient and uses water economically. 1 bush takes about 1.5 liters of water.
In addition to hydration, watermelon needs nutritional supplements. Gardeners use organic and mineral substances - ash, potassium salt, yeast, herbal infusion, milk whey. During the ripening period, 2-3 dressings are applied with an interval of 10-15 days.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
The main difficulty of growing the Producer variety is the formation of a bush... In the open field, a watermelon is formed into 3 stems, the top is pinched. This is necessary for the healthy development of large fruits.
In the greenhouse, the plant is formed into 1 stem, the rest are tied to a support so that the shoots do not break under the weight. Despite the fact that watermelon is a thermophilic culture, in prolonged hot weather the fruits are covered with burdock leaves.
An important stage in growing a crop is regular weeding of the bedswhich includes loosening and removing weeds. Weeding makes the soil light and nutritious and maintains a healthy microflora in the beds. Weeds are removed to protect against insect pests. Weed watermelon beds once a week before watering.
Diseases and pests characteristic of the variety
Diseases occur due to improper care, sudden changes in the weather, non-compliance with the rules of crop rotation.
Gardeners distinguish:
- Root rot, which occurs due to high humidity and an excess of mineral fertilizers. The root thickens, the leaves dry out and turn yellow. The base of the stem is covered with a white bloom. For treatment, spraying with Bordeaux liquid or a solution of copper sulfate is used. For preventive purposes, the bushes are sprayed with iodine solution.
- Downy mildew. Appears at any stage of maturation. Fungal disease affects the leaves - they become covered with a white-yellow pattern, become thin and weak. The cause of infection is plant debris and weeds. Downy mildew is treated with "HOM" and "Maxim" means.
- Medyankacaused by contaminated soil or seeds. The leaves are covered with brown spots and ulcers, the plant stops growing. The fruits are deformed and covered with a dark pattern. Copperhead is treated with Acrobat and Maxim.
Of the pests in watermelon beds, melon aphids are found. A small midge lives on leaves, sucks out plant sap and disrupts metabolism. A soap solution or spraying with ash and milk whey helps to get rid of melon aphids. The procedure is carried out for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes.
Harvesting and application of the crop
The ripeness of a watermelon is determined by a glossy and elastic skin, dry stalk... When tapping, a dull sound is heard - a sign of ripeness of the fruit. Harvested from late August to mid-September.Due to the thin peel, the fruits are not suitable for long-term storage; it is recommended to use them fresh or process them immediately after harvest.
Prepared from traditional sugar pulp jams, jam, sherbets, cocktails. Watermelon is suitable for stewing, marinating, frying and boiling. Fresh salad with feta cheese is prepared from it, combined in a radish and herb appetizer and used to make cucumber tartare. Sweet jam is made from watermelon peels, seeds are used as a brew for healthy tea.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The disadvantage of the Producer variety is its exacting care. To obtain a rich harvest, a watermelon needs timely feeding and watering. The Producer is grown only in the south or in the middle lane; it is not suitable for the northern regions.
However, the variety has many advantages:
- sweet taste and firm flesh;
- resistance to diseases and pests;
- useful composition;
- commercial qualities.
Reviews
Let's get acquainted with several reviews and find out what Russian gardeners say about the American variety Producer.
Valentina, Sochi: "Watermelon Producer I know for a long time, I have been growing it for the third year. I like the fruits, they grow big and heavy. The taste is sweet, there are few seeds. We eat with the whole family and make jam from watermelon peels. I recommend to grow. "
Maxim, Penza: “I planted the Producer variety last year. Planted with seedlings, watered with herbal infusions and water. Of fertilizers, I mainly used manure and ash. The harvest pleased me, the weight of the largest watermelon is 14 kg. The taste is sweet and sugary. "
Maria, Volgograd: “I didn't like Watermelon Producer. The pulp is too watery, there is little sweetness in it. In the process of growing, I encountered melon aphids, so I will not grow this variety anymore ”.
Conclusion
Summer residents appreciate the watermelon Producer for its high yield and large fruits. They are planted in warm regions on pre-prepared beds - they dig up the earth, clean it of debris and weeds. The harvest ripens in late summer - early autumn.
Glossy striped fruits are used fresh, for making fruit snacks and original salads. The flesh of the watermelon Producer is sugary and sweet, the skin is thin, there are few seeds.