A variety suitable for growing even in the northern regions of the country - watermelon "Sugar baby"

Watermelon is a thermophilic crop that produces large, sweet fruits, the taste of which is associated with summer and relaxation. Despite the popularity of this berry, many gardeners have never tried to grow it, believing that this is too time-consuming and costly process. Also, most people have the opinion that it is possible to grow this representative of melons only in the south.

Actually this is not true. Thanks to modern breeding, varieties have appeared on the market that are distinguished by increased resistance to adverse environmental factors. These include the sugar baby watermelon.

General description of the watermelon variety

Sugar baby is an old and proven watermelon variety... It was bred over 60 years ago by foreign breeders. Its original name is Suga Baby.

It was entered into the Russian state register only in 2008. The variety is produced by many domestic seed companies.

Distinctive features

The main distinguishing feature of Sugar Baby is miniature fruits... The weight of each of them does not exceed 4 kg. This portion makes them convenient for the consumer.

The taste of the variety differs from its larger counterparts. The pulp of the fruit is juicy, coarse and very sweet... Watermelons have a dark green rind.

Sugar baby cold hardy... Unlike many other watermelons, it is suitable for growing outdoors, not only in the southern, but also in the central regions. In cities with cool climates, it is cultivated in greenhouses.

Immunity to diseases of melons Is another positive trait of Sugar Baby. It does not need additional treatment with chemical agents, which makes it possible to grow ecologically clean fruits.

Beneficial features

Consumers like watermelon fruits not only for their sweet, refreshing taste, but also for their beneficial properties. Among them, the most pronounced:

1. Choleretic effect... Watermelon does not allow bile to stagnate. This property has a positive effect on skin color and liver function.
2. Diuretic effect... The work of the kidneys is normalized, the pressure decreases.
3. Excretion of harmful substances from the body, including cholesterol. Thanks to this, the cardiovascular system is strengthened.
4. Normalization of the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract... This property is due to the high fiber content of the fruit.
5. Watermelon prevents vitamin deficiency and improves the condition of the body. Watermelon contains almost the entire spectrum of B vitamins, as well as vitamins: A, E, PP, H, C.

note! It is believed that drinking watermelons helps to deal with small stones and sand in the urinary system and liver.

Watermelon is a dietary food... There are only 25 kcal per 100 g of pulp.

Main characteristics

The characteristics of the Sugar Baby make it possible to grow it in the central and northern regions. After all, it differs not only in cold resistance, but also in early maturity.

Description of Sugar Baby:

Note! Manufacturers declare the high immunity of the Sugar Baby to all diseases of the melons. However, there are reviews from gardeners reporting cases of root rot of this variety. This problem arises when the soil is waterlogged.

How to grow this variety yourself

Sugar baby is one of the most unpretentious watermelon varieties to care for.... Even a beginner can cope with its cultivation, subject to the basic rules of agricultural technology. An important stage in the cultivation of watermelons is the preparation of the beds. They do it back in the fall.

Important! Unlike many other crops, watermelon does not take root in peat soils. Therefore, this component does not need to be added to the soil.

Make sure that the area of ​​the garden where you plan to plant a watermelon, in the previous 3 years was not used for growing melons and gourds... Such plants increase the chances of contamination of plantings with infections and pests. Avoid growing pumpkin, squash and melon in adjacent beds.

The best predecessors for watermelons are considered: onions, carrots, cabbage, any greens, garlic, nightshade crops. The best option is a radish (the likelihood that the plants will be hit by a spider mite in the beds where this crop previously grew is minimal).

In the fall, the beds are dug to a depth of 20 cm and cleaned of plant residues. The land is mixed with manure, at the rate of 6-8 kg per 1 sq. m.

Advice! A good effect is given by planting in the winter on the beds of rye, sweet corn or any perennial grasses. In the spring, a month before planting the watermelon, young plants are dug up and mixed with the soil.

In the spring, the beds are leveled with a rake and cleaned of weeds... 15 g of urea is added to the soil per 1 sq. m. Then the soil is watered with hot copper sulfate. If the acidity of the soil is increased, then ash, dry lime or eggshells are added to it. Sand will help to make the soil looser.

The holes are dug in rows in a checkerboard pattern... A distance of 1 m is maintained between them. It is recommended to fill ashes at the bottom of the recesses. It will also be useful to pour there 1 liter of diluted 1:10 chicken manure.

Other varieties of watermelons:

Early ripe hybrid watermelon "Top Gun"

Early ripening sweet watermelon "Ogonyok"

Late watermelon "Chill": how to grow

Landing

Watermelon is grown in a seedling and non-seedling way... The second option is only suitable for southern regions. In this case, the crop will be ready for harvest a month later.

So that all the seeds germinate, and the plants turn out strong and hardy, it is important to properly prepare the planting material for sowing:

1. Selected dense seeds, without damage and mold spots. They are soaked in salted (1 tsp per glass) water. After half an hour, the emerged specimens are collected and thrown away, and those that have sunk to the bottom are used for further planting.
2. The seeds are soaked for half an hour in a light pink solution of potassium permanganate or for 15 minutes. in hydrogen peroxide. The planting material is washed again.
3. For a day, the seeds are soaked in water with a temperature of 40-50 ° C. To prevent the liquid from cooling, the container is placed on the battery.

After that, they immediately start sowing seeds or germinating planting material... In the second case, it is wrapped in a cloth soaked in warm water, and folded into one container, which is covered with a film and removed to a warm place until the seeds germinate.

Seed method

Seedless method suitable for southern regions... In this case, the planting material is sown directly into open ground. Sowing seeds is possible only when the soil at a depth of 15 cm warms up to a temperature of 15 ° C. In cities with southern climates, this happens in early May.

Before sowing seeds, the wells are prepared... A layer of humus or rotted manure is poured onto the bottom. Then the hole is covered with garden soil. A manure pad will provide the seeds with the nutrients they need to germinate.

2 seeds are sown in each hole... They should be located in different parts of the recess. The seeds are deepened by 4-5 cm.

The sifted seeds are watered with warm water. Then the beds are covered with foil... It is opened slightly for airing for 30 minutes. daily during warm hours of the day. When the first shoots appear, the duration of airing is increased. After a week, the film is completely removed from the crops.

If both seeds have sprouted in the holethen pinch the weaker stem. This is done at the stage of formation of the second leaflet.

Seedling method

The seedling method is considered the most reliable... In this case, already grown plants are planted in the ground. This ensures an earlier harvest. In cities with temperate and cold climates, this is the only way to grow watermelons.

Seedlings begin to grow in the second half of April.... A month later, they dive to a permanent place.

For seedlings, the soil is prepared in advance... To do this, mix the same parts of humus and garden soil. In the resulting mixture add half a portion of washed sand or sawdust. In each kilogram of soil add 2 tbsp. l. ash. The soil is calcined in the oven or watered with a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate. The drainage is disinfected (shell rock, broken ceramics or expanded clay) in the same way.

Watermelon seedlings grown immediately in individual pots... It is better to use peat containers, but plastic cassettes and cups are also suitable.

A 1-2 cm layer of drainage is poured onto the bottom of the container. The rest of the volume is filled with soil so that 5 cm remain free to the edge of the container. Put 1 seed in each container... They are sprinkled with a 3 cm layer of soil. The soil is not compacted. The soil is gently watered with warm water. It is important to ensure that the planting material is not exposed. Containers with seeds are placed in a warm (25-27 ° C) place. After the first shoots appear, the seedlings are grown at room temperature.

Seedlings are watered as the soil dries... Use only settled water at room temperature.

10 days after seed germination, the seedlings are fed... Use such means as "Solution", "Sotka", etc. The second feeding with the same means is done after another 10 days.

In the second half of May, Sugar Baby seedlings dive to a permanent place... 1 tbsp is poured into each hole. l. ash. Then seedlings are planted there along with a lump of earth. In this case, the earthen lump from the pot should rise 1 cm above the level of the garden. This will prevent rotting of the root collar of the plants. Each well is poured with 1 liter of water. The first 2 weeks, the seedlings are covered with foil at night.

Read also:

Do plucked watermelons ripen at home

How to understand that a watermelon has gone bad and what to do if it happened

Sugar Baby Care

You don't need to tie up Sugar Baby's lashes... They are often left lying on the ground. Some gardeners prefer to attach them to trellises.

Watermelons are rarely watered (1-2 times a week), but abundant. Do this in the evening. For 1 sq. m plantings use 30 liters of warm settled water. After each watering, the soil is loosened. The beds are cleared of weeds.

Watermelon is fed 3-4 times per season... For this, the following drugs are used:

1. After the formation of the 3rd leaf, the first nitrogen fertilization is applied. The second time such a remedy is used after 2 weeks.
2. During the formation of ovaries and ripening of fruits, fertilizers are applied 2 more times. Use complex fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

There are several nuances to consider when growing watermelons., which will help to avoid many problems and get a rich harvest. Here are some of them:

1. During the period of fruit ripening, watering is stopped. This will prevent them from cracking.
2. As the lashes grow, they are sprinkled near the base, which stimulates the formation of a stronger root system.
3. In case of precipitation and high humidity, cardboard or plywood substrates are placed under the watermelons. They will prevent the fruit from rotting.
4. If the plants were attached to the trellis, then the fruits hanging on the lashes are strengthened with a net so that the stem does not break under their weight.
5. When growing watermelons, gardeners try to avoid the use of chemicals. Otherwise, harmful substances will accumulate in their pulp.

Diseases and pests

Watermelon Sugar baby has a strong immunity to most diseases melons and gourds. Some gardeners say that it is possible for the plant to become infected with root rot. If such a problem arises, reduce the intensity of irrigation, treat the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and sprinkle the lashes with earth in additional areas. This will promote the formation of new roots and prevent the death of asthenia.

Compliance with the rules of care and crop rotation is equally important.... The soil, garden tools and planting material must be disinfected.

If the plants are attacked by pests, they are sprayed with a decoction of wormwood or a solution made from a bar of soap and a bucket of water. Gardeners try not to use chemicals when growing this crop.

Harvesting and application of the crop

Sugar Baby is harvested in July. The following signs indicate the ripeness of the crop:

• the stalk becomes dry and takes on a brownish tint;
• when the berry is tapped, a dull sound is heard;
• the greens are starting to fade.

The sugar baby harvest is stored in a dry dark place at a temperature of + 2 ... + 4 ° С... The fruits should not be damaged or dents.

Watermelons are mostly consumed fresh... Small fruits are fermented and used as a side dish for meat dishes.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Benefits of Sugar Baby:

• cold resistance;
• unpretentious care:
• keeping quality and transportability;
• the ability to use seeds from your own harvest;
• immunity to diseases of melons;
• rich sweet taste of the fruit.

Some gardeners consider the lack of a variety to be small.... Other gardeners love the compactness of the Sugar Baby fruit.

Reviews

Reviews of Sugar Baby are mostly positive... Some gardeners question its resistance to root rot.

Roman, St. Petersburg: “I've been growing a sugar baby for 6 years already. This is one of the few varieties that can grow in our region in the open field. In a rainy summer, I suffered from root rot a couple of times, and is not susceptible to other infections. In such years, I grow it under a film. The fruits are small (1-3 kg), but very tasty. It is convenient that the cut watermelon is immediately eaten and does not lie in the refrigerator for a long time ".

Valentina, Krasnodar: “I liked the sugar baby variety. Easy to care for, never got sick. I consider small fruits an advantage. We not only eat them fresh, but also salt them for the winter. It's a very tasty snack. ".

Conclusion

Watermelon Sugar baby is one of the few varieties that can grow in regions with a temperate climate in the open field. It is distinguished by increased cold resistance and high immunity to diseases of melons and gourds. Even novice gardeners can cope with his agricultural technology.

The fruits of such a watermelon, although small in size, have a rich sweet taste and honey aroma. They are delicious both fresh and pickled.