Early ripe hybrid watermelon "Top Gun" from Dutch breeders
Watermelon is consumed fresh, juices, cocktails are prepared from it, fried in batter, and jam is made from the peels. In order not to look for a delicious and ripe watermelon on supermarket shelves, gardeners prefer to grow it on their own. Among the most popular large crops is the Top Gun hybrid. It is characterized by a short ripening period and sugary pulp.
Consider what a Top Gun watermelon looks like, what are its advantages and how to grow a rich harvest.
The content of the article
Description of the watermelon variety
The hybrid is early ripe, the harvest is harvested in 70-80 days from the moment the first shoots appear. In central Russia, Top Gun is planted with seedlings, in the south - with seeds in open ground.
Distinctive features
Plants are branched and spreading. Leaves are medium in size, dark green in color.
The bushes are resistant to the main diseases of the culture - fusarium and tobacco mosaic. The care does not require special knowledge and skills.
Composition, properties, benefits, calories
The calorie content of watermelon is 25 kcal per 100 g. The fruit is 90% water and has a strong diuretic effect. The composition of watermelon contains vitamins A, B, E, folic acid, dietary fiber, antioxidants.
Eating watermelon reduces swelling, cholesterol levels, and helps to avoid stomach diseases. Watermelon is consumed in large quantities during diets, it helps to lose weight.
Fruit characteristics and yield
Oval fruits have a smooth glossy surface. The peel is striped, green. The weight of a watermelon varies from 7 to 12 kg.
The pulp is sugary, bright red, juicy and sweet on the palate. From one bush, 2 to 5 large and beautiful fruits are harvested.
Seeds of watermelon
Sunflower seeds small. Since this is a variety, they are not suitable for further planting. The color is dark brown, with small spots. There are few seeds in the fruits, they are not eaten.
How to grow a hybrid yourself
The procedure begins with the preparation of seedlings. Consider the step-by-step instructions for growing Top Gun watermelon.
Preparing and growing seedlings
Seedling material is prepared at the end of March. For this, the seeds are placed in seedling containers with prepared soil. A mixture of soil from the garden and ready-made soil from the store is used as soil. They are mixed, fertilized with peat and ash, poured with a solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. Peat tablets or pots, plastic cups, wooden boxes are used as containers.
Important! Seeds are placed in grooves 1 cm deep. Sprinkle with earth on top and watered abundantly, covered with foil. They remove it after 5-7 days. Store seedlings in a warm and sunny place.
Seedling care consists of regular watering and feeding. Watermelon is a moisture-loving culture, but it is important to avoid waterlogging. It leads to disease and stunted growth. Water the seedlings once every 4 days as the earth dries up.
After the appearance of the first leaves, feed with liquid organic matter is organized. Chicken droppings or mullein are suitable for this. Watering is stopped a week before planting in the garden.
Growing in stages and care
Watermelon is planted in hilly and spacious beds. The recommended landing pattern is 70x50. Loamy loamy soil fertilized with humus is suitable for melons and gourds.The beds are dug up and loosened, cleaned of debris and weeds, and aisles are organized.
A cloudy and dry morning is chosen for planting: grooves are made in the ground, water is poured into them and watermelon seedlings are placed. Sprinkle the base of the stem with earth, sprinkle with mulch - sand, sawdust, shavings. Mulching protects young shoots and nourishes the roots.
The care consists of the following procedures:
- Watering... About 1 liter of water is consumed per bush. For convenience, a drip irrigation system is used - water is consumed sparingly, it goes directly to the root. The best time to water is morning or evening. Leaves and stems do not get sunburn, water does not evaporate.
- After 10 days, mineral dressing is applied. The hybrid is positively influenced by nitrogen-phosphorus and potash fertilizers. It is recommended to alternate mineral nutrition and organic, therefore, 10 days after minerals, organic matter is added to the beds - nettle infusion, charcoal, liquid manure. Top dressing improves the taste of fruits and their commercial qualities.
- After the formation of a large lash and several fruits, the plant is formed. Lateral small shoots are removed, leaving several large ones. If the lashes are long and entangled with each other, then they are untangled and laid on the ground, sprinkled with earth in several places.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
When growing a Top Gun hybrid, the feeding regime is observed. You can not add only organic matter or only minerals - the diet must be balanced. For the sake of reliability, it is recommended to record the dates and names of the drugs being introduced.
In addition to root fertilizers, foliar fertilizers are also used - spraying from a spray bottle and dusting. For foliar procedures, a solution of potassium permanganate or iodine, an infusion of nettle or burdock is used. They protect against disease and boost immunity.
Important! If the fruits are too large and heavy, wooden boards are placed under them. Watermelons should not lie on the ground, this increases the risk of disease.
Do not forget about weeding the beds. Gardeners maintain cleanliness and order, regularly remove debris and weeds. Before watering, the soil is loosened, this saturates the roots with oxygen. Timely weeding protects against pests.
Diseases and pests characteristic of the hybrid
Diseases appear due to rain and humidity, heat and fog. Diseases also occur due to improper care:
- Fusarium occurs in greenhouses and open beds. Plants are covered with bloom, fruits become lethargic and watery. Fusarium is treated with Bordeaux liquid or colloidal sulfur.
- Powdery mildew is caused by excessive moisture. A white bloom appears on the leaves, which can be removed by spraying with milk whey.
- Bacteriosis is a consequence of contaminated soil. Due to the disease, the fruits wilt and deform. For prophylaxis use "HOM" or a solution of copper sulfate. Infected bushes are removed from the beds and burned.
Of the pests, melon aphids, wireworms and whiteflies are noted. Insects appear from weeds or infested adjacent beds. For preventive purposes, spraying with ash is used. For treatment use drugs "Keltan" or "Karbofos". If measures are not taken in time, pests will destroy the entire crop.
Harvesting and application of the crop
Ripe watermelon becomes glossy and stops growing. When tapping, a ringing sound is heard, one side of the fruit acquires a yellow tint, the stalk dries up.
The hybrid is harvested in mid-August. The fruits are wiped with a dry cloth and removed to a dark place, such as a cellar or basement.
Prepared from watermelon jelly and jam, sorbets and juices... Juicy pulp is combined with ham, cheese, olives, shrimps. The fruits are used to make fruit baskets, used for fruit salads and snacks.
Watermelon harmoniously combined with melon flavor, banana, raspberry and other fruits and berries.
Interesting! In Japan, cuboid or heart-shaped watermelons are grown.For this, in the process of growing, the fruits are placed in special containers, and the watermelon gradually takes on its shape.
Advantages and disadvantages of a hybrid
Of the advantages, they distinguish resistance to diseases and pests, immunity to cold weather. Top Gun is grown in greenhouses, greenhouses or in the open field. In application, Top Gan is universal, suitable for fresh consumption and for preparing desserts, salads and snacks.
Differs in a consistently high yield, tasty pulp and attractive appearance.
The disadvantage is that you can buy hybrid seeds only in specialized stores for gardeners.
Reviews
Why do gardeners love Top Gun watermelon? Let's study a few reviews and find out if everyone was happy with the harvest.
Vladimir, Rostov-on-Don: “Watermelon Top Gun pleases with large and beautiful fruits. I grow for myself and for sale. The pulp is delicious, red and sugary. The hybrid does not get sick, I fertilize it with ash and yeast. I estimate the yield as a solid five. "
Galina, Perm: “I planted Top Gun watermelon for the first time, in a greenhouse. In March, I prepared the seedlings, looked after all the rules. But the hybrid did not take root on the site, the fruits were tied slowly. I collected only 3 watermelons from the garden and expected much more. "
Evgeniy, Ufa: “Top Gun is a great, tasty hybrid. I use the pulp for making desserts: I add it to ice cream and make milkshakes. I recommend landing. "
Conclusion
The Top Gun hybrid is suitable for the middle zone and in the southern regions. It is planted on sandy loamy nutrient soils. The best predecessors are cabbage and potatoes; it is not recommended to plant them after a pumpkin or melon.
Harvested in August, when the stalk becomes dry and the fruits become shiny. The harvest is stored for up to 3 months, transfers transportation over long distances.