Why is Ethiopka melon good and why it is worth trying to grow it yourself
The Ethiopka melon variety is familiar to many gardeners. The juicy and sweet fruit is used to make juices, jam and fruit salads. The composition of the melon is rich in vitamins and minerals, amino acids and essential oils.
It is not difficult to grow an Ethiopian melon on your site, the main thing is to follow the recommendations for growing from experienced gardeners. Let us consider in more detail the features of the variety and the secrets of a rich harvest.
The content of the article
Melon variety description
The variety is grown both in greenhouse conditions and in the open field. The choice of location depends on the climatic characteristics of the region. Ethiopian ripens in just 70-80 days from the moment the seedlings are planted.
Distinctive features
Bushes are compact, have spreading lashes. Leaves are deep green, heart-shaped. The variety is unpretentious in care, however, the bushes love sunlight and warmth, so they plant a crop on well-heated ground. The plant is resistant to common diseases and insect pests.
Composition, benefits, properties, calories
Melon contains B vitamins, dietary fiber, organic acids, trace elements. Moderate consumption of melon is an excellent prevention of many diseases.
The product replenishes the lack of iron in the body, strengthens bones and teeth, stimulates brain activity and improves memory. In addition, melon is actively used in folk medicine and cosmetology: it is used to prepare nourishing face masks, lotions to get rid of age spots. 100 g of the product contains only 33 kcal, which allows the product to be classified as dietary.
Interesting! In Russia, the melon was used as a medicine for tuberculosis, rheumatism, and even mental disorders. Especially popular was a decoction of milk and product seeds. The tool helped to get rid of the complications of work gastrointestinal tract.
Fruit characteristics and yield
Outwardly, the Ethiopian melon looks like a pumpkin. The fruits are round, slightly elongated. Segmented surface, yellow-orange color. The peel is dense and elastic, the fruits are easily transported over long distances and are stored for a long time.
Weight varies from 4 to 7 kg. The pulp is creamy, sweet and juicy. The yield is stable, from 1 sq. m collect about 6-8 kg.
How to choose fruits when buying
How to choose a ripe and tasty melon in a store or market? Pay primary attention to the appearance of the fruit. The melon must be intact, free from damage or scratches. Ripe Ethiopian melon always has a pronounced sweet aroma, so it will not be superfluous to listen to the smell of the product.
Light cotton will help determine ripeness: if a dull sound is heard, then the melon is ripe. In this case, the peel should not be too soft or hard.
Important! Don't buy melons near roads. Often in such places, the fruits lie behind the ground, which means that through small cracks they can become infected with dangerous infections.
How to grow the Ethiopka variety yourself
The best vegetables and fruits are those that are grown on their site. Consider the basic rules for planting and caring for sweet honey melon.
Seedling preparation
To obtain a rich harvest, the melon is grown in seedlings.To do this, disinfect the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate or Bordeaux liquid. Disinfection destroys dangerous microbes and pathogens on the seed surface.
Plant the seedlings in flower pots, plastic cups or plastic containers. Soil is poured into the container, small grooves are made 1-2 cm deep. Seeds are placed in each hole and sprinkled with earth on top. The seedlings are watered abundantly with warm water and covered with a thin film. They remove the shelter after the first leaves appear.
Melon seedlings are demanding on light, therefore summer residents are advised to additionally highlight it with phytolamps. Water the seedlings as the soil dries, about once every 3-5 days. For watering, it is better to use a pipette so that the water falls directly under the root. To accelerate the development of the plant, growth stimulants are added to the seedlings. Before use, you must carefully read the instructions and dosage.
Important! A week before planting seedlings in open ground, a hardening procedure is carried out. For this, the seedlings are taken out on the balcony for 2-3 hours. Daily residence time is increased by 30-40 minutes. Hardening helps the sprouts to quickly adapt to external factors: weather changes, air composition, winds.
Landing
Seedlings are planted in the garden in early to mid-May. Before that, they carefully dig up the beds and sprinkle them with dry sawdust. The best predecessors for planting melons are potatoes or cabbage. Bushes are planted according to the 70x150 scheme.
After the seedlings are in the ground, a layer of straw is laid on the beds. It retains moisture in the soil, which has a beneficial effect on the development of young plants. Immediately after planting, the melon is watered with warm, settled water. The next watering will be organized in a week.
Important! Melon prefers a mixture of loamy and sandy loamy soils with neutral acidity. If the acidity is increased, then it is recommended to make liming before planting: pour a mixture of dry lime and wood ash onto the beds. An effective folk method creates ideal growing conditions for the plant.
Care
In dry and hot weather, the beds are watered once every 10-15 days. The optimum water temperature is about 20-22 ° C. Water it carefully so as not to wet the stems and leaves, since an excess of water on the plants leads to infections and fungi.
Periodically, instead of plain water, an infusion on burdock leaves is used, it prevents the appearance of insect pests.Watering is stopped 2 weeks before harvesting. Together with moistening, the beds are regularly loosened. Loosening retains moisture in the soil, saturates the roots with oxygen. The melons are loosened carefully so as not to hurt the rhizome. The optimum loosening depth is about 5-7 cm.
Melon needs additional nutrition, so gardeners will organize additional feeding. During the period of fruit setting, superphosphate or potassium sulfate is added to the ground. Mineral components improve melon taste and prevent diseases. In addition, they pay attention to foliar dressing: they spray the bushes from a spray bottle with a solution of milk and iodine. Shrub treatment helps protect against insects and preserve crops.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
As soon as the sixth leaf is formed on the bush, it is recommended to pinch the top. On each lash, 5 ovaries are left, the remaining shoots are removed. This procedure helps to increase the number of ripe melons, remove small unripe fruits.
In order for the lashes to grow in the right direction, first they are untangled among themselves, then tied to wooden stakes. If the melon is grown in a greenhouse, then the structure is ventilated daily with the help of special vents. Fresh air is necessary for greenhouse plants, otherwise they will die due to high humidity and stuffiness.
Particular attention is paid to mineral nutrition. It is important not to allow an overabundance of nitrogen and phosphorus substances, otherwise the bushes will wither and the leaves will become dry and yellow. Charcoal or ash will help correct the situation.
After a while, they will absorb mineral components, the nutritional balance of plants will be restored.
Diseases and pests characteristic of the variety
Ethiopian melon is prone to powdery mildew. The causative agent of the disease is a fungus that actively develops during periods of high humidity. The disease manifests itself in the form of a snow-white bloom on the leaves.
The fruits themselves stop growing, become tough and bitter. For preventive purposes, it is recommended to follow the rules of crop rotation and thoroughly disinfect the seeds before planting. If the bushes still get sick with dew, gardeners are advised to treat the beds with Topaz, Fundazol or Quadris.
In addition to dew, plants get sick with tobacco mosaic or root rot. The causes of infection are identical: improper care, excessive watering, lack of nutrients in the soil. An excellent prophylactic agent against all diseases - spraying with manganese or iodine. Their composition is harmless to humans and non-toxic to plants. Experienced summer residents recommend regularly inspecting the beds and bushes for damage or external defects. The sooner the disease is detected, the better.
Important! Melon fly attacks garden beds in many regions. The pest is capable of destroying up to 80% of the entire crop. The insect lays larvae in the fruit, which develop and gnaw the flesh inside the melon. If the fly is not identified in time, the melon will rot. In order to prevent the appearance of a melon fly, the bushes are sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate.
Harvesting and application of the crop
Melons are picked selectively as the fruits ripen. Ripeness is determined by its sweet floral aroma and firmness. The peel becomes yellow, and small cracks appear around the stem. Harvesting is advised to be done in the morning or in the evening, so that there is no heat or rain. Pluck the fruit together with the stalk.
Melons are laid out on the garden bed and left for 7-10 days; they are turned over every 3-4 days. In the future, the product is perfectly stored in wooden boxes sent with straw. The best storage places are a ventilated and dry cellar, a balcony or loggia, a storage room.
Fresh and juicy cantaloupe perfectly quenches thirst, the fruit makes excellent juices and cocktails. Culinary experts prepare fruit salads, mousses, jams and sorbets from it. A bright and delicious melon looks great on any table and will decorate any picnic. Many people like to bake the melon with the addition of cinnamon or mint. Such a dish is a great snack for those who are watching their figure.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The Ethiopka variety has a lot of useful qualities. Thanks to its thick peel, it can be stored for a long time, rarely gets sick and can be easily transported over different distances. The taste of the product is excellent, it is universal in application.
The cultivation procedure does not require special knowledge; Ethiopian care is simple. It is cultivated both in greenhouses and in the open air. The variety has no significant drawbacks. Only occasionally are the fruits exposed to the melon fly.
Reviews
Why do summer residents and gardeners love "Ethiopian" melon? Consider a few reviews of experienced vegetable growers.
Arina, Omsk: “I love sugar melons, and Ethiopian is one of the leading places in my rating. Beautiful ribbed fruits do not require special attention, do not get sick. I plant it in seedlings and get an excellent harvest. "
Pavel, Penza: “I planted Ethiopka for the first time, I was satisfied. The fruits were tied together, the return is excellent. Watered only with warm water and fertilized with manure. I have collected 9 large and fragrant melons and will keep them in the basement. "
Olga, Ufa: “The Ethiopian has planted a melon twice. The first time the harvest grew excellent, I was pleased with the sweet sugar taste. Last season, the bushes got sick with downy mildew.I cannot understand what the reason is, I lost half of the harvest. "
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Conclusion
Farmers prefer to grow the Ethiopka variety in seedlings. So the plant quickly takes root in the garden, adapts to the climatic conditions of a particular region. Sprouts are planted on the site in May, after the last frost. Ethiopian loves nutritious and loose soil, illuminated by the sun.
Water the plant at the root, about 2 liters of warm water are consumed for 1 bush. Organic and mineral fertilizing helps to improve the quality of fruits. Melon makes delicious desserts, pastries, juices and smoothies. In addition, the fruits are perfectly stored, which allows you to enjoy their taste and benefits for as long as possible.