Sweet and fragrant Uzbek melon "Gulyabi": how to choose and how to grow it yourself

Gulyabi is a well-known melon variety that will appeal to anyone who at least once tastes its sweet, honey taste. This variety was brought to Russia from Persia in the 16th century and proved to be resistant to the country's climatic conditions. It is difficult to imagine the outgoing summer without this sweet and ripe fruit, which gives a lot of positive emotions and no less benefit.

Those who have grown a culture on their own in their summer cottage have a special reason to rejoice.

Melon variety description

Ghoulabi is also called Charjuy melon in honor of the Charjui region in Turkmenistan. Sometimes the names "alien" or "Chunzhuiskaya" are found - the corresponding settlements (the villages of Chu and Chundzha) are also on the map of Central Asia.

The variety is grown in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and the Astrakhan region of Russia. For the melon to fully ripen, 133 days must pass from the moment of germination.

Distinctive features

Breeders mark the long shelf life of the Gulyabi variety... Another difference between this variety is that the mature fruit reaches a mass of about 5 kg.

Important. The longer the melon is stored, the sweeter the flesh becomes. This feature of the variety distinguishes it from other varieties of melons.

Specifications

Gulabi has an elongated shape... The color of the peel is orange or yellow-green. The surface of the melon is covered with a fine mesh. The inside of the fruit is juicy and sweet white flesh, which has a greenish tint closer to the hard skin. From 1 m² you can get up to 14 kg of the crop.

Important. Ghulabi taste reaches its maximum level a few weeks after harvest. During this time, the melon accumulates the required amount of sugar in the pulp and can even replace sugar cane.

How to grow this variety yourself

It is not easy to grow melons and gourds, and the Gulyabi variety is considered one of the most capricious... The cultivation of this melon is a laborious and time consuming process. However, the results in the form of a rich and sweet harvest contribute to the choice of gardeners in favor of this variety.

Growing and care

Gardeners advise the seedling method of growing Gulabi. Seedlings are purchased in a store or grown independently from seeds.

Basic rules for growing strong plants:

1. They acquire three-year-old seeds, since a plant that has grown from freshly harvested seeds will not be able to form fruits and will be covered with barren flowers.
2. Before planting, the seeds are soaked in wet gauze for several days. Remove the gauze with seeds in a plastic bag and hide in a warm place.
3. Sprouted seeds are planted in separate containers with a diameter of 10 cm. The soil is chosen nutritious and light.
4. As soon as the first shoots appear, the seedlings are transferred to a bright place under the sun. To avoid stretching the seedlings, artificial lighting is installed in cloudy weather.
5. You need to water Gulabi no more than 3 times a week, as the soil dries out. It should be dry 5-7 cm from the surface.
6. A week before planting in open ground, the seedlings are hardened and taken out into fresh air.

When grown by seed, the seeds are prepared in advance for planting.... Before landing in open ground, they are treated with disinfectants. The exact dates of planting depend on the weather conditions in the region.

When choosing a place for planting, Gulyabi prefer flat and well-lit areas of land on the south or southwest side.

Important. The predecessors of the crop can be representatives of the nightshade family, legumes or garlic. You should not plant Gulabi in places where carrots, zucchini, cucumbers or pumpkin previously grew.

Sowing process:

• if the soil on the site is dense and heavy, sand, slaked lime or dolomite flour is added to it, since Gulyabi loves loose sandy soil;
• on the beds, holes are made 5-7 cm deep at a distance of 70-80 cm from each other, the distance between the beds should be at least 1.5 m;
• before planting, moisten the hole with settled warm water and put several seeds in each of them.

Plants are watered only with warm water - in the aisles, and not at the root... The soil before watering should be dry 5-7 cm from the surface. As soon as the fruits begin to ripen, watering is stopped to increase the sugar content of the fruits.

About other melon varieties:

What is good about the Ethiopka melon

Early ripe yellow melon "Tale F1"

Review of the sweet and juicy variety "Slavia"

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

The bushes of this melon culture have the ability to grow rapidly in all directions., which negatively affects the yield, since it does not leave the plant the strength for flowering. To avoid this, they pinch the bushes, and get rid of excess ovaries. It is enough to leave 2-5 fruit ovaries on each bush.

Until the bushes are small and have not had time to grow, the soil between the rows is regularly loosened. But as soon as the melons close in the aisles, the loosening is stopped.

Diseases and pests characteristic of the variety

Walking around requires increased attention from the gardener... Representatives of this variety often fall ill and are attacked by pests. Powdery mildew, fusarium, gray mold and root rot are considered the most dangerous diseases. Means of combating fungal and bacterial infections - a competent watering regime and, if this does not help, fungicides.

The melon aphid often harms the melon crop... It lives on the inside of the leaves and sucks out all the sap from the plant. If left untreated, the melon leaves dry and fall off. A spider mite brings similar harm, in addition, it covers the entire aerial part with a thin web. As a result, the melon stops growing and developing. Melon fly is rare in Russia. But if it appeared on the site, it will destroy the plants quickly.

Folk remedies are used to fight insects. like onion and garlic tinctures, and in case of serious infestation - broad-spectrum insecticides.

As a rule, pest and disease control is a complex and lengthy process that negatively affects the number of fruits and yields. therefore it is better to secure the harvest in advance, periodically carrying out prevention in the form of disinfection with natural solutions.

Harvesting and application of the crop

The Gulyabi variety fully ripens by the end of August or the beginning of September.... As soon as the fruits begin to exude a honey aroma, the peel from the side of the flower will become soft, but without pressing, and the tail will dry out - it's time to harvest.

Important. Under the right conditions, the fruits are stored until the next season, that is, until May.

Melon is used in different ways in cooking... Delicious are prepared from its pulp sweet desserts, jam and jam... Fragrant pieces of Gulabi are added as a filling to baked goods. Melon desserts especially delight young children. Gulabi pulp is dried and dried... The seeds are used to produce quality oil, which is similar to olive in consistency, and the cake is used as animal feed.

Reference. In Central Asia, housewives add melon to some hot dishes and soups.

Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits:

• long storage period for ripe fruits;
• a large amount of fiber in the melon pulp;
• the content of easily digestible sugars in the pulp.

disadvantages:

• It is difficult to grow ghoulabi in areas with a cool climate; in the central zone of Russia, there is a high probability of frostbite and death of the crop;
• even in greenhouse conditions, the melon may not fully ripen due to lack of light;
• people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and high blood sugar are not recommended to consume melon;
• the Gulyabi variety is susceptible to viral diseases and pest attacks.

Reviews of those who grew

On the net meet extremely positive reviews about this melon variety:

Ivan, Astana: “I can call the Gulyabi melon my favorite variety. I fell in love with the melon for its juicy, sweet as honey and fragrant pulp. Ghulabi has one important feature - after harvesting, the fruits must lie at room temperature for 4-6 days. During this time, the melon will taste more sweet. In agricultural technology, the Gulyabi variety is unpretentious ".

Svetlana, Simferopol: “I have been growing Gulyabi melon in my garden for 3 years already. This melon culture is unpretentious. The fruits ripen by mid-September, look like in the photo on the Internet. I liked the variety for its juicy and aromatic pulp. Melon Gulyabi has good keeping quality. The harvested crop can last until the beginning of spring, thanks to which the juicy melon can be enjoyed throughout the winter ".

How to choose fruits when buying

When buying a melon Pay attention to the aroma, the appearance of the rind, and the sound you get when you hit the melon. Use our expert advice to choose the ripest and juiciest melon:

1. First you need to smell the melon. The sweet and ripe fruit exudes a delicate aroma, and the unripe fruit does not smell at all or smell of greenery. If you smell rot, then you should refuse to buy such a fruit.
2. Press down on the melon rind. In a mature fruit, the peel should be firm and slightly springy. In an overripe fruit, dents will form on the skin when pressed.
3. The melon's tail should be dry, and the opposite side of the fruit should be soft.
4. You can make sure that the melon is ripe by slapping on it. A ripe melon should produce a dull cotton, because when the seeds hit the peel, they move away from the pulp and a cavity forms inside.
5. The seeds of a ripe melon are large and easily separated from the pulp.
6. The netting on the melon skins should not be green. In a ripe fruit, it has a sandy hue.

Better not to buy melon in tents near roads or near factories... Often, the storage conditions for fruits in such places are unsanitary. The acquired fruits can cause food poisoning because all melons and gourds easily absorb contaminants from the air.

Which is tastier: Torpedo or Gulabi?

Recently, the Gulyabi melon variety has found recognition among buyers and gardeners. Outwardly, the fruits are similar to the torpedo - a competing variety. Often, the buyer is faced with a choice of which melon to buy. Let's consider the differences.

Torpedo has vanilla aroma, and Gulabi has honey... Torpedo is considered a little less tasty than Gulabi, but some buyers opt for the former, because they consider it more juicy. This is actually a moot point. To make the right choice, try both varieties.

Conclusion

Melon Gulyabi is a fragrant fruit that grows well only in regions with a warm climate. A generous and tasty harvest will require careful crop care and hard work. It is necessary to water Gulabi in a timely manner and form bushes. Only by observing agricultural techniques, you will grow a really tasty and aromatic melon.