Watermelon Kholodok: variety description and cultivation features, harvesting and storage

Watermelon is a well-known large fruit with juicy aromatic pulp and sweet taste. People are looking forward to the watermelon season to enjoy the delicious berry from the heart. Growing watermelons is becoming a popular activity, thanks to the warming and the work of breeders, they grow well in regions where they previously got only through the efforts of carriers. For example, watermelons of the Kholodok variety tolerate temperature drops well, for which they received a characteristic name.

Characteristics and description of the variety

Chill refers to medium-late varieties. Harvesting begins 90 days after planting the seeds.The plant feels good in the open ground of the southern regions, suitable for greenhouse cultivation. It has a high yield - from 30 tons per hectare, excellent for planting in the garden and for growing melons.

The variety has bright green leaves, slightly elongated berries weighing 4-5 kilograms, long branched shoots. Bright, with dark stripes, skin of moderate thickness, flesh is juicy, grainy, red with a pinkish sheen and rich sweet taste.

Watermelon is suitable for cultivation in the southern Russian regions and throughout the Middle Strip. It is grown in the Volga region, in the Southern Urals, in the Volgograd and Astrakhan regions. Harvested at the end of August. The variety has a long (3-5 months) fruit shelf life.

History of selection and region of growth

The history of cultivation of watermelons has several millennia. They were brought to Russia from India as early as the 8th century, for several hundred years, thanks to selection, familiar, large and sweet berries turned out from a small, slightly bitter fruit.

Chill is a selection product of Russian scientists. The variety was bred in the Volgograd region, at the Bykovskaya experimental station. This is the result of the work of Sancha Claudia Petrovna, who crossed three varieties of watermelons, and the result was Kholodok, which became very popular due to its taste characteristics, good preservation during transportation, and a long shelf life of ripe fruits.

Unpretentious, able to withstand lower temperatures, Kholodok can grow in vast territories - from Astrakhan to Siberian regions, where it feels great in greenhouses and under a film, gives a high yield.

Optimal conditions for good growth

Lots of sun, moderate watering and light soil - leave it to Kholodok and the variety will respond with a great harvest.

Irrigation

Striped berries do not like excessive watering. Water the watermelons as the topsoil dries out. Waterlogging will spoil the taste of the fruit, significantly reduce the yield. Water Kholodok every 7-10 days, depending on weather conditions. During the flowering period, watering is increased, and produced twice a week.

Feeding and fertilizer

The first root dressing of watermelons is carried out a couple of weeks after planting the seedlings in the ground. Feed with a solution of mullein or chicken manure at the rate of 1 part fertilizer to 15 parts water.

When the first ovary appears, feed the plants a second time, using a complex fertilizer for gourds in strict accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Often, ammonium nitrate is taken to feed watermelons, this fertilizer should be used very carefully - an excess can significantly worsen the taste of fruits.

Soil

The soil for melons needs light and fertile. You can pre-sow (before winter) green manure plants on it. Suitable winter wheat, rye, peas. After the emergence of seedlings, the site is dug up.

Important: watermelons are not planted after melons, pumpkins, they are not sown in the same place for several seasons.

You can bring rotted manure to the site in the fall and dig the soil deep. Melons do not like acidic soils, watermelons do not grow in waterlogged areas. A sunny, wind-sheltered place is suitable for landing. Good predecessors for watermelons are tomatoes, legumes, corn.

How to grow watermelon Chill

In the south, berries are grown on beds or melons, using seeds or seedlings, in the north they use greenhouses or cover plants with foil.

Seed preparation

Pre-treatment of seeds is required. They are placed in warm water, only specimens that have sunk to the bottom are used for planting. The selected seeds are poured with water at 50-55 ° C and kept for an hour. The water is drained, and the seeds are placed in an intensely pink solution of potassium permanganate for 20-30 minutes. Before planting, the seeds should be treated with a growth stimulator (Epin, Epin-extra).

Then they are planted in pots, covered with foil, put in a well-lit warm place. Seedlings are watered and aired regularly. A week before planting in open ground, they begin to remove the film daily and take out plantings on the street, gradually increasing the time the seedlings are open - this is how they harden.

In greenhouse conditions

In the greenhouse, plants are planted at a distance of at least 70 centimeters from each other, with the same distance between rows. 2 sprouts are planted in one hole. Since Kholodok has long lashes, the greenhouse must be at least 2 meters in height. Pollination in greenhouses is done manually. Don't rely on natural pollination even with windows open.

The grown lashes are tied to the trellis, this provides uniform lighting. If there are too many flowers, the extra ones are cut off, in addition, side shoots are removed.

The plants in greenhouses are weeded, the soil is loosened, the grown fruits are regularly turned over. Small planks can be placed under the lower berries so that they do not touch the ground, the upper ones are placed in nets and tied to trellises. If necessary, plants are additionally illuminated with lamps.

Growing watermelons in a greenhouse, of course, requires effort, but more than pays off with a rich harvest.

Outdoor

Plants are planted in warm soil, at a distance of at least a meter from each other, 110 centimeters are left between rows. At night, plantings are covered with a film to protect them from temperature changes. After the watermelon seedlings take root and adapt in a new place, the first feeding is done.

They cannot tolerate weeds, so you should regularly weed and loosen the soil. Young shoots love water, plantings should be watered, avoiding waterlogging. In rainy weather, the bed is covered with a film. During the period of active fruit growth, watermelons should not be loosened - you can damage the berries with garden tools. Watering is also reduced to a minimum.

Harvest and storage of crops

Ripe are smooth, shiny fruits with a dry tail that make a hollow sound when tapped.

Store watermelons in a cool, dry place. When laying for long-term storage, special nets are used, and watermelons are stored in a suspended state or laid out on shelves separately from other vegetables so that the fruits do not touch.

Diseases and pests

Treatment of seeds and soil before planting allows you to protect plants from diseases, in case of disease, the affected plants are destroyed. To disinfect the soil, it can be lightly sprinkled with lime or watered with a pink solution of potassium permanganate.

From pests watermelon Chill is affected:

• sprout fly larva;
• spider mites;
• melon aphids.

In this case, the plants are treated with an infusion of tar soap or onion peel or suitable herbicides, in accordance with the instructions for use.

Of course, growing watermelons requires some effort, but the opportunity to enjoy sweet juicy berries grown on your own is undoubtedly worth it, and giving preference to the Kholodok variety, remember that this one is a recognized breeding achievement of the Russian Federation and is included in the appropriate register.

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