Watermelon Karistan: description and characteristics of the variety, cultivation with photo

Watermelon is one of the most favorite summer delicacies. Among the many varieties of culture, watermelon of the Karistan variety is distinguished by a whole range of positive characteristics, the main of which are good taste, high yield and small seeds.

Characteristics and differences between varieties Karistan and Karistan F1

Watermelon Karistan refers to mid-early varieties. Berries after the formation of sprouts, ripen already on the 70th day.The fruit is round or oval, weighing 10-12 kg. Smooth bark of medium thickness has a dark green color. Pulp of bright scarlet color with small black seeds, characterized by density and juiciness.

Description of the variety provides for the definition of the pros and cons of watermelon. The main advantages of Karistan, thanks to which he deserves his place in the garden, include:

• high yields, both in greenhouses and outdoors;
• presence of ideal taste and technological characteristics;
• ability to grow on any soil;
• intense germination of planting seeds and friendly fruit ripening;
• sunburn resistant;
• long preservation without loss of taste, subject to proper storage;
• possibility of transportation over long distances, without loss of presentation.

The variety also has disadvantages:

• probability of accumulation of a small amount of sugars in cloudy weather;
• lack of seedlings when planting in too cold soil.

Unlike the Karistan watermelon, the Karistan F1 hybrid matures earlier and has a large mass. The hybrid is more resistant to characteristic diseases and performs well on any soil. The energy and rapid growth of the plant is its main distinguishing feature.

History of selection and region of growth

The Karistan variety was bred at the very beginning of the 21st century by Dutch breeders working for Syngenta.

Became famous in Russia in 2007, and became very popular already in 2012, when it was entered in the State Register.

Due to early ripening and excellent transportability, watermelon Karistan is actively grown in all regions of Russia.This is an excellent choice not only for summer residents, but also for people involved in the sale of watermelons, as the variety allows you to grow impressive and high-quality crops of sweet summer berries.

Features of cultivation and optimal conditions

Karistan Watermelon Cultivation Requirements:

• lots of light and direct sunlight;
• optimal temperature;
• high soil moisture;
• well-fertilized soil with organic and inorganic substances.

To get a good harvest, you must adhere to all agrotechnical recommendations for growing, create optimal conditions for active germination, flowering and fruit ripening.

In the greenhouse

Warm room should be spacious, high, made of durable material.As neighbors, it is best to use peppers, eggplants or cucumbers. The soil needs to be nutritious, saturated with minerals, but not too greasy. For fertilizer, you need to use humus with nitrophos and superphosphate. In advance, you need to take care of the presence of a protective film in case of extreme cold.

Having prepared everything you need for growing, you can start the process itself:

1. Sow the seeds in separate cups or coconut pots with a diameter of 10 cm in mid or late April, after soaking them in warm water with the addition of a growth stimulator.
2. Water regularly, cover with foil and maintain temperature at 25 C.
3. Feed on the tenth day after sowing with complex mineral fertilizer.
4. At the end of May, transplant seedlings into well-heated soil at a distance of 50 -70 cm and maintain the temperature in the greenhouse from 20 to 25 C, and humidity not higher than 60%.

In the future, during the growing process, it is only necessary to maintain the optimum level of temperature and humidity in the greenhouse, prevent drafts and water regularly.

Outdoor

Karistan watermelon grown outdoors under the bright rays of the sun will be much tastier and juicier than what grew in greenhouse conditions under the film. First you need to choose a suitable area: it should be spacious and well lit. It is necessary to loosen and fertilize the soil. It is recommended to moisten the seeds in advance in warm water and place them in dug grooves 4-7 cm deep. The distances between planted seeds should not exceed a distance of 0.7 to 2 meters, and between rows - about 1.5 meters. It is necessary to carry out regular care in the form of watering and weeding.

When growing seedling watermelon varieties Karistan follows:

1. Pre-soaked seeds, place in peat pots filled with moist soil and humus;
2. Keep under the film until sprouts appear, maintaining the temperature at least 20 C.
3. After the appearance of the first sprouts, place in a cool room for 3-4 days.
4. Irrigate regularly, monitor humidity and temperature levels, and apply small amounts of nitrogen if needed.
5. When the weather stabilizes and it becomes warm, transplant the seedlings into open ground, covering them from the winds, watering and feeding.

After transplanting the Karistan variety, you need to monitor the condition of the plant, check for various diseases and pests, regularly water, fertilize, loosen the soil.

Diseases and pests, ways to deal with them

The variety of watermelon Karistan is not immune from the occurrence of diseases and pests. Most of all, the culture is predisposed to fungal diseases. This situation worsens especially in cloudy weather, in rainy weather, with a decrease in temperature. The fungus infects the foliage, root system and fruits of the plant. Diseases such as black leg, powdery mildew, olive blotch are dangerous for the culture.

Name DescriptionControl measures PESTSNameDescription Control measuresMelon aphidInsect colonies form on the lower leaves. Flowers and leaves wither and fall off Sprinkle with infusion of ash, and in an advanced case - with Inta-Vir (8 g per 10 l of water) The solution is designed for 10 square meters Spider mite Growth fly larvae

Black leg		Grey spots on leaves or stem that wither, rot and die over time	Remove affected parts, weed well and treat the area with a solution of copper chloride (0.5%)
Powdery mildew		Leaves are covered with white bloom and soon die off. Fruits lose their juiciness and sugar content	Remove affected foliage and branches, Treat with caratan suspension (25%) 2-3 days before harvest
Olive spotting		Leaves are corrugated and covered with spots, holes with an olive coating are formed on the petioles.The berries are deformed and stop growing	Treat with cuprosan suspension (80%), Bordeaux liquid (1%), benlat (80%), cineb (80%). Weed and remove the affected parts of the plant
Spider webs appear on the back of the leaves, which eventually discolor and fall off		Cut off and burn the affected leaves or treat with chemicals
They penetrate the stem, damaging the sprouts, and suck out all juices		Spray special fly pesticide three times before flowering

To get a lot of high-quality Karistan watermelon fruits, you should regularly inspect the plants and, if signs of the disease are found, immediately determine the cause and urgently eliminate it.

How to determine the ripeness of a watermelon and harvest it

In order to harvest on time and not make a mistake, you should pay attention to the appearance of the fruit. The maturity of the fruit is determined by the dry stalk, yellow spots, increased hardness of the skin.

You can also find out about the ripeness of a watermelon by knocking, if the sound is deaf - the watermelon is green, and the sonorous one indicates the beginning of the harvest. Fruits should be picked in warm, dry weather and stored in a dark, cold room with high humidity.

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