Yellow watermelon: are there any, what is the name of the variety and cultivation with photos and videos

With the onset of summer, many can finally eat plenty of watermelons. Most varieties of watermelons sold in the markets are characterized by sugary red flesh. But recently you can see watermelon yellow. For many people, such watermelons are a curiosity, and not everyone is ready to accept the fact that the watermelon is not a classic red hue, but an unusual yellow. But the yellow fruits are no worse than their classic counterparts.

Yellow watermelon: description and characteristics

Features of yellow watermelon, first of all, are in the shade of ripe pulp. Such a hybrid was first obtained in Thailand by crossing an ordinary watermelon with a wild one. The hybrid has a high content of carotenoids, which is why the pulp has such a shade.

The varieties grown in their homeland, Thailand, have a very sweet taste. These fruits have a high amount of sugar in the pulp. Fruits grown in other countries taste less sugary. The peel of the pulp of the fruit is thin, but firm. In some varieties, you can feel the peculiar flavor of lemon, pumpkin, mango and other fruits and berries.

How different from the reds

From red varieties, yellow watermelons differ in pulp. And besides this, another characteristic difference is taste. Yellow watermelons, which are grown on the territory of the Russian Federation, have a pumpkin flavor. Also inside, in the pulp, there are fewer seeds than in the red variety. Yellow-fruited berries are smaller in size, and rarely grow more than 10 kilograms. Otherwise, the taste of yellow fruits is no different from red ones.

Popular varieties

Breeders have bred several varieties of yellowish watermelon that can be grown in the southern regions. What are the varieties of melons with yellow flesh:

1. Prince Hamlet is a berry that was bred by breeders from Russia. Green rind with light green stripes. The pulp tastes like pineapple. The growing season is up to 75 days.
2. Golden Grace - the fruit was bred by breeders from Holland. The maximum weight is 8 kilograms. Freeze resistant.
3. Lunny - the most common variety in Russia. The fruit ripening period is from 70 to 80 days. Some note that the pulp has a taste of mango and lemon.

There are not so many varieties of yellow berries in Russia. They can be successfully grown only in the south or, in extreme cases, in the central regions.

Growing Rules

Growing yellow watermelons is no different from traditional red ones. Particular attention is paid to planting seeds and growing seedlings. In general, the berry belongs to undemanding crops.

Seed preparation

In order to successfully grow seedlings of gourds, you need to pay special attention to the preparation of seeds.

Steps of seed preparation:

1. First you need to pack the seeds. He althy and strong seeds are suitable for planting.
2. The second stage is the heating of the planting material. Water is poured into a saucer at a temperature of 50 degrees, and seeds are placed there. After 30 minutes, the water is drained.
3. After warming up, the planting material is disinfected. A small amount of potassium permanganate is diluted in water, then the seeds are placed in the solution and left for 15-20 minutes. After that, rinse with water.
4. After disinfection, the planting material is germinated. To do this, water is poured into a saucer, seeds are placed there and covered with polyethylene. After a few days, sprouts appear.

All of these measures help speed up germination after seed planting.

Sowing and growing seedlings

Young seedlings are very capricious and require increased attention. As you know, gourds are characterized by a weak root system and do not tolerate transplantation. Therefore, the sowing of seeds is given as much attention as possible. The following containers are used for planting:

• peat cups;
• cardboard boxes;
• peat tablets;
• wooden boxes;
• plastic cups.

The soil mixture is made up of humus and peat-humus soil in equal parts. A tablespoon of wood ash is added to the soil mixture.

Seeds are planted in separate cups after the sprouts hatch. Then cover with cling film and clean in a warm room, where the temperature will be about 30 degrees. For example, on the south windows. Periodically, the film is removed, checked for mold, and watered with a watering can.

Landing in open ground

After the seeds sprout, they are planted in the soil. Holes are dug to a depth of 5 centimeters. The diameter of the hole must be at least 50 centimeters. The distance between each hole is left up to 70 centimeters.

Before sowing seeds, the soil is dug up and mixed with rotted manure. Using fresh manure is not recommended, it is concentrated and can burn the roots of young seedlings. In addition, complex mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil.

Care, watering and fertilizing

In watermelons, the root system grows to a depth of up to 70 centimeters, so the bushes need abundant watering. If it has recently rained heavily, then watering should be postponed for a few days. Bushes do not like waterlogged soil. The beds are watered with a hose. Watering is carried out in the evenings, when the sun goes down. Bushes need the most liquid during growth and during flowering, as well as the formation of ovaries.

Before watering once a week, loosen the soil so that the root system is saturated with oxygen along with moisture.

In order to increase the yield, you need to regularly apply organic and mineral top dressings.

1. Potassium is used in the first 4 weeks after planting seedlings in open ground. Potassium contributes to abundant flowering and the formation of ovaries. In addition, potassium increases the resistance of plants to diseases.
2. From 4 to 7 weeks, magnesium and calcium are added to the bushes. Calcium and magnesium increase the content of ascorbic acid in fruits, as well as sucrose.
3. From week 8 to 12, nitrogen is introduced into the soil. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers contribute to the active growth of ovaries.

After the fruits begin to form, the bushes stop watering and fertilizing.

In addition to mineral supplements, yeast solutions are used for plant growth. To prepare fertilizer, 2 tablespoons of sugar and 45 grams of yeast are diluted in 1 liter of water. Insist 2-3 days. Before watering, fertilizers are diluted with water and the bushes are watered under the root.

Harvesting

Yellow watermelons are harvested at the same time as red-fleshed varieties. To determine the maturity of watermelons, it is enough to pay attention to a number of signs:

1. You need to knock on the watermelon. If the sound is muffled, then the fruit is ripe and needs to be cut.
2. The stem is drying up.
3. If a yellow spot remains at the point of contact between the peel and the ground, then the watermelon is ripe.
4. A ripe watermelon, when pressed on the peel, does not leave dents.

Harvest begins in August (in southern latitudes). In the central regions, the time for picking berries depends on the cultivar and climatic conditions. During the cut, the stalk is left, 5 centimeters long.

What diseases and pests are dangerous for this species

Pests and diseases in yellow varieties are the same as in red watermelons.

1. The first sign of Fusarium is the appearance of orange spots, which are gradually covered with a pink bloom. As the fungus spreads, the stems and leaves begin to rot, and the bush itself stops growing.
2. Anthracnose is another disease. The disease is characterized by the appearance of brown spots on the foliage. Then the spots will spread to the fruit. Watermelons stop growing and rot.
3. Root rot is characterized by the appearance of black-brown spots near the base of the root and on the stems. The reason for the development of root rot is high humidity, temperature difference between day and night, as well as an excess of nutrients in the soil.
4. Bacterial blotch is caused by insects. First, weeping yellow-green spots appear on the watermelon. Gradually they increase. Growths appear on the fruits. The leaves are turning black, and the bushes themselves are withering.
5. Powdery mildew is characterized by the appearance of a white coating on the leaves. The fruits become misshapen and begin to rot. Powdery mildew is caused by a fungus.

Among the insects found on watermelons are:

• melon aphid;
• wireworm;
• spider mites;
• thrips.

In order to prevent the appearance of insects and diseases on plants, you need to pay attention to the care of watermelons. Many diseases cannot be cured, so it is necessary to prevent diseases and the appearance of melon pests immediately.

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