Vietnamese melon: description and characteristics of the variety, cultivation and care with photo

It is difficult to find a gardener who would not grow such a delicious fruit as a melon. Vietnamese melon, which is grown by many of them, is especially popular among summer residents. This plant differs from other varieties in the size of fruits, the mass of which reaches 400-500 grams. Before you start growing this fruit, you should familiarize yourself with its features.

Short description

Vietnamese melon is considered a traditional member of the gourd family. Previously, it was grown only in the countries of Asia Minor and Central Asia. However, in the last 10 years it has spread rapidly and therefore it is grown in almost all countries.This variety is distinguished by its thermophilicity and precocity. That is why it is recommended to grow it only in well-lit areas with a stable temperature of 20-25 degrees.

Vietnamese melon varieties are very fruitful, as at least 25 ripe fruits are harvested from one bush. The mass of each of them is about 200-300 grams. All ripe fruits of the fruit are covered with an orange peel with thin stripes of a golden color. Beneath the skin is orange flesh with a rich aroma.

The main advantages of the plant include the fact that it grows well in an area with an unstable climate. Even with constantly cloudy weather, it is possible to grow juicy and sweet fruits. Such varieties are grown even in the northern regions of the country. However, in these regions it will be necessary to grow them in greenhouse conditions so that the plant does not suffer from possible night frosts.

Another advantage of Vietnamese varieties is the speed of maturation. The first harvest is already in June or in the first half of July. At the same time, ripe melons appear on the markets only in early August.

Varieties

Vietnamese melon a gift from Ho Chi Minh's grandfather - that's what varieties of this fruit are often called. This name is given to the plant for a reason. Ho Chi Minh is the greatest leader who made Vietnam independent and made its people feel free. He spent a lot of time on agriculture and especially on melons, as it was his favorite fruit.

After many years since the life of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese melons do not lose their popularity. Even today, breeders are developing the latest varieties of this fruit. Most often, two varieties of Vietnamese fruit are grown:

Yan Jun. Some vegetable growers prefer the high-yielding and mid-season species of Yan Jun. The first crop is harvested two and a half months after planting the plant in the ground. However, the vegetable may ripen earlier, since the rate of ripening depends on the quality of illumination and temperature indicators. With proper cultivation, bushes grow up to three and a half meters. The Yan Jun variety has large fruits weighing about 450 grams. They are covered with a dark skin with orange stripes all over.
Melotria. Fans of undersized plants should grow this particular variety, as it is distinguished by its miniature size. The fruits ripen throughout the growing period. Therefore, you will have to harvest regularly. Many grow such melons not for harvest, but to decorate their summer cottage.

Growing

Before you start growing Vietnamese melon, you should familiarize yourself with the features of its cultivation at home. This will help in the future to get a large and sweet Vietnamese melon crop.

Sowing seeds

To get a quality crop, you should choose the right seed. For planting, only seeds that are at least three years old are used. Newly harvested seeds cannot be planted next year, as they do not bear fruit due to an insufficient number of ovaries.

Before planting the seed, it is pre-treated with a manganese solution. This is done to further protect the seedlings from bacteria and germs that can make the plants sick. The treated seeds are then hardened. To do this, all the seeds are taken outside daily.

When hardening is over, the seed is soaked in settled water. This is done to select the highest quality seed. Distinguishing good seed from bad is very simple. High-quality seeds swell after soaking, while poor-quality seeds do not.

Prepared seeds are planted in small peat pots. It is they who are best suited for planting, since when transplanted into open ground, grown seedlings are planted together with pots. When planting, the seed is placed in the ground at a depth of 3-4 cm. When the seeds are planted, the pots are transferred to a room with a temperature of 20-25 degrees. Growing seedlings, pay attention to their leaves. After the appearance of the first leaf, organic food is added to the soil.

Growing and care

It is impossible to constantly grow a melon in pots and therefore you will have to deal with its transplantation. Transplantation is done when four true leaves appear on the bushes and there are no night frosts on the street.

Before transplanting the plant, the site is dug up and moistened with water. Then shallow holes are made on the prepared soil. The distance between them is 70-75 cm. This is enough so that the planted bushes do not shade each other.

Each well is re-watered and treated with a weak manganese solution. If desired, organic fertilizers are added to the wells. Then peat pots with a plant are placed in the holes and covered with soil. The site is moistened again with warm water and sprinkled with fresh humus on top.

When growing, the bushes are regularly watered with settled water. In the summer, daily watering is carried out. In cloudy or rainy weather, the number of waterings is reduced to three times a week. It is not recommended to moisten the soil with cold water, as it provokes root rot, which makes the melon sick.

Conclusion

Vietnamese melon is grown by all lovers of fresh fruit. To properly grow this plant and get a good harvest, you should read the reviews of people who regularly plant melons, and familiarize yourself with the features of planting and caring for it.