Melon Ethiopka - one of the best domestic varieties of culture. It gained popularity due to its large fruits and excellent germination. Melon is also remembered for its delicate taste and bright aroma.
melon variety "Ethiopian"
Ethiopka melon can be distinguished from other varieties in high germination of sprouts and large fruit size
melon the Ethiopka grade is very juicy, with taste of honey
Variety breeding history
Homeland - India, Afghanistan and Iran. Despite the specific roots, the melon variety was deliberately bred by Russian breeders to grow crops in the middle climatic zone. Today, summer residents can grow a plant in two main ways: seedlings or direct planting in open ground.
Description and Characteristics of Ethiopian Melon
The variety of culture tolerates drought and aggressive burning sun rays, it does not form burns or wounds. Ethiopia's peculiarity is self-pollination, plant flowers are female and male, therefore, other crops or varieties should not be planted next to the melon.
The bush is not wide, has no long branches. One plant brings about 5 fruits. Breeders describe Ethiopia as follows: the fruits are large, round in shape, yellow in color, have dividing stripes over the entire surface. Because of them, they are very similar to a pumpkin, melon is rough to the touch. The pulp is white, tasty and spicy.
Key features of Ethiopian melon:
- A variety of mid-early ripening.
- Fruits can be removed after 80 days after planting.
- The average weight of a melon is 4 kg.
- Stored no longer than 30 days.
- Thick peel helps transport melon without damage and loss of taste.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Ethiopka Melon Variety Benefits:
- high productivity;
- the taste is pleasant, the fruits are aromatic and sugar;
- the flesh is tender;
- not afraid of the sun, you can grow directly in the open;
- drought and high humidity are not terrible;
- has a beautiful presentation;
- has good transportability;
- the plant is unpretentious in care.
The Ethiopian melon variety literally in a matter of time received the universal love of summer residents, however, the plant also has disadvantages.
The disadvantages of the Ethiopian melon variety:
- Lack of sun - lack of growth and development of the plant. It is very difficult to grow a melon of this variety in a greenhouse, but in the northern regions it is impossible. If there is not enough sunlight in the area where you will grow the crop, you should add as much fertilizer to the soil as possible so that the bush ripens and begins to produce crops.
- The soil must be moist, drought is not afraid of leaves and fruits, but the root system will quickly die without moisture.
The video below provides an overview of the Ethiopka melon:
Beneficial features
Any kind of melon is good for the body, and Ethiopia is no exception. The pulp of the fetus contains potassium, copper, fiber, organic acids. The plant is rich in vitamins C, PP and B. Vitamin C is of particular importance for the body, it strengthens the immune system, reduces the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
Vitamin B regulates metabolism, is responsible for the work of the heart and blood vessels. Folic acid, which is part of the variety, normalizes hormones. The fruits are eaten fresh, the flesh is frozen, dried, a delicious pastille and sweet jam are prepared.
The fruits of the plant contain a large amount of sugar, which is quickly absorbed by the body, so diabetics need to be careful about this product. The daily norm is 0.3 kg.
Calorie melon
100 g of Ethiopian melon contains 33 kcal. Due to such a low indicator, everyone who watches their figure can eat the product. You can use a simple diet and follow it for 1 month:
- breakfast - 0.3 melons;
- lunch - a liquid dish;
- dinner - salad.
Growing Features
Growing Ethiopian melon varieties involves several steps. First of all, the seeds are processed, a place for planting is prepared, the seed is planted and taken care of.
Soil selection and preparation
The main rules for choosing soil for growing varieties:
- Stop your choice on a sunny and warm area, shadow and cold - not suitable.
- Protect the area from winds and cold weather.
- Soil should be light and neutral, if the acidity of the soil is high - apply lime.
- Do not plant bushes near potatoes and cucumbers.
- I can play the role of neighbors: turnip, radish, corn and beans.
- Melon grows well in loamy soil. Wet and clay soil is not suitable.
- Crop rotation: plant after corn, onions, garlic, cabbage and legumes. Do not plant after carrots and tomatoes.
- In the autumn season, the land should be fertilized with humus. Add clay to clay soils. In the spring time, add potassium salt of 30 g and superphosphate 30 g per 1 sq. Km. m
Seed preparation
The seeds are soaked for 24 hours in non-cold water or in a special solution for processing seed (the best option is a light solution of potassium permanganate or boric acid). The procedure will help saturate them with useful trace elements and improve germination.
At the first stage of seed testing, it is easy to determine their quality: those that have surfaced are bad, they are not suitable for planting. Those seeds that are drowned are planted in the ground.
Do not plant raw seed.
Growing seedlings
The culture in the middle lane is grown using seedlings. A 3-year-old seed is suitable for planting. Works begin in mid-spring, it is better to use pots of peat (they can be transplanted into the ground with seedlings) or small containers. In each, you need to place a nutritious mixture of peat and sand (9: 1). 2-3 seeds are planted in one pot to a depth of 20 mm.
The development of seedlings can be improved only if the containers are kept warm. The first sprouts will appear 7-10 days after planting. Experienced summer residents store pots on the windowsill.
The main role is played by lighting, on the day the light should enter the plants for about 12 hours. Sprouts are watered only with warm, settled, and preferably filtered water. You need to leave only one plant in one pot - the strongest and healthiest, which you must pinch.
Weak seedlings need to be cut off - it is impossible to tear from the ground, otherwise the root system of even a strong seedling can be damaged.
Melon sprouts are fertilized with complex dressings. 14 days before planting, seedlings are transferred to the balcony so that they can get used to the new habitat.
Planting seedlings in open ground
At the age of one and a half months, seedlings are planted in the soil. However, first you need to make sure that the frost has passed and there will be no more cold. If there is a likelihood of cooling, then sprouts are covered with a film or other protective material at night.
Melon seedlings are moved to the pits, transplanted by transshipment method. The first thing they are watered, after they get it out of the pots (if it's not peat containers). At this point, the main thing is not to damage the root system of the plant. Sprouts are planted at a distance of 0.6 m. Between the rows maintain a gap of 0.7-0.8 m. The root neck should be above the soil surface. After planting, river sand is poured around the plant.
Care Rules
Seedlings are very sensitive to climate, watering, cultivation, top dressing. It is constantly necessary to look after it and create good conditions for the growth and development of Ethiopka melon.
Watering
After direct planting in open soil, the plant begins to be watered and fertilized after 10-14 days. During this period, the melon will completely get used to the new place and take root.
Ethiopian melon variety is experiencing dry days, but can not live without watering.
Water must be added early in the morning or late in the evening after sunset. Apply only warm water. During watering, it is necessary to ensure that moisture does not get on the leaves and stems. After watering, the soil is loosened.
Formation
The formation of the plant helps to get a large amount of yield. After the sprouts are transplanted into the open ground near the melon, they pinch the main stem so that the bush can direct energy to create fruits. Each sprout should have 1 shoot and 2 branches, all other shoots are removed.
During flowering, melons retain about 3-5 ovaries. If you want big fruits, you can leave 2 ovaries. When melons begin to form, they are placed in nets. From time to time, the fruit is turned over.
Top dressing
14 days after planting the seedlings in the soil, they are fertilized with mullein or ammonium nitrate. The procedure is repeated during the formation of the buds. During the formation of ovaries, fertilizers are used in the form of superphosphate and potassium salt (calculation of 35 g of substance per 10 liters of water).
Diseases when growing melons Ethiopka
If agricultural requirements are not observed, the plant is exposed to various diseases. Insects also do great harm. In time to determine who or what is the enemy of melon, you need to pay attention to the symptoms of the disease. Consider the two most common diseases of Ethiopian melon.
Powdery mildew
The main symptoms: the appearance of white small spots on the stems and foliage. The disease reaches a peak when the leaves begin to curl and dry. Powdery mildew appears due to improper crop rotation.
Powdery Mildew Control: processing plants with sulfur solution. As soon as you notice symptoms - immediately take action. It is impossible to process melon 21 days before harvesting, otherwise the fruits will accumulate chemicals.
Anthracosis (coppers)
The disease is manifested by the following symptoms - the formation of yellow or brown spots, the leaves become brittle, dry and fall off. The fruits change shape and rot.
Fight against anthracosis: destruction of all organic residues around the plant. Processing of fruits and leaves with Bordeaux liquid and sulfuric solution. It is necessary to fight the disease at the first symptoms of ailments.
Gardeners reviews
Marina, 63 years old, gardener, Volgograd.It is not difficult to grow gourds in our region. The most difficult thing is to choose the right variety. In that year, landed this variety. From 6 seeds all sprouted, chose the four strongest sprouts and left them.
The territory was prepared in the sun, the variety matured in 85 days. On the packaging with seeds, it was said that the fruits are large, but in fact small in size. The pulp is sugar, the weight of one fruit is about 1.4 kg. I liked this variety, I think to grow this year too.
Eugene, 45 years old, entrepreneur, Orenburg.Melons are my life. I grow them not only for pleasure, but there is always an extra penny. Ethiopia is a very tasty variety, not whimsical in care, I grow it by seedling method. Plants bear fruit for a very long time, so I can harvest a couple of times a season. Melon quickly sings on the beds, so you should remove it in time. The pulp is dense, not very juicy. In appearance it resembles a pumpkin.
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Ethiopian Melon is a high-yielding variety bred by Russian breeders. She is loved for her unpretentious care. Planted by seedlings, but for rapid development should choose the right place and soil. Do not forget about the correct watering and fertilizing, and then you will get a rich harvest.