Vegetable and gourd honey crops: cucumber, pumpkin, onion, carrot, cabbage, watermelon and melon. Gourds: what plants belong to them

Gourds are true champions among vegetables in terms of fruit size. The mass of a ripe watermelon or pumpkin is at least 5-6 kilograms of juicy pulp, and often 10-15 kg. Moreover, melons and gourds are famous not only for their size, but also for their excellent taste. This is especially true of melon and watermelon. The bulk of melons and gourds are grown in large farms in the south of the country, but if desired, they can also be grown in their own garden.

melon family

Gourds, or simply melons, are a group of large-fruited vegetables, mainly from the botanical family of Cucurbitaceae, which have similar external features.

In a broad sense, it is customary to include watermelons, melons, zucchini, cucumbers, squash and pumpkins in the melon family. But more often the term "gourds" is used in relation to a narrower group, including only two species - watermelon and melon. Further in the article, we will talk about gourds only in this narrow sense, leaving zucchini, pumpkins and cucumbers out of the brackets.

Common watermelon is an annual herbaceous plant, one of two cultivated species of the botanical genus Watermelon, which is part of the Cucurbitaceae family.

Melons have thin, flexible stems that creep ("crawl") along the ground. The length of the stems can reach several meters. Leaves planted on long petioles, depending on the variety, may have a different configuration, but always triangular in shape and consist of three pinnatipartite lobes.

Flowers (usually pale yellow) appear in the first year. Subsequently, fruits are formed from them - pumpkins or watermelons proper, filled with juicy red pulp and many flat black seeds. There are many varieties of watermelon, so the fruits can vary significantly in shape, size and color. The classic watermelon fruit is a green ball weighing from 3 to 15 kg or more. Since the structure of the fruit has much in common with berries, formally watermelons are also considered berries.

The birthplace of watermelon is South Africa, but this fruit came to the Mediterranean region back in the days of Ancient Egypt or even earlier. It is known that the ancient Greeks knew about it, but the real watermelon was discovered by Europeans only in the Middle Ages, when the crusaders brought it from the Middle East. Tatars brought watermelons to our country during their conquests of Kievan Rus and their subsequent stay here.

Melon

As for the melon, it belongs to a slightly different botanical genus - to cucumbers. Like other gourds, melon is an annual herbaceous plant with a liana-like stem creeping along the ground, which can reach a length of 3 meters. The leaves of a melon are larger than those of a watermelon and have a solid (not indented) heart-shaped shape. Flowers yellow, bisexual.

The fruit of a melon weighing from 1 to 15 kg or more has the shape of a ball or oval. Outside, the fruit (pumpkin or berry) is covered with a thin peel, which, when fully ripe, often becomes yellow (less often brown, or remains green). Inside the fruit is a pale yellow juicy pulp. Seeds cream or pale brown, oblong-oval. Unlike watermelon, melon seeds are collected in the center of the fruit, rather than distributed throughout the pulp.

Like any melon plant, melon comes from a hot region. Its homeland is considered to be Central Asia, namely, northern India. Probably, it was there that the cultivation of wild melon took place, and later it spread both to the west and to the east. It is known that the ancient Egyptians were definitely familiar with this vegetable crop. The melon, like the watermelon, was first brought to Europe by the crusaders, and since that time it has been cultivated in the south of the continent. Melon came to Russia directly from Central Asia about 500 years ago.

like everyone else natural products, watermelons and melons are very useful for the human body.

Thus, watermelon has a very positive effect on the kidneys, helping to remove stones and sand from them. Also, this vegetable is useful for men, as it improves sexual potency. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of watermelon for those who suffer from heart disease, as its pulp contains a lot of potassium and magnesium, which are important for maintaining the cardiovascular system in a normal state.

A ripe watermelon is a few kilograms of juicy sweet pulp that will appeal to both a child and an adult. The taste of watermelon is so outstanding that as a dessert, it easily replaces any confectionery.

The main way to consume watermelon is in its raw natural form. The fruit is simply cut into slices with a knife and its juicy red flesh is eaten. No other flavor additives are required.

And although, like zucchini, melons of this type are not customary to be heat-treated, this is by no means the only option for how watermelon can be used.

First, it is great for making fruit salads. Moreover, you can even use a hard green crust, which, with proper skill, can easily be turned into an original salad bowl filled with watermelon salad with other vegetables or fruits.

Secondly, due to the fact that watermelon pulp contains a huge amount of sweet juice, you can easily prepare a natural refreshing drink from watermelon, or make homemade wine.

Thirdly, sweet watermelon makes wonderful jam. Moreover, you can use not only the pulp, but also the hard skin, which, after heat treatment, easily turns into jelly.

Special mention deserves watermelon honey, or nardek, which is boiled without the use of sugar.

Finally, watermelons can be salted for the winter, after which they will make an excellent side dish for meat or fish. They can also be used to prepare absolutely unique sauces for meat dishes.

Sweet types of gourds are primarily healthy desserts. So, ripe melon fruits are rich in sugar, carotene, provitamin A, vitamins P, C and B9, as well as iron, folic acid, salts, pectins and fiber.

It is recommended to eat melon for diseases of the blood, cardiovascular system, nervous disorders, problems with urination and intestines. In addition, melon is good for those who are on a diet, it is useful during pregnancy, is a good remedy in the fight against dehydration. In cosmetology, melon is also in great demand. Tonic and healing masks from melon have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin.

Ripe melons and watermelons are an excellent dessert vegetable that can replace any confectionery sweetness. It is worth noting that the taste and level of sweetness of melon is highly dependent on the variety.

Traditionally, melon is eaten in its natural form as a completely independent product. Like the watermelon, the melon is simply cut into slices and the sweet flesh is eaten away while the tough skin is discarded.

Although melon also contains a lot of water, unlike watermelon, it lends itself well to drying. In Central Asia, dried melon is often used as a dessert for tea drinking. In addition, wonderful jams and preserves are obtained from melon. Like watermelon, it goes well with salads and various soft and alcoholic drinks.

Interestingly, in some Mediterranean countries, melon is a side dish for other dishes. For example, in Spain it is served with jamon and shrimp, and in Italy it is eaten with mozzarella and other cheeses.

Varieties of watermelon and melon

Since watermelons are grown all over the world, wherever agro-climatic conditions allow, the abundance of existing varieties is simply enormous. In addition to purely geographical varieties, it should be mentioned separately that there are watermelons with unusual yellow flesh and pitted watermelons.

In Russia, melon fields are planted with the most famous Astrakhan variety in our country, which is famous for its very sweet pulp, although it ripens already in the last decade of August. Another very sweet, but earlier variety is Crimson Swift.

Melon is a little less popular than watermelon, so it has fewer varieties. But even those that are are quite enough to meet the needs of gourmets and gardeners. In the melon farms of Russia, melons of the Kolkhoznitsa variety are most widely used. They are cultivated in the Volga region. The variety is easily recognizable by its bright yellow skin, small size and spherical fruits.

In Europe and America, the Cantaloupe variety is most widely used. They are not as sweet and less juicy, but much more fragrant.

The best Uzbek variety is "Torpedo". These melons have an elongated, cigar-shaped shape and large sizes. Uzbek melons are famous for almost the best taste characteristics.

In the Mediterranean, where Uzbek melons are not available, their counterpart is the Moroccan variety " honey melon". These fruits do not have characteristic grooves on the skin, and the color varies between ocher and greenish. The taste is actually almost honey.

Watermelons and melons are heat-loving crops. Moreover, they love heat so much that a really good harvest can only be obtained in the most southern regions our country. Already at the level of the 50th parallel (Belgorod, Voronezh, Tambov) and north growing melons loses its meaning, because here watermelons simply cannot ripen and the fruits are small (maximum 2-3 kg) with fresh pulp. Melons are less picky and in hot summers they can produce quite decent-sized and sweet fruits even north of Volgograd.

However, in general, these crops prefer hot, dry weather. Drought is more preferable for them than rains and high humidity. In order for melons and watermelons to gain the desired mass and sweetness, they need a lot of heat and light. In the post-Soviet space, the optimal conditions for these crops are in the Lower Volga region, in the North Caucasus, in the Black Sea regions of Ukraine, in Moldova, and especially in the countries of Central Asia. In other regions, it is commercially unprofitable to grow gourds.

Technology of growing watermelon

Watermelon prefers sandy loamy soils warmed by the sun and protected from the wind. Categorically not suitable waterlogged and heavy soils with high level ground water.

Before planting, prepare the seeds by soaking them in warm water(50 ° C) and keeping it in it until they peck. After that, the seeds are ready for sowing. Landing times in open ground depend on the region. It is optimal when the soil temperature reaches from 12 to 14 ° C, which in the south of our country usually occurs in late April - early May.

The first shoots should appear in the second week: the norm is 8-10 days. If a cold snap occurs after sowing, the timing of seedling emergence can shift significantly, and the seeds themselves may well die or become infected with pathogenic flora. For this reason, in the central regions of the country, where spring frosts and cold snaps are a common occurrence, it is better to postpone sowing watermelons until the end of May or even the beginning of June.

You need to sow gourd seeds in individual holes 5-8 cm deep. Since watermelons are plants creeping along the ground, the distance between the bushes should be significant - at least half a meter in a row and at least 1.5 meters between rows. To increase the chances of successful seedlings, it is advisable to add a tablespoon of ash and a little humus to each well.

To increase the growth rate of watermelons on melons, mulch is often used. Film shelters and agrofibre are best suited for this role. This simple trick can speed up the ripening of watermelons by 15-20 days.

Although watermelons are a drought-resistant crop that does not like excessive moisture, it is impossible to do without watering at all. It should be carried out at the initial stage of the growing season until the moment when the fruits begin to set. Watering should be no more than once a week.

Until the melon crops cover the entire garden bed, you also need to take care of loosening the soil and weeding.

In this matter, melon has a lot in common with watermelon. She also needs a well-warmed and wind-protected area of ​​sandy loamy soil. In autumn, 4-6 kg of humus per square meter should be added to a previously dug-up bed. If the soil is loamy, then half a bucket should be added here. river sand. In spring, the soil needs to be fed with superphosphate, nitrogen and potassium salt.

The peculiarity of the melon is that mainly male plants grow from last year's fresh seeds, and evenly male and female plants grow from old ones, but the fruits are much smaller. For this reason, it is better to combine last year's seeds and seeds 2-3 years ago in one sowing.

The timing of planting gourd melon seeds generally coincides with the timing of watermelon. True, it is still better to wait for slightly warmer days: when the soil warms up to 16 ° C. Seeds are buried in the ground to a depth of about 3-5 cm. Planting density is higher than that of watermelon: 10 seeds per square meter. This is done in such a way that not all seeds will sprout.

A bed with freshly sown melons must be moistened with warm water. Seedlings should be expected in the second week. As soon as five full-fledged leaves are formed on the shoots, the plants need to be spudded and the soil around should be gently loosened.

As in the case of watermelons, you need to water melons only until the ovaries appear, and even then not very often. After the appearance of fruits, watering should be stopped. But even this is not enough. Since melons do not like moisture, it is advisable to cover the bed with growing fruits with a film whenever it rains to increase productivity.

Melons and gourds are heat-loving plants. Germination of pumpkin seeds begins at a temperature not lower than 12°C, melons 13-15, watermelons 16-17°C. In years with a cold, long spring, seedlings of melons and gourds appear on the 19-27th day after sowing, in favorable ones on the 10th day. At temperatures below 12°C, plants develop poorly, pollen does not ripen, and fruits are poorly tied.

For the formation of a normal harvest of even the most early-ripening varieties of watermelons, a frost-free period of 90-100 days is required, for mid-ripening varieties 120-130 days. For early ripening varieties of melons, a frost-free period of 80-90 days is sufficient. The best temperature for growth, development and maturation is 22-30°C.

Pumpkins and squash are more tolerant of cooler, wetter summers. Frosts are detrimental to gourds, although there have been cases when seedlings in the cotyledon and first true leaf phase survived light, short-term spring frosts without damage.

Watermelons and melons are especially demanding on heat and sunlight during the period of fruit formation and ripening. Cool, cloudy, rainy weather during this period delays ripening, reduces sugar content, taste and reduces yield. Pumpkins are lighter, tolerate moderate temperatures.

Melons, especially watermelons, are relatively resistant to air drought in the presence of moisture in the soil. They tolerate soil drought poorly due to intensive evaporation from a large leaf surface. The most moisture-loving pumpkins. Watermelons can extract moisture from the deep layers of the subsoil, because. their root system is well developed. The main root grows almost vertically and goes to great depths. The lateral roots branch strongly and penetrate the soil in all directions in a layer of 5-40 cm.

Melons are especially demanding on moisture during the period of seed germination and emergence of seedlings. About a month after germination, the root system begins to grow rapidly and plants can take moisture from the lower layers of the soil. The lack of moisture in the soil and the dryness of the air during flowering and fruit growth have a negative effect. Excess moisture during this period reduces the sugar content in fruits, palatability, and contributes to the spread of diseases.

Selecting a site for sowing

Gourds grow well on virgin, fallow lands, as well as on a layer of perennial grasses. For these predecessors, they get a higher yield, they start harvesting 7-12 days earlier, the plants are less affected by diseases. In the absence of a layer, melons and gourds can also be placed on old arable lands.

When choosing sites for melons, especially for watermelons, melons, it is necessary to give preference to sites with a gentle southern or southwestern slope, if possible, protected from cold winds. These slopes warm up better, are well lit by the sun, there is less likelihood of spring frosts and weaker fluctuations in night and day temperatures, plants suffer less from anthracnose.

Gourds grow better on light-textured, well-warmed soils with a sufficient content of organic matter. grows well on heavy loamy soils when organic fertilizers are applied.

Watermelons and melons develop well on pine forest sands located along the outskirts of tape forests or in clearings in the forest. On soils that are light in mechanical composition, maturation is accelerated, and the sugar content of fruits increases.

Fertilizer rates

Gourds are responsive to fertilization. Good results are obtained by adding 300-500 g of humus, 20 g of superphosphate and 10 g of potassium salt to the well. Large doses of manure applied under watermelons and melons delay the ripening of fruits, worsen their quality, and also increase disease damage. Pumpkin tolerates high doses of manure best of all.

Preparing seeds for sowing

Pre-sowing preparation methods are diverse. For sowing, it is better to use seeds that have been stored for 2-3 years. When sown with the seeds of the previous year, the plants form female flowers later and in smaller numbers, and the yield is lower. However, if properly prepared, they are not inferior to seeds stored for 2-3 years.

In this case, pre-sowing heating of seeds at a temperature of 40-50°C for 5-7 hours or at a temperature of 60-70°C for 2 hours is effective. In this case, the temperature must be increased gradually, and the seeds should be scattered with a layer of no more than 10 cm. The seeds of the previous year, stored in a cold room in winter, when heated for 5 hours at a temperature of 50 ° C, increase the yield by 20-30%, and the productivity of the first collection by 1.5-2 times.

Air-thermal solar heating of seeds before sowing significantly reduces the period before germination, increases field germination and seed germination energy, accelerates seed ripening and increases yield. Positive results are obtained by soaking the seeds in a 0.05% solution of manganese sulfate for 16 hours.

Experienced melon growers know that a good harvest can be obtained from large full-weight seeds. The most accessible way to select such seeds is in a 9% saline solution, in which the seeds are kept for 2-3 minutes, then washed with clean water.

In some cases, good results are obtained when seeds are treated with variable temperatures - seed hardening, which is carried out in the following way: seeds in gauze bags are soaked in water for 12 hours, after which they are placed in glass jars and left for 12 hours (day) in a room with a temperature 15-20°C.

For the next 12 hours (night), the seeds are buried in the snow. Thus, the seeds are processed within 10 days. In conditions of a cold long spring, sowing seeds in unheated soil does not positive results. Under such weather conditions, it is better to postpone sowing to a later date, and store the seeds, this time on the glacier, in the refrigerator at a temperature of 1-3 ° C. Treatment of seeds with variable temperatures, as experiments have shown, is best done in this mode: 8 hours to withstand at a temperature of 15-20 ° C and 16 hours at a temperature of 1-3 ° C.

Dates and methods of sowing

Seeds of gourds at low temperature and high humidity of soil and air long time do not germinate (up to 3 weeks). Therefore, with very early sowings in unheated soil, seedlings do not appear for a long time, and in prolonged cold weather they may not appear at all or will be sparse. With late sowing, the fruits may not ripen. The best results were obtained when sowing watermelons in mid-May, melons on May 15-20, pumpkins on May 10-20. Pumpkins tolerate better than other melons early dates sowing.

Dates may change depending on weather conditions. With an early friendly spring on the southern slopes, sowing can be carried out earlier. The depth of seed placement depends on the mechanical composition of the soil. On light soils, the seeds are planted deeper than on heavy soils, taking into account the conditions, the seeds of watermelons are sown to a depth of 4-8 cm, melons 3-6, pumpkins 7-10, zucchini, squash 6-8 cm.

For an earlier harvest, 20-25 day old seedlings should be grown in the same way as cucumbers. Seedlings are planted after the end of frost (June 10-15). The distance between the holes is 50-70 cm, two or three plants are planted in each hole. The technique for planting seedlings is the same as for cucumbers. Seeds are sown in holes of 5-8 pieces, and after thinning, two or three plants are left. Watering is carried out regularly and only with warm water. After each watering, it is necessary to loosen the soil well. Long-climbing pumpkin varieties are best placed along the edge of the garden, while short-braided varieties can be grown inside the garden at a distance of 1 m.

Harvesting and storage

Zucchini and squash are cut regularly, preventing the fruits from overgrowing. The pumpkin is harvested when fully ripe. In zucchini, the fruits are harvested when they are still no more than 10-15 cm, they are cut with a knife. Melons and watermelons are harvested selectively. The onset of removable ripeness of watermelons is determined by the drying of the stalk, melons by discoloration, free separation of the stalk from the fruit, and a strong aroma.

Due proper storage melons and gourds can significantly extend the period of their fresh consumption. It has been established that it is better to take fruits grown on light sandy loamy soils for storage. If the plot is irrigated, then watering must be stopped for 2-3 weeks before harvest. The fruits of medium-late and late varieties, collected in dry sunny weather, are better stored.

For storage, ripe fruits with a stalk are harvested. It is necessary to transport them to the place of storage carefully, laying them in one layer on a soft bedding made of straw, chaff or other materials.

Watermelons and melons are stored on racks in one layer; they can be stored in containers in 4-5 layers at a temperature of 8-10°C and a humidity of 80-85%. The fruits are laid on a bed of dry straw, chaff, peat, dry sand. It is better to lay on the side that was facing the sun (on this side the most durable bark). AT cold rooms should be stored at a temperature of 4-6 ° C, at lower temperatures (0-2, 2-4) the fruits freeze slightly.

Unlike watermelons and melons, pumpkin of almost all varieties is suitable for long-term storage. In room conditions, it is stored until a new harvest. Optimal conditions are temperature 3-10°C and humidity 70-75%. In damp, cold rooms, the storage period is drastically reduced.

It is interesting

The gourd family is large and varied. The largest or main pumpkin - the dining pumpkin has three types: hard-barked native to Asia Minor, large-fruited from South America, nutmeg from Central America. The hard-barked and large-fruited pumpkin is the most common among us. Pumpkin has been introduced into culture since time immemorial. In Russia, it has been grown since the 16th century.

Watermelons and melons, the fruits of these crops are highly nutritious, have a pleasant, refreshing taste, they can be equated with the best fruit and berry crops. They contain from 7-21% sugar, mainly fructose, sucrose, iron salts, necessary for blood formation.

There are a lot of vitamins B 2, E, T in pumpkin fruits. Pumpkin products are easily absorbed by the body. From it you can cook more than 30 delicious diet meals. Zucchini, squash, krukneki - krivosheiki, zucchini are boiled, fried, marinated, stewed, caviar is cooked, stuffed. Products from them are easily absorbed by the body, prevent obesity and the accumulation of cholesterol in the body. Contain 4-6% solids, 2.0-2.5% sugar, salts of iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium.

Melons are a group of creeping plants from the gourd family. Their homeland is the countries of America, Africa, Asia. They are heat-loving tropical crops that easily tolerate drought. They are grown for both food and animal feed.

What plants are classified as gourds

The list of plants includes watermelon, melon, pumpkin, zucchini, squash, cucumbers. There are a huge variety of plant varieties.

These vegetables have the largest fruits of all. So, for example, the mass of one watermelon can be from five to fifteen kilograms. At the same time, they differ not only in size, but also in a very pleasant taste. First of all, this applies to melons and watermelons. Usually such crops are grown in the south of our country. Although, of course, you can grow them in other regions and even in your own garden.

So, vegetables have quite impressive fruit sizes, outwardly very similar to each other. Despite the fact that there are several types of vegetables in the group, melons and watermelons are most often referred to as gourds.

Watermelon is an annual plant that is part of the gourd family. They have thin leaves and stems that crawl along the ground. In this case, the length of the stems reaches several meters. The leaves very often differ in their shape and consist of three parts, divided among themselves.

Watermelon always blooms in the first year after planting. Upon completion of the flowering process, in place of the inflorescences, round-shaped green fruits are formed, inside of which there is a red sugar pulp. The weight of such a fruit can be from three to fifteen kilograms. Although this is not at all the maximum mass. Depending on the variety, it can be either with or without seeds inside. Yes, and interestingly, although it is considered a vegetable, but due to the presence of a lot of similarities with berries, it is formally considered a berry.

As mentioned earlier, the countries of Asia, Africa, and Egypt are considered its homeland. Although it was already eaten by the ancient Greeks. It was brought to our country during the times of Kievan Rus, and since then it has become our favorite delicacy.

The next representative of melons is melon. This species is more related to cucumbers. She is also annual plant, with long thin curly stems that stretch long distances along the ground. Its leaves are larger than those of a watermelon, and their shape is whole.

Inflorescences are yellow and bisexual. After they dry out, fruits form in their place. Their size, of course, is not as huge as that of the previous melon species, but nevertheless, there are also very large representatives, the mass of which can reach fifteen kilograms.

They have a dense peel, which can be either brown or yellow. In some cases, it may be green. The flesh of the fruit can be either white or creamy, yellow or even orange. The shape is round or oval, it all depends on the variety. Seeds in the center of the berry are small white.

Her homeland is Asia, India. Since the time of the ancient Egyptians, this culture has been widely eaten. It was brought to our country about five hundred years ago.

The use of gourds in folk medicine

These products are used not only in cooking, but also in cosmetology. Thanks to the most valuable composition, watermelon has a beneficial effect on the kidneys, helps to get rid of stones and sand in them. It is especially useful for men to eat it, as it improves sexual potency. For people with heart disease, it is also very useful, as it contains a large number of potassium and magnesium, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the heart. Iron, which is also found in watermelon, helps form blood cells and fight constipation. In addition, it perfectly helps to get rid of toxins and toxins.

Watermelon is very often eaten, simply cut into pieces and peeled off. Sometimes it is added to fruit salads. Juices and smoothies are made from it. And the value of his crust is enormous. It is often dried for the winter and then used in the treatment of many diseases. They make jam, candied fruits, face masks.

Melon, like watermelon, is eaten just like that, cut into slices and peeled. You can cook different snacks, add to salads. In Asian countries, its pulp is dried and then used for tea drinking. Lots of dishes Spanish cuisine in which this vegetable is present. It is very useful in the presence of problems with the blood, heart, nervous disorders, intestines. In cosmetology, it is used to make face masks, as it helps to cope with dehydration of the skin very well.

Where is the best place to grow gourds

Since the plants are heat-loving, they will grow well in regions with a warm climate. In more northern regions they will not give such a harvest, and besides, they will not even have time to fully ripen. However, it is still much easier to grow a melon, it ripens perfectly even in Volgograd and more. northern cities. Hot, sunny and dry weather is necessary for a good harvest. Before the seeds are planted in the ground, they should be soaked for several days in water until sprouts appear. It all depends on the region: as soon as the temperature of the earth reaches fourteen degrees, you can plant it in the soil. They are planted in holes, the distance between which is at least one and a half meters, and the depth is five centimeters. Such a large distance is necessary, since the plant is very weaving and it needs a lot of space. A little ash must be added to each well.

As for watering, it is, of course, needed, but not so frequent. To retain moisture, it is necessary to mulch the earth.

Video on the topic of the article

Gourds - watermelon, melon and pumpkin - are cultivated to produce juicy fruits that are distinguished by high taste. The fruits of table watermelon and melon contain 6-12% sugar, vitamins B, B 3 , C, PP, etc. There are a lot of iron salts and folic acid in watermelon. In addition to direct consumption of these fruits in the canning and confectionery industry, honey (from juice), candied fruit, jam, marshmallow and other products are prepared.

Pumpkin with yellow flesh is rich in phosphorus salts and carotene, contains a lot of phytoncides.

For livestock feed, fresh fruits of fodder varieties of pumpkin and watermelon are usually used. They are considered a valuable dairy feed. 100 kg of fodder pumpkin contains 10 fodder. units and 70 g of digestible protein; in 100 kg of fodder watermelon - 9 fodder. units and 40 g of digestible protein.

Edible oil is extracted from the seeds of gourds, especially pumpkins.

The yield of the best varieties of watermelons on non-irrigated lands is 25-30 t/ha, and on irrigated lands - 40-50 t/ha or more. The yield of melon is from 16-18 to 50 t/ha and pumpkin from 35 to 70 t/ha and more.

Gourds belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes three of the most important genera in the culture: watermelon (Citrullus), melon (Melo) and pumpkin (Cucurbita). Plants of these genera are annuals, very similar to each other in the structure of vegetative and generative organs.

Watermelon. It is represented by two species: table watermelon (Citrullus edulus Pang.) and candied fodder watermelon (Citrullus colocynthoides Pang.).

Root table watermelon rod, strongly branched, reaches a depth of 3-5 m and spreads to the sides up to 7 m. The stem is creeping, long-braided (2-5 m), with 5-10 branches, pubescent with hard hairs. The leaves are strongly dissected into pinnately incised lobes, stiffly pubescent. Flowers are quinary, yellow, dioecious; the female flowers are larger than the male flowers (Fig. 22). Cross-pollination by insects. The fruit is a multi-seeded false berry (pumpkin) on a long stem, spherical, oval or oblong, painted white-greenish or dark green, often with a marbled pattern. The bark of the fruit is leathery, fragile, with a thickness of 0.5 to 2.0 cm. The pulp is of various textures, carmine-red, pink, less often white or yellow, tastes sweet or slightly sweet. The pulp contains from 5.7 to 13% sugar. Fruit weight from 2 to 20 kg. Watermelon seeds are flat, ovoid, 0.5-2.0 cm long, with a scar along the edge and a hard peel of white, yellow, gray, red and black, often with a spotted pattern. Weight of 1000 seeds 60-150 g.

feed watermelon in its structure is somewhat different from the dining room. root system he is more powerful. Leaves with larger shortened segments. The flowers are large, with pale yellow veins.

Rice. 22.

1 - female flower; 2 - male flower; 3 - pollen; 4 - part of the escape

chick. Male flowers are located on long pedicels, female - on short ones. Fruit various shapes- spherical or oval-oblong, green or light green in color with dark stripes, marble pattern. The pulp of the fruit is pale green, contains 1.2-2.6% sugar. Fruit weight from 10-15 to 25-30 kg or more. Feed watermelon seeds without rib. The weight of 1000 seeds is 120-130 g and more. Table watermelon is one of the heat-loving, heat-tolerant and very drought-resistant plants. In moist soil, its seeds begin to germinate at a temperature of 16-17 ° C. Shoots appear on the 8-10th day. Frosts -1 * C are fatal for them. The most favorable temperature for the growth of stems and leaves is 20-22 °C, and for the development of fruits 25-30 °C.

Table watermelon - light-loving plant short day. The best soils for it are sandy and sandy loam. Loamy and clayey soils are of little use, as they firmly retain moisture and do not warm up well.

Fodder watermelon, compared with table watermelon, is less demanding on growing conditions.

common the following varieties table watermelon: Astrakhan, Borchansky, Earthman, Lotus, Extraordinary, Light, Rose of the Southeast, Sinchevsky, Chill, Shironinsky.

Of the varieties of fodder watermelon, Diskhim is the most famous.

Melon. Represented by many species. We have common melons with soft pulp: handalak (Melo chandalak Pang.), adana, or Cilician (Melo adana Pang.), cassaba (Melo cassaba

Pang.), and with dense pulp: charjou (Melo zard Pang.), ameri (Melo ameri Pang.), cantaloupe (Melo cantalypa Pang.). These species are very similar.

The root system of a melon is less powerful than that of a watermelon, it consists of the main root, penetrating to a depth of 3-4 m, and superficially located numerous lateral branches. The stem is creeping, cylindrical, hollow, strongly viscous, hard-haired. Leaves are kidney-shaped or heart-shaped, on long petioles. Flowers are orange-yellow. The fruits are large, of various shapes and colors. The pulp is loose or dense, contains 12% sugar. Seeds are ovoid, flat, white-yellow, 0.5 to 1.5 cm long, contain 25-30% oil. Weight of 1000 seeds 35-50 g.

In terms of its biological characteristics, melon approaches watermelon, but is more thermophilic and less drought-resistant, it is easier to put up with loamy soils.

Varieties: Kolkhoznitsa 749/753, Kazachka 244, Koi-bash, Khandalyak Kokcha 14, Dessert 5, Ameri 696, Tavria, Golden, Livadia, Dream, Golyanka, Hoarfrost, Samara, Amber.

Pumpkin. In culture, it has three types: common table (Cucurbita rero L.), large-fruited fodder (Cucurbita maxima L.) and nutmeg (Cucurbita moschata Duch.).

The root system of all types of pumpkin is well developed. Stem common pumpkin creeping. Some of its varieties are characterized by a bush form (zucchini). The leaves are five-lobed, with coarse styloid pubescence. The male flowers are collected several times in the axils of the leaves, the female flowers are solitary, located on the side branches. The fruit is obovate, spherical or oblong, with fibrous sweet pulp containing 4-8% sugar. Seeds of medium size and small, oval, with a clear rim, white, cream or darker in color, contain 36-52% oil. Weight of 1000 seeds 200-230 g.

fodder pumpkin large-fruited has a cylindrical hollow creeping stem. The leaves are reniform, weakly emarginate, pubescent with coarse hairs. The flowers are very large, orange-yellow. The fruits are spherical, flattened or elongated, reaching 50-70 cm in diameter, of various colors. The flesh of the fruit is loose, juicy, orange, less often white, contains 4-8% sugar. Seeds are large, smooth, with an indistinct rim. Oil content in them 36-50 %. Weight of 1000 seeds 240-300 g.

Butternut squash has a creeping branched stem. Leaves are reniform, cordate-notched or lobed, pubescent with fine hairs. The flowers are green or reddish-orange. The fruit is elongated, with interception, the pulp of the fruit is dense, contains 8-11% sugar. Seeds of medium size, dirty gray, with a clear rim, contain 30-46% oil. Weight of 1000 seeds 190-220 g.

Pumpkin is less thermophilic and drought-resistant than watermelon and melon. Its seeds begin to germinate at a temperature of 12-13 °C. Seedlings are less affected by frost. Pumpkin works best on loamy soils.

Varieties: Bashkirskaya 245, Biryuchekutskaya 27, Hybrid 72, Gribovskaya winter, Donskaya sweet, Zorka, Almond 35, Prikornevaya, Troyanda, Khersonskaya, Khutoryanka.

Cultivation practices. Gourds are demanding on soil fertility and cleanliness of fields from weeds. They work well on virgin and fallow lands, on a layer of perennial grasses and on floodplains. In field crop rotations good predecessors gourds are winter cereals, corn, annual grasses. For specialized melon-growing farms, crop rotations are recommended with the following alternation of crops: 1 - winter rye + grasses; 2 - herbs of the 1st year; 3 - herbs

2nd year; 4 - herbs of the 3rd year; 5 - gourds; 6 - melons; 7 - spring wheat; 8 - corn for silage. In such a crop rotation specific gravity gourds is 25%.

It must be remembered that the fields on which herbicides were used in the crops of previous rotation crops are unsuitable for the placement of gourds.

The correct use of mineral and organic fertilizers increases productivity, accelerates ripening and improves the quality of gourds. As an organic fertilizer for watermelon and melon, manure is applied (with deep autumn tillage) in the amount of 15-20 t/ha and for pumpkin - 30-40 t/ha. Higher doses of manure for these crops can cause a delay in fruit ripening and deterioration in their quality.

At the same time with organic fertilizers contribute minerals. It is recommended to apply per 1 hectare n^PcLo or N 60 P 45 K 50 for autumn tillage and N IO P 15 K, 0 in rows when sowing. Mineral fertilizers increase the yield of watermelons by 25-30%, and the sugar content by 2-3%.

In addition to the main and sowing fertilizer, it is also desirable to feed plants before flowering - N ^ R ^ K ^.

Soil cultivation for gourds and gourds includes autumn (peeling by 8-10 cm and plowing with plows with skimmers to a depth of 25-30 cm) and spring processing soils consisting of harrowing and cultivation (at least two) followed by harrowing. In the northern areas of melon growing on highly compacted soils, the first spring cultivation is often replaced by plowing. When the topsoil dries out, rolling is applied.

For sowing, seeds are taken from fully ripened healthy fruits. Seed germination should be at least 90%. Before sowing, the seeds are subjected to air-thermal heating in the sun for

3-5 days or heated for 4 hours at a temperature of 50-60 ° C, soaked in water room temperature within 24 hours 1-2 days before sowing. Warming up the seeds increases the yield of watermelons by 11-20%.

Seeds of gourds are treated in advance against diseases with 80% sp. TMTD (4-5 g per I kgeemyan). The seeds are treated with a suspension of the drug - 5-10 liters of water per 1 ton of seeds.

The optimal sowing time is the establishment of soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm for watermelon and melon 12-14 ° C, for pumpkin

9-10 °С. Watermelon seeds sown under these conditions sprout after 9-10 days, melons - after 8-9, pumpkins - after 6-7 days.

When sown in insufficiently warmed soil, the seeds of melons and gourds can rot and give sparse shoots. Late sowing also greatly reduces their yield.

Sowing of gourds is carried out with gourds seeders. For sowing, corn and cotton seeders are sometimes also used on farms.

The feeding area depends on the variety, climatic conditions, soil fertility. The following sowing schemes are recommended, m: watermelon -

2.5 x (1.5 ... 1.7); 2.1 x (2.1 ... 1.4); 1.8x1.8; melon - 2.5 x (0.8 ... 1.0); 2.1 x(0.8...1.2); pumpkin - 2.5x (1.8 ... 2.0); 2.8x (1.5 ... 1.8).

The seeding rate for watermelon seeds is 1.5-3.0 kg/ha, pumpkins 3-5, melons 2-4 kg/ha. The sowing depth of watermelon and pumpkin seeds is 6-8 cm, melon 4-6 cm.

Care of crops of gourds and melons includes harrowing and loosening with rotary hoes until shoots appear to break the crust and destroy weed seedlings, as well as inter-row tillage to a depth of 12-15 cm during the first and 8-10 cm during subsequent loosening. When processing row spacings, overgrown lashes of plants must be removed to the side so that they are not damaged by tractor wheels and tillage implements.

To do this, in the same unit with the cultivator, a lash layer is installed, which pushes the lashes from the middle of the aisle to a width of 50-60 cm, sufficient for the passage of the wheels of the tractor and the cultivator.

For inter-row tillage, cultivators KRN-4.2, KRN-5.6 and melon cultivator KNB-5.4 are used, for weeding in rows - weeding unit PAU-4.

To prevent tangling of the lashes by the wind, they are sprinkled with damp soil. This causes the formation of additional roots, which improves plant nutrition. Good results are obtained by pinching (chasing) the ends of the lashes during the flowering of male flowers.

In the fight against peronosporosis, crops are sprayed with Bordeaux liquid, a 1% solution, according to blue vitriol(600 l / ha), against powdery mildew, they are dusted with ground sulfur powder (15-30 kg / ha). The processing of melons is stopped 15 days before the start of the harvest.

Irrigation is of great importance in the cultivation of gourds in Russia. Under melon crops, 3-5 vegetation irrigations are given with an interval of 10-15 days. They begin long before flowering, then temporarily stop and resume when fruit is set. Irrigation rate is 600-800 m 3 /ha.

Cleaning. Gourds do not ripen at the same time. Therefore, table watermelon, melon and zucchini are harvested in 2-3 doses (as they mature), and pumpkin and fodder watermelon - in one go, before the onset of frost. Signs of ripening watermelon fruits are drying of the stem, coarsening of the bark and the appearance of a clear pattern on it. Ripe melons acquire the color and pattern characteristic of the variety. The ripeness of a pumpkin can also be determined by the color and density of the peel.

For selective harvesting of gourds, a wide-cut conveyor TSHP-25 is used. Ripe fruits are plucked and placed in the meshes of a conveyor belt, which guides and stacks them directly into the body of a nearby vehicle. During the last continuous collection of watermelons, one-time harvesting for seeds and when harvesting pumpkins, a mechanized collection of fruits into windrows with a UPV-8 windrower, selection of windrows with a PBV-1 pick-up and soft styling them into vehicles.

The described harvesting technology reduces labor costs by 5-6 times compared to the technology of harvesting with the removal of fruits to the side of the field.

When transporting melons and gourds, container transportation should be used more widely, which reduces manual labor in loading and unloading operations, improves product quality and reduces transport downtime.

For storage, fruits are selected without damage. Watermelons are stored at a temperature of 2-3 °C, melons - at 0-2 °C and an optimum air humidity of 75-85%, pumpkin - at 10 °C and a relative humidity of 70-75%.

Melons and gourds are characterized by high heat demand. Watermelon and melon are plants of the sultry south. The birthplace of watermelon is Africa, melons are Central and Asia Minor. This determined the main areas of their distribution: primarily the southern regions of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Transcaucasia and Moldova.

Nutritional value and chemical composition. The fruits of watermelon and melon are used mainly fresh and in the canning industry for the preparation of watermelon and melon honey (nardek and bekmes), various confectionery products, candied fruit, marmalade, jam, marshmallow and other products. In Central Asia, the pulp of melon fruits is dried and eaten in this form or made into compotes. Non-standard young watermelon fruits are suitable for salting. The melon seeds accumulate a lot of high-quality oil, which is used in the confectionery industry and for other purposes. Dry watermelon seeds contain 14...19% oil, melon seeds - 19...35%, pumpkin seeds 23...41%. Pumpkin and watermelon seeds are processed into oil

the cake obtained at the same time is a valuable feed for livestock.

Fruits of gourds, pumpkins, are widely used as a valuable succulent feed for animals.

Table 1. Chemical composition of gourds

In terms of area occupied, the first place belongs to the watermelon, the second - to the melon, and only 10% is accounted for by the pumpkin. It does not apply to such sugar-bearing plants as watermelon and melon, it has a higher yield - when grown using intensive technology, more than 100 t/ha.

Botanical description. Watermelon, melon and pumpkin belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes more than 100 genera and about 400 species. The fruit is berry-like (pumpkin), reaches a mass of 20 ... 40 kg or more. Fruits are distinguished by the shape, color and pattern of the bark, the color and structure of the pulp, the shape of the seeds and other features. Different kinds Cucurbitaceae families differ in anatomical structure, but general structure fruit is preserved for all melon crops. The fruit consists of bark, pulp, placenta (seed filaments or ovary sites from which ovules extend) and seeds. Placentas in pumpkins are dry, in melons they are dry 1 or wet, in watermelons they grow and grow together with the walls of the fetus. The bark is made up of several layers. The upper, bordering on the external environment, is a single-layer, cuticle-covered epidermis. Its purpose is to protect the fetus from drying out, evaporation, and other adverse external influences, limiting transpiration. Under the epidermis layer there is a chlorophyll-bearing parenchyma of 8...10 cells. The color of the fruit, as well as the pattern, each variety has its own.

At the Plant Research Institute (VIR), T. B. Fursa identified ten ecological and geographical groups among the variety of its varieties: Russian, Asia Minor, Western European, Transcaucasian, Central Asian, Afghan, Indian, East Asian, Far Eastern, American. The classification of groups is based on the anatomical and physiological characteristics of plants and, above all, the degree of xero- or mesomorphism of appearance, manifested in the morphology and anatomical structure of the leaf blade, in the different sucking power and water-holding capacity of the leaf of these groups.

Russian eco-geographical group combines varieties of table watermelon, common in the Lower Volga region, the North Caucasus, in the southern regions of Ukraine, as well as early ripening varieties grown in the northern regions of Ukraine, in Western Siberia. The general appearance of plants has the features of a xeromorphic organization, which is manifested in the morphology and anatomy of the leaf, its relatively high sucking power. This type was formed in a hot dry climate with intensive selection for sugar content and improved taste. Local varieties of the Russian group are a valuable source material for breeding due to their high ecological plasticity and adaptability to adverse conditions environment. According to the sexual type, the varieties of this group are predominantly andromonoycysts - on the same plant they form male and bisexual flowers. Such varieties are only slightly cross-pollinated when sown together with others, which is important for establishing norms for spatial isolation. Among the watermelons of the Russian group, there are varieties with an uncut leaf: Whole-leaved 215, Yubileiny 72, etc. This trait can be used as a signal to obtain heterotic hybrids of watermelon with free cross-pollination of the original forms. Most varieties of watermelon currently released in Russia belong to the Russian eco-geographical group.

Asia Minor eco-geographical group, uniting watermelons grown in Turkey, has similarities with Russian, for which it was the original. Asia Minor watermelons probably penetrated into the southern Russian steppes through the Greek colonies on the Black Sea, found here favorable conditions and gave rise to a more cultural type, ecologically close to the original. The xeromorphism of the organization is more pronounced in Asia Minor varieties than in Russian ones. Among them, there are many drought-resistant forms that are promising for use in breeding. There are almost no breeding varieties in the group, variegated and poorly cultivated populations predominate, however, there are individual samples with a high sugar content in the fruit.

Western European eco-geographical group combines watermelon varieties cultivated in Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Greece, Italy. In a significant part, it was probably formed on the basis of the Russian assortment, but on the whole it is characterized by a more mesomorphic plant species, corresponding to the soil and climatic conditions of the region. Heterogeneous in composition and selection significance.

The Far Eastern ecological and geographical group is represented by varieties watermelon cultivated in the Primorsky and partially Khabarovsk Territories of the Far East. Under the conditions of the moderately humid climate of Primorye, a peculiar ecological type was formed. Far Eastern watermelons are the most early-ripening among the entire world assortment - the period from germination to ripening is 60-70 days for them. They are characterized by a poorly developed vegetative mass, very small fruits with a slightly sweet tasteless pulp containing many seeds. General appearance plants mesomorphic; sexual type of monocyst. There are samples with a lemon-yellow color of the pulp. Varieties, as a rule, are represented by variegated populations, among which sugary forms can be selected. Far Eastern watermelons are of interest for breeding due to their exceptional early maturity.

Transcaucasian eco-geographical group represented by varieties of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. It occupies an intermediate position between the varieties of the Russian and Central Asian ecological and geographical groups. Watermelons of Armenia are closer to Russian and Asia Minor varieties, while Azerbaijani and Georgian varieties are closer to Central Asian ones. The appearance of plants is characterized by well-pronounced mesomorphism. The leaves, as a rule, are slightly or medium dissected, the fruits are large, thick-skinned. The assortment is dominated by local populations, the sugar content is usually low.

Central Asian eco-geographical group unites varieties of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, South Kazakhstan and Western China. It is very polymorphic both in terms of morphological and economically valuable traits. Dominated by local varieties represented by variegated populations. General character varieties - mesophilic, sexual type - monocysts and andromonoycysts, occurring equally. The varieties of this group are characterized by large fruits with thick bark and rough flesh, many of them are valuable for their high keeping quality.

Afghan Eco-Geographic Group unites watermelons of Iran and Afghanistan, in many respects similar to those of Central Asia. Iranian varieties are more diverse than Afghan varieties in shape, fruit color, pulp, sugar content, but in general they constitute one ecological type; it can be defined as rude, uncultured. The fruits of the varieties of this group are usually large, often irregular shape, thick-skinned, with rough, fibrous, pale-colored pulp, having a low sugar content. Varieties are mainly heterogeneous populations, among which there are forms that are valuable for breeding. Heterogeneity is manifested by the sexual type (along with andromonoycysts, which predominate in this group, there are also monoycysts), as well as in the appearance of plants, xeromorphic in some varieties and mesomorphic in others. Among the varieties of this group, there are unusual forms for watermelon with yellow and orange color of the fruit.

Indian Eco-Geographic Group represented by varieties of North-West India and Pakistani

tana.Predominate large-fruited varieties They have a thick bark, the flesh is pale-colored.

They have nutritional value.

East Asian group(Japan, China, Korea) - small-fruited with thin bark with yellow or orange color prevail. Valuable for greenhouses.

American group- large-fruited varieties with a cylindrical or oval shape, the fruits are leveled, resistant to anthracnose and fusarium wilt (source of resistance in breeding).

In each ecological and geographical group, certain morphological types of varieties are identified, which are based on the shape and color of the fruit, that is, distinctive approbation features.

The whole variety of watermelon varieties according to these characteristics fits into 32 variety types:

1. Ball-shaped, white, without a pattern or with mesh elements.

2. Spherical, golden yellow, without a pattern or with indistinct stripes.

3. Spherical, orange-yellow, without a pattern, segmented.

4. Spherical, light green or salad, without a pattern, segmented.

5. Spherical, light green, with mesh or mesh stripes.

6. Cylindrical, light green or white, with mesh or mesh stripes.

7. Spherical, light green, with narrow mesh (filamentous) stripes.

8. Oval, less often spherical, gray-green, with mesh or mesh stripes.

9. Spherical, light or gray-green, with dark green strokes at the stem (marble pattern).

10. Spherical or oval, gray-green, with dark green mesh stripes.

11. Globular, whitish or light green, with whitish prickly stripes.

12. Spherical, whitish, or light green, with narrow dark or black-green prickly stripes.

13. Oval or cylindrical, whitish, with narrow dark or black-green prickly stripes.

14. Spherical, whitish or light green, with wide stripes.

15. The same, but with fully interlocking processes (mosaic pattern).

16. Cylindrical, light green, with wide green prickly stripes.

17. Spherical, light green, with green blurred stripes.
18. Spherical, light green, with dotted and dark green blurred stripes (chintz pattern).

19. Spherical, light green, with wide dark green blurred stripes, almost covering the background.

20. Cylindrical, light green, with broad blurred green stripes.

21. Spherical or oval (pear-shaped), green with mesh and mesh stripes.

22. Cylindrical, green, with mesh or mesh stripes.

23. Spherical, green, with an indistinct pattern.

24. Cylindrical or oval, green, with an indistinct pattern.

25. Spherical, green, with black-green narrow spiny stripes.

26. Spherical, green, with dark or black-green wide spiny stripes.

27. Cylindrical or oval, green with wide dark green spiny stripes.

28. Spherical, green, with dull green blurred stripes.

29. Spherical, green, with dark green blurred stripes.

30. Spherical, dark green, with black-green prickly stripes.

31. Spherical, black-green, with or without a hidden pattern.

32. Cylindrical or oval, black-green, with or without a hidden pattern.

Table 2. Inheritance of the main approbation features of watermelon in a hybrid

The most promising option for watermelon hybrid seed production is the use of lines with gene male sterility and marker traits for culling non-hybrid plants.