2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 15:51
© Photo: Christian Jung / Rusmediabank.ru |
Latin name: Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis Family: Pumpkin Headings: Fruit and berry crops |
Cantaloupe (lat. Cucumis melo var.cantalupensis) - a kind of melon, a representative of the Pumpkin family. Today cantaloupe is cultivated in many countries with warm climates, but especially in Thailand. Other names are American cantaloupe, cantaloupe, or thai melon.
Characteristics of culture
Cantaloupe is a herbaceous plant with a rounded, faceted stem, covered on all surfaces with hard hairs. The length of the stem varies from 1 to 3 m. The root system is taproot, the main root is powerful, the lateral branches are in large numbers - they extend 25-30 cm deep. The leaves are dark green or light green, pubescent, heart-shaped or round, whole or split, arranged alternately, equipped with long rounded-faceted coarsely pubescent petioles.
The flowers are yellow, regular, rather large, with a five-membered perianth and a funnel-shaped spine-petal corolla. Fruits are round, flattened or segmented, with a dense striped smooth or reticulate warty skin of a yellow-green color. The pulp of the fruit is juicy, bright orange or orange, tender, sweet, aromatic. The fruits can easily tolerate long-distance transportation, but they cannot boast of long-term storage. In Russia, two varieties of cantaloupe are registered, in other countries there are much more of them.
Growing
Cantaloupe, or Thai melon, prefers a hot climate. Successful cultivation requires at least 2, 5-3 consecutive months with daily temperatures of 23-27C. The culture is demanding on soil conditions, soils are preferable light, loose, drained, moderately moist, sandy loam or loamy, with a pH of 5, 5-6. The location is preferably sunny, thick shade is contraindicated for all types of melons. In areas with a lack of lighting, plants feel defective, often affected by rot and various pests.
When planting seedlings of cantaloupe or seeds, it must be borne in mind that the plants, as they grow, form long lashes, which occupy considerable territories. The area allotted for the melon is dug to a depth of 15-20 cm and rotted manure or compost is introduced. It is advisable to remove garden debris and weed roots from the soil. It is also possible to form small mounds from soil laid on a layer of manure. In order for the soil to warm up faster, a piece of plastic wrap is laid on top. Warm soil is the key to successful seed germination and early survival of seedlings.
Cantaloupe is recommended to be grown in seedlings. Sowing is carried out in late April - early May, that is, a month before planting seedlings in open ground. It is preferable to plant seeds in peat pots filled with a nutrient mixture. This will allow during planting not to disturb the fragile root system of the seedlings. Planting is carried out in early June in pre-formed mounds located at a distance of 30-35 cm from each other. Immediately after planting, it is necessary to water the young plants abundantly, then watering is carried out as the soil dries up at the stem. Waterlogging should not be allowed.
When cold weather sets in, the plants are covered with a wire frame with a film stretched over it or any other covering material. With the appearance of flowers on the plants, the shelter is removed, otherwise the insects will not be able to pollinate them. Weeds are removed as needed, especially the first 2-3 weeks after planting. Immediately after flowering, cantaloupe is fed with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. If the plants grow slowly, a small amount of rotted manure and nitrogen fertilizers are added to the soil.
Application
Cantaloupe has an excellent taste and aroma, it is consumed fresh and is used to prepare various fruit and vegetable salads, desserts and fillings for cakes, pastries and other pastries. In some countries, honey called bekmes, sweet jam, jam and candied fruits are made from the fruits of cantaloupe. Edible oil is produced from cantaloupe seeds. The culture is also used in folk medicine, it is useful for diseases of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys and liver.
Cantaloupe fruits contain a huge amount of ascorbic acid, so their regular use increases immunity. Inosine, which is part of the fruit, prevents hair loss and the accumulation of cholesterol in the body, in addition, this substance is able to absorb toxins and decay products. Unlike other types of melons, cantaloupe is rich in carotene, which is essential for both children and adults. Fruits are also useful for pregnant women.
