We can talk about the merits of watermelon for a long time, adults and children like the juicy sweet pulp, many dream of growing the plant on their own plot, and warming temperatures and the abundance of varieties make it possible to obtain a harvest even in regions previously unsuitable for melon growing. In conditions of not too long summer, the main thing is to choose the right material for planting. The Top Gun variety of watermelon combines speed of ripening with excellent taste, which is why it is very popular among gardeners.
- Characteristic
- In what regions does it grow?
- Secrets of agricultural technology for getting a good harvest
- Seed quality
- Soil composition and structure
- Temperature and light conditions
- Timely watering and fertilization
- Watermelon growing technology
- In the greenhouse
- Outdoors
- Hybrid variety Top Gun F1: description and advantages
Characteristic
Top Gan belongs to the early ripening varieties, manages to ripen in 2 months, large fruits, with crispy, sugary and surprisingly tasty pulp, slightly elongated shape, rich green color with pronounced stripes, have an average weight of 8-10 kilograms.
It is unpretentious in care and resistant to diseases, especially fusarium, has powerful roots that extend a meter into the ground, and large leaves, providing excellent harvests. Suitable for ground and greenhouse cultivation.
Main advantages:
- wonderful taste combined with high yield;
- unpretentiousness;
- good safety during transportation;
- resistance to diseases.
The combination of these qualities has made Top Gun popular among gardeners and farmers, growing watermelons for sale.
In what regions does it grow?
Top Gun grows well in beds and melons in the southern Russian regions, where the seeds are planted in the soil. The Middle Strip is suitable for growing by seedlings in greenhouses or under film. With a little experience and proper care, residents of the Moscow region, Southern Urals, and even more northern regions can enjoy hand-grown watermelons.
Secrets of agricultural technology for getting a good harvest
Knowledge of planting and care techniques allows you to fully enjoy the results of your work.
Seed quality
Since the Top Gun variety is a hybrid, it makes no sense to collect seeds from it. Sown specimens of the second generation, if they sprout, differ significantly in quality. Therefore, you will have to buy watermelon seeds.
If the manufacturer warns on the package that the seeds should not be further processed before planting, trust the instructions.
If such information is not available, the seeds are heated for an hour in water at a temperature of 50-55 ° C, then immersed in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour and, after washing, treated with a growth stimulator. This will ensure early vigorous shoots and plant resistance to diseases. The soil for planting is pre-steamed.
Soil composition and structure
Top Gun, like any watermelon, prefers neutral or slightly alkaline light soil. The optimal mixture is sand, turf and humus. This soil does not retain moisture and is highly permeable to air. In the fall, the site can be fertilized with manure and dug deep, or, after harvesting, green manure (peas, winter wheat, lupine) can be planted. In this case, the bed is dug up after waiting for young shoots. The method saturates the soil with useful elements and improves its structure. In the spring, the area for melons is harrowed.
Temperature and light conditions
Seeds or seedlings are planted in soil heated to +10 °C. The air temperature should be above +14 °C. For the garden bed, choose the sunniest and best-drained area; if seedlings are planted in a greenhouse, daylight hours are increased with the help of additional lighting. Watermelon seedlings in open ground are covered with film to protect them from temperature changes.
Timely watering and fertilization
Watermelons do not respond well to excess moisture. Water the melon after the top layer of soil has dried. During flowering and ovary formation, provide a little more watering, and during the period of active fruit growth, the plants are not watered at all. If the weather is rainy, the plants must be covered with film to protect them from waterlogging.
After the seedlings have adapted to a permanent place in open ground or in a greenhouse, approximately 2 weeks after transplantation, the bed is fertilized with mullein solution or complex mineral fertilizer for melons. After the ovary appears, mineral fertilizing is carried out a second time. Nitrate ensures rapid growth of plants, but its excess significantly impairs the taste of watermelons.
Watermelon growing technology
Watermelon Top Gun is quite unpretentious; the harvest requires sun, absence of high humidity and wind.
In the greenhouse
Plants require a decent area and a two-meter height of the greenhouse. Seedlings are planted at a distance of at least 70-80 centimeters from each other, with similar row spacing. 2 sprouts are placed in one hole, then the lashes are carefully separated. Additionally, they build a trellis to which they will be tied as they grow, this saves space and ensures uniform illumination of the plants. Nets with ripening fruits are also fixed there. The greenhouse is regularly ventilated.
Important: do not forget to hand pollinate your greenhouse plants!
Ripening striped berries should not touch the ground; watermelons of the lower tier are placed on a substrate (you can use a small block or plank) and turned over regularly.
Plants need systematic weeding and loosening of the soil; if there is a lack of sun, additional lighting is installed, because the sugar content of a watermelon depends on the amount of heat and light.
Outdoors
In the garden bed, watermelons are placed more spaciously, with a meter distance between holes and 110-120 centimeters between rows.Plants are often weeded, since they absolutely do not tolerate weeds, loosened and protected from pests and diseases using folk remedies (potassium permanganate, laundry or tar soap, onion peel infusion) or industrial preparations.
After intensive growth of watermelons begins, watering and loosening are stopped - it is very easy to damage the fruits with gardening tools. Plants, if necessary, are covered with film from rain and temperature changes. You should not leave the film on for a long time - the condensation accumulated under it will damage the plantings. Watermelons grow well after peas and tomatoes; they are not planted next to plants that love moisture (cucumbers, zucchini, bell peppers).
Watermelons are not planted in the same area more than once every 5-6 years.
A ripe watermelon is distinguished by its dry tail, glossy surface and dull sound when tapped. For long-term (more than a month) storage, they are laid out freely on shelves, not allowing them to touch each other, or hung in nets in a cool, dry room.
Hybrid variety Top Gun F1: description and advantages
F1 on the packaging means that the hybrid has received the best qualities of crossed varietal plants. Hybrids are characterized by higher yields and resistance to diseases, in addition, they are self-pollinating. The presentation of hybrids and the ability to transport are another advantage of such plants; their fruits are more even and beautiful.
Of course, hybrid seeds are more expensive, but the yield and other improved characteristics more than pay for the costs. Often people are wary of hybrids, believing that an externally beautiful fruit is less tasty - this is not always the case, but the choice is up to the buyer.
Hybrid Top Gun F1 is characterized by excellent seed germination, large, regularly shaped fruits, and increased resistance to diseases. It transports well and can be stored for 2-3 months without problems.
