Pineapple melon is perhaps the most common variety of melons. It pleases with juicy, aromatic and sweet fruits with standard care. The variety is suitable for cultivation both on an industrial scale and in private home plots. To get a good and timely ripened harvest, you need to familiarize yourself with some of the features of this melon.
Description of the variety
The characteristics of the variety allow us to say that Ananasnaya belongs to the mid-early hybrid varieties of melons. Suitable for growing in open ground and in greenhouse conditions. From the moment the shoots appear until the first ripening of the fruit, 2 to 2.5 months pass. Melons grow weighing up to 2 kg, oval in shape.The pulp is white and pink in color. The taste is excellent, the aroma is strong. Pineapple melon tolerates transportation well over long distances without loss of marketability and taste.
The description of the variety promises increased resistance to powdery mildew and anthracnose. Each plant produces up to 5 high-quality fruits. The skin is thin and golden or yellow-brown when ripe. Pineapple has a pronounced mesh pattern.
Melons of this variety have a high content of vitamins A, C, B and P. The fruits are useful for people suffering from the following diseases:
- anemia;
- anemia;
- upper respiratory tract diseases;
- gout;
- rheumatism;
- tuberculosis;
- disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
- gastrointestinal disorders.
Due to their high fiber content, melons are effectively used in dietary nutrition. Pineapple can be stored in commercial form for 1.5–2 months after harvesting without the use of chemicals that help extend shelf life.
Features of cultivation
Melon crops are heat-loving and require a lot of sun to ripen. Pineapple-Americano melon is the fruit of many years of work by breeders who sought to adapt the plant to different climatic conditions. The variety turned out to be not only well adapted for various regions, but also resistant to fungal diseases.
To get a good harvest, you need to select high-quality seed material. Seeds should be purchased only in specialized stores that provide a quality guarantee. If you prepare planting material yourself, it can be used only after three years.
In southern climates, melons can be planted directly in the ground.But in other areas you should first grow seedlings. To do this, Pineapple seeds are placed in a well-moistened cloth and left for several days, periodically moistening the cloth. As soon as the sprouts begin to hatch, you can sow.
The seeds are placed in cups with soil mixture, 1 piece at a time, and covered with a transparent film. As soon as the seedlings begin to hatch, the shelter is removed and the containers are moved to a well-lit windowsill. To prevent the Pineapple Melon sprouts from stretching, turn the cups from time to time. The hybrid is planted in open ground after a month. Young plants require mandatory pre-hardening.
When planting seeds directly into open ground, you need to focus on the soil temperature. It should warm up to at least +15 °C. Otherwise, Pineapple simply will not sprout. As a rule, the timing of such sowing occurs at the end of May. Seeds are sown to a depth of no more than 2 cm. To make them germinate faster, you can cover the plantings with plastic wrap. As soon as the seedlings begin to hatch, the shelter is removed.
Features of care
Reviews from gardeners indicate that as soon as the sixth leaf appears on young plants, pinching should be done. This will give the opportunity to develop side vines and will contribute to the formation of female-type peduncles.
During the growth process, Pineapple Melon needs moderate watering. The plant does not like excess moisture. It is enough to irrigate it once a week, for example, on weekends. It is necessary to regularly fight weeds and carry out mandatory loosening of the soil. Water should not stagnate in the area, as this will weaken the plants.
Pineapple hybrid melon prefers well-fertilized and nutritious soil. If the area is depleted, then before planting the plants it is necessary to add mullein or humus. After the appearance of the fourth leaf, the plantings are fed for the first time, and with the beginning of flowering - for the second time. The area for growing Pineapple melons should be well ventilated and sunny.
During the entire growth period, the beds are weeded at least 5 times. Most often this is done at the very beginning. When the melons get stronger and spread out, they themselves will prevent the growth of weeds in their garden. Loosening the soil is carried out initially once a week, and then less often. During the period of formation of powerful side shoots, it is recommended to hill up the plantings.
To get larger fruits of the Pineapple melon, pinch the growth points on the 4th and 6th leaves. When 5–7 fruits are formed on the bush, all subsequent growth points are removed. Young plants need more frequent watering. As the crop grows, the frequency of irrigation is reduced, and a week before the expected harvest, it is stopped altogether.
Prevention of diseases and pests
Melon of the Pineapple variety is a hybrid, therefore it exhibits increased resistance to the negative effects of viral infections and pests. But even she needs prevention and protection from defeat:
- melon aphids;
- spider mite;
- wireworm;
- scoops;
- melon fly;
- powdery mildew;
- downy mildew;
- fusarium;
- copperhead
To protect the Pineapple melon from these pests, before planting it in the garden, you need to pour eggshells or onion peels into each hole. Regularly spray the plantings with a soap solution. A good preventive measure is a decoction of garlic or onion. Marigold seedlings are being planted nearby.
Summer residents who grew the Pineapple Melon variety on their plot claim that it really has a pleasant taste and aroma of pineapple. The fruits grow very sweet and juicy. They can be consumed not only fresh, but also canned and processed. The variety is unpretentious and does not require much attention, so even beginners can grow it.
