The Gulyabi melon comes from Central Asia; gardeners often call it Chardzhui. The name is associated with the area in which the variety was bred. Today the crop has spread to other territories and is cultivated in neighboring republics.
The plant belongs to the late-ripening category of varieties. In arid, warm regions, it takes an average of 130 days from germination to full ripening. Gardeners note the rich melon aroma of the fruit, which appears in full force a few weeks after harvest.
Fruit characteristics
The appearance of the fruit can vary significantly depending on the specific variety.The color can take on the traditional yellow or orange color. Some varieties have unusual greenish and even white skin. The surface of the fruit varies depending on the type of plant. Varieties with warm colors are characterized by an openwork, mesh pattern. The greenish and white fruits are slightly wrinkled and have distinct stripes.
The Gulyabi melon variety is characterized by an elongated ovoid fruit shape. When grown in warm climates, the average fruit weight varies from 4 to 8 kg. When grown in the climate of the middle Russian regions, the figure is somewhat more modest and reaches 3 kg.
All types of crops are distinguished by dense pulp. At the time of ripening, the structure is crispy, but after a couple of weeks it becomes soft, juicy and has an extraordinary aroma. The fruit's taste and appearance are preserved during long-term storage, and the honey taste is present due to the significant content of carotene and sugar.
What varieties exist
Along with the Chardzhuyskaya variety, other types of crops are presented on the market. The most popular varieties of Gulyabi are:
- Chok is distinguished by an absolutely smooth surface and juicy fibrous pulp.
- Gulyabi 803 - actively grown in Turkmenistan, has a bright yellow peel and juicy crispy flesh.
- Bovaldi - the variety has green colored fruits with pronounced stripes, their weight reaches 3-5 kg, the fruits are characterized by white fibrous juicy pulp.
- Sary-Gulyabi is a melon with a characteristic yellow-orange peel color and a large mesh on the surface; the thick flesh is oily to the touch and has a rich sweet taste due to its high sugar content.
Among all varieties of melon Gulyabi is distinguished by the Orange variety, from the name of which one can immediately understand its main feature. The plant has a shorter ripening period and the first harvest can be harvested after 100-100 days. Despite the shorter ripening period, the fruits can only be consumed after several weeks of storage, when they “reach” the state of readiness.
Disadvantages and advantages of the variety
The only drawback of melon is the difficulty of growing it in difficult climatic conditions. When grown in open ground conditions, the plant lacks heat and light. Even minor temperature changes have a negative impact on plant growth. When planted in greenhouses, the crop is characterized by poor growth and fruit production, which is associated with a lack of sunlight.
The advantages of the variety include not only the excellent taste of the fruits, but also their composition.
Among the many representatives of melon crops, Gulyabi stands out due to its high content of vitamins and minerals, which ensures its beneficial and healing properties. Melon is considered one of the best foods for restoring vitamin deficiencies in the body. Eating the pulp helps improve overall health, enhance immunity and improve the body's resistance.
A significant advantage is the ability of the fruit to be stored for a long time without loss of taste and usefulness of the product. This feature allows you to enjoy a delicious delicacy and replenish the lack of vitamins during the cold seasons of the year, when there is a lack of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Thanks to modern recipe diversity and the unusually rich taste and aroma of melon, this product is widely used in cooking today. First and second courses, sweets and dried fruits are made from it. The product slightly loses the usefulness of its composition when frozen.
How to choose a melon?
For many Russian citizens, the question of choosing the right melon is difficult. This is due to the wide variety of modern varieties and the lack of necessary experience, since fruits have to be selected only during the period when the harvest is brought from warm countries. At the same time, there are a number of rules, observing which it is impossible to make a mistake with the right choice. The following points indicate the ripeness of the fruit:
- the aroma is rich, has a pronounced melon smell, which indicates the full ripening of the fruit;
- the stem of the fruit has a dense structure with a grayish tint, slightly withered, and the presence of a green stalk indicates early harvesting of the fruit and the risk of acquiring an unripe melon;
- the surface of the peel has no defects in the form of dents or chips;
- The peel is flexible and bends under finger pressure.
A sign of melon ripeness is the presence of even coloring of the fruit. The presence of one lighter spot is allowed due to its contact with the surface of the earth and receiving less sunlight. When a ripe melon is tapped, characteristic dull sounds are heard.
When purchasing an unripe melon, do not be upset or worry. In this case, it is enough to remove the fruit for several days in a dark, dry room. Due to the ability of the culture to ripen during storage, after a week the taste of the pulp will significantly improve.
