In recent years, crop varieties that were previously considered exotic for our country and unsuitable for cultivation in difficult climatic conditions have increasingly begun to appear on the Russian horticultural market. One of them was the hybrid melon variety Roksolana, intended for cultivation in northern regions and capable of withstanding significant temperature changes.
The average fruit ripening period is 90 days. The advantage of the variety is the plant’s resistance to most diseases of melons. The species tolerates the effects of anthracnose and peronosporosis well, and is not prone to rotting of the root system.The variety is characterized by powerful shoots with wide leaves, which easily protect the fruits from burns as a result of exposure to sunlight.
The variety is an early ripening species and the average fruit ripening period is 40-50 days. The fruits tolerate transportation well, which, combined with excellent taste, allows the crop to be grown on an industrial scale for commercial purposes.
What fruits does the plant produce?
The fruits are small in size and have a round, slightly elongated shape. The average weight of one melon varies from 1.5 to 2.5 kg. Subject to the rules of agricultural cultivation, 5 to 7 fruits are harvested from one plant per season. The surface of ripe fruits is yellow-orange in color. The distinctive quality of the variety is:
- thin peel;
- juicy pulp;
- richness of taste;
- ability for long-term storage without loss of external and taste qualities.
Reviews from gardeners speak of the extraordinary sweetness of the Roksolana f1 melon, comparing its taste with the famous Kolkhoznitsa. Due to the high content of vitamins and minerals, melons are a unique source of nutrients that have a beneficial effect on the functioning of all systems of the human body.
Features of growing seedlings
It is recommended to purchase planting material from specialized gardening stores and centers. For planting in the ground, select the largest seeds possible, after soaking them in gauze moistened with a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 12 hours. Next, you need to leave the seeds on wet gauze; after a certain time, sprouts will appear from the material suitable for planting.
Planting is carried out in small-diameter peat pots, which subsequently avoids the need for replanting and reduces the risk of injury to the root system when planting in a permanent place. Soil for containers is prepared from the following components:
- Earth;
- peat;
- compost;
- ash.
It is not recommended to plant more than 2 seeds in one pot. When two shoots appear at the same time, one is left, choosing the strongest and most viable sprout. The seedling container is covered with film and placed in a warm, sunny place. At home, you can place the pots above the radiator or in a heated loggia.
Recommendations for cultivation
To get a good harvest, it is important to pay attention to the right place for planting. When planting outdoors in warm climates, the site should be at an elevation and receive sufficient sunlight. You cannot plant melon in the place where similar melons were previously grown. The possibility of transplanting seedlings occurs when the soil temperature reaches +15 ⁰C.
The soil for melons should be loose and not acidic and contain a large amount of minerals. For planting, furrows are formed, the distance between which should be 60 cm. The depth of the recesses for seedlings is no more than 10 cm. It is recommended to enrich the soil composition in the area of the recess with diluted manure, ash, humus and peat.
When growing horizontally, after the ovary and formation of the first fruits, it is necessary to place a base under the melons in the form of a small board, linoleum or other material that can protect them from damage as a result of contact with wet soil.
When grown vertically, trellises are prepared in advance, the height of which is 2 meters above ground level. As the bushes form, they are tied and fixed to the support. With this method of growing melons, it is necessary to place them in mesh-shaped bags and tie them to a trellis. This technique will allow the fruits to ripen and not fall due to the inability of escape to support the weight of the fetus.
An important rule for obtaining a harvest when grown in greenhouse conditions is to provide the shoots with sufficient periodic ventilation. The plant needs pollination by insects, to attract which it is recommended to spray the bushes with water and honey, and plant as many honey-bearing plants as possible near the open greenhouse structure.
Water the plant once a week. An important factor for obtaining a harvest is periodic loosening of the soil and removal of weeds, to the presence of which the variety is intolerant. Feeding is carried out every 2 weeks.
If by the end of the season the melon fruits have not yet fully ripened, then this is not a big problem for the Roksolana melon variety. In this case, the fruits are removed from the bushes and placed in a warm place until ripening. When kept in a cool room, fruits can be stored for a long time, which is convenient for their use as an additional source of nutrients and vitamins in the cold season when there is a shortage of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Pest and disease control methods
Despite the sustainability melon varieties to the main types of diseases of melons, the likelihood of their occurrence is not excluded.
Recommendations for actions to be taken if problems arise are as follows:
- fusarium wilt - reduce watering, remove and burn affected shoots, do not plant melons in this place for 5 years;
- powdery mildew - spray melon bushes with sulfur powder;
- the appearance of melon flies, spider mites, aphids - treat the plant with a chemical pest control agent or Bordeaux mixture.
To prevent diseases, the plant should not be limited in the supply of light and air, and excessive waterlogging of the soil should not be allowed.
