Cubic square watermelons are edible exotic. Features of growing square watermelons

My brother loves ordering goods from Ali. First, he filled the kitchen (his, his mother’s, and mine for company) with various silicone gadgets and assistants, and then he took up the seeds. What he couldn’t find: blue tomatoes and rainbow roses...

And somehow he proudly presented the seeds of square watermelons (that’s what it was written there, and there were also a lot of photos attached).

To dissuade him from buying and future disappointment, I started searching on YouTube different videos exposing such products, but found a technology for growing “square” watermelons. She was so interested that she built the box herself, and raised the striped scoundrel - herself, without China!

It's simple: to stand out in the market.

Well, in our country - also in order to satisfy the curiosity of people, most of whom have long seen photos or videos on the Internet about amazing foreign melons.

Few of our citizens can go to China for a weekend to try the striped novelty. And it’s already there - on domestic shelves, carefully grown by our farmers!

And most importantly - no GMOs, just sleight of hand and not an ounce of fraud. So you can safely buy such a miracle for children.

The only thing: despite high price and a bizarre shape, the taste of such a watermelon will be quite ordinary... But what a spectacular gift it can be for your family or friends!

Where it all started

These funny melons became famous all over the world thanks to the Chinese, but they were invented by the Japanese. One farmer was tormented by transporting round watermelons, which refused to fold and rolled and broke during transportation. The man thought: what if we grow them in a more convenient form so that they don’t roll?

He built a box out of plexiglass that could be disassembled, placed a growing watermelon in the field in it, and when the box began to burst at the seams, he removed it. The melon growing in cramped conditions turned out to be in the shape of a box, but once free, it remained square.

The man began to actively cultivate his “know-how.”

True, each such watermelon required a separate box. So it turns out that after saving on delivery to stores (after all, it has now become much easier to pack watermelons into a car), a person has to spend a lot on a box.

Here's how things stand in this country now:

Currently, most square melons are grown in China. Here such a miracle costs just over 80 bucks.

In addition, angular minke whales are also raised in the Emirates, Spain, and Brazil.

How to do it correctly

The technology has not changed since its invention: the growing “ball” is placed in a box made of thick (about 8 mm) transparent polycarbonate. Container size: 20x20 cm. A watermelon is placed in such a “dungeon” when it grows to the size of an apple.

The top of such a box must have ventilation holes that will protect the fruit from rot. Also don't forget about the hole for the ponytail.

This is what this form looks like:

To make it, you need: 6 pieces of polycarbonate, 2 hinges with buckles, 4 so-called gate hinges, screws (thin, from 25 to 40 mm), nuts, washers and screws, as well as metal corner to strengthen the walls of the mold.

In terms of tools, you should have: hole saw, drill, hacksaw (for metal, for corners), screwdriver and jigsaw.

Don't want to bother? And there’s no need: molds for growing watermelons are already sold in our country. They don’t cost three kopecks, but they don’t cost 80 dollars either, so you can take either one or a whole set for testing. And then how will it go...

Important points:

Melons need a warm climate (such as in the south of Russia or in the Ukrainian Kherson).
Choose fast-growing varieties (it has been noticed that in the South, varieties adapted to the middle zone grow especially gratefully - like by leaps and bounds).
Is it true, quick varieties and you need to sell quickly, they are not stored for a long time - if you plan to transport and store your crop for a long time, grow late-ripening varieties.
If in your climate in May they keep big differences between night and day temperatures, this crop is best grown in a greenhouse.
You can grow such a miracle both from seeds and seedling method(the latter has proven itself well in central Russia).

The correct temperature for this crop: from 25 degrees during the day and not lower than 17 at night.

Basic rules for growing watermelons

IN open ground seeds or seedlings are planted at the end of May or at the beginning of June, leaving a meter between future bushes.
The bed should be fertilized with manure.
Watermelons will be grateful for watering. But do not connect the hose directly to the well, this culture does not like ice water. It’s better to fill a large vat, let the water warm up in the sun all day, and in the late afternoon distribute the water with a watering can. Yes, it is long and difficult, but you will be able to harvest a tasty and nitrate-free harvest. You definitely can’t buy this in a store!

By the way, watering is stopped halfway through the ripening period.

If everything went well, each vine can produce 4-7 flowers. Experienced gardeners It is advised to pinch off the weakest ones, leaving 4 high-quality flowers.

Watermelon flowering begins approximately 35 days after planting.

The fruit will ripen somewhere on the 100th day after planting, but early ripening varieties can please you even on the 65th day.

What else can people do with watermelons?

Anything, if only you had the right form at hand!

Since most rich Chinese (and not only) have already tried square watermelon, farmers are ready to offer new shapes: triangles, hearts and even heads.

...And not only with watermelons...

Enterprising Chinese, having realized the profitability of “cubic” melons, began experimenting with forms for other vegetables and even fruits. The most successful ones have already gone on sale - and not only in the Middle Kingdom, we have them too.

For example, if you wish, you can grow:

zucchini or zucchini shaped like a cob of corn;
pumpkins in the shape of a human head (Americans even create quite recognizable characters - Margaret Thatcher, President Reagan, Frankenstein);
pears in the shape of a sitting Buddha.

Melons, lemons, oranges, apples, eggplants, tomatoes, and cucumbers also lend themselves well to molding (in the photo below, it is the cucumber that is preparing to turn into a future heart, and even with an inscription).

You can see forms for such gardening “crafts” here:

Experience of a knowledgeable person

This farmer is already growing interesting watermelons in the Orenburg region. Moreover, he has not only square ones, but there are also varieties with yellow flesh. How he does it and whether such a business pays off - first-hand information:

And here are the instructions from the same farmer, only in more detail:

Watermelons are familiar to everyone since childhood. Every child, and even an adult, will tell you that watermelon is a round green fruit, or berry, with red juicy pulp. It turned out that everything is not so simple, and if you suddenly see a square miracle on the counter of the nearest supermarket, which in other respects looks like a watermelon, do not rush to sound the alarm, everything is fine with you.

One inquisitive breeder came up with how to grow a square watermelon, many years ago.

The whole secret of growing is that the watermelon ovaries are simply placed in square containers, after which, as the fruit grows, it takes the desired shape. The idea of such cultivation inspired Japanese students who began research and experimentation. After years of effort, the efforts were crowned with success and a special variety of cube fruit was developed. Cubic-shaped watermelons have pleased the owners of fruit shops; they fit neatly and compactly into display cases, which cannot be said about their round counterparts.

In addition to square watermelons, enterprising breeders tried to grow tomatoes of a similar shape. But they were not in demand. This experiment was especially successful with cucumbers; they lend themselves well to changing shape; thanks to this, cucumbers were grown and square shape, and even in the shape of hearts.

How to grow cube fruit yourself?

It is recommended to grow cubic watermelons in the southern regions, which are most suitable for this plant in terms of climatic conditions. If you decide to grow such a fruit yourself, then the first thing you need to do is decide on the plant variety. Now there are varieties climatically adapted to colder territories, but, nevertheless, watermelons are middle lane rarely manage to grow large enough to allow themselves to be formed into a cubic shape.

Once the plant variety has been selected, next step will be planting seedlings. This must be done in early May, otherwise the fruits will not have time to grow and have no chance of getting decent harvest there will be practically none.

Advice: before sowing, it is better to soak the seeds for a couple of days in a solution of growth stimulants, and then place them in the refrigerator for a couple of days.

Sowing seedlings

Seeds should be sown in structured soil with a high content of micronutrients. The soil should not be acidic, otherwise you should add wood ash or lime.

Fruit sprouts root system very fragile. Therefore, she does not tolerate transplants and other manipulations. To avoid this, the seeds are planted in peat cups, only half filled with soil. As the plant grows, the soil is added and gradually fills the entire glass. Usually two seeds are sown in one container; if both seedlings have grown, one of them is removed.

To maintain the required humidity, the pots are covered with film or placed in a bag and placed in a warm place. After a week, the first shoots appear and active plant growth begins.

Planting in open ground

About twenty days after sowing the seedlings, it is time to transplant them into open ground. This is usually the end of May, and there is no chance of a sudden cold snap. If your climatic conditions are still conducive to such phenomena, it is worth planting fruits in a greenhouse or under a covering structure.

Before planting, the area is thoroughly loosened and fertilizers are added. Not suitable for watering freshly planted plants cold water, this should be taken care of in advance. It is also necessary to provide the plant with abundant watering; this should be done in the first half of the day, because the evening procedure will lead to hypothermia of the roots at night. It is also necessary to create a flooring from fresh grass or sawdust, this has a beneficial effect on the root system.

Formation of cubic fruits

Most of the path has been completed, the seedlings have been planted in open ground, grown abundantly, bloomed, and the embryos of future square watermelons have formed.

When the fruit has grown to the size of a medium apple, it should be placed in an eraser container. the desired shape. It should be noted that the square shape is far from the limit. You can give your plant any shape you like.

After the ovary is placed in the container, the watermelon should continue to be watered abundantly to ensure active growth fetus It is necessary to carefully monitor the plant. This fruit loves abundance sun rays and moisture, during threats of cold snap it should be covered with greenhouse film. So it is necessary that the container fits well in size, otherwise the watermelon will outgrow the limiter and either break it or burst itself.

How to choose a container

The container in which the fruit is placed must be made of transparent material. The container size is usually twenty by twenty centimeters. There must be holes in the top so that air gets to the fruit.

Collapsible forms for such purposes are sold in stores, but very rarely. Finding and buying such a form will be quite problematic. But if you are a jack of all trades, then there is an ideal solution for you. You can make the mold for the fruit yourself.

To make a container you will need:

Polycarbonate with a thickness of eight millimeters and a side of twenty in the amount of 6 pieces;
Gate hinges 4 pieces;
Two loops with strands;
Screws;
Nuts;
Steel corner with which the walls of the product are fixed;
The screws are ordinary and thin.

A screwdriver, drill and jigsaw are the tools you will need to complete the job. The polycarbonate is connected together with loops to form a box. That's all the wisdom in making a container.

Why grow such a fruit at all?

The Japanese, who at one time were actively involved in the selection of this type of watermelon, claim that very often square watermelons do not ripen to the end. And due to the fact that such original exhibits are quite expensive on store shelves, these plants are most often used as decorative elements. A square fruit, if all storage conditions are met, can last about a year.

Such watermelons are often bought for major celebrations: anniversaries, weddings. Cubic fruits are not sold everywhere.

Square watermelons are very convenient for transportation. They can be placed quite compactly in the back of a car, with less chance of spoiling the goods while driving the car. The best thing about these berries is that they are grown in the usual way without application chemical exposure. Moreover, it is not even a genetically modified product. Square watermelon is the most common fruit unusual shape.

Tip: To determine that the fruit is ripe, do not rely on sound. A dull sound indicates that the watermelon has been despised. First of all, the stalk of a ripe fruit begins to dry out. The surface of the watermelon turns from glossy to matte and becomes dull. The peel hardens so much that it is difficult to pierce it with a fingernail. The part of the watermelon that comes into contact with the ground turns yellowish. If you find all these signs in your watermelon, you know that it is ripe, even if it rings in response to your knock.

A few facts about watermelon breeding:

Japanese students have developed a variety of decorative watermelons that also have excellent taste. After this discovery was patented, and since 2007, square watermelons of the official trademark began to be sold in Japan.
Chinese scientists have developed watermelons with golden-colored flesh. Gold is highly revered in this country and is a symbol of wealth and prosperity. In this regard, watermelon has become very popular.
In Israel, breeders are trying to cultivate seedless watermelon.
It is known that there are even low-calorie varieties of watermelon. With reduced sugar content and increased fructose content.

Growing watermelons is not easy. Requires endurance and a thorough approach. This applies to both cubic and ordinary plants. Starting from planting seedlings and ending with waiting for the formed fruits to ripen, the process requires complete dedication and optimism. But if you approach everything with the desire to achieve results, then you are guaranteed an excellent harvest.

Summer residents and gardeners who are interested in all the innovations in the field of growing new, exotic crops could not help but pay attention to the appearance of watermelons of a non-standard square shape.
Amazing square watermelons are a remarkable achievement of Japanese experimenters. By the way, the first copy of the miracle berry saw the light of day more than 30 years ago.

Advantages and disadvantages of a square shape

What qualities of fruits attract consumers so much? Among the advantages are the following:

Convenience of a square shape, from a pragmatic point of view, for transportation and storage. It is no secret that a round berry will shift and move during transportation and is difficult to set still. Ripe watermelons burst easily, even if they are rearranged too much. This product is difficult to put into place, it rolls around and may fall and break. Crop losses can be quite significant. The square option certainly solves this problem.
When using the product directly as food, it is also difficult to place it on the table, on a plate, or put it in the refrigerator. There are no difficulties with a square fruit.
The laws of the market stimulate the emergence of new forms of goods that are attractive, original, exotic, and capable of surprising and delighting. A square watermelon, without a doubt, surprises with its non-standard shape. As a gift or decorative element, it will capture the imagination of guests.

For your information, this is an ordinary watermelon, its excellent taste and composition remain unchanged.
Among the disadvantages of square fruits, as the Japanese testify, is that they ripen unevenly. Therefore, it is better to use them as an attribute, decoration at various celebrations.

Where to buy original berries

Japanese agricultural firms grow watermelons of unusual shapes. About 200-400 pieces are produced annually, depending on the yield. It is clear that with such a small number of copies, the product is a rarity, has an appropriate price and requires pre-order.
For gardeners who like to experiment, we can offer another, fairly simple way to purchase a non-standard fruit. It is easy to grow it yourself.

Preparing to grow berries

Let's look in detail at how to grow a square watermelon. As already mentioned, no significant genetic changes will have to be made, you just need to ensure the correct formation of the appropriate form. A square structure containing the watermelon ovary should be made in advance. To do this, prepare the materials:

plexiglass, plastic or polycarbonate with a thickness of more than 8 mm;
small rotary hinges for fastening parts;
2 loops with fasteners;
aluminum corner for external fixation or other suitable fastener.

The most common tools and fastening materials are used: a hacksaw (or jigsaw), screwdrivers, a drill for drilling holes, screws, nuts.

Making a square shape

The form for growing a square watermelon is a cube with 6 planes - identical squares 20x20 cm. When manufacturing, take into account the design features:

Four squares make up the sides of the cube. They are inseparable.
The lid and bottom must open so that the grown fruit can be removed.
A hole is cut into the lid for the tail and air circulation.
When drawing up a cube diagram, you should take into account the thickness of the material, since its ends must overlap.

Sequence of manufacturing the structure

First, prepare 6 square sheets of 20x20 cm from the material.
Using fasteners, connect the sides of the cube.
Then the lid is made. A circle with a diameter of 25 cm is drilled in the center of the square. Starting from points of the circle opposite in diameter, parallel lines are drawn to one of the sides of the lid. After making the cut, a wide gap is left.
The lid and bottom plane of the cube are attached using rotary hinges. They are equipped with loops with a fastener.
From an aluminum corner cut into 4 parts you will receive additional fasteners for fixing the walls of the mold.

Buying a ready-made form is quite difficult. The designs are sold in specialized stores in large cities. The number of form copies will be small.
If you decide to make square watermelon production part of your business, you will need to specially order molds.

Preparing and planting seeds

Watermelon seeds are planted at the beginning of summer, sometimes in May, when the weather is warm. Experienced melon growers who know well how to grow watermelons understand that a lot depends on the quality of the seeds. Take seed material zoned for your area early dates maturation. Before planting, specially treat:

Warm up for 10 days (create a temperature for dry seeds of about 55 degrees - calcination in the sun). You can simply warm up the seeds near the radiator in February.
Soak the seeds in water for half an hour and remove any that float.
After this, pour into the bowl with the seeds hot water 50-60 degrees, leave until cool. Drain this water and pour in new water for biting.
3 days before sowing, soak the ash in water in a ratio of 1:2, respectively, leave for half a day, stirring.
Dip the seeds in a dark solution of potassium permanganate, rinse, and soak overnight in ready solution ash.

When sowing, focus on a soil temperature of 15 degrees above zero. The soil should be loose and fertile. Sow to a depth of 6-8 cm 10 seeds per linear meter(not everyone will ascend).
If low temperatures prevent you from sowing a crop in a timely manner, you must first germinate the seeds in peat pot. During this time the earth will warm up.
When the temperature changes, a square watermelon is grown in a greenhouse.

Features of caring for seedlings before placing them in the mold

After planting, it is necessary to regularly water the holes with water (+25 degrees). The soil for germination must be constantly moist.
After 7 days, sprouts will appear. When caring for seedlings, follow these tips:

When the 5th leaf appears, it is necessary to spud up and carefully loosen the soil.
The main thing for watermelons is to be warm and dry. During rainy weather, you will need to cover the seedlings.
Water moderately, not directly into the hole, but next to it.
In a month the watermelon will bloom. When the fruits reach 10 cm in diameter, pinch the main vine and remove the side shoots so that the plant spends energy only on the main ovary.
Remove excess, weak plants.

Then, upon reaching 10 cm in diameter, the ovary is placed in a mold. Watermelons will gradually grow, taking the form of a cube.

Caring for fruits in shape consists of maintaining required temperature, moderate watering(watermelon does not like waterlogging).
The berries are collected in August and September, 3 months after planting.
It is worth adding that growing square watermelons requires the experience of a melon gardener. If the shape is larger than the watermelon, it will not be square. If less, the fruit will crack and the result will worsen.
In general, it all depends on how well the gardener knows how to grow watermelons, knows the varieties, and can choose the required size for the chosen shape.

How to determine the degree of ripeness of fruits

For an unnaturally shaped watermelon, determining ripeness plays a role important role. They are recognized primarily by external signs:

the stalk of a ripe watermelon is dried;
the bark becomes softer and dull;
the part of the berry lying towards the ground becomes whitish.

As for determining ripeness by “ringing”, such a fruit will be overripe.

Features of storing square berries

For long storage Late-ripening square watermelons are grown. After collection, they are laid out in a well-ventilated place on a layer of dry straw. The laying shape is a pyramid of 7-8 rows. Fence the area with fragile goods with boards.
Scientists and plant breeders around the world undoubtedly continue to work on the creation of new bizarre forms of plants. The experiments concern many crops - melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, apples. Cone-shaped watermelons and cucumbers, which have a star-shaped cut rather than a round one, amaze the imagination of consumers.

" Watermelon

Summer season People associate it with fresh vegetables and berries. But experienced gardeners and summer residents were interested in tests conducted in Japan more than 20 years ago. These figures brought out watermelons interesting shape– square. And this is not only decoration, but a completely edible berry that brings in considerable income. We’ll talk about how to make and grow such fruits in this article.

For the first time, the mystery of Japanese farmers was solved Oktyabrina Ganichkina, who had the status of a candidate of agricultural sciences and the author of books on gardening and horticulture. She believes that the Japanese tried to solve transportation problems, but the results obtained exceeded all results and wealthy citizens became interested in the square berry.

The first experiments began to be carried out in the city of Centxu. Farmers placed watermelon buds in individual square containers, and the berries took their shape.

It turned out that such a product is easier to stack, store and transport, as well as transport in large volumes. And the high demand for the product inspired farmers to make further discoveries. And soon the light saw square melons and tomatoes.

Why and who needs square watermelons?

All farmers and industrialists immediately appreciated the value of the discovery.

Firstly, this is convenience and economy of transportation, as well as storage. Secondly, this fruit is convenient to place on a plate and cut into standard, neat pieces.

Thirdly, prices are significantly higher than for standard round or oval watermelons. Therefore, the secrets of growing such watermelons began to leak out and spread throughout the world.

Advantages and disadvantages

The internal contents of a watermelon are no different from the standard shaped mouth of berries. True, they may be inferior in taste standards. But such berries have a number of distinctive features:

convenient to store and transport, minimizing transportation costs;
convenient to place on dining table and in the refrigerator;
square shape facilitates accurate cutting;
high cost on the market.

But the transformation affected only the external forms of the berry and did not affect the taste characteristics. For inexperienced farmers, the berries ripen unevenly or do not have time to ripen, therefore, in terms of sweetness and richness of taste, they are inferior to their oval counterparts.

And also, each striped berry needs to be observed and cared for daily so as not to spoil appearance and commercial attractiveness.

These two factors can be safely attributed to the disadvantages, which prevent the process of large-scale production from starting and displacing watermelons of the usual shape.

Features of cultivation

Cultivation will give a positive result only in southern regions with a stable warm climate. To implement the plan, you will need to choose the right variety of watermelon. It is better to give preference to hybrids with a short growing season.

All activities should be divided into stages.

Sowing seeds. Optimal time sowing will be the end of spring. Otherwise, the fruits will not have time to ripen. Seeds should be germinated in moist soil or sand in good light.
Planting in open ground should be carried out when the threat of return frosts has passed and the soil has warmed up to 15 degrees.
After planting, watermelons should be provided with standard care., which consists of regular watering, loosening the soil and removing weeds.
Formation of the fetus. When the watermelon ovaries reach the size of an average apple, it is placed in special cubic molds. The fruits are placed so that all stripes are vertical. Further care no different from usual. You just need to regularly ventilate the molds and cover them in extreme heat. When the berries grow and no longer fit in the houses, the forms can be removed and the watermelons can be checked for ripeness.

Watermelon seeds will sprout within a week and a half after placing them in a comfortable environment. To increase germination seed material, it is recommended to place it in water heated to 50 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Until seedlings emerge, seedling containers should be kept at room temperature, and with the emergence of seedlings, move to a cooler place where the air temperature will not exceed 17 degrees.

The appearance of the fifth full-fledged leaf serves as a signal for transplanting seedlings into open ground.

Making a square shape with your own hands

To make molds, you need a number of materials and tools.

Durable sheets of transparent material, 0.5 - 0.8 mm thick (plastic, polycarbonate or glass).
Screws with nuts and corners for fastening the walls.
Furniture hinges to ensure the mobility of the lid.
Hacksaws or jigsaws.
Drills, screwdrivers, rulers and markers.

When all the tools and materials are prepared, you can begin the process of assembling the watermelon mold.

Cut sheets of transparent material into squares measuring 20x20 cm.
Fasten the blanks with screws, forming a square.
Make a hole on one side for the vine.
Secure the upper part (lid) to furniture hinges.

The finished form is reliable and durable and is able to withstand the pressure of the growing berry, forcing it to take the desired shape.

Harvest and storage

Watermelons should be picked from the vine at the first stage of removable ripeness., because fully ripened berries are not intended for long-term storage. Unripe fruits will also not be stored, because they cannot ripen after harvesting.

You can determine the degree of ripeness of watermelons by pink color pulp and dark color of seeds. N There are several ways to determine the ripeness of watermelons “on the vine”:

by peel color– when ripe, it becomes shiny, acquiring gloss;
by peel strength– if the rind of the watermelon is hard and cannot be pressed through with a finger, then this indicates the removable ripeness of the striped berry;
along the stalk, which dries out when the berries ripen and indicates that the watermelon has accumulated all the necessary nutrients;
for bedsores– it is formed at the point of contact of the berry with the ground and has a yellow color;
by sound– when tapped, ripe watermelons produce a pronounced muffled sound.

Late-ripening watermelons with thick skin and genetic resistance to damage are suitable for long-term storage. Such fruits are removed from the vine using pruning shears or a knife, leaving a stalk at least 5 cm long.

Only healthy watermelons are stored for storage, without mechanical damage. Fruits should be placed on racks with soft straw bedding. During storage, you need to regularly inspect watermelons and remove spoiled ones.

Square watermelons can also be stored in earthen trenches. In this case, each layer must be covered with straw or shavings, and a layer of soil at least 35 cm thick must be poured on top.

With any method of storage, watermelons should not be overcooled - this will lead to spoilage of the pulp, loss of taste and spoilage of the fruit.

How much does a square watermelon cost?

Growing square watermelons with your own hands is a troublesome, but profitable task. How much does one berry cost? The cost of one fruit on the market often reaches twenty thousand rubles. But not all stores in Russia are ready to sell these products. After all, they are significantly inferior in taste to standard berries and are best used as an entourage for holidays and celebrations.

For experimental gardeners, there are many different “samples” that can be planted, but not all are acclimatized in Russia and can grow in the temperate climate zone. It is necessary to pay attention to the timing of ripening so that plants are planted at an average daily soil temperature above +12 degrees, otherwise the melon will sit in the ground and never come out of it. You should not give preference to plants whose ripening period exceeds 50 days after fertilization - there is a risk that they will not have time to ripen. Let's consider the most suitable options for our conditions.

Watermelon Yellow. This variety appeared on the beds of Russian gardeners quite recently; the first hybrids were bred at the Volga breeding site, after which they very quickly spread throughout the country and ended up in neighboring countries. The main feature is excellent decorative look. The pulp is bright yellow, almost Orange color. This fruit will decorate any table. The maximum weight of the berry is 12 kg in the temperate climate zone. In the southern regions it often grows up to 16 kg. Resistance to diseases is weak - cancer often appears with bottom side. Periodic turning will help avoid these problems.
Blue watermelon. On the dinner table, this vegetable simply has no equal rivals for its decorative appearance. The pulp has an unusual dark blue color, and the taste of the fruit is quite good. Sweet, juicy, has elastic flesh. It grows up to 6-8 kilograms, the ripening period is 45 days after pollination of flowers. Has relatively high stability to insects and fungi various kinds, therefore it can be grown in areas near beams and forests. Loves a lot of sunshine planted in the soil at an average daily temperature of +15 degrees.
Square watermelon. If you decided that you could take and plant a square berry in the garden, you were deeply mistaken. In fact, it needs to be done. Just do it, with your own hands. Genetically “programmed” seeds do not exist, so it is necessary to prepare for them plastic mold, in which they will grow and become cubes. It is made quite simply, preferably from plastic, so that the bark is exposed to the sun and acquires a natural green color. 5 sides of the cube must be closed and only 1 open so that it can be removed from the vessel. Many people use collapsible designs, and they are much better than conventional ones, since the fruit is very easy to remove. You can take any seeds. The basic rule of success is to disassemble the structure before the fruit becomes ripe, otherwise it will crack. 2 weeks in advance, remove the cube and leave it to sing, preferably in partial shade.
. One of the most desired in every gardener’s garden. It has many advantages. The first is a large mass. You can harvest fruits weighing up to 22 kilograms if you live in the southern regions or up to 12-16 kg in a temperate climate zone. Very sweet, a large number of vitamins The second advantage (or feature) of this berry is its oblong shape. chop it up easier with rings, since the diameter rarely exceeds 30 centimeters. There are very few grains in it, so this dish is very pleasant to eat.

These varieties of watermelons can be grown in the country, and do not require special care. They are not very picky about their living conditions and are not subject to severe attacks by pests. Their main advantage is their excellent decorative appearance and unusual taste, which is what every lover of exotic plants needs.

Record-breaking watermelons or what might surprise a summer resident

Do you think you know everything or a lot about these plants? In fact, this berry is one of the most unusual in the world and can surprise everyone. Its size can range from a few millimeters to a meter in length or more, it grows on all continents and can take on a wide variety of forms.

The largest watermelon in the world was grown in Holland in 2007, then the weight of this wonderful fruit reached 145 kilograms! He was almost 35 kg heavier than the previous American record holder, who weighed 110.5 kg! Surprisingly, apart from the usual organic fertilizer, no growth stimulants, modifiers or other chemicals were used; it was edible, tasty, and healthy for humans. But if you really want to try sweet watermelon, the largest fruit in the world will not please you.

For those with a sweet tooth, Korean breeders bred a special dwarf watermelon, which weighs only 50 grams. It contains more than 60% sugars, so it is almost impossible to eat it without a “snack”. This is the only melon that is eaten mainly with tea instead of sweets. It will be very expensive to own such a plant, since fans of the art of banzai sell it at the price of an elite dwarf tree, and only wealthy gardeners can afford such fruits. The surprising thing is that this is a variety, not a hybrid, and is grown with ordinary seeds.

The smallest fruits are poisonous. The Vietnamese are the biggest fans of this berry; they simply cannot imagine the holidays without it. But love for this berry did not develop immediately. They were originally a method for killing. The local population collected dwarf fruits in the forest, more precisely, Hanu berries, which belong to this family. The weight of one fruit is 8-10 grams, and their venom is much stronger than that of the African cobra. This berry was recognized as the most poisonous on the continent.

We planted a good variety of watermelons, watered the plant abundantly, but it did not produce even half of what was written on the seed label. Did this happen often? Perhaps you did something wrong or don't know some tricks for growing watermelons? Now let's look at some advice from professionals who collect excellent harvests without much effort.

Correct predecessor. There is no particular difference after which to plant melons, but you cannot do this after sunflowers, rapeseed, beets and potatoes. Everything else fits equally well. The ideal predecessor is peas and beans.
Fertilizer. 3 months before sowing it is necessary to apply organic fertilizers, humus. Also add some phosphate fertilizers, about 30% of the total norm. On the 15-20th day after the melon has germinated from the ground, it is necessary to apply nitrogen fertilizers in the amount of 40-50 grams per 1 square meter (you cannot throw it close under the bush, retreat 25-30 cm).
Pick off excess flowers. The process is especially relevant for residents of the northern regions, where melons do not have time to ripen. Leave only 1-2 ovaries on 1 bush - this will significantly speed up its ripening time, and the weight of the berries will be much greater. Do you want 15-20 kg of berries? Then leave only 1 ovary - the bush simply will not bear 30-40 kg of fruit.
Topping. Of the 3-4 stems, leave only 1 branch on which the berry is located, cut off the rest - an increase in weight of at least 30%!