Description and characteristics of pineapple melon

Description of the variety

The classic pineapple melon is a mid-season cultivar for garden gardening. Fruits are oblong, regular oval, medium size (1.5–3 kg). The bright yellow rind is rather thin, slightly bumpy, covered with a gray or brownish mesh pattern.

The fruit pulp is yellow with a slight pinkish tinge, juicy, very sweet, buttery in consistency, has an amazing taste that combines melon and pineapple. The fruits have a characteristic aroma, where melon predominates, and pineapple organically complements it. This variety is high in fiber, carotene, minerals (potassium, sodium), vitamins (P, A, C) and organic acids in the pulp. This fruit perfectly quenches thirst, refreshes and tones up.

As already mentioned, pineapple melon has several hybrid subspecies:

• Pineapple GOLD. Mid-season hybrid, characterized by a greenish bumpy skin with a slightly grooved surface. The color of the flesh ranges from bright yellow to reddish with a green rim under the skin. The taste of this variety is sweetish-cloying, slightly tropical, with a pronounced presence of pineapple.
• Melon Sweet Pineapple F1. An early ripening hybrid. It can be grown both in the greenhouse and in the open field. Fruits are small (1.5–2 kg), more often have a rounded shape, but sometimes they are oblong. The peel is yellow, rough, covered with a gray, yellow-brown or greenish mesh. The pulp is light yellow or orange, with a constant green stripe under the skin. The taste is very sweet, soft in consistency, literally melting in the mouth, has a pronounced taste and aroma of pineapple.
• Melon American pineapple. Mid-season hybrid for growing outdoors. Possesses high productivity and resistance to cold. Round-shaped fruits are lightweight (1.8–2.5 kg). The skin color ranges from greenish cream to beige. The skin is thin, covered with a thick openwork mesh. The pulp is whitish-creamy, at the edge it is greenish, very sweet and juicy, it tastes like pineapple.

Sometimes American pineapple is confused with Americano Pineapple. But it should be noted that these fruits are completely different. Americano is another early-maturing pineapple hybrid. The fruits of this miniature (200-400 g) melon fit in the hand, and it looks very decorative: the skin is bright yellow, with contrasting vertical stripes of brown. The pulp of such a fruit is white, very juicy, with a subtle aftertaste of pineapple.

Characteristic

Any variety of pineapple melon is perfectly adapted to difficult weather and climatic conditions. The culture can be easily grown in both the southern and northern regions. The period of full vegetation from the emergence of seedlings to technical maturity for mid-ripening varieties is 80–90 days, for early varieties - 65–70 days. Melons have a stable immunity to fungal diseases (anthracnose), powdery mildew, late blight.

Pineapple varieties are characterized by high yields, which are achieved by abundant and simultaneous fruit formation.The melons of such melons are prone to intensive growth, so it is recommended to plant the plants at a distance of 80–100 cm from each other. Pineapple melons have a long shelf life and are well transported. They are eaten both fresh and processed: dried, in the form of juices, jams, various desserts.

Features of agricultural technology

If the climate in your region is not characterized by a large number of warm and sunny days, then it is better to grow pineapple melon from seedlings. There is nothing difficult in this - first, the seeds are germinated in a damp cloth and then sown in pots. Sowing is carried out around the beginning of April, and then after 3 weeks, if the soil has warmed up well, the plants can be transplanted into the ground.

Alternatively, this melon variety can be grown in a greenhouse - then the yield is guaranteed, even in northern climates. Seeds are sown into the soil when the ground temperature reaches + 15 ° C. In temperate climates, this degree is reached around mid-May. Seedlings also love sun and warmth, so they are planted when the daytime air temperature reaches 25-30 ° C.

For pineapple melons, good fertile soil is very important, since the taste of the fruit depends on its quality. In heavy clay soil, seedlings grow weak, with a bad ovary, while in fertile soil, fruits grow sweet and fragrant, and their number is simply amazing.

The pineapple melon variety gives a good harvest in loose soil enriched with organic matter (compost, biohumus).

The plot for the garden should be chosen sunny. During the active growing season (before flowering), plants must be protected from drought, hypothermia, including sudden temperature changes. If the night temperature is much lower than the daytime, it is recommended to cover the bed at night with foil. While the plants are still small, they can be covered with plastic bottles cut in half.

In warm soil, pineapple melon seeds germinate rather quickly. For seedlings to appear as early as possible, it is necessary to sow the planting material correctly. One of the most common mistakes is the deepening of seeds by a few (4–5) cm, and the optimum depth is considered to be sowing by 1–1.5 cm. In this case, the seeds fall into the heated soil layer, which gives quick shoots.

Care

Taking care of pineapple melon is no more difficult than any melon crop. Grown plants are no longer afraid of temperature changes, they easily tolerate a cold snap, but the hybrid is considered more demanding on heat and sun.

In general, all care measures are the same for all pineapple melons and are as follows:

• the bed must be loosened regularly - this procedure ensures the supply of oxygen to the roots;

• many vegetable growers mulch the garden, which makes it easier for themselves to care for the plants - if there is mulch, there is no need for weeding and loosening, since organic matter (straw, peat, sawdust) protects the soil from germination of weeds, crusting and drying out;

• watering is carried out as needed - the soil should be well moistened during the active growing season, then it should be watered less often.

The most important agricultural technique when growing a pineapple variety is pinching the whips. It is important to know that the plant forms ovaries only on stems of the third order. As soon as the first 4-5 leaves are formed at the shoot, it is necessary to pinch off the top above the third leaf. Soon, second-order shoots will sprout from the axils of the remaining leaves. As soon as they reach the phase of 4-5 leaves, the two upper shoots are pinched again, and the lowest one is removed. Then shoots of the third order will grow, and peduncles will appear on them, and then ovaries.

When the ovaries reach a size of 4–5 cm, the weakest shoots are removed, leaving 5-6 of the strongest ones, which have the largest ovaries.

In order for the fruits to grow large and juicy, no more than one ovary should be left on one branch. If you leave more, the melons will be small.

Pineapple melons rarely get sick, but they are often attacked by harmful insects (mites, whiteflies). At an early stage, you can cope with this scourge with the help of folk remedies: a solution of ash, milk whey with laundry soap. In advanced cases, when a lot of pests have formed, insecticides remain the only way to fight.

Video "Pineapple Melon Seeds"

Thanks to this video, you will see what melon seeds look like, get acquainted with the characteristics and features of this mid-season variety.