The best melon varieties for Siberia

Features of growing melon in Siberia

Due to the fact that most varieties are simply not intended for growing in cold regions, you have to carefully approach the preparation of the site and the plants themselves even at the seed stage.

First, the seeds must be hardened and pickled. The dressing is done by simply soaking the seeds of the selected variety in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. The seeds are hardened after soaking, for example, in a solution of potassium permanganate. The swollen seeds are wrapped in cheesecloth and placed in the refrigerator, so that for the next 2 days they are cooled at a temperature of no more than +3 degrees. After that, they are immersed in hot water for a few minutes (the temperature should not exceed +50 degrees) and again sent to the refrigerator for 2 days.

Seed treatment promotes the formation of a large number of female flowers, as well as early fruit set.

Secondly, in Siberia, melon cultivation occurs only from seedlings. For this, the seeds are planted in paper cups filled with moist humus, turf and peat in equal proportions. 2-3 seeds are placed at a depth of 3 cm, and sprinkled with dry earth on top to retain moisture longer. When shoots appear, they are thinned out, removing weak shoots. Seedlings of any variety require a certain temperature regime for rapid growth: the night temperature should be at least + 15-16 degrees, and the daytime temperature should not be lower than +20 degrees. It takes about 30 days to grow seedlings, so they need to be planted in early May.

In the open field, seedlings are placed in early June, when the air temperature is high enough. The holes are spaced 80 cm apart. When planting, try not to damage the roots of the seedlings. To help it take root, create a shadow for the first few days.

Growing any kind of melon requires regular loosening of the soil between the rows and watering. It is important not to touch the root system of the melon and not to pour water on the leaves and stems. It is also necessary to pinch the plant from time to time over 5 real leaves on the main stem. The same procedure is done with lateral shoots, reducing the number of ovaries.

You cannot do without additional dressings, their melons need 2-3 to significantly speed up the growing season and have time to harvest before the air temperature drops. They are carried out every two and a half weeks using phosphorus, potassium and calcium.

The best varieties

In theory, almost any hybrid variety can be grown outdoors in Siberia. But, in order not to risk your harvest, choose only the best varieties that are specially zoned for this region. Many people love varieties "Early 133" and "Hybrid", because they ripen quickly and bear fruit well. However, they cannot boast of a sweet taste.

Sweet varieties can be grown "Yantarny". Its pumpkins are elongated-oval, becoming sweeter if there was a high temperature during ripening. The flesh of the fruit is white, juicy. Ripening occurs in mid-September.However, you won't be able to store melons for a long time.

It is somewhat more difficult to grow "Dessertnaya" melons in the open field, but a temporary film cover saves the day. Pumpkins of this variety are round, weighing up to 1 kg. The peel is light, while the fruit is immature, when ripe, it becomes rich green, covered with a fibrous net. A definite plus of this variety, not only in its sweet taste, but also in the ability to store the fruits for a long time. Harvest in mid-August, often picking unripe pumpkins to leave them at home to ripen.

By the beginning of September the variety “Zolotistaya” ripens in the open field. Pumpkins have soft and juicy flesh, grow up to 2 kg in weight. The disadvantage of this variety is that the plant forms few lashes.

Among all the hybrids, the Siberian Honey variety has won the greatest love. It has a very sweet taste, round fruits with an average weight of up to 2 kg. The pulp is thick, juicy, with a persistent aroma. The variety itself is resistant not only to low temperatures, but also to their changes, which makes it more likely to get a harvest.

Seedlings are planted in mid-May, when the seedlings will form 4 true leaves. During the growing season, the plant is formed into a single stem, regularly removing side shoots in order to focus on the ripening of several large fruits.

"Siberian honey" must be given a sufficient amount of warm water, rid the holes of weeds, and gently loosen the soil between the rows. As with any hybrid, immunity to fungal diseases is higher than that of conventional varieties, but preventive fungicide treatments are still desirable.

Video "About varieties of melon for Siberia"

The author of this video prefers to grow varieties of melons Altai, Zolotistaya, Pineapple and Early Love. Why? Watch the video.