Watermelon is a very common and beloved berry, which has not only a delicious appearance, but also a sweet juicy taste that does not leave anyone indifferent. But not everyone can boast the ability to choose the ripest and the best. How gourd is keeping up will be discussed in the article.

Description and features of the berry

This berry belongs to the pumpkin family. In our region was imported from South Africa. It has the shape of a ball, covered with a dense thick peel from light yellow to dark green in color, sometimes with stripes. The pulp is pink or red, juicy, sweet in taste with lots of seeds. It contains a lot of vitamins, micro and macro elements. Weight can reach up to 20 kg. It is mainly eaten raw, but it is also pickled and made from candied fruit, molasses, fruit drink.

Fruit ripening period

Depending on the variety, the ripening period of watermelons is 30–35 days from the appearance of the ovaries and until the ripe fruit is formed.

The following varieties are distinguished:

• early ripe - ripen from the end of July to mid-August;
• mid-season - they sing from the beginning of August until mid-September;
• late ripening - ripen from the beginning to mid-October.

Important! Watermelon must be used very carefully for people with diabetes and obesity.

What determines the maturity

Basically, how much the berries grow and ripen depends on the characteristics of the climatic zone in which they are grown, varieties (early ripening, mid-ripening and late ripening), time of planting in open ground and crop care conditions.

Sowing dates

Watermelon seeds can be sown immediately in the ground, provided that the soil warms up to a depth of 10 cm to + 15 ° C. And also another way of growing is planting seeds in small containers, preferably for each seed separate. The optimal sowing date will be the beginning of May, when the weather is fully stabilized and the risk of night frosts disappears.

Did you know? There are watermelons with yellow, orange and black pulp.

Compliance

The main conditions for effective cultivation in the garden include:

• shine - A large amount of lighting is required, with prolonged dimming, the plants do not develop and give a poor harvest;
• temperature - the culture grows best at a temperature of +25 ... + 35 ° С, when it decreases to + 15 ° С, the ripening process slows down;
• moisture - having a powerful root system, the berry requires abundant watering, although it can withstand and tolerate drought;
• land - Loose, light, well-warmed soil is optimal, without stagnation of water and with neutral acidity;
• crop rotation - lies in the fact that in the same place you can plant seedlings after 3-4 years. The best predecessors are corn, onions, cabbage, root crops.

Proper care

After sowing watermelons in the garden, it is necessary to provide them with proper care, which consists in the following:

• you need to regularly weed and loosen the earth, avoiding the formation of a crust;
• if necessary, pour plenty of warm water under the root;
• feed organic (solution from mullein or chicken droppings) and mineral (ammonium sulfate, superphosphate, potassium salt) fertilizers;
• after irrigation and top dressing, to spud plants;
• during the formation of ovaries the size of an egg on one plant they leave 3, the rest are torn off along with the flowers and tops.

Signs of ripe watermelon

When choosing a ripened fetus, it is necessary to pay attention to the size, color, condition of the skin, sound, tail, side spot, which can tell buyers a lot.

Important! Experts recommend buying watermelons in late summer and early autumn to avoid the risk of acquiring a nitrate-rich berry.

We determine on the garden

The main signs that the fetus is ripe:

• the stalk and nearby mustache with leaves dried up;
• the fetus has stopped growing and increasing in size;
• the peel has a characteristic luster;
• when you hit the watermelon with your palm, a dull sound appears.

We determine before purchase

There are several recommendations for determining the berries for ripeness, which are as follows:

• the peel should be glossy without signs of damage;
• a spot on the peel of light yellow color indicates that the fruit has ripened the time set for it and is quite suitable for consumption, in contrast to the white spot, which indicates that the berry is ripened unripe;
• when tapping on a ripe watermelon, a muffled sound should sound;
• if the ripe fruit is squeezed, then crackling should be heard;
• it is better to give preference to medium-sized berries.

Video: How to choose a ripe watermelon

Terms and features of storage

Just like any other vegetables or fruits, watermelons have the following conservation requirements:

• early varieties are recommended not to be stored for long - up to 10 days;
• late ripening varieties are saved up to 2 months;
• it is necessary to keep it in a dark, dry, ventilated and cool room at a temperature of +3 to + 5 ° C and humidity within 65–85%;
• periodically check, turn and discard spoiled fruits.

Did you know? This berry contains lycopene, a substance that lowers the risk of lung, stomach, and prostate cancer.

As you can see, choosing a ripe and sweet watermelon is not a big deal or special knowledge. The main thing - you must adhere to the above recommendations, which will help make the right choice.