The watermelon variety Kholodok is a real highlight of domestic gardening. It can be grown not only for yourself, but also for sale. Demand received due to the long shelf life and pronounced taste.
Variety of watermelon "Chill"
watermelon "Holodok" is an achievement of Russian selection
the grade "Chill" is very popular due to its gentle, juicy, sweet taste and long shelf life
History of breeding and region of growth
For the first time gourds Chill appeared in the deserts of Africa. The Egyptians were able to develop this variety many years ago. The variety came to Russia in the 8th century.
At first, Chill was small in size and had a cloying taste with a small bitterness. However, it was cultivated (breeders crossed the original Chill with two more types of watermelon) and the berry found a sweet aftertaste and significantly increased in size. The homeland of this melon culture is considered the Volgograd region.
A good crop brings in the Volga region, the Southern Urals, Astrakhan. The whole area of the native land is an excellent area for growing crops for industrial purposes. Astrakhan is considered the capital of the watermelon business.
Description of varieties of watermelon Chill
Refers to mid-season crops. About 90 days elapse from planting to the formation of the first crop. The yield is considerable, if the weather conditions are favorable, then from 1 ha of land you can get at least 35 tons of fruits. Gardener with 1 square. m can collect about 7 kg of crop.
Variety Characteristics
It differs from other representatives of its type in its unique unpretentiousness in care, a long shelf life and excellent taste. You can grow a plant in closed and open ground. Chill is characterized by a small calorie content and a huge amount of micronutrients. It is impossible to allocate a small territory for its cultivation, it will begin to grow and branch.
One shoot in length can reach 5 m.
The foliage of the plant is green, the berries are slightly elongated, the weight of one fruit is about 4 kg. The skin is green, medium thickness. In the context, the berry is red-granular, the flesh is delicious with a pink tinge.
The chill survives low temperatures without problems, but it is better to grow it in a warm climate with a long summer. Picking berries begins in late summer. Stored until the first frost.
Features and differences from other varieties
It tolerates transportation well, the fetus can maintain its presentation for 5 months. A distinctive feature of the culture is its good resistance to various diseases. Powdery mildew, anthracnose and fusarium are not afraid of the plant.
Melon culture is considered one of the most popular varieties throughout the CIS; a planted plant is used for fresh fruit, and as a conservation.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
A huge list of benefits has provided culture with a wide distribution throughout the post-Soviet space.
Advantages of watermelon Chill:
- sweet fruits;
- impeccable commercial appearance;
- brings a large number of fruits;
- long storage period;
- excellent transportation;
- exposure to various temperatures.
The disadvantages of watermelon:
- huge territory is needed for its cultivation;
- additional shoots - shoots are regularly formed on the berries, which should be removed manually.
The video below provides an overview of the watermelon varieties "Chill":
Where, when and how best to grow watermelon Chill?
Planting in open soil should be carried out no earlier than the end of May, otherwise the plant will not take root. The place should be chosen sunny without drafts. If the climate in your area is harsh, then plant seedlings in a greenhouse or greenhouse.
Not every gardener can grow a culture. The plant needs constant care. If the conditions are wrong, the berries will not grow as sweet as they should be.
Seed preparation
Today, watermelon seeds can be purchased at any gardener market or in a specialized store. However, the melon grower must be sure that the bones he bought are really high-quality planting material.
One seed of Chill reaches 1.5 cm - for this culture, this figure is considered significant. The bone is rough to the touch.
Seeds respond well to warming up, you need to carry out this event within a week, just take out the bones in the sun. You can warm them at home with the help of special heaters. At home, the bones are dried 4 hours a day for a week.
Before planting, the seeds should be held in a solution of manganese, and then washed under running water.
Sowing seeds
You can plant watermelon seeds in 2 ways: for seedlings and in the soil. Consider each of them:
- For seedlings. Watermelon seeds are sown in prepared pots filled with earth. Planting is carried out according to the scheme 70x150 cm. The best time for planting seeds for seedlings: April - if the seedlings are transplanted into the greenhouse, and the end of May - if transplanted into the open soil. Seedlings are ready for transplanting after 1 month, 4 full leaves are formed on the plant.
- In the open ground. Some gardeners plant seeds directly in open ground. When the plants begin to germinate, weak and diseased sprouts are removed, leaving only strong specimens. This method is not entirely convenient, since not every bone can get along in the open ground. It is better to use the first option.
Seedling Care
Seedlings of watermelon Chill will begin to grow and fully develop, subject to the main three conditions:
- constant watering;
- 12 hours lighting;
- fertilizer application.
Seedlings should be watered with settled non-cold water. During watering, moisture should not get on the leaves. If there is not enough natural light, then special phytolamps should be installed.
After the appearance of the 3rd leaf on the plant, the culture is fed with slurry or a means of complex fertilizer. Before planting on the bed, seedlings are hardened on the street. On the first day they take out for a couple of hours, then for three, four hours, etc. This procedure helps the seedlings to get used to the fresh air.
Thanks to hardening, the Chill takes root faster in the open earth.
Landing
The first step is to choose the right ground, because not every soil gets along with a watermelon. Lightweight, breathable soils are suitable. Planting a plant can be done in 2 ways:
- Planting in the greenhouse. This method is applicable to central Russia. Plants are planted in rows, leaving about 80 cm between the seedlings. Watermelon Kholodok occupies a large territory and has a powerful root system, so the distance must be maintained. The width between the rows should be about 1.5 m. The lashes are tied to the trellis. For branches up to 1.5 m in length, all side shoots are cut. Be sure to pinch the shoots above 0.5 m.
- Landing in open soil. This method is suitable for any southern region. The earth must be warmed up, the plant is planted to a depth of 0.1 m. The chill develops “in the open”: by the standard method.
Care Features
A plant can’t grow without care. Watermelon should be regularly watered and fed. Preventive treatments against pests and diseases occupy an important place.
Removing excess shoots provides the plant owner with a tasty and rich harvest. There are no more than 4 berries per bush.
In the greenhouse, it is necessary to ensure the flow of water to the watermelon. The variety dies in high humidity. In a closed land, watermelons are tied, berries are stacked in nets or placed on supports.
Watering
Watering should be carried out 1 time in 10 days. For 1 square. m should pour about 3 buckets of settled warm water. The number of irrigation increases on sunny days and during flowering plants. In this case, water is added 2 times a week.
Additionally moisturize the ground between plantings. After making water, the ground is cleaned of grass and organic residues.
Loosening
Loosening is carried out on moist ground. When watermelons grow, then this procedure can be omitted, because tools for working in the garden can damage the root system of plants, as well as harm the berries themselves.
Top dressing
Watermelon Chill up two times in one season:
- 2 weeks after transplanting the plants into open ground. Fertilize with nitrogen. You can use simple natural remedies such as chicken droppings or mullein. The ratio of fertilizer to water should be 1:12. Pour the substance under the root, you can not pour the product onto the leaves and shoots.
The second option for feeding: use ammonium nitrate. Dilute 20 g of this product in 5 l of water. In the future, give up nitrogen, as it helps to increase the green mass of the plant. - During the formation of the buds. Use complex nutrition. One plant will take 5 g of potassium salt and 5 g of superphosphate. Funds are introduced into the ground or dissolved in water.
Pruning
Forming pruning helps get rid of excess shoots on the plant. Also, pinching of the main lash is included in this event; 3 or 4 re-established fetuses should remain on the bush. A larger number of them leads to the appearance of small and tasteless berries.
Garter
After the seedlings are a little stronger, tying should be done. This event will significantly save time and effort to the owner of watermelons Chill.
Tied to a trellis to a height of 0.5 m from the ground. This is done so that each plant receives enough light and heat. Do not forget to cut off the side shoots of the tied fruits.
Seed collection
No need to purchase the seeds of watermelon Chill, if you can collect them yourself. The variety does not belong to hybrid species, therefore, the fruit bones are excellent for creating a crop next year.
To collect seeds from watermelon, you need to leave a couple of fruits on the plant, they should not be removed. Plants must be overripe. After which the fetus is cut and dark-colored bones are selected.
Natural selection is carried out: all seeds are placed in water and those that have sunk to the bottom are suitable for growing next year. They are dried on a cloth and left in the sun. They should dry for about 1 week.
Watermelon seeds are stored in a simple cloth. Do not use any closed containers.
Diseases and Pests
If the planting material is of high quality, then the culture will not hurt. Many reviews claim that Chill is medium resistant to Fusarium, Anthracnose and powdery mildew. With proper landing, the risk of such ailments is minimal.
Many diseases appear due to fungal spores. Its distribution on the plant leads to the formation of various spots on the foliage. As a result, the taste of berries becomes worse, they rot and change their shape.
Diseases should be combated with special means, the best of which are Decis, Fundazole and Bordeaux fluid.
Watermelons grown in a greenhouse can be the target of some pests. Main enemies: spider mite and gourd aphids. They drink leaf juice, causing the green mass to dry out. You can fight insects with folk remedies. Use infusions of potato tops, dope and chamomile.
So that the aphids do not attack the watermelons Chill, the plants are dusted with tobacco dust and wood ash. Chemicals can only be used until flowering.
Gardeners reviews
Olga, 45 years old, geologist, Omsk.To grow watermelons in the Siberian region is not an easy task. That is why I tried to choose the variety that can get along in our climate. A couple of years ago I decided to buy a Chill. Seeds planted in May. I cover them with a film, water, take care. 5 large watermelons grew in one season. The skin is not thick, the flesh is sweet. True, a lot of bones.
Barbara, 56 years old, dentist, Nizhny Novgorod.I looked at the variety so that it matured in the middle lane. Planting material ascended very quickly, no additional treatments were needed. After 14 days, the first sprouts appeared. In early summer, planted in open ground under the film. As a result, we got 6 watermelons from two plants, the weight of one is about 7 kg.
Stepan, 60 years old, lawyer, Kostroma.A friend has his own cottage. Once he invited me to his place, I tried the watermelon Chill, really liked. A friend described the whole essence of planting and care, he decided to try to grow it in his garden too. I hope I get great results.
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Watermelon Holodok is a thermophilic melon culture that can be grown in any climate. In a cold climate, seedlings are planted in closed ground. The variety is appreciated for its sweet taste, excellent transportability and a long storage period. Caring for the Cold is simple - regular watering and fertilizing, and then the culture will delight you with a large and tasty crop.