Description of the Amal melon variety, planting and cultivation
Melon Amal f 1 is one of the few bastane varieties that are grown not only in Bulgaria and Spain, Moldova and Ukraine, but also in Russia. The hybrid, bred in France, is adapted to the climate of southern and central Europe.
Melons grew wild in Africa, melons were cultivated in Asia Minor and Central Asia, in Ancient Egypt. The delicate pulp of a dessert vegetable is rich in:
- calcium and magnesium;
- manganese and copper;
- potassium and sodium;
- vitamins of groups A, B, E, C;
- iron and chlorine.
The fruits of a herbaceous plant creeping on the ground are low in calories. People who are afraid of gaining weight can safely include melon in their diet.
Characteristics of the Amal hybrid
It is difficult to grow Central Asian varieties of melons in Siberia and other regions of Russia, where summer ends quickly, therefore summer residents plant the Yamal melon, which has time to ripen in just 60–70 days. Elliptical fruits differ in:
- sweet and tender pulp;
- smooth skin;
- delicate aroma;
- cream color.
An early ripe hybrid is not afraid of false dew and dry rot, does not undergo fusarium. More than 50 tons of melons are harvested per hectare, each of them weighs 3–3.5 kg, sometimes there are 4. They tolerate transportation well, are not damaged, and retain their presentation. For these characteristics, the Amal variety is highly regarded by farmers.
Due to the abundance of trace elements and vitamins, the fruits have medicinal properties. A juicy and sweet dessert speeds up recovery from anemia, melons are useful to use:
- with depletion of the body;
- with hormonal disruptions;
- in violation of the work of the heart;
- with diseases of the nervous system.
The calorie content of the aromatic product does not exceed 33 kcal per 100 g, therefore it is included in some diets. The juice is used in the fight against worms.
Landing technology
Among the different melon varieties, the Amal hybrid is most suitable for growing in central Russia. The heat-loving culture is not afraid of drought, but dies from drafts, does not tolerate acidic soil, does not bear fruit in the shade.
In the countries of Western Europe, Moldova, Ukraine and in the southern regions of Russia, where there are no sharp cold snaps, prolonged rains in April, Amal melon seeds are planted in open ground. The air must warm up to at least 16 degrees. The holes are made at a distance of 70 cm, one and a half meters are left between the rows.
Where summers are shorter, the sun is not as hot as in the south you have to grow seedlings in peat pots. Before sowing, Amal melon seeds are disinfected by placing them in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. After that, they are left in water, which helps to select empty seeds, accelerate the emergence of sprouts.
After a day, melon grains are laid out on a damp material. When they begin to open, several peat cups are planted in the ground.
When the weather is warm, and 5 leaves have appeared on the bushes, the seedlings are moved to the garden bed. They choose a place for her, where the sun shines all day, the wind does not penetrate, there are no drafts. The best predecessors for Amal melon are:
- cabbage;
- potatoes;
- beans.
In order for the culture to bear fruit well, it is not necessary to plant it after pumpkins and zucchini, the plot for the garden must be changed every 2 years. In the northern regions, the Amal melon is grown in trellis or tunnel greenhouses.
Gardeners, who have been engaged in melons for several years, are grafted onto a pumpkin, a melon sprout. This planting technology allows you to collect sweet and fragrant fruits in a cool and short summer.
How to prepare the ground?
Studying the description of the requirements for growing melons and gourds, you need to pay attention to one of the main points. The soil in the melon garden should have normal acidity, with an increased rate, beneficial microorganisms die, because of this, the culture is deficient in substances necessary for growth and development.
The Amal melon variety should not be grown in alkaline soil. Excess calcium salts give it hardness and density. The land for melon is dug in the fall to a depth of about 25 cm, and cultivation is carried out at the beginning of spring. Rotted manure, which is one of the best fertilizers for melons, is applied at 4 kg per square meter of soil. You can put it directly into the holes, reducing the proportion by 2 times.
The acidity of the soil is easy to determine on your own by pouring vinegar onto the ground. If this indicator is increased, no foam is formed. From the fall or 2 weeks before sowing the Amal hybrid, such soil is treated with lime, chalk and dolomite flour are added.
The beds are prepared in April, ready-made seedlings are sent to the ground in early or mid-May, when frosts are not expected, the temperature is stable. The seeds of the Amal variety are buried in the soil by five centimeters, 3 or 4 pieces. The wells are staggered and moistened. Of all the shoots, one and the strongest is left.
Care features
During the growing season, the Amal melon needs watering at the root. Only warm water is used, it should not be allowed to drip on the leaves and flowers, otherwise the root will rot, growth will slow down. The land must be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate, which will help to avoid the development of pests, protect the Amal melons from diseases. In order for a dessert vegetable to reward with a harvest, you must:
- Loosen the soil.
- Remove weeds.
- Apply fertilizers.
- Cut off stepsons.
The Amal hybrid needs air, it is lacking when the earth is crusty, so it needs to be broken. Melon beds are not mulched, the grass is removed. The first and second whip are left on the bush, the rest are cut off. On each of them, only one fruit should develop. To make it grow larger, pinch the shoot. Weeds must be controlled until the melon grows.
When the first leaves appear, the Amal hybrid is fertilized with minerals. In a liter of water dissolves:
- 2 g superphosphate;
- 1 gram of ammonium nitrate;
- 1.5 calcium chloride.
The product is poured under each melon bush. After 2 weeks, the procedure is repeated. Top dressing is completed with watering, which is stopped long before the fruits ripen. It is better to moisten melons in the morning.
So that the Amal melon does not rot, touching the ground, summer residents put a board of wood or plywood under it. Farmers who plant hectares of bashtans will not do this.
The fact that the Amal melon is ripe is reminiscent of a dry stalk, a yellowed rind. In some regions this happens in July, in others in August. The crop of the hybrid is harvested at a time, plucking not quite ripe fruits. Then they are well transported, stored for a long time and ripen.
Summer residents who plant the Amal variety write reviews in which they note the amazing taste and aroma of melon. Experienced gardeners manage to grow 10-13 kg of sweet dessert on a square meter of land.
