100 years ago, watermelons were associated with hot southern countries. Growing watermelon in open ground is something that the inhabitants of central Russia could not afford. Thanks to hybrids such as Karistan F1, this has become quite possible. Read about this variety and how farmers care for melons with watermelons, read in this review.

Did you know? Watermelon contains only 40 kcal per 100 g. It contains a lot of lycopene, more than in any other fruit or vegetable. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that can reduce inflammation and neutralize free radicals.

History of breeding and regions of growth

For the Dutch company Syngenta Seeds BV, the production of seeds of first-generation hybrids is one of the important areas of activity. Variety Karistan F1 bred relatively recently. In Russia, he became known since 2007 and entered into the State Register since 2012.

Did you know? The sweetness of watermelon can be measured on the Brix scale. For most watermelons, this parameter is 9-10%. Very sweet watermelons have an indicator of 11-12% on the Brix scale.

The main characteristics of the variety

This is one of the best varieties characterized by high productivity, disease resistance and excellent taste.

Variety description Karistan F1:

• company - Syngenta;
• shape - from oval to oblong;
• weight - from 10-12 to 16 kg;
• bones - small white or black;
• pulp - dense and crispy;
• the color of the pulp is dark red;
• lashes - medium length;
• leaves are slightly dissected;
• disease resistance / tolerance - fusarium 0.1; Anthracnose 1;
• planting - seedling method;
• ripening - 60–65 days after planting seedlings; the variety is considered mid-early;
• acclimatization is very good; resistant to sunburn;
• yield potential is very high; without watering - 150–250 kg / ha; with drip irrigation - 700 kg / ha;
• the regions most suitable for cultivation are the southern, central and middle regions of Russia;
• Brix level - from 6 to 7.7%;
• commercial characteristic - high preservation and transportability of fruits.

Important! The sweetness of a watermelon depends on how hot the weather was. If the summer is rainy, then even the sweetest varieties will produce beautiful, but unsweetened fruits.

Plus qualities and possible disadvantages of the variety

This hybrid is different in that it grows well on most soil types. It can land in the ground as soon as warm sunny weather is established.

• Among the advantages of the variety can be noted:
• good taste and commercial properties;
• a small number of seeds;
• high productivity;
• early ripening;
• the possibility of growing on a large type of soil and in a wide range of climatic zones.

• The disadvantages of the variety:
• Hybrid seeds cannot be obtained from the crop, they must be bought again every year;
• for a temperate climate, seedling cultivation is mandatory.
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Landing Features

Watermelon grows on sandy or light textured soils, which warm well in the spring. The soil must also be fertile. Be sure to apply 60 kg of nitrogenous fertilizers per 0.5 ha. It is also mandatory to use calcium fertilizers. Calcium deficiency causes rotting of the ovaries.

Did you know? The Japanese grow square watermelons, placing them at the beginning of growth in square glass boxes. They like that the fruit is small, does not roll and can be compactly placed in the refrigerator. Are there any disadvantages? Of course, these watermelons cost about $ 82!

Landing Features:

• planting depth - 1-2 cm;
• the distance between plants - 30-50 cm;
• distance between rows - up to 1m.

Seeds

If you decide to plant a watermelon with seeds, then select a 0.7 x 1.4 m plot for this. Watermelons need a plot that receives 8-10 hours of sunlight per day. It must be fertilized in places of planting seeds. It makes holes with a depth of about 9 cm with the above distance between individual plants. Seeds 1–2 are placed in the hole in order to ensure better germination. They fill it with soil and watered from a watering can.

When planting seeds, it is recommended to use previously germinated seeds. In this case, they are planted in moist soil, so as not to damage the emerging root. If landing is carried out in rows, then they should be located at a distance of about 2 m from each other. The distance may vary slightly depending on the technology that will be used for weed control and other crop maintenance work.

Seedlings

Plant watermelon seeds indoors about 6 weeks before transplanting seedlings to a permanent place. Plant seeds in biodegradable pots of peat or paper, which can be completely planted in the soil so as not to damage the roots during transplanting. Deepen the seeds into the soil to a depth of 1.5–2 cm. Glasses with seeds should be sprinkled with water and put under a film to create the optimum air temperature for germination. Shoots will appear after 10 days at a temperature of + 18 ° C. They will feel comfortable if the air temperature is around +23 ... + 25 ° С. By the time of planting seedlings in the soil on each plant should be 3-5 real leaves. The estimated time for planting seedlings in the soil is the end of May.

The process of growing watermelon

Watermelons need a long growing season (at least 65 days), warm soil and high air temperature, which does not fall below + 21 ° C. Regardless of whether the watermelons were sown with seeds or seedlings, they will need:

• regular watering;
• fertilizer application;
• taking measures to prevent diseases and pests.

To speed up the development of watermelons in a cool climate, cover the planting area with black polyethylene to warm it. And also use planting seedlings.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the technologies for growing and caring for watermelons.

Features of growing in a greenhouse

If you have a heated greenhouse, you can grow watermelon from seeds at any time of the year. Indeed, in such a greenhouse, you can control the light, temperature and humidity level necessary for the germination and growth of plants. Once the watermelons are large enough, they can be transplanted into the open ground or grown using trellis.

Planting and growing technique:

1. Fill the tanks for sowing seeds with soil mixture.
2. Moisturize her.
3. Place the seeds in the soil to a depth of 2 cm and cover with a film. The soil should warm up to a temperature of +23 ... + 25 ° С within 24 hours. This is necessary to accelerate germination.
4. Keep the temperature in the greenhouse at +28 ... + 32 ° C for 2 days.
5. Then lower it to + 18 ° C. Keep this temperature until true leaves appear.
6. Water as needed.
7. In the phase of the first true leaf, fertilize with nitrogen fertilizers. It can be ammonium nitrate. The application rate is 5-10 g / sq. m
8. Perform the second feeding when the second true leaf appears.
9. If the plants will be planted in open ground, then continue to lower the temperature to acclimatize watermelons to outdoor temperatures. Reduce watering at the same time.
10. If the plants will grow in a greenhouse, then perhaps they should be transplanted into separate containers, but this depends directly on the device of your greenhouse.
11. Tie the vines to the trellis. Prepare slings for watermelons from elastic materials.
12. After the vines have developed enough, use fertilizing with balanced fertilizers with a ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium of 20:20:20. And when the fruits appear on them, they are fertilized with nitrogen fertilizers. The ratio is 30: 0: 0.
13. Harvest ripens approximately 60 days after flowering.

Video: planting a watermelon in a greenhouse

In the open ground

Planting seeds or seedlings in open ground is carried out from late May to mid-June. Keep in mind that plants planted in the ground in mid-June will ripen in mid-September, so this planting period is convenient only for the southern regions. Before planting, check the soil for acidity (pH). Watermelons grow best on well-drained sandy loamy soils with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5.

Learn how to plant a watermelon properly at home.

If the acidity is lower, then plants with yellow foliage are obtained, which give small fruits or do not give them at all. Improving the condition of the soil can be done by introducing rotten manure or compost in spring or autumn. Do not use fresh manure. It may contain harmful bacteria and increase weed growth. To improve drainage, watermelons are planted “on the hills”.

Basic rules for watering after planting:

1. Water deeply and rarely. Depth - up to 4 cm. Frequency - 1 time per week.
2. Use a drip hose to keep the leaves dry.
3. Do not use a sprayer and do not spray the plants with a hose.
4. Reduce watering gradually as the fruits ripen to improve their taste.

Video: planting seedlings of watermelon in the open ground

Perform row spacing with a garden hoe. Loosening the soil is necessary in order to remove weeds and provide the roots with the best conditions for development. The root system of watermelons is close to the surface of the soil, so you should not loosen too deep or too close to plants. If you use mulch, straw or sawdust to control weeds, do not use it until the soil warms up to + 24 ° C. Mulch materials can slow warming up.

Important! 2 weeks before ripening, stop watering. This can lead to cracking watermelons and worsen their keeping quality.

Diseases, pests and their control

There are a number of insects that can hit a watermelon plantation:

• a marble bug that feeds on leaves and can damage young plants. Withered vines are likely to be the first symptoms you notice. Bedbugs can damage leaves, vines and fruits. They are also dangerous because they are potential carriers of bacterial wilting. Frequent use of kaolin clay and / or pyrethrum is effective against this pest;
  

• sprout fly larvae feed on plant roots. You can prevent them from planting if you tighten the crops with a grid. But the net will also interfere with pollinating insects.
  

To combat most pests, crop rotation and the destruction of plant debris from melons are mandatory. This will prevent the insects from hibernating in them.

If the soil is cold and wet, then fungal diseases can develop:

• bacterial wilting can cause withering of the vines and death of the plant;
  

• powdery mildew, a fungal disease, manifests itself in the form of white age spots on leaves and vines;
  

• brown spots on the leaves and rotting areas on the fruits are signs of putrefactive processes.
  

To avoid these diseases, do not grow watermelons in areas where other pumpkin plants grew for 3-4 years. Also, reduce humidity, prevent water from getting on the leaves, remove weeds and give the plants enough air and free space for disease prevention.

Did you know? Watermelons have been grown in Egypt for over 5, 000 years. The Egyptians depicted them on the walls of tombs and even left watermelons for the dead so that they could have a meal while traveling around the underworld.

If infected plants are found, they are treated with insecticides from insects and fungicides from phytopathogens. The most commonly used fungicides are copper based. Their principle of action is that they are able to disinfect the surface of vines and leaves, protecting them from the penetration of fungi into the plant.

Proper harvest

Maturity is determined by four methods:

• when the antennae closest to the fruit dries and turns brown;
• when an earthen stain changes color from white to yellow;
• when the flowering end of the fetus becomes soft;
• shock test - a ripened watermelon should emit an empty sound.

Cut watermelons gently from the vine to avoid cuts and rotting at the end of the stems. Store them at a temperature not exceeding + 7 ° C and a humidity of 85% for up to 3 weeks. Growing a hybrid Karistan F1 can be attractive to any gardener. The variety is characterized by early ripening, good taste, abundant fruiting. It is harvested in most regions and can be grown both in soil and in greenhouses.