Watermelon Farao recently began to gain its popularity in Russia. It was bred in the South, in a hot and dry climate, in which it is grown. It is appreciated for its unpretentiousness and excellent taste, maturity and shelf life of a succulent crop.
Description and characteristics of watermelon Farao
Watermelon Farao is a mid-early species. The life span is up to 70 days (counting the seed life - 90 days). Watermelon has the following characteristics:
- a large number of leaves protects it from high temperatures;
- weight is 15-20 kg, in some cases - 35 kg;
- the fruit is oval;
- the pulp is sweet and juicy, has no fibers;
- the peel is hard, thick - due to this, the watermelon is adapted for long-distance exports;
- steep color, green, with matte reflections;
- almost no black seeds in the pulp;
- the stem of the watermelon is solid, powerful. Leaves have wide, oblong plates.
Watermelon is created for sale fresh. It is not forbidden to store it for a long time, although this makes it lose its juiciness.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Of the advantages of watermelon Farao should be highlighted:
- unpretentiousness in the selection of soil and irrigation;
- early ripening of fruits;
- taste, juiciness and size of the fruit;
- amount of harvested crop.
Among the disadvantages of the variety:
- adaptability to cultivation only in the central regions of Russia;
- short shelf life without loss of quality;
- exactingness in feeding.
Ripening dates and productivity
With proper care, the watermelon Farao ripens 2 months after planting seeds. From a hectare of the territory leaves up to 100 tons of fruits.
Features planting watermelon Farao
When planting a watermelon Farao, you need to select the quality of planting material. It’s easy to find the right soil; the variety is unpretentious.
Culling seeds
Before landing, you should find high-quality planting material. Seeds are distinguished by their integrity, germination energy and external characteristics. They can not be stored for a long time, you should not buy them months before the season. The characteristics of the best seed include:
- large size, black color;
- lack of crackles;
- regular, oblong shape.
Direct exposure to sunlight and cold should be avoided. You can store in small linen bags, avoiding excess moisture.
Before planting, soak the seeds in hot water (50 degrees) for 2-3 hours.
Growing seedlings
The variety is whimsical, you should not plant seeds close to each other, this will interfere with further fruiting. A large amount of solar energy is also required.
Before planting, you need to soak the seeds in hot water, and place in warm sand for a while. The optimum temperature for growth is 20-30 degrees. With the advent of the first sprouts, the temperature drops.
Planting seedlings in open ground
In terms of soil, watermelon is unpretentious, although its individual species will have a positive effect on growth. Among the best are sandy types of soil, they are easily fertilized. Top dressing will provide quick ripening of fruits, as well as improve their taste - sugar is concentrated in watermelons.
How to plant watermelon seedlings in open soil without damaging the root system is shown in the video below:
Seedlings are usually planted in May.
Seedling care after planting
Seedlings require careful care. This will affect the development of the plant and the quality of conservation after harvest.
Watering
Watermelon Farao does not require a large amount of moisture. It can be dispensed with precipitation, if available in the region. Watering is rare. Moderately water the roots for several approaches. Frequency may depend on many other factors:
- climate;
- composition and type of soil;
- the nearest reservoirs.
If the plant does not get enough moisture:
- the fruits ripen small, in small quantities, and their appearance differs from the standards (color);
- the fruits will have grooves, cracks and deformation on the peel.
If the plant gets excessive moisture:
- more often they will begin to attack the disease (in particular, fungal);
- the taste deteriorates significantly, sugar does not concentrate in the pulp.
Watering in open ground is less common, in rains - every 4-5 days. In this case, you can not wet the leaves and shoots.
Top dressing
Top dressing takes place when 2-3 leaves ripen on a watermelon. In the southern regions, dressing is almost not required, while in the Kaluga or Vladimir region without fertilizer, the watermelon will turn out to be not sweet, small and deformed.
Among the best types of fertilizers are nitrogen top dressing. They will provide the fastest growth of the stem and shoots. But potassium fertilizers will also be required. They protect the plant from diseases and support vital processes (photosynthesis, division, evaporation of moisture).
Of the medical preparations for feeding, it is necessary to distinguish:
- Ammonium nitrate;
- Superphosphate;
- Diammofoska.
There are 5 seasons of top dressing:
- Before planting (soil is fertilized).
- During planting (immediately after planting and watering the seeds).
- In the flowering season.
- Before ripening.
- During fruit ripening.
In the first season, it is better to limit yourself to organic fertilizers. In the second - mix them with medications. During the flowering season, only medications are used, as in season 4 and 5.
Harvesting and storage
Watermelon fees are held no later than August. After checking the watermelon for ripeness, carry out the harvest on a dry, sunny day.
Only ripened fruits are used for storage. Unripe remain on the branches. Maturity can be determined by the color of the peel, pulp, seeds and size of the fruit. The best fruits accumulate sugar during storage. The pulp becomes softer and juicier. Watermelon Farao is not the best variety for long-term storage.
The humidity percentage of the storage room is 75-80%. At temperatures below 6-8 degrees, the watermelon will become flimsy and tasteless. At temperatures above - there will be an increased vulnerability to fungal diseases. 6-8 degrees - the optimum temperature.
Under these conditions, a watermelon can be stored for 2-4 months, depending on the care during the cultivation (in particular, feeding).
Gardeners reviews
Alexander, 51 years old, summer resident, Tambov. At the beginning of the year, Farao planted a watermelon. The last ate in November, weighed from 9 to 11 kg. Although the summer was unsuccessful, watermelons stood out among the best. Over the entire ripening period, watermelon was fertilized with fertilizing only a few times. About 55-60 days have passed from seed germination to harvesting. I thought that due to the precipitation it will turn out not very, but surprisingly, the watermelons are tasty and juicy.
Sarah, 43 years old, gardener, Shales.My cottage is located in the Leningrad region. As I later found out, this is not the best place to grow Farao. A couple of years ago, organized a marathon with several varieties of watermelons. Among them was Farao. She didn’t expect him to make me happy. The fruits are juicy, large, 10-11 kg each. Probably because the summer was hot and dry. In any case, I was pleased with the result.
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Watermelon Farao is one of the best choices for gardeners and gardeners in the central district of Russia. Climate, conditions and factors converge with those needed for a watermelon. It is unpretentious in the soil, the simplest are ideal - sandy. Watering is not needed at all, and top dressing is done only a few times per season. The fruits are sweet and tasty, and the shelf life is very good for mid-season watermelon varieties.