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The benefits and harms of watermelon how to grow watermelon in the greenhouse and outdoors?

Watermelon is a plant which belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. Food suitable its fruit – the largest berries known to humanity. A native plant of South Africa where it still grows in the wild, without any cultivation.

Watermelon is known to people since ancient times, the first mentions of it are in the Bible. This suggests that the berry has been used in food for more than 1,500 years BC. In European country the plant came from China. Widely grown watermelon in Europe began in the seventh century. In Russia it has been cultivated later in the eighth century, but in order to become popular among Russians, berry, melon had to "wait" until the 17th century. Until that time, it grew and took food only in certain areas.

Interestingly, before it is not eaten raw, as they do it now. Previously the pulp were soaked in the soda solution, and then used to make molasses, adding pepper and spices. It is possible that such a strange method of cooking the berries, which does not need additional treatment, was the reason it took so long she did not take root in Russia.

The shape of the watermelon is oval, spherical. The bark varies in color and may be white, yellow, dark-green with spots, stripes, grid or even no figure. Beneath the crust is a juicy pulp, raspberry, red, or pink tint, although depending on the kinds of plants it can be white and yellow. The seeds are in the fruit pulp in large quantity, they have a flat shape, different color.

Watermelon blooms in the summer. The flowers have the shape of boats. Plant stems are long, may be four or more metres. The leaves of the plant are large, can reach a length of 22 cmand wide 18 cm.

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Useful properties of watermelon

Useful properties of watermelon due primarily to the chemical composition of the fruit. Sugar being umakoti ina large number (from 5.5 to 13%) are easily assimilated by the body. If you take a watermelon freshly picked from the garden, then it will prevail sugars such as fructose and glucose. In the case when the fruit was stored for some time, it begins to accumulate sucrose.

The composition of the pulp also includes the following substances:

  • Proteins;
  • Pectin;
  • Phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium;
  • Vitamins: vitamin a, vitamin C, thiamine, folic acid, Riboflavin;
  • Alkaline substances.

Watermelon is a very nutritious fruit, 100 g not more than 38 kcal.

Useful properties of watermelon are the following:

  • A diuretic effect. It is especially important to use the fruit people with kidney disease. This allows you to see the sand out of them, preventing the development of kidney stones. With watermelon you can get rid of edema.
  • Due to the high content of fiber, lycopene and other antioxidants, watermelon can reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood, which is the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
  • Watermelon helps to reduce the pressure, which is important for people with hypertension. The pulp of the fruit contains a substance such as citrulline, which the body transformirovalsya in arginine. This acid, in turn, actively participates in the regulation of blood pressure. In addition, to support the work of the heart and blood vessels allow substances such as potassium and magnesium. Therefore, regular consumption of watermelon could prevent heart attacks and strokes.
  • Those people who often include in your diet watermelon is not threatened by heat stroke due to overheating of the body. After all, in the pulp of the fruit contains a large quantity of water, which allows the body to regulate body temperature.
  • To use the watermelon in small quantities people with diabetes. The fruit contains no cholesterol and fats, but it has a lot of useful vitamins and minerals. So if you eat it in small portions, the level of sugar in the body will not increase.

  • Maintaining the health of the organs of vision. Regular consumption of watermelon in food is the prevention of age-related changes of structures of the eye, prevents the development of macular degeneration, glaucoma, lesions of the optic nerves. This is possible due to the content in the berries of lycopene, beta-carotene, ascorbylpalmitate, lutein,zeaxanthin.

  • Especially useful watermelon for men as it helps to increase sexual desire. After all, the fruit is a natural source of arginine, affecting the quality of erections.

  • Good to use watermelon as food for people with bronchial asthma, because its composition includes substances that can help ease bouts of illness. We are talking about antioxidants that bind free radicals that contribute to spasserovannye respiratory tract.

  • Watermelon is a source of lycopene, which prevents the development of prostate cancer in men. This fact is proved by numerous studies. In addition, it is useful to include in the menu of this giant berry people with the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer.
  • The delicate tissue of the fetus and its low acidity gives the opportunity to eat watermelon in food for people with diseases of the digestive tract, for example, patients with gastritis, gastroduodenitis.
  • Watermelon helps to prevent the development of age spots, as it contains beta-carotene, which improves skin barrier function.
  • The watermelon helps the immune system to fight against infectious diseases, maintaining its normal function at the expense of part of the fruit of the glutathione and antioxidants.
  • Watermelon helps reduce weight when consumed in moderation. For example, 100-200 g watermelon can be a great snack option for a person sitting on a diet. However, don't get too carried away watermelons to people with excess weight, as the pulp has a high glycemic index and will contribute to the rapid emergence of feelings of hunger.

So, the useful properties of watermelon: providing a choleretic and diuretic effect, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic, laxative, tonic, antitumor effect increased peristalsis of the intestines.

People use not only the flesh of watermelon, but watermelon seeds, which contain a fatty oil rich in linoleic and palmitic acid. This oil has beneficial properties of almond oil and tastes like olive oil.


Harmful properties of watermelon

It is not necessary to offer food watermelon children under the age of two years, if it is not grown on their own plot. The consequences of the use of nekachestvennaya, richnitrates can be very serious. The younger the child, the weaker his protection from harmful substances – toxins, microbes, nitrates that may be present in watermelon in large quantities. Therefore, in order to protect themselves and baby from poisoning, you should eat watermelon in food only at the end of August and autumn.

Symptoms of poisoning are expressed primarily in gastrointestinal disorders with diarrhea and vomiting. Signs of poisoning can appear after an hour or even after 2 days, after drinking low-quality fruit in food. However, the danger is not only the nitrates, which were introduced by man in the cultivation of fruit, but also those that accumulate in it during storage if the fruit for a long time improperly stored. The first signs of poisoning are headaches, nausea, weakness and fatigue, diarrhea. May later join a high body temperature, aching joints, cramps, General intoxication of the organism.

Excessive consumption of watermelon, especially if it occurs systemically, can cause the development flatulence, nausea, diarrhea. So, the harmful properties of watermelon may occur when overeating or when eating overripe or nitrate of fruit.


Who can eat watermelon?

As has been repeatedly emphasized, the watermelon is a useful product. Of course, as with any other products, it is necessary to observe a measure.

Can I eat watermelon for diabetics? Watermelon can include in your diet people with diabetes. The berry contains a small dose of carbohydrates – even lower than Apple, orange, and green peas. Sugar and glucose, the consumption of which particularly needs to take into account patients with diabetes, the watermelon also found in minimum quantity. The incredible sweetness of the watermelon gives fructose, which in certain quantities (not more than 40 grams per day) is acceptable for patients with diabetes because its absorption occurs without the cost of insulin. One kilo of watermelon contains exactly the dose of fructose is 40 grams.

Diabetics in the season of watermelons (provided that they include them in the diet) is recommended to limit the consumption of other carbohydrate products.

People suffering from diabetes of the second type, it is recommended to limit the consumption of watermelon to 200-300 grams per day.

Can pregnant women watermelon? Pregnancy is a special time in the life of cardiganshire. Of course,in a normal pregnancy the expectant mother want sweet, salty, sour, etc. However, there is a wide list of products, consumption of which is highly undesirable for pregnant women. The watermelon in this list are not included. In reasonable quantities of berries has a positive effect on the body of women.

This unique delicacy is used for fast and efficient quench your thirst and at the same time has an excellent diuretic effect. Only here to get carried away eating watermelon is strictly not recommended: acceptable consumption no more than 150-200 grams of pulp, one to two times a day.


How to choose a watermelon?

About how to choose a watermelon, must know every fan of the sweet berries. Doctors warn the Russians that the purchase of early melons may be hazardous to health. Often they are overfed with nitrates and growth stimulants, which leads to poisoning.

Early watermelons contain a high concentration of salts of nitric acid, which fed their sellers in an effort to gain more benefits. Once in the body, nitrates will provoke irritation of the mucous membranes of the intestines and stomach, will lead to accumulation in the liver of heavy metals, will not produce useful substances normally absorbed. The nitrites contained in the early watermelons, in turn, have a negative impact on the hemoglobin into methemoglobin. This transformation is no longer able to transport oxygen, thereby causing oxygen starvation of organs and tissues.

Therefore, it is important to adhere to the following recommendations of the doctors:

  • Do not buy watermelons along highways, as they quickly absorb heavy metals, in abundance contained in the exhaust gases.
  • Do not buy fruits early. Watermelon season starts after August, so until that time, should be especially picky in choosing fruit.
  • To demand from the seller documentation confirming that they are over-the-counter watermelons safe.
  • To check a watermelon for nitrates, you should use the nitrate, which can be purchased for personal use. The maximum allowable concentration of nitrates in watermelon must not exceed 60 mg per kilogram of body weight.

However, watermelon is prized not only for its safety but for taste.

The following tips will help you choose not only useful, but also delicious, juicy and ripe fruit:

  • You should choose a major, but not Clickatell fruit.
  • Watermelon need to check on the ripeness. To do this, to push him with two hands, but not too much. You should hear a characteristic crunch.
  • Fruit surface should be shiny, no matte shade. The crust is difficult to pierce with a fingernail, it should be hard and dense.
  • If you knock on the crust, you should hear a hollow sound.
  • On the fruit must not have any damage: cracks, cuts, scratches.
  • The stalk of the watermelon should be dry.
  • On the side of the fruit should be medium size yellow stain. This so-called excavation spot, formed during the ripening of watermelon.
  • If the quality of watermelon implies the existence of a pattern then it should be clearly pronounced.

As to the point of break away of the fruit, then over it must be covered, and the melons should be stored on a pallet dwell not less than 20 cm from the floor. Before the butchering of the fruit, wash the watermelon with a brush and wipe with a clean cloth.

Do not eat watermelon before the peel, you should leave a distance of at least 2 cm. The fact that the maximum concentration of nitrates it accumulates Cora berry.

There is one tip that allows you to check a watermelon for harmful substances, after he already cut. You need to pour a glass of water and put there a piece of flesh. If after mixing the liquid will be pink, the fruit to eat should not. Also do not eat those fruits, the pulp of which has a purple hue and plenty of yellow streaks.

If you still doubt about the quality of the watermelon before eating you can drink green tea and eat two tablets of ascorbic acid. This will help to neutralize the nitrates entering the body.

How to keep watermelon in the winter?

Given the fact that green fruit is a source of nutrients, many people wonder how to keep watermelon in the winter. For long term storage it is necessary to choose late varieties. Of course, we should not lose sight of recommendations on the choice of the fetus. First and foremost, there should not be dents and cracks. In the presence of any damage, a long time remain fresh watermelon will not.

The value is a space where you will store the berry. It should be dry, dark and well ventilated. To slideyfoot watermelon soto the area of its contact with other surfaces was minimal. The same applies to the contact of the fruit with other watermelons. The surface on which lies the green berries should be soft. The ideal option is straw. The optimum temperature +1 - +3 degrees and a humidity of 80-85%. If the temperature is higher, then the flesh will become mushy and sour.

Best watermelon to put on the shelf, and to hang on a hook. To do this, it is wrapped in paper and packaged in a mesh bag. Therefore, the fetus will have the opportunity to breathe and contact with the surface will not do.

The old-fashioned way of storing watermelons is smearing his alabaster. For this dry plaster is diluted with water and dense layer applied to the berry. The consistency of the mixture should resemble sour cream, and layer thickness must be at least 10 mm. Thus the need to alternately apply 3 layers, one after the other. After that, watermelon is also placed in mesh and hung on a hook.

For two months you can store watermelon in the apartment, subject to the availability of enclosed balcony. For this purpose the fruit should wrap a clean cotton cloth (not synthetic) and put on the loggia.

With all the recommendations, will be able to keep watermelon fresh until December-January.


Recipes from watermelon

The broth of watermelon peels: 1 tbsp crusts, pour boiling water (1 Cup), prepare the water bath and "weary" broth for 10-15 minutes, after which it is cooled and filtered.

Infusion of watermelon rind: 100 g of dried crusts, pour 500 ml of hot water and insist to cool infusion.

Diuretic: watermelon rinds, thoroughly washed, scraped from the surface of the thin layer (the zest), then peel are cut, dried and stored in a dry place. To make dried peel is recommended 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals. One dosage is 5-6 g.

A pastemade from fresh crushed roots of wild watermelon – an effective remedy for tumors of the breast. Applied externally in the form of compresses.

Anthelmintics: 100 g of fresh watermelon seeds (pre-mashed), pour 1 liter of purified water, and then boil in a water bath for 45 minutes and carefully filtered. Drink 2 glasses outside meals, two times a day.


Watermelon diet for 3 days for weight loss

Watermelon diet for 3 days is considered to be one of the most delicious. But we should not forget that before you make a decision to follow a diet, neobhodimosti with a specialist,that may make certain adjustments under the patient's health status.

There are two most common versions of the watermelon diet.

Version one: one hour before the main meal you need to eat 1-2 kg of watermelon.

Version two: a person's weight divided by 10, the resulting figure is the norm of the pulp of the watermelon, which you have to eat during the day (and nothing besides).

Contraindications to the use of watermelon

Contraindications to the use of watermelon is a list of diseases and conditions of the organism in which it is forbidden to include it in the diet.

You should never use the fruit in food for the following pathologies:

  • Renal failure.

  • Violation of the outflow of urine.

  • Kidney stones more 4 mm.

  • Age under 2 years.
  • Colitis of any etiology.
  • Upset chair.
  • The last trimester of pregnancy. In this case we are talking about limiting consumption of too much watermelon as it will lead to discomfort and uchenomu urinate.
  • Obesity and diabetes are also reasons to limit the consumption of watermelon.

In all other cases, watermelon is possible, but all should comply with the measure. Another tip from doctors is to limit joint consumption of watermelon and salt, as it contributes to fluid retention in the body, leading to the formation of edema.


How to grow watermelon in the greenhouse?

How to grow watermelon in the greenhouse think many growers and gardeners. After all, growing fruit in the garden, you can certainly be confident in its quality. This is especially true for Central Russia and to Northern latitudes where growing watermelon in open field is not enough heat and sunlight.

  1. Preparation of the greenhouse. The first step is to prepare the greenhouse. It must be correctly positioned. It is important that there were high bushes and trees,preventing access to the sun.

    Ifa place not at the site or in the region is dominated by mainly cloudy weather, then you should care about artificial light. Replace the sun will help the lamp LB-40 in the amount of 4 pieces.

    In the soil, which will be located in the greenhouse even with the autumn months, you need to make a rotted manure and grass clippings in small amounts. The fertilizer is thoroughly mixed with the earth and remains in the greenhouse until spring.

  2. Selection and germination of seeds. Before you plant the seeds, test their germination. For this you need to prepare a water-salt solution (in a glass of water enough teaspoon of salt) and put in the seeds. Those that appear on the surface to be thrown away, and sank to the bottom the seeds are washed in running water. After a shower, you need to disinfect the seeds in potassium permanganate, the concentration of the solution should sostavlyat1%. The seeds are then again thoroughly washed. After these procedures, the seeds can germinate.

  3. Preparation of seedlings. Preferences regarding the selection of seeds to obtain a future crop of watermelons each summer resident your. When experience a little, you can choose a fairly undemanding sort of "Spark", which is early maturing and does not require special care. The fruits grow very large, have a black and green color and sugar pulp. In addition, popular with gardeners enjoy varieties such as: "gift to the North", "ultra early", "Siberian", "Cinderella". However, regardless of the sort, it is necessary to sow seeds at the end of April.

    The soil for seedlings can be fed with mineral fertilizers, although this is not mandatory. So, you need 3 parts compost, 1 part soil, 3 tablespoons phosphorus fertilizer, 1 tablespoon of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers.

    If fertilizer will not be introduced, then in a bucket of soil, you should take a glass of wood ash, and potassium sulfate in the amount of a teaspoon.

    In the greenhouse seeds to place in April earlier as at this time there is frost. Seedlings stored at home, in peat-compost pots or paper cups. Do not keep seedlings at home for more than 3 weeks.

    Until germination, the optimum ambient temperature is 23 degrees. When in pots sprouts appear, the temperature should be lower, removing them in a cool place or covered with dark tape for up to 4 days. To water the seedlings need warm water and 4 days before planting in the greenhouse watering stop.

  4. Planting seedlings in the greenhouse. At the end of may preserialization seedlings of watermelon in the greenhouse. The ground need fora week prior to this dig, as if to cover it with dark tape, then the soil warms up faster. In the Central part of the garden it is necessary to form a shallow ditch, a depth of not more than the length of the bayonet spade. It is placed either manure or humus, mixed with hay, poured on top of the earth and pour hot water.

    Seedlings need to be placed around the formed ditch, but so that she with fertilizer is not in contact. While on the surface of the soil should be slightly clod of earth with seedlings. Growers call this planting method, without penetration. This is to ensure that the seed does not rot. More than three seedlings per square meter of land to place not worth it. The distance between them should not be less than half a meter.

    With regard to the ambient temperature, in the daytime it should not be less than 25 degrees, and at night less than 18 degrees. To plants was not too hot, the greenhouse is open. Ventilation is also necessary to ensure that the greenhouse was not of high humidity and do not accumulate condensate.

  5. Plant care. Watering should be abundant until that point in time until the plant will not appear the first flowers. When to begin flowering, you can limit watering 1 time per 7 days. If you do it more often, then the flesh will be tasteless and watery. Pour the watermelon at the root, trying to keep the moisture does not fall on the leaves. When the fruits begin to ripen, stop watering completely.

    2 weeks after fruit formation, it is possible to carry out feeding. To do this, 2 tablespoons nitrophoska and a tablespoon of superphosphate was diluted in 10 liters of water and pour this composition of plants.

    Whip through 14 days after landing must be tied to the trellis, as do cucumbers. Those shoots which the ovaries no need to remove. When the melons reach the size of chicken eggs, you need to remove the excess fruit. One whip should not be more than two watermelons.

  6. The pollination of flowers. This files most often during ventilation of a greenhouse, it fly bees. If not, to pollinate your flowers need. Male flowers appear first, they are blooming in the morning and after a short time die. They are larger than female flowers. For pollination it is necessary to disrupt and impose on the stigma of the female flower several times. This is best done in the morning hours until, until the temperature did not exceed 20 degrees.

  7. The collection of watermelons. That the fruit is ripe, will indicate a dry twig and shiny crust. If you slap the watermelon, then you hear swankily. It is not necessary to pay attention to the sizewatermelon. Many varieties do not grow more 1 kg but will be ripe and sweet. If the harvest failed, it is necessary to keep seeds for next year. This will avoid the diseases of plants if you plant them in the same greenhouse.


How to grow melons in the open ground?

How to grow watermelon outdoors, if weather conditions allow in the region, known to every gardener. However, it is not always possible to collect a high yield, as gardeners often pay little attention to the finer points of planting and care such a picky a berry and a watermelon.

  1. The choice of soil and location for planting. The soil in which you intend to plant watermelon should not be too wet. You should choose a Sunny place, away from shrubs and trees. The plant loves sunlight. If the ground is dense, then its pre-need paraglide, since the root system of watermelon penetrates deeply into the soil, extracting nutrients. Consider also that near the plant there was weeds. Their neighborhood watermelon does not tolerate.

    A well-planted plant in the place where it grew winter wheat. After planting melons last year, newly planted watermelons there should not be.

    In the fall need to take care of the soil rotted manure. Per square meter is sufficient 4 kg fertilizer. You should not apply fresh manure, as it will lead to fungal diseases of watermelon.

  2. Planting without germinating seedlings. The seeds need heat well. Them right in the package lay out in the sun. Under the sun they are left to warm for 10 days, after which the seeds are placed in water and left for half an hour. The emerged seeds thrown away, and settled on the bottom left to the further landing. They are placed in hot water (60 degrees), and when the water cools, take out and put in a damp cloth until germination.

    3 days before planting seeds soak in solution of ash and water (2 parts water, 1 part ash) throughout the day. By evening, get the seeds and dipped for 20 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate, washed and all night again immersed in solution of ash. In the morning take out the seeds,dried and sown.

    Possible timefor sowing – end of April to mid June, depending on weather conditions in the region. The optimal soil temperature is 16 degrees.

    Planting depth seed 7 cmone square meter should not be planted more than 10 seeds, because there is no guarantee that all the seeds germinate. After sowing, the soil watered with warm water. After 7 days, we should expect the first sprouts. Spud watermelons need after the plants appear 5 leaf, loosen the soil gently. When the diameter of the fruit will reach 10 cmthe main whip need prischipnut.

  3. Prepare watermelon seedlings for open ground. For growing seedlings, are well suited peat-humus pots, as before putting the plants into the soil will not need to take it out. You can simply place the pot into the prepared hole. If the seedling is grown in the other containers, remove the plant need very carefully, so as not to harm the root system. Seeds before planting in a pot need to soak in warm water 10 minutes, then place them in the soil 1 cm in depth. The soil need to pour on the growth of plants. The room temperature should not be below 23 to 25 degrees. Feed mineral fertilizer sprouts can be when they appear the first true leaf. When the sprouts will turn a month, they can be planted in the open ground. The plant shall not be less than 5 of leaves. 7 days before planting, watermelons need to start to temper, lowering daytime temperatures to 17 degrees.

    Before planting, the soil needs to be compost and plenty of water. In this case the root collar should rise above the soil a couple of inches. If one hole is placed two plants, then you need to make sure their leaves are not in contact.

  4. Plant care outdoors. Watering watermelon have moderately, and when the fruits begin to Mature, watering is reduced to a minimum. You can make ammonium nitrate in 2 liters on a Bush. In a bucket of water is taken 20 g fertilizer.

    Do not leave Kuta for more than 6 ovaries, and it is possible to reduce their number to 2 pieces. The soil should be loosened after each irrigation, to tagamanent, until the leaves of watermelons not to collide. Under the plant canunderlay foil. This will protect the fruits of wireworms. For uniform ripening of the fruit can turn.

  5. Harvest. When the bract dries up, and peel of the fruit becomes glossy, you can harvest. This usually occurs in the month of August. In this case, the peduncle would fall off all the hairs, and when tapped on the watermelon, it will make a dull sound.