Melon: taste and characteristics

Juicy and fragrant melon - a real summer gift. She is very sweet, juicy, pleasant to the taste. And the beneficial properties of melons are known to all.It is used for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Homeland melons - Central Asia. In Russia, the plant appeared in the XVI century. Since then, it is an indispensable summer dessert.

Many people wondered what kind of plant to include. Scientists have proved its membership in the Pumpkin family and the Cucumber genus. Like watermelon, most researchers attribute melon to berries, although disputes on this issue continue to this day. No one gives the exact answer. A large number of different hypotheses are put forward on this subject.

Due to the fact that it is very sweet, melons belong to the fruit. This is explained by the fact that it can be found in fruit salads, compotes and fruit drinks, desserts. But the scientists themselves say that only what grows on a tree can be attributed to fruit. From here there is a contradiction concerning such affiliation.

If you count the plant to the berries, there is also doubt due to the size of the fruit. Of course, a melon has many features similar to berries. These include hard seeds inside, juicy middle, thin skin. All fruits of melon carry to false berries. They are also called pumpkins.

Some researchers say that melons belong to vegetables. It would seem a completely wrong opinion. But this, too, can be found a logical explanation - the plant, the fruit and the stem are herbaceous, it has similarities and is related to cucumber. Melon is also a direct relative of the pumpkin. Scientists note that this delicacy belongs to the family of annual lianas. These are all signs of vegetable crops.

Growing a melon is not easy. For this you need to exert maximum effort, patience and work. Culture is sensitive to changes in climate and temperature. Melon ripening time is in September or the end of August.

The plant is picky to the soil. Therefore, planting seedlings in the ground, you need to take care of fertilizers. Well suited for such a wayward culture of black soil. When planting seedlings in the ground should pay attention to the plants that will grow nearby.

We have already mentioned above the indisputable advantages for the body of this product. Melon is useful in fresh, dried and dried form, it does not lose its properties after such processing.

Melon has a creeping and branching stem. It can reach a length of 4 meters. This is an annual plant. The length of the shoots reaches 35 m. One of the main shoots. The root system of melon rod.

Seedlings sprout in a week. In early melons, female flowers begin to bloom 35 days after germination, and male flowers start early. A nip must be carried out, because otherwise “empty” flowers may appear without fruiting.

Melon is a sun-loving culture. Humidity and shade she transfers badly. The leaves of the plant are round in shape, have a mustache that clings, not allowing the stalks to roll over when the wind rolls over.

Melon fruits are different in appearance: round, oval, elongated. Color Bakhchi is very different. The peel is most often smooth in the mesh.

KZhbu per 100 g of product:

• caloric content - 33 g;
• proteins - 0.6 g;
• fat - 0.3 g;
• carbohydrates - 7.4 g

It can be concluded that the calories melon is not rich, so it is well suited for a diet.

Positive aspects of the fetus:

• the culture is palatable, contains a large amount of fructose, so the body is saturated with energy;
• contains a lot of fiber, which cleanses the body of harmful substances and does not strengthen the chair;
• strengthens the immune system;
• it is an excellent co-product in the treatment of liver diseases;
• substances that make up the melon, help reduce blood cholesterol levels.

The melon contains many elements of the periodic table - iron, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, iodine, copper, fluorine.

What kind of melon is better, each gardener determines himself. Someone likes huge largest cultures, someone likes, on the contrary, miniature fruits. Some are interested in growing unusual and exotic varieties.

• Melon "Cinderella» - the most ripening of all. It begins to bear fruit in 50 days. These are small melons in size and volume. By weight, they also did not succeed, as they reach a mass of just 1 kilogram. 70% consist of sugar. Berry is picky for the weather and diseases, all sorts of pests. It adapts to the climate and gives a rich harvest.

• "Chinese" - the name shows where the melon is from. Her inflorescences are small. Stalk length 1.5-2 meters. The leaves are medium sized, greenish in color. Melon has the form of a ball or slightly elongated. The mature fruit is well separated from the stalk. Her skin is thin, smooth to the touch. The seed is small. This variety gives a rich early harvest. It is necessary to grow it through seedlings. Loves warmth.

• "Torpedo" – The most common variety of Uzbek melon. In our country, this "beauty" appeared in the XVII century. Since then, this variety has got accustomed to us and is welcomed by gardeners. The name of the plant was due to the fact that the berry is similar to the torpedo shape. The taste of the Russian "Torpedo" is different from the melon, which is grown in Uzbekistan and is not as sweet as in its homeland. In weight, it can reach 15-16 kg.

• Titovka – melon early ripening. She just enough 60-66 calendar days to bring the harvest. It tolerates weather changes, frosts. Independently fights with all sorts of pests and diseases. Good for both greenhouse conditions and open unprotected areas. Fruits are quite large, grow up to 6 kg. Color saturated yellow with a brownish shade. Very sweet and fragrant melon.

• Japanese melon "Yubari" is one of the most expensive varieties. The berry got its name because of the Japanese city of Yubari, where it was first bred. She loves heat, so a greenhouse is needed for growing this variety. For it you need to create conditions for full development and growth without pests and diseases. Melon has a special taste and aroma, a peculiar appearance. It has a round shape and thin smooth skin.

• Silver Star - unusual variety. This melon matures in 65-67 days. The average weight reaches 2 kg. Gentle, sweet taste. In appearance, it looks like an egg in green spots resembling stars. Very thermophilic berries and picky to temperature changes.

• "Fairy tale" - early ripening variety. Unpretentious to climatic conditions. Common among gardeners. The fruit is elliptical. The color is bright yellow. In the mass reaches 1.5 kg. Rarely damaged by insects. Resistant to frost. It matures well and has a sweetish pleasant taste.

• "Collective farm" - the most famous of all varieties of melons. Ripens in 90-95 days. In weight reaches 1.5 kg. It has a smooth shiny surface. Color is yellow or gold with orange tint. It is stored for long. It has a juicy, crispy white flesh. Berry sweet taste like honey. Well suited for preparations for the winter.

• "Milk" - Vietnamese melonhaving a small fruit. Belongs to the pumpkin family. Homeland - Central Asia. Loves a warm climate.Excessive humidity is not for her. Needs an abundance of light. The fruit of the plant is round in shape, has a striped color.

• Caramel is a hybrid. It was bred for sale as an early fruit, but even the gardeners liked this quick harvest. The culture matures in 50 days. For climatic conditions, it is also not picky. The fruit is in the form of an ellipse, reaching a weight of 3 kg. The color of the melon is bright yellow in a large white mesh. Her skin is thick. The flesh of the plant is white. It tastes like caramel, hence the name.

• "Raymond" - melon pineapple type. It looks like a torpedo. The culture is oblong. The color of melon is bright yellow in the mesh. The fruit is large. In weight, the plant reaches 5-10 kg. Very sweet, aromatic and tasty, very similar to honey. The flesh of this melon is yellow. Her root system is powerful. It is not picky about the climate, but still loves warmth. It tolerates both cold, rain and drought. This variety ripens in 1.5 months through seedlings and 60 days after sowing in open ground.

• “Miracle Yudo” - its plant got its name because of its unusual shape and color. These are round balls in the mesh. Melon ripens in 70 days. She has an oval shape. Weight culture has up to 2-2.5 kg. Sweet and juicy melon, taste like watermelon. It is stored not for long, but well approaches for preparations.

• "Taman". This variety is also welcomed by gardeners. To weather conditions, this melon is unpretentious. It has a pleasant honey taste. She is very juicy when she ripens well. Scourge her long. The leaves of the plant are medium. The shape of the fruit is oval. The color is yellow, covered with mesh, her skin is thin. The flesh is creamy or white, crumbly.

• "Green" - very often this melon is compared to avocado due to external and internal similarity and taste. Brought this variety from Thailand. The color of the fruit is green. Her flesh is also light green.

• "Serezhkina love." Gardeners are positive about this variety. This is a ripening melonwhich adapts well to the climate and adverse weather. It can immediately be planted in the ground. Scourge her average length. In weight the fruit reaches 2-3 kg. Oval shape. The color is orange yellow. It has a fragrant and pleasant-tasting pulp that melts in the mouth, and is also very sweet.

• "Princess Maria" - one of the most famous varieties in Russia. This melon has fast germination. Resistant to climate change. Fruits are medium in size, reaching 1-1.5 kg, greenish gray. Fruit with juicy orange pulp, which is similar in taste to nutmeg.

• "Cantaloupe" - this variety is well known and is currently very popular in Europe and America. The fruit has the shape of an oval. His skin is dense in the mesh. The flesh is orange, juicy, taste similar to honey.

Melon is rich in iron, which is responsible for the circulatory system. Also, iron helps to move oxygen throughout the body, is involved in the production of hormones and the support of immunity is normal.

The product contains the most important of the vitamins - vitamin A. It protects the human body from viruses and bacteria. Also, this vitamin acts as an antioxidant and cleanses the body of free radicals.

The plant consists of fibers of rather coarse fiber, which leads the work of the gastrointestinal tract to normal. Inulin, which is part of the melon, also has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract.

Melon contains a lot of sugar, respectively, the body receives a sufficient amount of glucose with its use. It also increases stress resistance and brain function, decreases fatigue. Otherwise, you can say that you absorb the vitamin of joy.

Retinol and tocopherol contained in melons purify the liver. Ascorbic acid boosts immunity.Good melon acts on the kidneys, as it has diuretic properties. Melon is recommended for edema. It removes excess fluid from the body and harmful substances.

Folic acid contained in the melon is useful for both men and women. You can use it as a cosmetic, lubricating the face and neck with frozen pieces. Melon decoction can be used as a tonic. It helps to fight skin pigmentation well and has a whitening effect.

Melon - a real family doctor. Useful properties and substances in it, normalize the body. Serotonin, which is a part of it, is called “the hormone of happiness and joy,” that is, this fruit can be used to treat depression.

Melon juice contains a large amount of essential oils. It helps in the normalization of the heart. If you mix melon juice with parsley broth, you can treat urolithiasis, runny nose and worms with this composition. Having drunk melon juice in the morning on an empty stomach, you expel the parasites from the body. In addition, children love this drink for its pleasant taste and aroma.

It is absolutely harmless to the child's body. Juice can be treated dermatosis, allergies, skin rashes, psoriasis. With his help strengthens the hair, it helps with baldness. A strong cough is treated with melon pulp juice if you drink 1/3 cup of this drink per day.

Melon-based diet is quite effective, but before using it you should definitely consult with a nutritionist. It lasts one month. The diet is as follows:

• breakfast consists of 300 grams of melon;
• lunch - the usual products, but you can not eat sweets and flour dishes;
• dinner - melon.

On such a diet, judging by the reviews, you can lose up to 8 kg and plus clean the intestines.

Fruits and seeds of culture have a positive effect on male potency. To prepare such a medicine, you need to pour boiling water over the seeds (1 tablespoon per cup of boiled water), let it brew and take 1 teaspoon per day. This infusion is used as a diuretic (a glass of liquid divided by 5 doses per day).

The plant is good for gout. Compress made from melon pulp, treats asthma, pneumonia and bronchitis. When skin and pulp are applied to bruises, cuts and abscesses on the skin, pain is relieved, faster healing occurs.

Allergies can be treated with lotions on affected skin areas or a melon bath. For cosmetic purposes, the mask of this fruit nourishes and has a tonic effect. The skin becomes elastic, improves the complexion, pigment spots pass.

After taking antibiotics, this culture should be introduced into the diet, as it enhances immunity and fights against various infections and inflammations.

Despite all the advantages, you should not abuse melon. It is best to eat it in the morning or at lunch.

Overeating of the fetus badly affects the work of the gastrointestinal tract. When this happens, an upset stomach and abdominal pain occur.

Those who have intestinal diseases or peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum should altogether abandon the delicacy, as it is weak.

You can not use melon with alcohol, ice water and sour milk.

Contraindications, as you can see, are few, but they are still there. It is necessary to pay attention to them and follow them.

Melon is very useful for pregnant women, but in moderation. Folic acid, as is known, is necessary for expectant mothers. The plant is composed of vitamin B9 in large quantities.Acid improves the quality of breast milk and helps to saturate her body when carrying a child.

The benefits of melons for pregnant women:

• metabolism is normalized;
• mood rises;
• work of the nervous system stabilizes;
• prevention of constipation and hemorrhoids;
• excess fluid and harmful substances are removed from the body, swelling is removed;
• silicon in the composition allows you to keep your nails, hair and skin in good condition.

Culture is contraindicated if a woman has:

• pregnant diabetes;
• intestinal disorders, diseases of the stomach and duodenum;
• overweight.

You can not eat melon in the morning, it can trigger intestinal upset. It is better to eat it about two hours after the meal as a dessert.

Nursing mother culture is also useful, but only 5 months after the birth of the child. Earlier use at the initial stage of breastfeeding may cause allergic reactions in the baby. But when drinking melon during settled lactation, the quality and quantity of milk increases. It becomes fatter, tastier. The delicacy contains many vitamins and nutrients, which also has a good effect on the health and development of the baby.

Melon should be introduced into the diet gradually. It is necessary to choose the product carefully and carefully so as not to harm the child with nitrates and chemicals. It should be bought exclusively in the season and only fresh, without cracks and dark spots, fruits.

Of course, it is best to eat fresh melon. But in the marinated, dried, dried and boiled state, it does not lose its beneficial properties. From the plant you can cook a variety of dishes and preparations for the winter. Consider some of them.

Before you start canning or harvesting melons for the winter, you should follow these rules:

• It is necessary to choose for this purpose only fruits without rot, cracks and cuts.
• The inner contents of the melon should not be loose and not crumbly. Best suited product with dense pulp. You can even use a not quite ripe melon, greenish and not too sweet.
• You need to thoroughly wash the fruit, clean well and remove the seeds, chop the pulp into pieces, cubes or slices, depending on the recipe.
• Sterilize the jars and covers to them.

Cut a thin layer of skin. Cut the melon into small cubes. All fill up with sugar at the rate of 1 to 1. Leave to infuse. After about 6.5 hours put the mixture on the stove and boil for 5 minutes, do not forget to interfere. Allow to cool. Roll up in sterilized jars. You can add vanilla to jam to add a special flavor.

At 10 half-liter sterilized cans need 0.5 kg of sugar, 22 grams of acetic essence, 1.35 liters of water. It is necessary to spread on banks of 3 peas allspice, a few sticks of cloves, cinnamon to taste.

Cut the product into cubes, pour boiling water, let stand for 4 minutes and cool quickly. Spread out on the banks. Prepare syrup from sugar and water, strain, add vinegar essence. Pour the prepared jar mixture. Sterilize for 10-15 minutes, roll up, turn over and place “under the fur coat”. Then allow to cool gradually and put in a cold place for the winter. Well suited for this underground or cellar.

For the preparation of this billet, you will need 1 kg of melon, 1 glass of water, 4 tablespoons of honey, 0.5 cups of vinegar, some salt (to taste).

Rinse and clean the product, cut into small squares and fold into sterilized jars.Next, prepare the syrup: honey should be diluted with water, salt and boil, add vinegar and bring to a boil again. Pour the banks, roll up. Give to marinate.

You can make a favorite delicacy like honey with melons. Despite such a big name, the recipe is pretty simple. Wash product, peel and peel. Squeeze the juice from the pulp, strain and put to boil on fire. Boil 60 to 70 minutes. When cooled, the mass of its consistency should be similar to thick sour cream, but be yellow in color, resembling honey.

A fairly simple dish to prepare. This recipe will require a melon weighing 1.5 kg. In addition, the following ingredients are needed:

• 0.7 liters of water;
• 250 grams of sugar;
• 1 cup of vinegar (you can take one teaspoon of acetic acid);
• 5 sticks of cinnamon;
• 15 allspice peppers;
• 10 pieces of carnations.

Boil water in a saucepan. Pulp melon should be cut into medium-sized cubes and add them to boiling water. Reduce heat and boil for 5 minutes. Remove the contents of the pan, throwing it all in a colander. Then it is necessary to fill all with cold water, to sustain 2 minutes. Remove cubes from cold water and place them on a flat, flat surface to dry.

Prepare sterilized jars. In each of them add cinnamon, cloves, pepper. The cubes should be placed so that there is 2 cm left to the edge. To prepare the marinade, sugar should be dissolved in water, boiled, and added vinegar. Pour into jars, sterilize another 10-15 minutes. Place the inverted cans "under the fur coat."

For such a workpiece is best suited juicy and elastic fruit. To prepare melon compote should be taken:

• melon weighing 1.5 kg;
• 1 liter of water;
• 2 grams of citric acid;
• 600 grams of sugar.

It is necessary to cut the pulp into cubes of small size. Boil water, add sugar and cubes of melons. Boil again, pour in citric acid, stir until dissolved. Remove the cubes from the syrup and place them in sterilized jars. Again boil the liquid and immediately pour into containers for the workpiece, not allowing it to cool. Cover with sterilized tin lids and place the jars for sterilization for 15-20 minutes. Roll up and wrap "under a fur coat."

Thick melon jam is very tasty. For preparation you will need 3 medium sized fruits, 2 lemons and sugar. Pulp melon should be cut into medium cubes. Add 0.5 kg of sugar. Leave to infuse for 10 hours. After the time, cut the lemon with the skin into thin slices, add to the melon. From the second lemon squeeze the juice, add also to the workpiece. Mix everything and put on the stove. When the mixture boils, reduce the heat and boil for another 1-1.5 hours. Periodically stir it.

The finished product must be poured into sterilized, pre-prepared banks and roll up. Melon is a real treasure for the body, consisting of vitamins, nutrients and minerals.

By buying a treat should be approached seriously and competently. The fruit should be without dents, cuts, dark spots, beautiful in appearance, have a pleasant vanilla aroma. When tapping, the sound must be deaf. Be careful when choosing products.

Interestingly about the benefits and harm of melon, see below.