Watermelon, melon and gourd growing which arose in the remote past, is one of the important fields of agro-industrial complex of the country in our days. The age-old experience and traditions in combination with the modern agricultural technology yield wonderful results.
At present, gardeners in the regions of Turkmenistan grow about three hundred varieties of melon. Thanks to the lasted mild period from 193 to 275 days and annual temperature of over 10 degrees above zero there are very early and late ripening species of melon in the country. The riches of watermelon, melon and gourd growing enjoy a great demand both in local markets and arise a great interest in other countries as well. The fresh melon is especially delicious. From its flesh the syrup as sweet as honey is made and it is also dried for making dried melon flesh slices reminding something like candied fruit and sweetmeat.
Varieties of melon are grown in the regions of the country taking into account the climatic and land conditions favorable for their sowing. The assortment of melons grown in Turkmenistan clearly are divided into four seasonal groups differing in their ripening periods, periods of mass ripening and consumption.
Fast-ripening species of melon ripen within 60-70 days and open the season. Their flesh is very juicy, tender, and pleasant for taste with great melon aroma. Such melon species as Azgyn, Garpyz gawun, Garypgaldyran, Ternek, Zamcha and others, which contain on an average 8-15% sugar, belong to the varieties of early-ripening melons.
The second group includes summer varieties like Vakharman, Shekerpalak, Mesek, Ak bishek and others. These species differ with their medium ripening time mingling from 75-100 days. They differ with a wide range of their taste qualities, crunchy, thick, refreshing, and juicy flesh containing 14-18% sugar. Their rind is decorated with thin patterned net. Summer species of melon are wonderful raw material for making dried melon slices “gawun kak”.
The third group represents autumn-winter varieties like Gulaby, Gurbek, Garrygyz, Zard, Garagant and others. The period from growing to ripening makes up 95-100 days. These varieties are good for transportation and differ with their long keeping capacity (sometimes until may of the following year). Fruits of the autumn-winter species are of medium size -4-6 kilograms, rarely 8-10 kilograms, and their flesh is thick, dense, sticky fibrous, juicy, and very sweet (15-18% sugar). Melons are good for drying, boiling, making syrup and preserving.
The fourth group includes large-fruited late-ripening winter melons like Gara gotur, Beshek and others. The period of ripening is 100-120 days, sugar content mingles around 14-16%, and the weight reaches 16 kilograms and over.
In the recent years, Turkmen selectionists have developed twenty new varieties of melon. They include the mid-season ripening species like Sha gawun, and Akmaral grown in the Akhal oasis. In the north of the country, in Dashoghuz province the new mid-season ripening variety Ak gurbek. Newly developed varieties introduced into the cultivation are juicy, fleshy, and unusually fragrant.
Besides newly introduced species, local selectionists are busy with revival of old wonderful sweet varieties of Turkmen melon. Today the Turkmen market is also full of old mid-season ripening varieties of melon like Gulaby, -Ak gulaby, Gok gulaby, Sary gulaby and others which are grown in the Turkmenabad plain of Lebap province.
The Gulaby enjoys fame not only in our country but also in its outside. The term of its ripening period ranges from 80 to 95 days and its crop capacity reaches 200-300 centners per hectare and sugar contain in its juicy flesh makes up 16-18%. Wonderful fruits grown in Lebap province have been recognized for several times for their qualities such as great aroma and unmatched taste in international shows. For example, in the city of Erfurt, Germany these varieties were awarded seven gold and one silver medals.
The Garrygyz variety grown in Mary province has been also re-developed. This autumn-winter variety is grown in the fields of Akhal and ripens within 90-100 days, its crop capacity is 300-400 centners per hectare and contain 6-18% sugar.
Turkmen melons sharply differ from those grown in other countries for their qualities. Sweet fruits grown in the dry, mild climate on clay soil, contain wonderful taste, high sugar as much as 19%. Experiments of cultivation of Turkmen melons in other climatic conditions cannot be called successful as in foreign lands this crop loses its qualities and does not get adapted.
In addition to its taste qualities, melons are rich in vitamins and microelements. It contains proteins, carbohydrates, lemon, oxalic, malic acids, В-carotene, Е, В6, В1, В2, В15, РР magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, chlorine, manganese, iron, copper, fluorine, zinc and others. Ancient healers recommended melon for treatment of atherosclerosis, organs of digestive tract, kidney and urinary bladder diseases. Modern researches have showed the usefulness of melon for patients with anemia, and its favorable effect on the cardio-vascular system.
Turkmen scientists and historians have developed the list of melon varieties in the course of long years and it has included itself about 430 samples grown in the entire history of watermelon, melon and gourd growing. This valuable list is available for visitors to the Museum of agriculture of Turkmenistan. It shows the most well-known species such as Bishek, Vakharman, Garrygyz, Gulaby, Gurbek, Zamcha having tens of subspecies. Thus, the history of Turkmen watermelon, melon and gourd growing has over 1000 national varieties and subspecies of melon developed in our fruitful land.
In the course of many centuries Turkmen melons have been noted for their sweetness, juiciness, unmatched taste qualities, high transportability and keeping capacity. Turkmen melon attain fame outside the country as promising important export product.
At present, gardeners in the regions of Turkmenistan grow about three hundred varieties of melon. Thanks to the lasted mild period from 193 to 275 days and annual temperature of over 10 degrees above zero there are very early and late ripening species of melon in the country. The riches of watermelon, melon and gourd growing enjoy a great demand both in local markets and arise a great interest in other countries as well. The fresh melon is especially delicious. From its flesh the syrup as sweet as honey is made and it is also dried for making dried melon flesh slices reminding something like candied fruit and sweetmeat.
Varieties of melon are grown in the regions of the country taking into account the climatic and land conditions favorable for their sowing. The assortment of melons grown in Turkmenistan clearly are divided into four seasonal groups differing in their ripening periods, periods of mass ripening and consumption.
Fast-ripening species of melon ripen within 60-70 days and open the season. Their flesh is very juicy, tender, and pleasant for taste with great melon aroma. Such melon species as Azgyn, Garpyz gawun, Garypgaldyran, Ternek, Zamcha and others, which contain on an average 8-15% sugar, belong to the varieties of early-ripening melons.
The second group includes summer varieties like Vakharman, Shekerpalak, Mesek, Ak bishek and others. These species differ with their medium ripening time mingling from 75-100 days. They differ with a wide range of their taste qualities, crunchy, thick, refreshing, and juicy flesh containing 14-18% sugar. Their rind is decorated with thin patterned net. Summer species of melon are wonderful raw material for making dried melon slices “gawun kak”.
The third group represents autumn-winter varieties like Gulaby, Gurbek, Garrygyz, Zard, Garagant and others. The period from growing to ripening makes up 95-100 days. These varieties are good for transportation and differ with their long keeping capacity (sometimes until may of the following year). Fruits of the autumn-winter species are of medium size -4-6 kilograms, rarely 8-10 kilograms, and their flesh is thick, dense, sticky fibrous, juicy, and very sweet (15-18% sugar). Melons are good for drying, boiling, making syrup and preserving.
The fourth group includes large-fruited late-ripening winter melons like Gara gotur, Beshek and others. The period of ripening is 100-120 days, sugar content mingles around 14-16%, and the weight reaches 16 kilograms and over.
In the recent years, Turkmen selectionists have developed twenty new varieties of melon. They include the mid-season ripening species like Sha gawun, and Akmaral grown in the Akhal oasis. In the north of the country, in Dashoghuz province the new mid-season ripening variety Ak gurbek. Newly developed varieties introduced into the cultivation are juicy, fleshy, and unusually fragrant.
Besides newly introduced species, local selectionists are busy with revival of old wonderful sweet varieties of Turkmen melon. Today the Turkmen market is also full of old mid-season ripening varieties of melon like Gulaby, -Ak gulaby, Gok gulaby, Sary gulaby and others which are grown in the Turkmenabad plain of Lebap province.
The Gulaby enjoys fame not only in our country but also in its outside. The term of its ripening period ranges from 80 to 95 days and its crop capacity reaches 200-300 centners per hectare and sugar contain in its juicy flesh makes up 16-18%. Wonderful fruits grown in Lebap province have been recognized for several times for their qualities such as great aroma and unmatched taste in international shows. For example, in the city of Erfurt, Germany these varieties were awarded seven gold and one silver medals.
The Garrygyz variety grown in Mary province has been also re-developed. This autumn-winter variety is grown in the fields of Akhal and ripens within 90-100 days, its crop capacity is 300-400 centners per hectare and contain 6-18% sugar.
Turkmen melons sharply differ from those grown in other countries for their qualities. Sweet fruits grown in the dry, mild climate on clay soil, contain wonderful taste, high sugar as much as 19%. Experiments of cultivation of Turkmen melons in other climatic conditions cannot be called successful as in foreign lands this crop loses its qualities and does not get adapted.
In addition to its taste qualities, melons are rich in vitamins and microelements. It contains proteins, carbohydrates, lemon, oxalic, malic acids, В-carotene, Е, В6, В1, В2, В15, РР magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, chlorine, manganese, iron, copper, fluorine, zinc and others. Ancient healers recommended melon for treatment of atherosclerosis, organs of digestive tract, kidney and urinary bladder diseases. Modern researches have showed the usefulness of melon for patients with anemia, and its favorable effect on the cardio-vascular system.
Turkmen scientists and historians have developed the list of melon varieties in the course of long years and it has included itself about 430 samples grown in the entire history of watermelon, melon and gourd growing. This valuable list is available for visitors to the Museum of agriculture of Turkmenistan. It shows the most well-known species such as Bishek, Vakharman, Garrygyz, Gulaby, Gurbek, Zamcha having tens of subspecies. Thus, the history of Turkmen watermelon, melon and gourd growing has over 1000 national varieties and subspecies of melon developed in our fruitful land.
In the course of many centuries Turkmen melons have been noted for their sweetness, juiciness, unmatched taste qualities, high transportability and keeping capacity. Turkmen melon attain fame outside the country as promising important export product.
