Learning to choose a delicious melon. How to choose a sweet and ripe melon: expert advice

Often, after buying a melon or watermelon, we will be disappointed - we got immature or, conversely, already overripe. How to be? Learn to choose.

“How will the aroma from the greenhouse go - it's time to try the melon”

Roza Nurlyeva, a resident of the regional center of Saba, has been growing melons for ten years now. Favorite variety - "Kolhoznitsa". Last year I collected 27 heads from four bushes. The fruits are small - about 1.5-2 kilograms. And the taste is amazing.

“As the melon begins to ripen, its delicate aroma appears right there in the greenhouse. And when the garden is already filled with fragrance, it means it's time to pick a melon for testing. A ripe melon is all yellow, ready to fall off the stem. But this should not be allowed - let it ripen to the end. Therefore, I “dress” them in nylon stockings and hang them up - when the melon does not lie on the ground, it ripens evenly, ”the interlocutor shares her secrets.

Rosa grows her melons on natural bait - no chemical fertilizers, only chicken manure infusion - she usually injects it twice a season. He does not make seedlings, he plants seeds directly into the soil. But not every year it is possible to get a good harvest.

“Melon is still a southern fruit, it does not grow without heat. Last year, the seeds hatched evenly, but did not continue to grow. I watered it with everything possible - and chicken manure, mullein, even a biostimulant. Did not help. Everything turned yellow, I had to tear it out and throw it away. It seems that this has not happened in ten years - at the end of July they usually already ate their own melon, ”says Roza Nurlyeva.

According to her, hybrid varieties of melon grow better in our conditions. But they have one peculiarity - seeds prepared at home do not give a harvest the next year. Therefore, Rosa buys them every year.

A few tips from an experienced gardener: “The most delicious melon for us is the Kolkhoz Woman. We usually buy it. We choose by smell: a ripe melon has a strong, rich, bright aroma. You can determine by the stem - if it is completely dry, then the melon is ripe. Pay attention to the stripes on the peel - they should be gray - the color of dust.

"Kolhoznitsa" matures quickly

"Kolhoznitsa" - small, round. This is the earliest of all varieties, as well as the most juicy and fragrant. The sweetest and juiciest melon can be recognized by the pattern on the peel - the grooves on it should clearly stand out.

"Torpedo" - an oblong shape, grows in Uzbekistan. At home, it is called "Mirzachul" melon. The correct "Torpedo" is not greenish or white, but yellow.

Under the name "Honey" there are several varieties of melon. They differ in shape and color. But a common feature is a completely smooth peel. The taste is very sweet, with hints of vanilla. A ripe melon weighs more than meets the eye.

"Cantaloupe" - usually dark brown or slightly lighter. The surface is rough, covered with a light lacy mesh. There are also green stripes. The pulp is orange. Cantaloupe melon is fragrant, but its taste is rather modest. It is not very sweet and not very juicy. You can check it for ripeness by making a shallow scratch on the peel - if it appears green layer, which means that the melon is ripe.

How to choose a ripe melon?

The ripe fruit has a thick stem. If the melon is hard as a stone, then it was picked ahead of time. Such a melon rings when tapped. A ripe one will make a muffled, monotonous sound.

Now you have to smell the melon. It smells like grass - it means immature. Take a closer look at the stem - in a ripe melon it should be dry. A good melon has a thick skin. If soft, loose - the fruit is already overripe and began to deteriorate. Do not buy melons along the road - exhaust gases make them taste worse and less juicy.

The tail is dry, the “nose” is soft

It is necessary to smell the melon at the stalk - this is its most fragrant part. It doesn’t smell like anything - it means that the melon is unripe. Gives off a rotten smell - it has already deteriorated. It is allowed when the "nose" of the melon is softer than the rest of it.

A ball is good, a torpedo is even better

The favorite varieties of Russians are Kolkhoz Woman and Torpedo. The first is good when it is small in size - no more than 10-15 cm in diameter. But with the "Torpedo" on the contrary: the larger - the tastier.

Seeds are large

A fragrant, moderately soft melon was brought home, cut - to understand how ripe it is, you can see by the seeds. In ripe melons, they are large and easily separated from the pulp.

Are there nitrates?

The melon peel has a real accumulation of nitrates, their concentration reaches 129 mg / kg. And in the core of the fetus they are only 40 mg / kg.

Where to store melon?

The ideal storage temperature is 0...+2 degrees. At temperatures below zero, proteins are destroyed, viscosity is lost, frozen melon becomes unsuitable for food.

Benefits of melon

At different varieties melons different chemical composition. The melon contains sugar, carotene, vitamins B9, C, P, provitamin A, folic acid and iron pectin substances, oils and salts. Melon helps the digestion process, folic acid is essential for blood clotting. This product is useful during atherosclerosis, anemia, diseases of cardio-vascular system.

Vitamin C protects the body from colds and infections, early wrinkles, heart disease, improves tone.

Vitamin B calms the nerves, makes hair thick and long, fights against dandruff and acne.

Silicon improves the skin of the body, fights against wrinkles. It also affects the activity of the brain. Needed by nerves, intestinal walls.

Lycopene resists the aging process, the emergence of cancer cells.

Fiber helps the intestinal microflora. Removes cholesterol from the body, improves the digestion process.

Melon also quenches thirst, calms the nervous system. Nutritionists offer it during anemia, atherosclerosis, diseases of the liver and kidneys, and the cardiovascular system.

You should not use melon in large quantities for diabetes and ulcers. Breastfeeding mothers and babies should also avoid it. You can not drink after melon cold water or milk, kefir, this leads to pain in the stomach. Melon also does not combine with alcoholic beverages. Do not eat melon if it has scratches and cracks. It can be a source of dangerous infections, such as salmonellosis, botulism.

“The stalk is dry - I pick a melon”

Almira Minnullina, a resident of the Singel village of the Laishevsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan, grows both watermelon and melon in her garden.

“Last year and this year I sowed the Honey Tale variety. I plant directly into the soil. Right now my melon is sitting in bloom. This variety matures in three months. Melons are small - 2-3 kilograms, but very tasty. When I buy in a store, I also pay attention to the melon stalk. If it is dry, then I take it,” said Almira Minnullina.

End of summer and beginning of autumn great time when we start to eat gourds to our heart's content. Melon is the leader among them, according to consumers (as, indeed, watermelons).

Pleasant sweetness, juiciness, a whole range of useful properties, satiety - all these are signs of a good melon. And how to choose the right ripe melon, which will delight us with its taste and bring exceptional benefits? This will be discussed in our article.

Choosing the best melon on the counter

We start the selection of the most delicious melon with her appearance. It should be whole, of a beautiful natural shade (depending on the variety), without dents from blows, rotted areas, cuts and other damage. We pay attention to the smell coming from the melon: it should be spicy, honey, with hints of vanilla, sometimes pear, pineapple. If there is no smell or if it is weak, similar to the aroma of greens, then the melon, respectively, is green, and there will not be the necessary sweetness in it. The stalk of a ripe melon is dry.

We take a melon in our hands and feel it: it should spring. This means the ripeness of the fruit. The hard surface of unripe melons, soft, on which marks remain - overripe, having lost its taste and beneficial features. When you tap a ripe melon, you will hear a dull sound. If she “sounds” loudly, then she should still be in time.

To summarize the main features of a ripe tasty melon:

• She has a pleasant honey smell - you will not confuse it with anything. It's a good sign if you walk up to the melon tray and you can clearly smell their fragrance.
• Elastic - when you press your finger on the surface of the fetus, you feel how it springs.
• Surface without greening, dents - most varieties have yellow peel.
• On impact, a dull sound, not a ringing or "sinking" sound.

When setting such a task, how to choose a good melon, take into account: it must be safe and sound! Spots, dents, cracks - places beneficial for the spread of bacteria. By purchasing melons with such surface defects, you run the risk of falling ill with gastrointestinal diseases.

For the same reason, it is also dangerous to buy melon halves, cut in advance for ease of sale. Follow the same principle when refusing to taste a piece of melon that a helpful seller in the market can offer you. Pathogenic bacteria accumulate on both the tasting fruit and the knife.

Choosing the sweetest melon variety

Intending to buy a melon, we are looking for the sweetest one, since it will be the most delicious for us. The taste qualities of this fruit depend not only on the degree of ripening, but also on the variety. So, how to choose a sweet melon in principle, let's orient ourselves a little in varieties.

The sweetest, and the most common, we have melons:

The variety you like can be planted in your garden. By creating acceptable conditions and caring for it, you will get your own harvest of this crop.

To taste self-grown melons in their best time, they should be removed from the bush in time. How do you determine the ripeness of a melon before picking it?

• The stalk is dry or very sluggish.
• The fruits are no longer growing.
• Peel color characteristic of the variety (remember that the side warmed by the sun ripens first).
• Explicit pleasant aroma (in some varieties it happens if you slightly grind the skin).

When you cut a melon from the garden, do not be embarrassed if there are some greenish areas in it. The fruit cannot ripen uniformly at the same time, but the taste does not suffer from this.

Is buying an unripe melon justified?

There is such a tradition among the people: to buy several melons at once, moreover, with greenery. They do this with the aim that the fetus, after lying on the balcony for several days, for example, will ripen and there will be no need to go to the store again. It would be more rational to start by understanding: does the plucked melon ripen? The matter is as follows.

As the practice of gourd breeders says, a melon, quite a bit unripe, may well reach the desired condition at home in a warm place.

This applies only to those cases when the melon is not ripe enough. However, such a fruit will slightly differ in taste from those that have ripened in the garden.

The ripening of a plucked melon is influenced by the variety, growing conditions and subsequent storage, and other factors. Merchants take advantage of this property of melon so that it does not reach the buyer overripe, hopelessly losing its wonderful taste.

Good place to buy melon

Storage and transport conditions are important when it comes to melons. Better conditions are created in shops, supermarkets, trading floors - places of licensed trade in products. Your best insurance in such cases is a health check. trading places and conditions for the sale of goods.

It is strictly forbidden to buy melons from street vendors by the roads! Exhaust gases, dust settle on the product, harmful substances are absorbed into the fruit through microcracks on the peel. Such melons become unusable very soon, even if they were originally of excellent quality.

In closing, don't be afraid to overeat melons. This delicacy is a warehouse necessary vitamins and micronutrients. Approach the choice of the fetus responsibly and prepared, then it will not disappoint you.

How to choose a ripe melon without nitrates - video

Melon "Kolhoznitsa" is useful fruit, the cultivation of which is permissible both in open ground and in a greenhouse, in the presented photo you can observe this. Moreover, the taste of the fruit will largely depend on care, and in order to maximize the favorable conditions for this, you need to know about this variety to the maximum.

Melon "Kolhoznitsa" is popular product because it has juicy taste and delicate aroma. Moreover, it was this variety that gave the name to the whole varietal group, which can most often be found in Russia. In the photo you can see that the Kolkhoznitsa melon has both an oval and a rounded shape, but the aroma of such a fruit will enchant everyone!

Description of the variety "Collective farmer"

Mid-season variety of melon "collective farmer", has an orange or yellow color with a mesh pattern on the surface. The pulp is dense, crispy. Can't stand long-term storage. The variety is resistant to low air temperatures, and for the family of pumpkin varieties - this is a rarity.

Landing in the ground

Melon is a heat-loving plant, which is why planting should be done when frosts or strong drops are no longer expected. temperature conditions. Before starting work, it is necessary to loosen the soil and make small holes at a distance of 80 centimeters from each other, both in length and in width.

Water is poured into the recesses made and fertilizer (for example, humus) is applied. After that, the plant is removed from the container directly with an earthen clod (although for convenience it is better to use peat pots that are inserted into prepared holes) and carefully planted so as not to disturb the root system, while part of the earthen clod should be visible on the surface of the earth.

Water the sprout and try to shade for several days. Melon "Kolhoznitsa" and its cultivation in the open field will provide a decent harvest only if all the required standards for caring for the plant are met.

seedling preparation

So that the seedlings feel "comfortable" before planting in open ground it needs to be tempered. To do this, if there is a loggia, you can take it out there, first for several hours and eventually increase the time to a day. If the seedlings are in a greenhouse, then you can open the windows so that the air temperature changes “smoothly” and not abruptly. After all, in the spring the nights do not always become immediately warm. In connection with this, the sprouts will not die, but will be ready for a decrease in temperature.

Rules for growing outdoors

First you need to properly prepare the soil for planting. To do this, the earth needs to be dug up several times, that is, once in the fall, while fertilizing it (humus, compost), and a second time in early spring, so that the soil is loose, airy (that is, enriched with oxygen). The site for planting seeds is better suited sunny, but protected from the wind.

Seed selection plays an important role. You should try to pick up large intact seeds and treat them with a growth stimulator or a solution of boric acid. Be sure to harden and soak the seeds. To do this, they are first lowered into warm water(35 degrees for 12 hours), after which they are laid out at room temperature and kept for a day.

Then they are transferred to a room with a temperature of 0 degrees, left for a day and repeated all over again. So, do it three times during the week. Sowing is done when the top layer of the ground cover has warmed up to at least 15 degrees. In the prepared holes (as described above), 2-3 seeds are planted and sprinkled with earth.

Outdoor seedling care

The first time the plant is watered when the first leaf has formed. After the appearance of the second leaf on the shoot, you can thin out the sprouts, choosing the strongest and strongest. Moisten the plant moderately. In the phase of the third leaflet, "pinching" is carried out. This is done in order to accelerate the appearance of side shoots. The root system is formed when the seventh leaf appears.

We start sowing

It should be noted that planting last year's seeds may not produce a crop, since usually only "empty flowers" can be grown, so it is better to take seeds three years ago. It is important to use peat pots that will protect the root system from damage. After all, seedlings do not have to be taken out. Growing melon "Kolkhoz Woman" will not bring much trouble, you just need to follow some rules.

The selected containers are filled with fertilized soil and seeds are sown there to a depth of 4-5 centimeters. To avoid such a disease as the “Black Leg”, watering should be carried out moderately, and river sand should be poured around the sprout. Grow up to three leaves, and then pinch. Landing in the ground begins 25 days after the April sowing. Melon "Kolkhoz Woman" prefers "fluffy" soil. In this connection, if the earth is clay, it must be diluted with sand.

Planting care, watering and fertilizing melons

After "pinching" the melon produces two strong lateral shoots, which are "pinned" to the ground or set up a frame. The plant will rely on it in the process of growth. When weaving, the culture receives more light and warming up, which positively affects the quality of the crop.

Water melons regularly until the first fruits are formed. After that, the berries are collected with sugar. It is worth considering the factor that the soil should not turn sour, otherwise the root system will rot and the plant will die, that is, excess moisture will lead to this.

After planting, it is necessary to feed the plant, especially when lateral lashes appear. Before the appearance of buds, you can re-fertilize (organic mineral liquid fertilizers). An excess of nitrogen fertilizers will lead to delayed fruiting and unsweetened fruits.

Ripening time for melon "Kolkhoz Woman"

Ripening terms delicious berries usually range from 80 to 100 days. In such crops, you need to constantly pinch a bush, this has a positive effect on the ripening time of the fruit, that is, the crop will ripen faster. How much does a ripe melon weigh? Average weight berries have a mass of one and a half kilograms. In most cases, everything will depend on the place of growth and care, so it is difficult to give an exact answer.

Growing melons in a polycarbonate greenhouse

Growing in a greenhouse allows you to enjoy the taste of fruit in the cold season. The advantage of polycarbonate is that the material perfectly transmits the sun's rays inside and does not become cloudy over time. But before you grow a product, you must adhere to special technologies. Moreover, the melon "Kolkhoz Woman" is not a very demanding culture in its care.

Preparing seeds for growing

Be sure to properly prepare the land, nourish it beneficial substances. Then prepare the seeds by treating them with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This approach will save the seeds from many diseases. Additionally, planting material is treated with a growth catalyst, this is done so that the sprouts hatch faster.

Harvest

When harvesting, you must follow certain rules. For example, to collect fruits better in the morning or late in the evening, when the sun no longer bakes so strongly. The fruits are plucked along with the stem. After that, the melons are laid out on the beds and kept for 10 days in the sun, while every 3 days they are turned over to the other side. This approach allows you to extend the shelf life of the fruit. After that, the berries are placed in special boxes that are designed for transportation. Can be laid on straw.

Diseases and pests

Undoubtedly, diseases and pests not only spoil the crop, but also destroy plants, so timely control of them is simply necessary. A common pest is the "melon fly", the larvae of which usually hibernate at a depth of 15 centimeters, the first generation appears in early June. The laying of eggs in the melon pulp subsequently develops numerous larvae, which give the first shocks of rotting the fruit. You can find it by the holes in the peel.

An omnivorous pest is the "gnawing scoop". The main harm comes from the larvae. Visually, they look like a gray caterpillar, which really does not like the sun's rays, so it goes out to "hunt" in the evening or at night.

"Spider mite" is a common pest, due to which the plant can quickly die. It feeds on the juice of the plant, the leaves fall off and the tick moves to the stems, as a result, the plant dies.

"Powdery mildew" is one of the most common melon diseases. Leaves and stems first curl and then dry up. As a result, the culture dies. Fusarium wilt is a fungal plant disease. It is more common in medium and late ripening varieties of melons.

Copperhead saturates the leaves of melons with brown and pink spots, which gradually grow and infect the plant, as a result it rots. "Root rot" usually damages weakened plants. For pest control and various diseases you need to respond in time and correctly identify the cause, after which to process both the crop and the land, because otherwise the plant will die.

How to choose a melon "Kolkhoznitsa"

From right choice the enjoyment of the taste of this fragrant berry will depend. How to choose a ripe melon "Kolkhoznitsa"? I would like to immediately note the factor that you cannot buy fruits that are sold on the roadsides. Cut melons have a mass of bacteria that accumulate on exposed surfaces and penetrate inside.

Ripe melon "Kolhoznitsa" always has a rich aroma of honey or vanilla. If the fruit has no smell, then it is either not ripe, or it is highly saturated with an excess of nitrogen fertilizers. When patted, the berry makes a hollow sound. Before mid-August, the fruits do not have time to ripen, so it is best to buy a melon in season, that is, grown without any "growth accelerators". When choosing a fetus, pay attention to the tail, because ripe berries it will be dry.

An unripe fruit can be poisoned, while the pulp will be tough. When choosing a melon spout, it should be elastic, if it is soft, then it is an overripe product, and if, on the contrary, it is hard, then it is not ripe. And why can such a berry be bitter? The overripe melon "Kolhoznitsa" is usually bitter, of course, you will not be able to enjoy such a taste.

The benefits of melon for the body

The benefits of such a product are fraught with many positive factors for a person who wants to lose weight. overweight weight. So, sweet berry has diuretic activity. Melon "Kolhoznitsa" has a valuable fortified composition, which is why the fruit is useful for the body, for example, folic acid, which is so necessary for all people, especially pregnant women. Vitamin "C" helps to strengthen the immune system. Berry seeds especially help men gain additional strength, because it is the strongest helper - an aphrodisiac.

The composition of fiber in the product allows you to cleanse the intestines. Melon has vitamins of group "B" and it is very useful for people with diseases of the cardiovascular system. AT winter period time, dried melon slices are used, which are very sweet and palatable. Iron, magnesium, calcium is also found in the Collective Farm Woman variety.

In the article I will tell you how to choose a melon torpedo correctly. Guided by the advice, buy a sweet and ripe melon.

Melon is a favorite delicacy of many people. The main thing is to choose fragrant, sweet, juicy and ripe. Regrettably, not always a beautiful specimen turns out to be tasty. The fruit of a melon is a pumpkin, from a botanical point of view, this plant is a vegetable, and from a culinary point of view, it is a fruit.

1. Place of purchase . I recommend buying this melon culture in a supermarket or in a special market. Some buy along roads and highways. Doing this is not worth it. Plants easily absorb toxins and heavy metals.
2. License. Having decided on the place of purchase, ask the seller to show the license for trade and the conclusion of the SES. A conscientious seller will gladly provide documentation. If, instead of documents, he offers an interesting story about how good his products are, do not mess around and look for sweets elsewhere.
3. Fetus. The peel of the melon is not very dense, so choose a whole vegetable, without cracks, dents or stains. In such lesions, harmful bacteria can settle. Do not buy cut fruit. No one will guarantee that they cut it with a clean knife, what to say about the cleanliness of the hands of sellers. The cut pulp is an ideal environment for the rapid reproduction of bacteria.
4. Smell. The ripe fruit has a pleasant aroma with pineapple, honey or pear notes. Unripe ones don't smell at all.
5. Inspection. Be sure to slap on the surface. If the specimen is ripe, you will hear a dull sound. Choose a “tail” thick and dry, and a “nose” - a little soft.

The season is the beginning of autumn. At this time, buy a ripe fruit. Late melons are considered to be highly beneficial. The secret of the benefits lies in the cultivation technology, which does not involve the use a large number fertilizers.

People buy melons and are often disappointed when they return home, because the fruit turned out to be immature, and one can only dream of sweetness. My tips will help you choose a sweet melon. Therefore, you will be protected from buying a tasteless pacifier.

1. Smell it. good melon enjoy the sweet aroma. If there is no smell, there is no point in buying the product. choose sweet vegetable in trusted stores located away from dirty and gassed places.
2. Examine the fruit. If there are suspicious darkening and mechanical damage, you should not buy. The ripe version, when tapped, makes a dull sound, and the weightiness indicates ripeness. The technique resembles the watermelon selection method.
3. The surface of a good melon has a uniform color. If there are spots and veins on the peel, the specimen is most likely immature. Gray and brown spots are the first sign of decay.
4. As it matures, the skin becomes softer. Do not ignore this moment. Hard melon is underripe, while excessive softness indicates overripeness. The shape and color depend on the variety.
5. At home, after cutting, inspect the seeds. If they are large and easily move away from the pulp, everything is in order.

Video tips

The described action plan when choosing has never let me down.

How to choose a melon torpedo

It is difficult to find a person who refuses a piece of fragrant and juicy melon. True, the acquisition of a sweet dessert is not always successful. Often come across overripe or unripe fruits.

Torpedo - late variety, characterized by an oblong shape, unusual aroma and sweet taste.

1. The peel of the sweet "torpedo" is light yellow. It is completely covered with thin yellow rough grooves that form a cobweb. If on the surface great amount such furrows with a large branching - the melon is very tasty. But there should be no spots and cracks.
2. To the touch, the torpedo is quite solid. If a self-employed seller shows a soft vegetable, it looks like he is trying to sell an overripe fruit that has been in the sun for a long time.
3. The aroma of delicious and mature fetus it will not be possible to hide. There are times when a melon has all the signs of maturity, but does not smell at all. Be guided by the aroma. Sweetness and lack of flavor are mutually exclusive concepts.
4. Tail. If dry, then the fruit is ripe and plucked in time. Often sellers offer melons without ponytails. This is how they hide their immaturity.
5. Spout. This is a trace of a flower, located opposite the tail. In quality melon, it is slightly soft.
6. The pulp of the torpedo is fragrant, juicy and light. True, in the store it will not be possible to check this. So you can only be sure of maturity and quality on this basis at home.

Going to the store, do not forget about the tips, so buy only a delicious and ripe sweet vegetable. Before I finish this part of the article, I will share a few more recommendations.

1. Sellers must have documents. If instead of documents the seller showed displeasure, look for another stall or store.
2. In no case do not buy melons that lie on bare ground or near the road. Otherwise buy not sweet fruit, as a source of toxins, heavy metals and harmful substances.
3. You can't buy cut melons. Otherwise, health may be damaged.
4. Even if you want to eat a piece of a torpedo, and it's July outside, be patient. The best pumpkins arrive on the market in early autumn.

Choosing a ripe melon

The most delicious and ripe melons go on sale at the end of August. The stores sell two varieties that are not afraid of transportation and long-term storage - a collective farmer and a torpedo.

The first is inferior to the second in sweetness, but significantly superior in flavor. Sometimes nutmeg melons brought from other countries are also sold. But, they are far from sweet vegetables grown in domestic fields.

Let's talk about places where to buy melons. The list includes shops, supermarkets, official markets and stalls equipped for food trading. Here, vegetables and fruits are stored in normal conditions, and the premises themselves undergo a sanitary inspection.

Buying along the roads is not worth it. This is fraught food poisoning. Usually such sellers do not have health books, and all products are covered with dust and saturated with harmful substances.

1. Do not buy cracked and cut melons. sweet pulp ripe fruit is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.
2. When choosing a ripe specimen, carefully inspect the tail. If it's dry, all is well.
3. A light cotton on the surface will also help to check for ripeness. A dull sound should dispel doubts.
4. If you lightly press your fingers on the peel, the ripe slightly springy. Excessive hardness indicates immaturity, and excessive softness indicates overripeness.
5. The smell also helps to determine the ripeness. Ripe melon smells like pineapple, vanilla and even pears. The lack of flavor should be a concern.

Buy easily with these tips delicious melon. True, remember that you should not immediately cut and eat the purchased fruit.

1. To begin with, the fruit is well lathered and rinsed. cold water. So get rid of the harmful substances that are on the peel.
2. Store cut vegetables in the refrigerator.
3. Eating with cold water, dairy products or alcohol is not recommended. Otherwise, indigestion will overtake.

Melon is a source of magnesium, iron, potassium, vitamins and calcium. It helps to improve health, and if desired, lose weight.

7 ways to choose sweet melon

I will list seven nuances that you should study before choosing a sweet melon.

1. When choosing, first of all be guided by the smell. In a ripe fruit, the smell is subtle and causes pleasant feelings. If the melon smells like grass, it is most likely underripe. If the fragrance is missing, switch to another instance.
2. Lightly tap on the surface. A dull sound will tell you that there is a ripe vegetable in your hands.
3. Press the fruit with your finger in the area of ​​the stalk. If the peel sags, it is ripe.
4. Don't leave the tail unattended. If it is thick and has had time to dry, feel free to buy this option.
5. A ripe melon has a delicate skin that can be easily peeled off with a sharp object. If a green skin appears under it, all is well.
6. Do not buy from stalls located near the highway. The fruits there are saturated with heavy metals and harmful substances.
7. The surface must be free of cracks and damage. Damaged fruits will please with an "unpleasant surprise" in the form of viruses and bacteria.

With the help of the instructions, a sweet and tasty melon will appear on the table, which will enrich the body with useful substances and vitamins. Finally, I will add a few words about the benefits of this melon culture, which is quite large.

Which gardeners of Belarus have successfully begun to grow, the melon still remains exotic fruit. But during the ripening season of gourds, on the shelves of shops and in the markets, next to the striped berry, there is always a place for a sunny melon. She is loved for her unique aroma and amazing taste. However, this is not all the benefits that melon has. About what is useful and how to choose quality fruit, says the expert of the information portal - Yuri Guzik.

The benefits and harms of melon

Melon and watermelon have in common not only a place on the shelves in the distribution network. In terms of composition and effects on the body, there are also plenty of coincidences. For example, water is also the main constituent of melon pulp. Not by 90%, but a little less, but this does not affect the ability of the fruit to quench thirst. At the same time, melon (especially sugary varieties) has a higher energy value: at least 34 kcal per 100 g, and also contains an increased concentration of vitamins A, C, group B.

Yuri Guzik

Head of the Department of Food Hygiene, Minsk Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health

A melon has twice as much ascorbic acid (vitamin C) as a watermelon: 100 g of pulp satisfies daily requirement by 20–22%. Carotene (provitamin A) up to 8% daily allowance for every 100 g.

The superiority of melon content has been proven minerals. Melon is among the record holders for the amount of silicon, cobalt and rubidium. without participation silicon almost no process in the body is done, it helps to preserve beauty and youth.

Yuri Guzik

Head of the Department of Food Hygiene, Minsk Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health

Silicon improves the elasticity of blood vessels, stimulates the body's defenses, speeds up metabolic processes, helps maintain hormonal balance. Silicon deficiency, on the contrary, deprives a person of one of the natural defenders that inhibit pathological processes and slow down aging.

In addition, without silicon, the normal absorption of other useful minerals: calcium, phosphorus, cobalt, sulfur, manganese, fluorine.

Another trace element that melon contains in abundance is cobalt, which is part of cobalamin. This biologically active compound has all the properties of vitamin B 12. Thus, cobalt helps to maintain health nervous system, actively participates in the processes of hematopoiesis, supports the normal functioning of the pancreas. Sufficient consumption of foods containing cobalt is an excellent prevention of osteoporosis and atherosclerosis. But that's not all. Cobalt contributes to the accumulation of vitamins A and C in the body, which means that it directly affects the condition of the skin, hair, and nails.

Compared to other minerals, rubidium not all is known. But even what is known speaks only in favor of this microelement.

Yuri Guzik

Head of the Department of Food Hygiene, Minsk Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health

It has been proven that in some reactions occurring in the body, rubidium can replace potassium. And as you know, potassium is an essential element for the health of the heart and blood vessels, not to mention the general well-being and good mood.

Rubidium has the ability to minimize manifestations and increase the body's resistance to pathogenic microorganisms.

In addition to its rich nutrient composition, melon is distinguished high content dietary fiber. It is not for nothing that during hearty meals, melon is popular among southerners not only as a dessert, but also as natural remedy that improves digestion. Also, in moderate amounts, it is able to have a mild urinary and choleretic effect.

However, melon is not the same for everyone. Our expert recommends ditching melons in favor of other fruits for people with and peptic ulcer stomach. However, for any disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, it is better to refrain from eating melon so as not to aggravate the situation.

Melon is incompatible with alcoholic beverages, honey, cold water. The use of these products in one sitting is fraught with bloating, colic,.

4 signs of a ripe melon

There are several universal criteria that will help you choose a high-quality and ripe fruit of any variety and size. Chief among them - the ripeness of a melon is determined not by an incision, but by external signs.

1. Melon, ready to eat, like a ripened watermelon, makes a dull deep sound when patted. The melon, which "rings" and echoes, was removed from the melon ahead of time.
2. At the ripe melon on the opposite side of the tail, a moderately soft crust. It is easy to feel it by pressing on it with your fingers. If the rind yields slightly under pressure, you are holding a ripe fruit. If the peel is pressed in almost effortlessly, “squishes” - the melon is hopelessly overripe. If, on the contrary, the peel, despite the pressure, does not react in any way, you have a “green” product.
3. At the ripe melon the skin and stripes are yellow instead of green. The color of the peel is uniform, without contrasting spots. In addition, a ripe melon usually has a more expressive "grid": there are more cracks, the grooves are deeper.
4. It is not out of place to smell the melon before you buy it. The ripe fruit has a delicious aroma, especially at the tail. Poor-quality fruit, from the purchase of which you should refrain, either does not smell at all, or gives off the smell of greenery.

But how to choose not only high-quality, but also safe product from gourds, . The rules that must be observed when choosing a watermelon in order to protect yourself from intestinal disorders and poisoning are entirely fair in relation to the melon. And most importantly: never, under any pretext, buy a melon with a damaged peel, as well as cut into halves. Live great! Live with taste!