To date, the quantity of melon sorts, being cultivated by watermelon, melon and gourd growers in our country comes to three hundred. Their number increases. Only within the last years, the Turkmen selectionists bred twenty new varieties of “queen of plantations”. Among them, there are mid-season sorts as Sha gawun, Akmaral, Ak gurbek – juicy, pulpy, unusually fragrant.
In total, according to the register of the Farming Museum of Turkmenistan, over 100 varieties of melon were created on the Turkmen land in the history of watermelon, melon and gourd growing. So, besides cultivation of new sorts, the national breeders are engaged in renewal of old ones “forgotten” in the time. Today, in Turkmen bazaars, it is possible to find again sweet melons of old mid-season type of Gulabi-Ak gulabi, Gok gulabi, Sary gulabi. The ripening term of Gulabi sorts is from 80 up to 95 days, their crop capacity – 200-300 centners from a hectare. Sugar content in their pulp reaches 16-18%. Wonderful fruits from Lebap province by origin won more than once the gold and silver medals at the international exhibitions as award for their qualities – unsurpassed taste and marvelous aroma.
Famous sort Garrygyz from Mary province by origin returned to the Turkmen table-cloth as well. In our days, this autumn-winter sort is cultivated by farmers in Akhal. It ripens during 90-100 days, has crop capacity of 300-400 centners from a hectare and contains 16-18% of sugar.
Secret of unsurpassed taste of the Turkmen melons is in particular soil-climatic conditions of the country, long frost-free period, which totals from 193 up to 275 days during a year. Wide assortment of Turkmen melons is clearly divided into 4 seasonal groups, differing by early maturation, period of their mass ripening.
Fast-ripening or early-maturing melons of Zamy, Ternek, Zamcha, Mazy and other types, ripening during 60-70 days comprise the first group. As a rule, the sorts of this group open the melon season. Their pulp is very juicy, tender, and pleasant to taste, with strong aroma and sugar content from 8 up to 15%.
Second group contains a major part of more spread sorts of summer mid-season melons of Vaharman, Mesek, Shekerpalak and other types with the ripening term 75-100 days. Fruits differ by different taste tints, crispy, thick, replenishing pulp (14-18% of sugar), perfectly suitable for preparation of “gawun kak” (dried melon). Crust of these melons is amazingly painted with delicate patterned and many-colored net.
Autumn-winter sorts of Garrygyz, Gulabi, Gurbek and other types with period from young growth till beginning of ripening in 95-100 days make up the third group. In most cases, these melons with thick, dense, filamentous, very sweet pulp (15-18%) differ by portability and long keeping. They are of medium size with weight 4-6 kg and sometimes 8-10 kg. Melons of this group are suitable for drying, jam making and sealing.
The fourth group comprises the winter sorts, late-ripening and large-fruited as Gara gotur, Beshek, Alma gulabi, Akgash and others. Their ripening period continues 100-120 days and their weight come to 16 and more kilograms (1.5 - 2 poods). Winter melons can not compete with melons of summer and autumn-winter assortment, but they excellently add to the bouquet of gustatory senses while eating them in winter period. Sugar content of these melons varies within 14-16%.
During many centuries, the Turkmen melons were famous for their qualities and were in great demand. Dried melon – “kak”, which was made from pulp of mid-season melons and dried under sun, was considered as the highest delicacy. Melon cultivation in Turkmenistan has a status of only significant article of watermelon, melon and gourd growing, it is ancient folk tradition reached to the rank of art.
In total, according to the register of the Farming Museum of Turkmenistan, over 100 varieties of melon were created on the Turkmen land in the history of watermelon, melon and gourd growing. So, besides cultivation of new sorts, the national breeders are engaged in renewal of old ones “forgotten” in the time. Today, in Turkmen bazaars, it is possible to find again sweet melons of old mid-season type of Gulabi-Ak gulabi, Gok gulabi, Sary gulabi. The ripening term of Gulabi sorts is from 80 up to 95 days, their crop capacity – 200-300 centners from a hectare. Sugar content in their pulp reaches 16-18%. Wonderful fruits from Lebap province by origin won more than once the gold and silver medals at the international exhibitions as award for their qualities – unsurpassed taste and marvelous aroma.
Famous sort Garrygyz from Mary province by origin returned to the Turkmen table-cloth as well. In our days, this autumn-winter sort is cultivated by farmers in Akhal. It ripens during 90-100 days, has crop capacity of 300-400 centners from a hectare and contains 16-18% of sugar.
Secret of unsurpassed taste of the Turkmen melons is in particular soil-climatic conditions of the country, long frost-free period, which totals from 193 up to 275 days during a year. Wide assortment of Turkmen melons is clearly divided into 4 seasonal groups, differing by early maturation, period of their mass ripening.
Fast-ripening or early-maturing melons of Zamy, Ternek, Zamcha, Mazy and other types, ripening during 60-70 days comprise the first group. As a rule, the sorts of this group open the melon season. Their pulp is very juicy, tender, and pleasant to taste, with strong aroma and sugar content from 8 up to 15%.
Second group contains a major part of more spread sorts of summer mid-season melons of Vaharman, Mesek, Shekerpalak and other types with the ripening term 75-100 days. Fruits differ by different taste tints, crispy, thick, replenishing pulp (14-18% of sugar), perfectly suitable for preparation of “gawun kak” (dried melon). Crust of these melons is amazingly painted with delicate patterned and many-colored net.
Autumn-winter sorts of Garrygyz, Gulabi, Gurbek and other types with period from young growth till beginning of ripening in 95-100 days make up the third group. In most cases, these melons with thick, dense, filamentous, very sweet pulp (15-18%) differ by portability and long keeping. They are of medium size with weight 4-6 kg and sometimes 8-10 kg. Melons of this group are suitable for drying, jam making and sealing.
The fourth group comprises the winter sorts, late-ripening and large-fruited as Gara gotur, Beshek, Alma gulabi, Akgash and others. Their ripening period continues 100-120 days and their weight come to 16 and more kilograms (1.5 - 2 poods). Winter melons can not compete with melons of summer and autumn-winter assortment, but they excellently add to the bouquet of gustatory senses while eating them in winter period. Sugar content of these melons varies within 14-16%.
During many centuries, the Turkmen melons were famous for their qualities and were in great demand. Dried melon – “kak”, which was made from pulp of mid-season melons and dried under sun, was considered as the highest delicacy. Melon cultivation in Turkmenistan has a status of only significant article of watermelon, melon and gourd growing, it is ancient folk tradition reached to the rank of art.
