In the Stavropol region began harvesting melons and gourds

In the Stavropol Territory, watermelons and melons are grown in 17 districts on an area of ​​1039 hectares. At the same time, the main production of gourds is concentrated in the hottest regions - in Neftekumsky, Kursk, Arzgirsky and Stepnovsky. These four subjects of the region account for about 684 hectares, and in the Neftekumsk district they have already begun collecting early watermelon and melon crops from 332 hectares of gourds.

480 tons of watermelons and melons have already been harvested here, with an average yield of 160 centners per hectare, which turned out to be 20-30% higher than this figure in 2020. Producers sell striped berries and their yellow neighbors directly from the fields of the Neftekumsk district at an average price of about 15-30 rubles per kg. Next in line for Neftekumsk farmers is the harvesting of vegetable crops from an area of ​​3,050 hectares and potatoes from 314 hectares.

Fragrant melons are also harvested in the Arzgir district today. A good harvest in 2021 was given by the peasant (farm) economy of Rita Pak - about 250 tons.

“I brought the first melon seedlings to my farm in 1982 from the Neftekumsky district, where I once tasted delicious watermelons and melons. And then I decided to plant them in my fields. I was also attracted by the opportunity to earn money, because the prices for melons are quite high. Watermelons did not take root, but the melons liked the Arzgir land. My first melon plantation unfolded on 50 acres, and in 2021 its area was 250 hectares,” shared the HEAD of K (F) X Rita Pak.

Having discovered a new direction in her work, Rita Chanmanovna plunged headlong into the science of growing melons, in which the Homestead Farming magazine became her main assistant. According to the advice of the publication, Arzgir melon growers experimented with different varieties, but exclusively domestic: "Stepnyachka", "Golden" of the Krasnodar selection. As a result, only two varieties have taken root and are grown here to this day - "Rannyaya-13" and "Lada".

Grandiose results in the cultivation of gourds for the last six or seven years have been shown by K (F) X Roman Ponomarev from the Grachevsky district. And if in 2007 melons and gourds were planted here on an area of ​​11 hectares, this year 40 hectares were allocated for this crop, of which 4 hectares are for melons. In this area, farmers produce only environmentally friendly products, and the use of the latest technologies gives high yields.
“The yield of watermelons grown in the traditional way was 30 tons/ha, and more than 100 tons/ha for rootstock, about 15 tons/ha for melons. To date, we have fulfilled the plan for the collection of the sweet harvest by 5%. All the most delicious is yet to come,” said Roman Ponomarev, head of the K(F)X.

More than 70% of all melons and gourds produced in the region are accounted for by K(F)H. They are in almost every district of the Stavropol Territory. Good areas are also allocated for them: in Izobilnensky - 65 hectares, Krasnogvardeisky - 58 hectares, Grachevsky - 55 hectares, Ipatovsky - 44 hectares, Georgievsky - 42 hectares, Levokumsky - 40 hectares, Trunovsky - 23 hectares.