Ikhabe

© Louise Brodie
Igama lesayensi: Citrullus Lanatus Igama elivamile: Watermelon Ikhabe kucatshangwa ukuthi ivela ezindaweni ezomile zase-Afrika. Manje usetshalwe emhlabeni wonke.

Incazelo Yesitshalo

Ikhabe i-cucurbit kanye nengxenye yomndeni weCucurbitaceae. Ikhula emvini ovuthiwe othumela umlibo osakazeka emhlabeni wonke. Lesi sitshalo sikhiqiza izimbali zombili zesilisa nezesifazane esitshalweni esifanayo.

Ikhabe inezimpande eziyinkimbinkimbi futhi ngakho-ke kubaluleke kakhulu ukulawula ukhula nokunisela njalo njengoba izimpande eziningi zikhona enhlabathini engaphezulu kuka-20 cm.

Lezi zimpande zingasakazeka kuyo yonke indawo ehlanganiswe amaqabunga nemivini. Ibuye ibe nomsuka wempompi owehla cishe ku-40 cm. Isithelo ngokuvamile sinesikhumba esiluhlaza nephakathi ebomvu uma kuvuthiwe.

Ukusetshenziswa

I-Watermelon iyathandwa kakhulu idliwa futhi ibuye iyenze umpe. Izithelo zayo zisetshenziselwa ukugaya nokulondoloza.

I-Watermelon iyathandwa kakhulu idliwa futhi ibuye iyenze umpe. Izithelo zayo zisetshenziselwa ukugaya nokulondoloza.

Ikhabe idinga umhlabathi wefenya ene-pH ephakathi kuka-6 no-7. Inhlabathi kufanele ibe nezinga elihle lokubunjwa kwamakhemikhali ngaphandle kwalokho lokhu kufanele kwengezwe efomini yomquba noma isivundiso noma izitshalo zokumboza okufanele zihlwanyelwe amaviki ayishumi nambili ngaphambi kokutshala.

Uma sekukhulile, isivuno sekhava sihlanganiswa enhlabathini ngaphambi kwesikhathi sokulindela okulindelekile. Njengomthetho uthathe amasampula omhlaba cishe amasonto angu-14 ngaphambi kosuku lokutshala olulindelekile futhi uhambise amasampula ekuhlaziyeni nasezincomo zokunciphisa izondlo.

Uma ukuhlaziywa kwenhlabathi kutholakala cishe amasonto angu-12 ngaphambi kokutshala, sebenzisa ilayimu yokulungiswa kwe-pH ne-gypsum ye-calcium kanye nomquba noma umanyolo wemvelo. Hlaba lezi zithasiselo emhlabathini, uxube inhlabathi engaphezulu kuka-500 mm. Lokhu futhi kuhluma ezindaweni zokugcina zezitshalo kanye nanoma yikuphi ukhula olukhule kusukela isivuno esidlule.

Isivuno sekhava eluhlaza luhlale luwumqondo omuhle ngoba lokhu kubuye kulawulwe ukhula futhi kuzofaka ezinye izinto eziphilayo emhlabathini. Hlwanyela isivuno sekhava futhi kuze kube yilapho imbewu ihlushwa izinyo. La mazinga aphezulu futhi ahlanganisa imbewu ngenhlabathi encane.

Emasontweni amathathu kuya kwamane kusukela ekutshaleni, hlela isivuno sekhava eluhlaza futhi usakaze umquba bese ulima kulo, uguqule inhlabathi 400 kuya ku-500 mm ejulile. Ngesilinganiso usike inhlabathi nanoma yikuphi okunye okushiya inhlabathi enhle ibe ihlelekile. Shiya phansi ukuze uhlale.

Evikini lokugcina ngaphambi kokutshala kusetshenziswe umanyolo wokuvuna ngaphambi kokunconywa kanti nanoma yiziphi izici ezilandelwayo ezifana ne-boron ne-Zinc nediski uhhale lokhu enhlabathini engaphezulu kuka-20 cm. Lokhu futhi kuthatha isinyathelo sokulawula ukhula.

Uma ukuqhuma kufanele kwenziwe noma imigqa yokugwedla ibeke noma imfucufucu. Inhlabathi manje isilungele ukutshala imbewu yekhabe noma izithombo.

Isimo Sezulu

Amakhabe, njengalawo wonke ama-cucurbits, afuna isimo sezulu esishisayo futhi akhula kahle lapho amazinga okushisa ephakathi kuka-18°C no-30°C.

Ukukhula konke kumiswe kodwa lapho izinga lokushisa liwela ngaphansi kwe-10°C futhi lizwela kakhulu ku-frost nezitshalo zingase zife uma ziboniswa emazingeni okushisa angaphansi kuka-5°C ngezikhathi ezinwetshiwe.

Amazinga okushisa aphezulu kakhulu angaphezu kwama-35°C nawo awonakalisa isivuno nesitshalo okulindelekile.

Izilimo

Kunezinhlobo eziyikhulu ezihlukahlukene zamakhabe. Izinhlobo eziyinhloko ezikhula eNingizimu Afrika yizo zonke izinhlobo ezinhle, ezibomvu, ezincane nezincane ezingenambewu.

Ezinye izinhlobonhlobo ezitholakalayo eNingizimu Afrika ziyi-Sweet Sugar, i-Charleston, i-Congo, i-Sugar baby, inyanga nezinkanyezi, i-Daytona, i-Sensei, isimanga esimhlophe, i-Yellow Petite ne-Starlight.

Kungcono nakakhulu ukuthola iseluleko sokuhlakulela esivela kusikhulu esengamele isikhungo kanye nabeluleki bendawo ngaphambi kokuba unqume. Bazokwazi ukucebisa izilimo ezifanele kakhulu endaweni ethile kanye nezimo ezifanele.

Translated by Nsika Khoza