Melon gold Scythians cultivation. The best varieties of melon. Landing in open ground

All varieties and hybrids of melon described here are included in the State Register and approved for cultivation in the territory of the Russian Federation.

Melon Torpedo, description and characteristics of the variety

Mid-season variety. The plant is climbing. The leaf blade is medium in size, green, dissected.

The fruit is elongated, gray, with a grayish tint, smooth, mesh of medium thickness and medium density, mesh structure. The average weight of a Torpedo melon is 2.5-6.0 kg. The flesh is greenish-white, medium thickness, melting, tender, juicy, excellent taste. The seed nest is medium in size. Seeds are long, medium width, dark creamy yellow.

yield: 1.8 kg/sq.m. The fruits retain commercial qualities for 15-20 days after removal.

The melon variety Torpedo was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2017 for cultivation in household plots.

Variety originator: Agrofirm SEARCH.

Melon Kolkhoznitsa, variety description, photo

Mid-season, the period from full shoots to the first harvest of fruits is 77-95 days. The plant is medium in size, long climbing, the stem is thin, not coarse. The leaf is reniform, weakly eminent, of medium size.

The fruit is spherical and medium-sized, weighing 0.7-1.3 kg. The surface of the fruit is smooth, yellow-orange in color, without a pattern. The mesh is sometimes found partial, large-meshed. The bark is of medium thickness, flexible, hard. The pulp is white, thin, fibrous, dense, semi-crispy, juicy, sweet. The seed nest is medium in size, the placentas are dry, parietal, dense. Taste qualities of fruits are good and excellent.

Commercial yield: 14.6-22.7 t/ha.

The variety is relatively resistant to bacteriosis, is strongly affected by powdery mildew and anthracnose.

Variety value: good fruit transportability.

Approved for use in the Central Black Earth, North Caucasus, Middle Volga, Lower Volga, Ural, West Siberian, East Siberian and Far Eastern regions in 1943.

Ethiopian melon, variety description, photo

The variety is mid-season, the period from full shoots to the first harvest of fruits is 80-91 days, 10-11 days later than the Golden standard. The plant is climbing. The leaf is medium in size, green, slightly dissected.

The fruit is wide-round, dark yellow with an orange tint, with a mesh of medium density and medium thickness, weakly segmented, smooth. Fruit weight 2.3-2.8 kg. The pulp is orange, melting, tender, juicy, excellent taste, with a strong aroma. The seed nest is medium in size, the placentas are parietal, dry, closed. Seeds of medium size, creamy yellow.

yield commercial fruits 89-145 c/ha, 43-49 c/ha above the standard. Fruits keep commercial qualities within 14 days after removal. Flameproof.

In 2013, the Ethiopka melon variety was included in the State Register for the Nizhnevolzhsky region for cultivation on rainfed land in private household plots.

Variety originator: agrofirm Poisk.

Melon Delano, description and characteristics, photo

Medium-early, the period from full shoots to the first harvest of fruits is 63-77 days. The plant is highly climbing. The leaf is medium in size, green, slightly dissected.

The fruit is oval, dark yellow, smooth, with a continuous mesh of medium thickness. The average fruit weight is 1.5-2.3 kg. The flesh is light cream, thick, tender, melting, juicy, excellent taste, with a strong melon flavor. Dry matter content 8.9-10.6%, total sugar 5.7-8.8%. The seed nest is medium in size. Seeds of medium size, narrow oval, pointed, light yellow. These melons are light and transportable.

yield marketable fruits on rainfed land 88-302 c/ha, 14-104 c/ha above the standards of Otrada and Tamanskaya.

The hybrid tolerates temperature extremes well, resistant to Fusarium.

The Delano melon variety was included in the State Register for the North Caucasus region in 2009.

Originator: NUNHEMS (Holland)

Melon Amal, description, photo

Mid-season melon hybrid. The plant is climbing. The leaf is medium in size, green, strongly dissected.

The fruit is elliptical, ocher in color, with a pattern in the form of dots, smooth, with a thin continuous mesh of a linear structure. The average fruit weight is 1.4-2.6 kg. The pulp is dark creamy, thin, melting, tender, juicy, of excellent taste, with a strong aroma. Dry matter content 8.4-11.0%, total sugar 5.5-7.6%. The seed nest is small, the placentas are central, dry, closed. Seeds of medium size, narrow oval, obtusely pointed, creamy yellow.

yield commercial fruits on rainfed land 93-140 centners per hectare, at the standards Otrada and Tamanskaya - 108 and 88 centners per hectare.

Advantages: excellent transportability, resistance to fusarium.

The Amal F1 melon hybrid was included in the State Register for the North Caucasus region in 2009.

Originator: CLAUSE (France).

Melon Lada

Mid-season variety of melon, the period from full shoots to removable ripeness (the first harvest of fruits) is 74-96 days. The plant is climbing, the main lash is of medium length. The leaf is medium in size, green, slightly dissected.

The fruit is round, yellow at maturity, without a pattern, smooth, with a continuous mesh, weighing 1.5-2.0 kg, resistant to cracking. The pulp is of medium thickness, light cream, crispy, tender, juicy, the aroma is weak. Taste is good and excellent. Dry matter content 10.5%, total sugar 8.4%. Seed nest of medium size, cream. Seeds are oval, ivory. Weight of 1000 seeds 39.6 g. Seed yield 1.5%.

Commercial yield fruit under irrigation 211-218 c/ha, at the level of the Yuzhanka standard.

Variety advantages: resistance to powdery mildew, tolerance to downy mildew and aphids.

The melon variety Lada was included in the State Register for the Nizhnevolzhsky region in 2005.

Variety originator: All-Russian Research Institute of Irrigated Vegetable and Melon Growing.

Melon Tale

Early ripe variety, the period from full shoots to removable ripeness (the first harvest of fruits) is 60-62 days. Ripening is friendly. The plant is climbing. The leaf is medium in size, green, slightly dissected.

The fruit is elliptical in shape, yellow at maturity, without a pattern, weakly segmented, with a sparse mesh, weighing 1.6-1.8 kg (up to 2.3 kg). The pulp is light cream, 2.5-3.0 cm thick, crispy, medium juicy, sweet, with a slight aroma, good taste. Dry matter content 11.0-12.0%, total sugar 9.0-10.0%. The seed nest is medium in size, consists of three wall dry closed placentas. Seeds narrow oval, ivory. Weight of 1000 seeds 41 g. Seed yield 1.0%.

Melon yield Fairy tale: 2.1-2.3 kg / sq.m, for the first two collections - 0.3-0.4 kg / sq.m.

Advantages: resistance to powdery mildew, tolerance to peronosporosis, precocity, friendly maturation.

The melon variety Skazka in 2001 was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation for garden plots, home gardens and small farms for cultivation in open ground and under film shelters.

Variety originator: OOO Semko-Junior.

Melon Altai

A good, time-tested, early ripening melon variety. The period from full shoots to the first harvest of fruits is 65-75 days. The plant is medium in size, medium climbing. The leaf is pentagonal, weakly and strongly dissected, small. The petiole is short, oblique.

The fruit is oval and short oval, medium in size, weighing 0.8-1.6 kg. The surface of the fruit is smooth or slightly segmented. In a mature melon, it is lemon or orange-yellow in color, without a pattern, in an immature one it is green or dark green. The mesh varies from partial to complete, medium mesh, delicate. The bark is soft. The flesh is light orange or white, thin, granular, aromatic. The seminal nest is large, the placentas are semi-liquid or liquid, they fill less than half of the seminal nest. Taste qualities of fruits are satisfactory.

Flaws: low transportability and keeping quality of fruits.

Commercial yield: 25.0 t/ha (with proper cultivation practices).

The Altai melon variety was approved for use in the Ural, West Siberian and East Siberian regions in 1955.

Variety originator: WEST SIBERIAN VEGETABLE EXPERIMENTAL STATION VNIIO.

Melon Caramel

Medium-early melon hybrid, the period from full shoots to the first harvest of fruits is 62-66 days. The plant is highly climbing. The leaf is medium in size, green, slightly dissected.

The fruit is oval, dark yellow at maturity, smooth, with a continuous thick mesh. Fruit weight 1.2-1.9 kg. The pulp is light cream, thick, tender, melting, juicy, excellent taste with a strong aroma. Dry matter content 8.5-9.8%, total sugar 5.4-7.6%. The seed nest is small, the placentas are central, dry, closed. Seeds of medium size, oval, obtuse, creamy yellow.

yield marketable fruits on rainfed land 94-156 centners / ha, in the standard Otrada - 104-128 centners / ha. The maximum yield is 260 kg/ha, 172 kg/ha higher than the Tamanskaya standard (Krasnodar Territory).

Advantages of a hybrid: transportable, tolerates waterlogging of the soil, resistant to fusarium.

The melon hybrid Caramel F1 was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation for the North Caucasus region in 2009.

Originator: CLAUSE (France).

Melon Aikido

Mid-early - mid-season melon hybrid. The plant is climbing. The leaf is medium in size, dark green, dissected.

The fruit is round, yellow at maturity, segmented, with a mesh of medium density, weighing 1.4-2.1 kg. The pulp is light green, thick, melting, tender, juicy. The taste is good and excellent. Melon aroma. Seed nest of medium size, placentas - 3, their position is central. Seeds are creamy yellow, medium in size.

yield commercial fruits on rainfed 92-119 c/ha, at the level of the Otrada standard, for the first two collections - 34-56 c/ha, at the standard level.

The hybrid is resistant to Fusarium.

Melon Aikido F1 in 2006 is included in the State Register for the North Caucasus region for cultivation in household plots.

Originator: SAKATA.

Melon Raymond

Mid-early hybrid, the period from full shoots to the first harvest of fruits is 65-75 days, 2-5 days later than the Golden standard. The plant is climbing. The leaf is medium to large, light green to green, slightly dissected to dissected.

The fruit is elliptical, yellow with an ocher tint, smooth, slightly wrinkled, with a dense mesh of medium thickness. Fruit weight 2.0-3.6 kg. The pulp is creamy, thin, crispy, tender, medium-juicy, good taste. Dry matter content 9.2-9.3%, total sugar 6.6-6.9%. The seminal nest is medium in size, the placentas are central, semi-liquid, open. Seeds obtuse, creamy yellow.

yield marketable fruits in the North Caucasus region when grown on rainfed 108-284 c/ha, 7-213 c/ha above the standard, in the Nizhnevolzhsky region when grown on rainfed - 112-128 c/ha, in the standard - 56-96 c / ha, with irrigation - 214-346 centners / ha, for the standard - 258-359 centners / ha.

The hybrid is transportable. The fruits retain commercial quality for 30-40 days after removal.

Melon Raymond F1 in 2011 included in the State Register of the Russian Federation for the North Caucasus and Nizhnevolzhsky regions.

Originator: HAZERA (Israel).

Melon Dune

An early ripe variety, the period from full shoots to the first harvest of fruits is 58-75 days. The plant is climbing. The leaf is medium in size, green, slightly dissected.

The fruit is oval, yellow at maturity, mesh is solid, medium density. The average weight of the fetus is 1.4-1.7 kg. The pulp is light cream, thick, granular, dense, tender, juicy, excellent taste. Melon aroma. Seeds are oval, blunt-pointed, medium-sized, ivory. Weight of 1000 seeds 41 g. Seed yield 0.7%.

yield commercial fruits on rainfed crops 92-150 centners/ha, 5-28 centners/ha higher than the Autumn and Golden standards, with irrigation - 374-398 centners/ha, at the level and 108 centners/ha above the Golden standard.

The variety has good transportability.

The melon variety Duna was included in the State Register for the Nizhnevolzhsky region in 2008.

Variety originator: Bykovskaya Melon Breeding Experimental Station VNIIO.

Melon Cossack

Mid-season variety, the period from full shoots to the first harvest of fruits is 70-95 days. The plant is long-branched, medium in size, the stem is thin. The leaf is reniform, strongly notched, of medium size.

The fruit is oval, medium size, weighing 1.2-1.8 kg. The surface of the fruit is smooth or slightly segmented, bright yellow at maturity, without a pattern, sometimes mesh elements are found. The bark is hard, medium strength. The pulp is white, medium thickness, fibrous, slightly crispy, dense, juicy, sweet. Escape is average. The seed nest is medium in size. Fruit taste is good.

yield: 17.7-28.7 t/ha.

The variety is moderately affected by powdery mildew and anthracnose.

Variety value: good fruit transportability. Approved for use in the North Caucasus and Nizhnevolzhsky regions in 1964.

Variety originator: OAO ‘ROSTOVSORTSEMOVOSHCH’

Melon Cinderella

Early ripe variety, the period from full shoots to removable ripeness (first fruit harvest) 60-72 days. The plant is climbing. The leaf is medium in size, green, slightly dissected.

The fruit is oval, yellow, without a pattern, smooth, with a continuous mesh, weighing 1.1-2.2 kg. The pulp is light cream, 3.0-3.5 cm thick, crispy, juicy, tender, good taste. Dry matter content 7.0-11.4%, total sugar 5.4-9.3%. The seed nest is small, consisting of three central, dry, open placentas. Seeds narrow oval, ivory. Weight of 1000 seeds 46 g. Seed yield 0.7%.

Commercial yield fruits 134 c/ha, for the first two collections - 96 c/ha. The output of marketable products is 85%.
Melon Cinderella is recommended for local consumption. The fruits retain commercial qualities for 15-20 days after removal.

The variety is resistant to low and high air temperatures.

The melon variety Cinderella was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2005 for horticultural plots, home gardens and small farms.

Originator: BRANCH KUBAN OS VIR (KRASNODAR REGION).

Melon Tamanskaya

Early ripe variety, the period from full shoots to removable ripeness (the first harvest of fruits) is 53-80 days. The plant is climbing. The main whip is of medium length. The leaf is medium in size, green, slightly dissected.

The fruit is oval, yellow in color, without a pattern, smooth, with a mesh of medium density. The seed nest is large, the position of the placenta is parietal, the structure is open. The bark is thin, creamy on the cut. The pulp is creamy, medium thickness, crumbly, granular, tender, juicy. Fruit weight 0.5-1.3 kg. Taste qualities are good. Dry matter content 8.1-12.5%, total sugar 5.7-11.2%. Seeds narrow oval, ivory. Weight of 1000 seeds 28 g.

yield marketable fruits on rainfed land 49-169 c/ha, for the Zolotistaya and Otrada standards - 55-217 c/ha, for the first two collections 34-104 c/ha, for the standards - 37-78 c/ha.

The variety is transportable.

The melon variety Tamanskaya was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation for the North Caucasus region in 2004.

Variety originator: VNII RISA (Krasnodar).

Melon Temryuchanka

Mid-season variety, the period from full shoots to the first harvest of fruits is 70-95 days. The plant is climbing. The leaf is medium in size, green, slightly dissected.

The fruit is round, dark yellow at maturity, without a pattern, weakly segmented, strongly wrinkled with a thick continuous mesh. Fruit weight 1.4-2.1 kg. The pulp is light cream, thick, tender, melting, juicy, very sweet, excellent taste, with a melon aroma. Dry matter content 8.3-11.1%, total sugar 5.5-8.7%. The seed nest is small. Seeds are large, oval, blunt-pointed, ivory. Weight of 1000 seeds 35-40 g. Seed yield 1.1%.

yield commercial fruits on rainfed 108-178 centners/ha, 11-27 centners/ha higher than the standards of Kazachka 244 and Zolotistaya. The maximum yield is 317 c/ha, 186 c/ha higher than the Zolotistaya standard (Krasnodar Territory).

The grade is transportable, hardy to stressful conditions. The fruits retain commercial qualities for 25-30 days after removal.

The melon variety Temryuchanka was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation for the North Caucasus and Ural regions in 2008.

Variety originator: VNII RISA, Tsybulevsky Nikolay Ivanovich (Krasnodar).

Melon Gold of the Scythians

Mid-early melon hybrid, period from full germination to removable ripeness (first fruit harvest) 70-80 days. The plant is climbing. The leaf is medium in size, light green, slightly dissected, strongly serrated along the edge, slightly wavy.

The fruit is round in shape, yellow when ripe, with a thin dense mesh. The seed nest is medium in size. The position of the placenta is central. The pulp is creamy, 3.5 cm thick, melting, tender, juicy, sweet, aromatic. Fruit weight 1.1-1.3 kg. The taste qualities are excellent. Seeds narrow oval, ivory. Weight of 1000 seeds 41 g.

yield marketable fruits 6 kg/sq.m.

Hybrid value: high yield, excellent fruit taste, resistance to powdery mildew.

The F1 hybrid Zlato Scythians was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2002 for horticultural plots, home gardens and small farms for growing under film shelters.

Originator: Ltd. Selection firm Gavrish.

If you grow any other good melon varieties, share your opinion about them in the comments. Attach a photo if possible. Your feedback on melon varieties will help many of our readers learn more about them and decide which varieties and hybrids to plant on their site.

At the cottage in 2005. On our first melon, 3 varieties of melons grew. That season, the melon of the Kolkhoznitsa variety was the best.

In 2006, we already worked with 5 varieties: Lada, Collective Farm Girl, hybrids of Scythian Gold, Gerda, and Joker. Given our little experience in growing melons, the choice of these varieties turned out to be very successful, we got a very decent harvest from all plants. We tried the first melon from the “Scythian Gold” hybrid on August 5, it was very fragrant and sweet. These two years have given a great start to melons and gourds in our area. Watermelons and melons were registered with us, and every year we grew melons in the country, both in the greenhouse and in the open field.

The summer of 2012 was unfavorable for these crops in the Northwest region. Lack of sun, continuous rains and high humidity - all these circumstances excluded the possibility of obtaining a melon harvest this season. For these reasons, this year for the first time we had problems with the harvest of melons in the open field. In greenhouses, we have collected a decent crop of sweet melons. Many years of experience proved to be the key to the success of growing melons in the past unfavorable year.
My wife and I try to plant 70% of well-tested varieties of melons. But along with proven varieties, we annually introduce 2-3 new varieties, which we carefully select. We draw information about new varieties of melons from various sources, read, analyze, and only after that we buy seeds and experiment with them.

In this article, I want to tell you what helped us get a good crop of melons in the greenhouse. In the spring of 2012, we planted the Roxalana, Joker, and Scythian Gold hybrids that we tested, as well as the new Cantaloupe, Gallia, and Dune varieties.

Sowing and planting seedlings of melons

Based on the accumulated experience, we decided on the favorable dates for sowing seeds for seedlings: from April 1 to April 25, depending on the lunar calendar. we do not pre-soak, we make the soil for sowing loose, nutritious, with a neutral reaction. We sow in half-liter cups from under sour cream. We fill the cups with soil to 2/3 of the height, and sprinkle the earth as the seedlings grow. We put containers with crops in boxes and put them in a warm place. Seeds germinate quite quickly: seedlings appear in 3-8 days.

We usually plant seedlings in a greenhouse in early May. For planting seedlings of melons in early spring, we prepare warm, high ridges in the greenhouse. They are rectangular pedestals: for one plant, the area is 0.3-0.4 m2 (60 x 60 cm), for two plants 0.7-0.8 m2 (60 x 120 cm). You can use large wooden barrels without a bottom for these purposes. Our high ridges are wrapped in black film to quickly warm up the soil in spring and early summer. Around the ridges I leave space for a passage with a width of at least 1 meter.

On such high warm ridges, with abundant watering, powerful tops grow very quickly, which I form into 5-6 lashes. These lashes occupy a large area in the greenhouse. Each whip left for fruiting should have its own personal space - so that the sun illuminates it well, and the air can easily circulate. A high ridge, well seasoned with organic matter, and regular watering with warm water allows you to quickly grow a huge bush with a lot of fruits. All the fruits in the greenhouse have time to ripen, even in such unfavorable summer weather conditions. Some varieties of melons, after ripening the first layer of fruits, have time to give more ovaries and a second crop, although all the fruits do not have time to ripen before frost.

Last season, we planted seedlings of melons on May 8, under a temporary film shelter. After passing through the band of return frosts, we remove the temporary shelter from the ridges. We water the plants, start tying and forming melon bushes.

Formation of a melon bush

On plants, you need to leave the main shoot of the first order and 4-5 lateral shoots of the second order. With this formation, a powerful plant blooms longer and does not get fat. The flowering period can last almost 1 month. During this time, 2-3 melons can be tied on each lash, just have time to tie them into Delanosetochki. So that the bush does not thicken, I leave the third-order shoots only those on which the fruits are tied. I delete all other shoots of the third order. A strong bush, like a large tree, stimulates the development of the root system to a depth of 70-80 cm. Thanks to a powerful root system and tops, many large fruits are tied and ripen on the plant. In a favorable year, one plant can produce up to 40 kg of crop.
The culture of melons is carried out on a vertical trellis. For fruits, we arrange special shelves or hang them in nets. The faster the growth rate of the lashes, the more intensively you need to water with warm water. These waterings continue throughout the development of the plant. There comes a time when the first fruit of the melon begins to ripen, and watering is reduced. It is necessary to water periodically, depending on weather conditions, the rate of fruit ripening, and also choose the time so that the fruits do not crack.

The maturity of melon fruits is determined by their appearance: the color of the melon becomes more intense, a reticulation of the pattern begins to appear on the surface, it becomes clearer, and a bright aroma of fruits spreads through the greenhouse.

It is impossible to explain all the subtleties of care, watering, harvesting in one article. This is a creative process that depends on the combination of many circumstances and each particular season. To get the result, you often have to rely on your intuition and many years of experience. A person must live the life of his plants and constantly feel what they need at the moment.
Working with the cultivation of melons and watermelons brings me great satisfaction. This year 2012 was no exception: the Joker hybrid did not fail - it gave a very good harvest of large fruits. From the hybrid "Gold of the Scythians" we got an early harvest, 8-10 fruits from each plant. The Cantaloupe musk melon hybrid set a lot of fruits, but not all of them had time to ripen, apparently there was not enough heat and sun, but these melons tasted very good. We also really liked the taste of the fruits of the "Dune" variety.

We will continue to gain experience and experiment with this culture. We also wish you success in this exciting activity!

The first time we tried to grow a melon in the country in 2005. On our first melon, 3 varieties of melons grew. That season, the melon of the Kolkhoznitsa variety was the best.

My wife and I try to plant 70% of well-tested varieties of melons. But along with proven varieties, we annually introduce 2-3 new varieties, which we carefully select. We draw information about new varieties of melons from various sources, read, analyze, and only after that we buy seeds and experiment with them.

In this article, I want to tell you what helped us get a good crop of melons in the greenhouse. In the spring of 2012, we planted the Roxalana, Joker, and Scythian Gold hybrids that we tested, as well as the new Cantaloupe, Gallia, and Dune varieties.

Sowing and planting seedlings of melons

Based on the accumulated experience, we decided on the favorable dates for sowing seeds for seedlings: from April 1 to April 25, depending on the lunar calendar. We do not pre-soak the seeds, we make the soil for sowing loose, nutritious, with a neutral reaction. We sow in half-liter cups from under sour cream. We fill the cups with soil to 2/3 of the height, and sprinkle the earth as the seedlings grow. We put containers with crops in boxes and put them in a warm place. Seeds germinate quite quickly: seedlings appear in 3-8 days.

Formation of a melon bush

On plants, you need to leave the main shoot of the first order and 4-5 lateral shoots of the second order. With this formation, a powerful plant blooms longer and does not get fat. The flowering period can last almost 1 month. During this time, 2-3 melons can be tied on each lash, just have time to tie them into nets. So that the bush does not thicken, I leave the third-order shoots only those on which the fruits are tied. I delete all other shoots of the third order. A strong bush, like a large tree, stimulates the development of the root system to a depth of 70-80 cm. Thanks to a powerful root system and tops, many large fruits are tied and ripen on the plant. In a favorable year, one plant can produce up to 40 kg of crop.
The culture of melons is carried out on a vertical trellis. For fruits, we arrange special shelves or hang them in nets. The faster the growth rate of the lashes, the more intensively you need to water with warm water. These waterings continue throughout the development of the plant. There comes a time when the first fruit of the melon begins to ripen, and watering is reduced. It is necessary to water periodically, depending on weather conditions, the rate of fruit ripening, and also choose the time so that the fruits do not crack.

Working with the cultivation of melons and watermelons brings me great satisfaction. This year 2012 was no exception: the Joker hybrid did not fail - it gave a very good harvest of large fruits. From the hybrid "Gold of the Scythians" we got an early harvest, 8-10 fruits from each plant. The Cantaloupe musk melon hybrid set a lot of fruits, but not all of them had time to ripen, apparently there was not enough heat and sun, but these melons tasted very good. We also really liked the taste of the fruits of the "Dune" variety.

We will continue to gain experience and experiment with this culture. We also wish you success in this exciting activity!

Text and photo: Boris and Galina Romanov