道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)紅(hong)(hong)瓜(gua)子(zi)是湖南永州(zhou)道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)的(de)(de)名產(chan),道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)舊稱道(dao)州(zhou)。紅(hong)(hong)瓜(gua)子(zi)在(zai)(zai)道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)已有200余年(nian)的(de)(de)栽培歷史。從80年(nian)代開始,道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)種植面積(ji)均穩定(ding)在(zai)(zai)2萬畝(mu)左(zuo)右(you),主要集(ji)中在(zai)(zai)道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)的(de)(de)清塘、蚣壩、審章塘等地。到道(dao)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)來做客(ke)的(de)(de),不管是在(zai)(zai)酒家飯(fan)店(dian),還是農(nong)家小(xiao)院,坐上飯(fan)桌之前,就會有一(yi)小(xiao)盤(碗(wan)(wan))紅(hong)(hong)瓜(gua)子(zi)等著你了。特(te)別是在(zai)(zai)清塘、營江農(nong)村,走的(de)(de)時候,主人也不忘把那(nei)碗(wan)(wan)沒吃完的(de)(de)紅(hong)(hong)瓜(gua)子(zi)倒在(zai)(zai)你的(de)(de)衣兜里(li),"沒事的(de)(de)時候嗑(ke)"。
紅(hong)瓜(gua)(gua)子為籽(zi)瓜(gua)(gua)的種(zhong)子,籽(zi)瓜(gua)(gua)是西瓜(gua)(gua)品(pin)種(zhong)中的一種(zhong),個體小而(er)籽(zi)多(duo)。道縣紅(hong)瓜(gua)(gua)子的特(te)點(dian)是顏色鮮紅(hong),顆粒飽滿,芳香(xiang)可口,含有(you)(you)豐(feng)富的蛋白質、脂肪和多(duo)種(zhong)維生素,有(you)(you)利尿通便、助(zhu)消化等功效(xiao),是高級點(dian)心的上等配(pei)料。由于瓜(gua)(gua)子特(te)有(you)(you)的紅(hong)色,還成為逢年過節、新婚(hun)喜(xi)慶招待(dai)親朋、貴客(ke)的佳品(pin)。
道縣紅瓜(gua)(gua)子栽培品種以江(jiang)西(xi)信豐瓜(gua)(gua)子為主,全生育(yu)期(qi)約為90天(tian),一般4月下(xia)旬播種,7月下(xia)旬收獲,常與紅薯、玉(yu)米、大豆(dou)套種。每年春天(tian)播種,秋(qiu)后成熟(shu),收獲時將砸(za)爛,取(qu)出籽(zi)瓤放在籮筐里揉搓,淘(tao)洗得籽(zi),曬干即(ji)成。紅瓜(gua)(gua)子含有(you)(you)豐富蛋白質、脂肪和多種維生素,有(you)(you)利(li)尿、助(zhu)消化等功能(neng)。
道縣紅(hong)瓜子(zi)(zi)的鮮瓜可以賣到0.5元(yuan)每斤,曬干的瓜子(zi)(zi)可以賣到25甚至30元(yuan)每斤。