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Technical suggestion for cultivation

The mini watermelons are the fruit adaptation of Hazera Genetics research to the producers and markets requirements. They are the result of accurate selections of varieties already present in nature, that through crossing among themselves (therefore having no recourse to the genetic engineering) have allowed to get watermelon hybrid seeds capable to produce small sized fruit with excellent organoleptic features, convenient and easy to be consumed. The technical suggestions hereinafter referred can be considered a useful but not exhaustive guide to get very high qualitative and productive standards. They have been set up for the mini seedless watermelons too. In fact, this kind of product is more demanding as regards to temperatures and irrigation management. However, the suggestions herein contained are valid for the mini watermelons with seeds.

Nursery sowing

For the sowing we suggest trays with 84 holes.
Leave the trays in the germination chamber for 48-72 hours till the forming of the hypocotyl.
The total absence of light is very important.

Soil preparation

The watermelon is considered a renewal species. It would be preferable the watermelon to not come back on the same plot before 3-5 years in order to avoid the possibility of attack from root parasites. The watermelon requires deep soil work to be carried out very earlier than the transplanting.

Basic manure

Before carrying out the manure it is possible to make the soil analysis in order to check the availability of the mineral elements.

Transplanting

The suggested plant density of the mini watermelons is 8.000-10.000 plants/hectare. We advise a distance among the rows of 2,0 m and of 0,5 m on the row.

In case seedless varieties are grown, it is indispensable to plant in the same plot a variety of watermelon with seeds, acting as pollinator. The ratio pollinator/seedless watermelon should be 1 against 4. We advise to transplant the pollinator on the row (bees work along the row) and to stagger the position on the different rows (as shown in the picture) in order to get a better field covering, and therefore a more efficient pollination.

The pollinator

The presence of the pollinator is fundamental in case you grow mini seedless watermelons. As a general rule, we should say that any traditional watermelon (therefore, with seeds), can perform this task. We suggest to use Cois '94 - Hazera Genetics mini watermelon varieties with seeds Polimore and Minipol. In case you use a mini watermelon, we remind you to transplant two plants per pocket. We advise to sow the pollinator (that has a cycle earlier than seedless mini watermelons) a week later, thus favouring the contemporaneity of flowering and a more regular pollination.

Warning: it is very important that the fruits of the pollinator (with seeds ) have a colour different than the skin, in order to be easily identifiable and distinguishable from the seedless watermelons at the time of harvesting .

The pollination

The use of bees is fundamental for a good pollination. You should place 5-10 beehives per ha when the first male flowers form. It is important that they are distributed evenly on the field and that they are placed according to the prevailing wind direction. You should take off the beehives after the setting of 2-3 fruits per plant.

Fertigation

In general the crop of the watermelon does not require excess supply of water. However its management will be very important in order to get fruits with proper size and flavour. It is necessary to remind that watermelons and mini seedless watermelons need an increase of about 30% in water. The last irrigation should be carried out 5 days before harvesting. During the stage of  pre-flowering treatments based on boron are useful.
Stop the feeding till the end of the pollination.
When fruits reach the sizes of a tennis ball, we advise to start again the fertigation with the following ratio N:P:K - 1:0,6:1,5 (2 kg of N a day per ha)

Harvesting

The mini watermelons Cois '94 – Hazera Genetics are characterized by a skin with a very regular thickness (1,5 cm) which gives it a very high resistance to fruit handling that could be piled up also on the normal bins for watermelon without compromising the integrity of the ones placed at the bottom.

Post harvesting

The surveys carried out have shown the very long storability of the mini watermelons Cois’94 – Hazera that, particularly in the case of the mini seedless watermelons, quietly exceeds a month keeping a marketability of 100%.
The information herein contained are not exhaustive and cannot be considered advice, guide or recommendations. The technical service of Cois’94 and Hazera Genetics has put the utmost effort in preparing this publication. It presents average results only of the trials from Cois’94 S.p.A. – Hazera Genetics which cannot be applied or are not suitable for all the growing conditions (for ex. climate, soil and water quality, etc.). However, the term “seedless” indicates the presence of aborted seeds inside the fruits (false seeds or white seeds) and does not exclude the possibility that true seeds may form. We give no warranty both as to yield , performance , marketability , fitness to a particular purpose or other.