The 'Astrakhanian' watermelon variety is a mid-maturing and high-yield variety with a maturation period from 75 to 97 days depending on growing conditions. The plant is moderately climbing, with abundant foliage and a well-developed root system, which promotes active growth and fruit formation. It prefers light, sandy, and loose soils, protected from weeds and drafts, and requires regular watering and fertilization to achieve maximum yield. To improve quality and taste, it is recommended to leave no more than five fruits per vine. The variety is resistant to diseases such as anthracnose and fusarium, which facilitates care and increases the chances of a successful harvest.
The fruits of the 'Astrakhanian' watermelon have an oval-round shape with smooth light green skin decorated with wide dark stripes. The weight of watermelons varies from 5 to 10 kg, depending on growing conditions. The thick rind reliably protects the berries from damage and cracking, ensuring good transportability and long-term storage of fruits for up to 2-3 months after harvest. The flesh is red, dense, juicy, and crisp, without veins and fibers, with small black seeds. The taste of the flesh is richly sweet, with a raspberry-red hue, which makes this variety particularly attractive to consumers.
The 'Astrakhanian' watermelon is excellent for growing in open ground as well as in greenhouses in temperate climates. To obtain large and tasty fruits, it is recommended to choose sunny, wind-protected areas. The harvest is collected a week before full maturity, when sugar content reaches 11-12%, which ensures high taste qualities and a rich vitamin composition. The main application of the variety is retail in fresh markets, processing, and pickling, due to its excellent taste characteristics and good storability.
