Salad Maradon is an early semi-head variety of the Batavia type, intended for cultivation in the spring, summer, and autumn periods. The plant forms a rosette with a diameter and height of about 28-30 cm, featuring large, bright green, thick, and blistered leaves that have a pleasant taste and crunchy texture. The medium green color of the leaves with a sheen gives the salad an attractive appearance, making it an excellent choice for use in fresh vegetable salads and as a side dish for meat dishes. The variety is suitable for cultivation in both soil substrates and hydroponics.
Maradon is distinguished by good resistance to major salad diseases, including fusarium and leaf mosaic virus, and has a medium level of resistance to downy mildew and aphids. This ensures a stable yield and reduces the need for intensive plant protection. The yield of the variety reaches 4.6 kg per square meter, making it profitable for commercial cultivation. The plant adapts well to various lighting conditions and can grow with any photoperiod.
For successful cultivation of Maradon salad, loose, permeable, and well-moistened soil is recommended. The optimal temperature for growth is +15…20 °C. Sowing is done in furrows 1 cm deep with a distance of 15–20 cm between rows, at a sowing rate of 9–11 plants per square meter. Care includes regular but moderate watering, especially in hot weather, as well as fertilizing with organic fertilizers before sowing and during head formation. To protect against diseases and pests, it is important to control humidity, remove affected plants, and ensure drainage on wet areas, which helps prevent rot and slug damage.
