Hoprinka

Hoprinka (Tavrichanka) watermelon is an early-maturing variety, ripening in 65-75 days. The fruits are round, orange in color with netting, weighing 1.5 to 2 kg. The flesh is white, dense and thick, reaching up to 4 cm in thickness, with a crisp and tender texture, and a very sweet flavor with a distinct aroma. Sugar content in the fruits can reach 12%, making this variety one of the most delicious. Yield is 2.0-2.2 kg per square meter, and 150-200 centners per hectare. The fruits do not crack and withstand transportation well, ensuring their preservation during transport and storage. Hoprinka (Tavrichanka) variety is highly resistant to diseases, particularly powdery mildew and fusarium wilt, as well as drought tolerance. This warm- and light-loving plant prefers black soil, chestnut, and chestnut-gray soils, while heavy clay soils are unsuitable. It is an annual plant with separate male and female flowers, having a creeping, branched stem and a root system penetrating up to 3-4 meters deep. Watermelon seeds are egg-shaped, flat, white-yellow in color, and contain up to 30% oil. For growing Hoprinka watermelon, similar agronomic practices to those for melons are recommended, but with a smaller nutrient area — 1.5 by 1-1.5 meters, leaving two plants per planting hole. Seeds are sown at a depth of about 4 cm, with a rate of 3-4 kg per hectare. Fruits are best stored at a temperature of 0-2 °C and relative humidity of 80-85%, which helps preserve their freshness and flavor. Watermelon is primarily consumed fresh, thanks to its rich flavor and aroma.