Watermelon Astrakhan F1 — an early and productive hybrid developed by the Dutch company Syngenta Seeds. This variety features a compact and balanced plant with a medium leaf canopy, ensuring strong seedling growth and good fruit set even in dry conditions. The vegetative period from transplanting seedlings is 64-68 days, and from germination — 78-80 days, allowing for harvest within relatively short timeframes. The hybrid is adaptable to various growing conditions and thrives in warm, loose, well-lit soils.
The fruits of watermelon Astrakhan F1 have an elongated-oval shape and classic striped rind of medium thickness (13-14 mm), which is highly dense and durable. This rind structure provides excellent protection for the red, juicy, and aromatic flesh during harvesting and transportation, significantly enhancing the fruit’s market appearance and preserving its nutritional properties. Average fruit weight is 10-12 kg, with a maximum of up to 15 kg. The flesh exhibits a vibrant red color, high sugar content, vitamins, and beneficial microelements, making the fruits exceptionally tasty and nutritious.
Hybrid Astrakhan F1 exhibits resistance to major diseases, such as Fusarium (races 0 and 1) and anthracnose (race 1), reducing the risk of yield loss and simplifying crop care. Thanks to its high productivity and excellent transportability, this watermelon is suitable for both commercial farms and private gardens. Fruits are successfully used not only for fresh consumption during the main season but also for processing, including pickling.
