BASKETBALL

The Basketball watermelon variety is an early-maturing variety with a vegetative period of 70-80 days from germination. The fruits have an oval or round shape and weigh from 3 to 5 kilograms. The rind is dark green with barely visible dark stripes, and the surface is smooth. The flesh is bright red, tender, crunchy, and very sweet, with a high sugar content reaching 10-13%. Due to the dense structure of the flesh, the fruits retain their commercial quality for 40-50 days after harvest.

The plant is compact and vigorous, with limited development of side shoots and a medium main stem length. The variety has good foliage and high fruit load, which contributes to a stable yield. Basketball watermelon is resistant to fusarium wilt and anthracnose, and also demonstrates high drought resistance and relative cold tolerance, making it suitable for cultivation in various climatic conditions, including Moscow region and Siberia.

This variety is recommended for cultivation in open ground and under temporary film covers. Due to its taste qualities and disease resistance, the Basketball watermelon is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking to obtain an early and sweet watermelon crop with good fruit preservation.