Columbia F1 watermelon is a mid-early diploid hybrid of the Crimson Sweet type, developed by Rijk Zwaan. This variety features rapid growth and early fruit set, ensuring stable fruiting. The plant is vigorous with well-developed foliage, promoting high fruit set and resistance to adverse conditions, diseases, and pests. Columbia F1 is recommended for open-field cultivation and exhibits high adaptability, making it particularly suitable for export and international markets. The fruits of Columbia F1 are round with a tiger-striped rind of medium thickness, which reliably protects the flesh. The weight of each fruit ranges from 6 to 12 kg, typically 7–10 kg. The interior flesh is coral-red, juicy, crisp, and extremely sweet with high sugar content. The seeds are small, dark, neatly arranged, and easily removable, enhancing consumption convenience. Thanks to its strong rind and excellent transportability, the fruits retain quality during transport and long-term storage. Columbia F1 boasts high yield potential, producing two fruits per plant, and is recommended to be planted at 6–8 thousand plants per hectare. This variety has a strong energy reserve to withstand stress factors and demonstrates stability under various climatic conditions. Its strengths include high fruit marketability, resistance to diseases and pests, and superior flesh quality, making Columbia F1 a popular choice for both farmers and consumers.
