Watermelon ICAR

The 'ICAR' watermelon variety is a mid-late season universal variety recommended for open ground cultivation. The period from germination to the start of fruiting ranges from 88 to 110 days. The plant is long-vining with long vines and numerous side shoots. Leaves are medium-large and deeply incised. The fruits have the shape of a rounded ellipse or broadly elliptical, weighing from 3 to 16 kg depending on growing conditions. The rind is dark green with prickly or faint stripes, medium thickness, smooth and leathery to the touch. The 'ICAR' watermelon flesh is bright red or with a raspberry tint, very sweet, tender, juicy, and aromatic. Dry matter content in the fruits reaches 14-15%, and sugar content is about 12-13%. Seeds are small, oval, brown in color with a smooth skin. The taste quality of the fruits is assessed as good to excellent. The variety is characterized by high yield, which can reach 25 to 40 tons per hectare, and up to 291 centners of marketable product per hectare under optimal conditions. The 'ICAR' watermelon has high drought resistance and resistance to diseases such as anthracnose and fusarium. It is undemanding in cultivation and features long shelf life, allowing fruits to be stored for up to 5 months. Thanks to its dense rind and good transportability, this variety is suitable both for personal consumption and for commercial cultivation and marketing.