The Lanta watermelon is an early-maturing hybrid distinguished by high yield and exceptional taste. The maturity period ranges from 60 to 65 days, enabling early harvests. The plant is vining with green dissected leaves, while the fruits have a wide-elliptic or round shape with dark green, almost black rind and barely visible stripes. The watermelon rind is very thin, making it particularly attractive among early dark-skinned hybrids. Average fruit weight varies from 2.5 to 8 kg depending on growing conditions. Lanta watermelon flesh is a rich dark red color, tender, juicy, and very sweet, with easily assimilable sugar content from 8 to 10%. The fruit taste is characterized by excellent texture and high sugar content, making this hybrid especially popular among consumers. Seeds are small, dark brown or black, without a pattern, facilitating their use for sowing. The hybrid is resistant to fusarium, including races 0 and 1, ensuring harvest reliability and stability. Lanta watermelon features good transportability and the ability to maintain marketable qualities for 10-14 days after harvest. The hybrid is recommended for cultivation in both early and main seasons, making it a universal choice for various climatic conditions. Yield when grown on dryland reaches 128-322 centners per hectare, confirming its high productivity and economic attractiveness for farmers.
