The SAMURAI watermelon variety is an early variety intended for cultivation in open ground in the central region and the south of Russia. The vegetative period from full germination to the first harvest of fruits is 78-90 days. The plant is trailing, with a main vine length from 1.5 to 2 meters, which requires tying to a trellis up to a height of 50 cm for convenience of care and shaping. When growing, it is recommended to remove all side shoots, and subsequently pinch them over 1-3 leaves, or grow the plant flat. The fruits of the SAMURAI watermelon are widely oval, smooth, with a characteristic light green color and dark green festooned stripes. Fruit mass varies from 3.2 to 4.5 kg, while the fruit skin is strong and thick, 1.0 to 1.5 cm thick, ensuring high storage life and good transportability. The watermelon flesh is red, juicy, grainy, and sugary, which makes its taste rich and pleasant. The variety differs in medium resistance to diseases such as fusarium and anthracnose, which increases its reliability when growing. Sowing for seedlings is recommended in late April, and transplanting seedlings into the ground—in late May or early June, when plants reach 30-35 days of age. Thanks to its characteristics and agronomy features, the SAMURAI watermelon is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking an early and quality harvest.
