Serbajadi Seeds F1 Hybrid Watermelon - Tembikai ( BBS021 ) (+/- 20 Seeds)

Serbajadi F1 Hybrid Watermelon - Citrullus lanatus (Cucurbitaceae)

Watermelon is a tendril-climbing, annual, herbaceous plant that is related to the muskmelon, pumpkin, squash and gourd families and they are primarily grown for their fleshy fruits. Watermelon is a round fruit with very delicious red flesh and has relatively high water content. The edible portion is 60 % of the whole fruit which is 93.5% water. Watermelons grow best in hot dry areas with plenty of sunshine. The fruit is eaten fresh for its juicy flesh and the seeds which are rich in an enzyme are dried and parched for chewing.

Type of vegetable: Fleshy fruited

Edible parts: Fruits

DIRECTION OF USE

Best soil: Fertile, sandy soil. The ideal pH is 4.7-6.

How to plant: Indoors: Plant watermelon seeds indoors in individual containers or pots. The seeds are soaked overnight before planting to hasten germination.  We recommend using peat pots, which can be planted directly in the garden with minimal transplant shock. Outdoors: Sow watermelon seeds in hills or rows. For regular watermelons, sow three to four seeds per hill, spacing the hills eight to ten feet apart. Space the rows ten feet apart or more, if you have room. One week after they have germinated, thin watermelon seedlings in each hill to two seedlings. When planting in rows, space the seeds 4 to 6 inches apart and thin seedlings to 10 to 12 inches apart. Watermelon plants need full sun to grow healthy vines and big fruit. Fertilise regularly. Use a high nitrogen fertiliser until flowers form. Then, switch over to a high phosphorous and potassium fertiliser.

When to harvest: Mature fruits, which are ready for picking after16 to 20 weeks,

Are recognized by a gentle tap resulting in a dull thud and/or withering of the tendrils on the vine.

How to harvest: Watermelons are detached from the vine at harvesting by cutting the fuit stalk with a sharp blade, a good distance from the fruit.

Care: Watermelon plants like lots of water. Keep the soil moist at all times. Avoid getting leaves and fruits wet (especially if vines sprawl on ground) As fruit develop, support with netting. Water supply is critical during planting and fruit development. Utmost care must be taken when harvesting and handling, for watermelon fruits are easily damaged. Weeding is also important especially early in the season.

STORAGE

Keep away from children and pets.

Store in cool and dry place away from direct sunlight.