9 Watermelon Varieties You Need To Know For 2016
January 20, 2016 This month’s variety specs feature focuses on some of the latest watermelon varieties. These varieties not only offer excellent flavor, they have wide adaptability. Stay tuned for next month’s feature where we will highlight tomatoes.
Ana
Breeder: Origene Seeds
Distributor: Seedway
Shape: Round
Color: Dark crimson
Weight: 6-7 pounds
Days to maturity: 80 from transplant
Yield potential: Excellent
Region(s) best suited for production: North, South
Brix level: 11
Other attributes: This personal-size watermelon features an appealing dark-crimson rind. Seedless with exceptional flavor and sweetness
Belmont
Breeder: Sakata Seed America
Shape: Round oval
Color: Medium green background with dark-green stripes
Weight: 6-10 pounds
Disease resistance/Tolerance: Intermediate resistance to Anthracnose and Fusarium
Days to maturity: 90 days from transplant
Yield potential: Excellent
Region(s) best suited for production: East Coast, other parts of U.S. and Brazil
Brix level: Average 12
Other attributes: Seedless; Sakata’s first mini watermelon. Use a Sakata early pollenizer.
Bijou
Breeder: Golden Valley Seed
Shape: Round
Color: Deep red
Weight: 3.5 to 4 pounds
Disease resistance/Tolerance: Fusarium race 1 and 2; Anthracnose race 1, 2, and 3; gummy stem blight, downy mildew
Days to maturity: 80-90
Yield potential: High
Region(s) best suited for production: Southern Mountain and Pacific time zones
Brix level: 11
Other attributes: Personal seedless variety, very firm and crisp flesh, excellent taste and flavor
Captivation
Breeder: Syngenta
Shape: Blocky
Color: Rich green skin color with red, firm flesh
Weight: 14 to 17 pounds
Disease resistance/Tolerance: Intermediate resistance to Anthracnose and Fusarium wilt
Days to maturity: 89
Yield potential: high
Region(s) best suited for production: All major production regions
Brix level: Medium-high
Other attributes: Produces medium- to large-sized seedless fruit; small pip size; for fresh market and fresh cut
Syngenta-US.com/Seeds/Vegetables/
Embasy
Breeder: Nunhems
Shape: Oval
Color: Red interior
Weight: 16-18 pounds
Disease resistance/Tolerance: Intermediate resistance to Anthracnose and Fusarium
Days to maturity: Mid season
Region(s) best suited for production: Central America, Mexico, and the United States
Other attributes: Triploid crimson seedless grows on a strong plant; small pips, dark-green background with darker stripes
Joy Ride
Breeder: Seminis Vegetable Seeds
Distributor: Rupp Seeds, Siegers Seed Company
Shape: Oblong
Color: Dark red
Weight: 19-20 pounds
Days to maturity: 85
Yield potential: High
Region(s) best suited for production: Midwest and Northeast
Brix level: 11.5
Other attributes: triploid seedless crimson sweet, large percentage of 36 count, vigorous plant with good canopy, excellent flavor, thick rind, firm flesh
Seminis-US.com
RuppSeeds.com
Siegers.com
Road Trip
Breeder: Seminis Vegetable Seeds
Shape: Oblong
Color: Mottle stripe
Weight: 16-18 pounds
Disease resistance/Tolerance: High resistance to Anthracnose and inter-mediate resistance to Fusarium wilt
Region(s) best suited for production: Adaptable across the Eastern U.S.
Brix level: 11.5
Other attributes: Road Trip has exceptional internal and external quality, a vigorous vine that provides good coverage through harvest, uniform in shape and size; 45-count watermelon hybrid
Sorbet
Breeder: Hollar Seeds
Distributor: Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Shape: Round
Color: Green with dark green stripes
Weight: 6-8 pounds
Disease resistance/Tolerance: Inter-mediate resistance to Anthracnose races 1 and 3, and Fusarium Wilt races 0 and 1
Days to maturity: 80
Yield potential: 2-3 fruits per plant
Region(s) best suited for production: Widely adapted, and suitable for northern climates.
Other attributes: Seedless (triploid), pollinator seed and instructions included with purchase
HollarSeeds.com
JohnnySeeds.com
Triple Treat
Breeder: Seeds By Design
Shape: Round
Color: Red flesh
Weight: 8-10 pounds
Days to maturity: 90
Yield potential: Excellent
Region(s) best suited for production: All areas of the United States
Brix level: 12
Other attributes: Triploid seedless variety with firm flesh, tiger-striped rind pattern with crisp texture, high sugar levels
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