The tendency of the market of preferring smaller watermelons (weighing around 2 kg) is a phenomenon occurring in various countries, including Italy. "Here in Pachino, for example, it seems that this year 70% less of traditional long watermelons have been planted, in fact, farmers are switching to mini watermelons," explains Corrado Forestiere, from the Sicilian company with the same name.
Corrado cultivates watermelons and cherry tomatoes on 4 hectares. "In 2012, I decided to plant 10,000 plants of Nikas F1, a new product from Cora Seeds, in addition to a variety of mini watermelons that had been introduced a few years before. Results have been so satisfactory that I have already decided I'm only going to plant this variety starting next year."
Nikas F1 has many advantages. "Plants are compact and very easy to manage, and fruit sets well. Practically all of the flowers bore fruits! The pulp has a good colour with very few micro-seeds. Harvesting can be carried out in few phases, as fruit ripens more or less at the same time. In addition to this, as the rind is a few millimetre thicker than in other varieties, fruit can withstand transportation better."
But the true advantage of Nikas F1 is the fact that it is exceptionally early. "We are talking about 60 days from transplants! I have carried out transplants on the first of March and I would have been ready to harvest on the first on May. I started harvesting on the 6th only for commercial reasons." The company, which this year has been awarded with the GlobalGAP certification, supplies its entire production to another company specialised in melons and watermelons based in Northern Italy. "Sales are going well, especially because we adapted to demand."
"These watermelons are a pleasure to eat. I would go as far as to say that, from a point of view of taste, they represent a major change from previous varieties. In addition, the pulp only has very few micro-seeds that are as small as those in grapes. Nikas F1 is also nice to look at: its rind is so shiny and smooth that it almost seems it has been polished."
On the trend of the campaign, Corrado Forestiere mentions that, "the weather posed many problems this year because of temperature changes that were unusual for this area. Some tried transplanting watermelons already in February but it didn't go well, I would advise waiting until March to carry out transplants."
Interested producers please contanct:
Antonio Putrino
Agente di zona Cora Seeds
Cell.: (+39) 328 1826334
Email: antonio.putrino@hotmail.it
Provinces: MESSINA, CATANIA, SIRACUSA, ENNA, CALTANISSETTA, RAGUSA
Andrea Casadei
Responsabile Tecnico Italia
Cell.: (+39) 331 6088896
Email: andreacasadei@coraseeds.com
Web: www.coraseeds.com