Watermelon
Seedless Watermelons: striped (Motril, Boston…), and black (Palomar) watermelons.
Miniature Watermelons:
– Very small (1 – 2.5 kg) watermelon with red flesh that meets the consumer’s needs perfectly.
– This miniature watermelon has the same crisp texture and sweet taste as standard size varieties.
Watermelon with seeds: striped (Crimson) and black (Dulce Maravilla, Sugar Baby) watermelon.
Description
Seedless Watermelons: striped (Motril, Boston…), and black (Palomar) watermelons.
– Medium size, round, slightly oblong fruit. The rind has straight stripes on a pale background.
– Dark red, crisp flesh with few white seeds.
– Excellent taste and high sugar content.
– This fruit keeps well.
– Very uniform shape and size.
Miniature Watermelons:
– Very small (1 – 2.5 kg) watermelon with red flesh that meets the consumer’s needs perfectly.
– This miniature watermelon has the same crisp texture and sweet taste as standard size varieties.
Watermelon with seeds: striped (Crimson) and black (Dulce Maravilla, Sugar Baby) watermelon.
– Striped watermelons have a pale green skin with dark stripes, and black watermelons have a dark green skin.
– Round shape with deep red flesh. Medium to large size. 3 to 8 kg.
– Very juicy, firm, red flesh.
– Harvesting ends in late August.
External Properties:
– Colour: ranges from pale green with stripes to dark Green.
Internal Properties:
– Soluble solid content: 9-13ºBrix.
– Colour of flesh: from yellow to bright red.
– Texture: crisp.
Size
2 > 7-9 kg.
3 > 5-7 kg.
4 > 4-6 kg.
5 > 3-5 kg.
6 > 2-4 kg.
Origin
– Almería and Murcia.
Storage and transport
– Ideal temperature: 10 – 15°C.
– Storage time usually 14 days at 15°C and up to 21 days at 7-10°C (45 – 50°F). Watermelons should not be stored for more than 2 – 3 weeks.
– Watermelons are cold-sensitive and can be damaged by temperatures below 4.5ºC. As a precautionary measure, do not cool them to less than 7ºC.
– Ideal relative humidity: 85 – 90%. It is important for relative humidity to remain high to prevent the skin becoming lacklustre.
Packaging
– Loose: pieces per box (x2, x3, x4, x5, x6, x7)
– Green-box; Ice-box.
– Boxes: 50*30, 60*40 carton or plastic.
Calendar
– Almería: April to July (subject to availability)
– Murcia: June to September (subject to availability)