GROWING WATERMELONS IN POLYETHYLENE GREENHOUSES WITHOUT MESH-BAG FRUIT SUPPORT

An investigation on the possibility to grow watermelons in polyethylene greenhouses with vertical trellising without fruit string support was conducted during 2003–2004. The experiment was carried out on the field of the Department of Horticulture at the Agricultural University in Plovdiv.
Two seedless cultivars were used: HA-5130 and HA-5133 originating from Israel and known in advance to be suitable for that type of growing.
The experiments were made with four replications using 12 reported plants.
The following phases were studied: beginning of flowering of male and female flowers; beginning of fruit set and beginning of harvests.
Early and total standard yield were determined and also the features number and average fruit mass.
Taste trial was performed and some morphological characteristics of the fruit were defined.
The outcomes proved both cultivars to be suitable for that growing technology because of the good quality pollination and the low percentage (6–8%) of fruit slip.
The average fruit mass was between 1.750 kg and 2.230 kg.
The economically significant early maturity index was higher in HA-5130 – 3,060 kg/da.
The total yield figures for both cultivars were similar – 4,831 kg/da for HA-5133 and 5,041 kg/da for HA-5130.

IV Balkan Symposium on Vegetables and Potatoes

ST. Filipov

seedless watermelons cultivars, greenhouse, technology

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.830.86