An excellent example of innovation in the watermelon sector is the Bengala F1 variety. Mercedes Fernández Lozano, Nunhems' melon and watermelon specialist, explains that "Bengala F1 is a striped seedless variety with a unique appearance that makes it especially attractive; with fruits of an intense red colour and a crunchy, refreshing and tasty flesh. Their inner appearance and thin crust are also noteworthy.
Bengala F1 has been in the market for two campaigns. It offers a high commercial performance, close to 97%, and a productivity of around 8 kilos per square metre. It is a generative plant, which facilitates its setting even in conditions of stress, and matures early, reaching ripeness between 5-7 days before other commercial varieties of its kind. Its outer appearance is very attractive and unique within the striped seedless market," adds Fernández Lozano.
Nunhems' watermelon specialist for Almeria also said that "Bengala F1 is very easy to grow compared to other varieties and is also easier to harvest. Bengala F1 offers very marketable sizes, both for the national and the export markets (3, 4 and 5)."
Premium F1 Watermelon
The other Nunhems watermelon variety that stands out this campaign is the Premium F1. It is a striped watermelon with microseeds, with a dual use, both as polliniser and main crop. What makes Premium F1 stand out is the presence of these edible microseeds. In terms of sizes and production, Mercedes Fernández points out that the fruits have an average weight of 3 to 3.5 kilos, which is especially attractive for the export market.
"Premium F1 matures early, has an intense and uniform red-coloured flesh and a thin crust. It is recommended for both greenhouse and open ground cultivation, as its commercial performance and gastronomic characteristics are excellent in both cases," explains Mercedes Fernández.
Source: Nunhems.es
