The Misiones Center for the Production and Validation of Horticultural Technologies has harvested the first harvest of baby watermelon grown in a protected and vertically tended system, an unprecedented experience in the region that combines state-of-the-art technology, non-traditional varieties, and an intensive model aimed at improving producers' profitability.
Baby watermelon has a compact size -between 1.2 and 3 kilos—, thin rind, and sweet pulp with small seeds. It belongs to the specialty crops category, which gives it a high and sustained market value throughout the year. This makes it an especially attractive product for the supermarket channel and individual consumption.
Using a hydroponic system in substrate and growing under cover, the project achieved an off-season harvest starting on May 19, a period of low product availability in the market. This seasonal advantage gives farmers in Misiones a more competitive marketing position.
The vertical trellising system used in this production allowed reaching a planting density of 33,300 plants per hectare (1,800 in this first trial). This method optimizes the use of space, improves plant aeration, and reduces the incidence of diseases by preventing the fruits from coming into contact with the soil, which translates into a significant improvement in the product's quality and safety.
The production cycle, which is completed in 90 to 100 days, efficiently adapts to the protected systems and allows frequent rotations that contribute to reducing diseases and increasing crop diversity in small spaces. In addition, the technical management incorporated sustainable practices such as precise fertigation and the use of bio-inputs, including Trichoderma and biological foliar fertilizers, which reduce the use of agrochemicals and favor a more environmentally friendly production.
Nearly 200 fruits with an individual weight ranging between 1 and 2.5 kilos were obtained in this first harvest. Production is planned to exceed 2,500 kilos in total. The production will supply local markets in San Vicente, Dos de Mayo, El Soberbio, San Pedro, and Posadas. Producers expect a good reception due to the commercial attractiveness of this variety.
The initiative demonstrates that the incorporation of technology and proper agronomic management can generate new economic opportunities for small and medium producers in the region, while promoting a more efficient, profitable, and sustainable agriculture.
Source: revistacodigos.com