Thumb Watermelon: Taste, Price and Cultivation Methods Explained in Detail
Thumb watermelon is also known as micro watermelon, mini watermelon, and Pepquino. The fruit is oval and fleshy, just like a miniature version of a small watermelon. Its appearance is no different from an ordinary watermelon, and the flesh inside is green; the taste is crisp and refreshing like a cucumber, and its nutritional value is higher than that of an ordinary watermelon, so it can be eaten directly. Its biggest feature is its extremely high vitamin C content, and it is rich in potassium and magnesium; when fully ripe, it becomes sweet with a hint of sourness. This small watermelon fruit is delicious and has a fragrance similar to banana and lime. It contains 12.6% protein, 16.30% fiber and 56.8% carbohydrates.
At present, thumb watermelon has already entered the market in some large cities, but it has not been widely planted. On June 27, 2013, after 3 years of cultivation, a cooperative in Jinshan District, Shanghai, finally succeeded in growing it. Thumb watermelon has become a hot commodity because of its cute appearance and refreshing taste, and its price is relatively high, with the market price at about 160 yuan/kg.
Cultivation methods
Thumb watermelon can be cultivated in spring and summer, and it is best to choose a sunny place or a plastic greenhouse. It is suitable for planting in fields with loose, fertile soil and convenient irrigation and drainage; during the growing period, pay attention to the supply of fertilizer and water to increase yield. A neutral or slightly acidic soil pH is helpful for improving quality. If indoor seedling raising is used, transplanting them outdoors after leaves grow will give better results. Both ground crawling and trellising are acceptable, and trellising gives a larger yield. The general growth cycle is 60-85 days; after trellising, a single plant is 1.2-1.8 m tall, and each plant yields 60-90 fruits.
Sow from late February to April: they germinate at a temperature of about 24°C, and when two or three leaves have grown, the temperature can be lowered to about 18-21°C. During the first four weeks of initial growth, give them enough heat. Potted plants are usually best placed on a sunny windowsill. The harvest season is from July to September.