The planting story of Watermelon King Chen Dengbao

    Chen Dengbao, a farmer from Dongjing Street in Hannan District, Wuhan, China, has spent 4 years leading more than 70 farming households in growing greenhouse gift watermelons, letting everyone taste the "big sweetness" of "small watermelons," and is affectionately called "Watermelon King" by the villagers. When asked about his watermelon-growing experience, Chen Dengbao repeatedly stressed that to grow sweet watermelons, one relies first on technology and second on integrity.

Chen Dengbao

    Chen Dengbao explained that the watermelon growing period is generally 40 days. In the first 20 days it grows in size, with a yield of up to 8,000 kg per mu; in the last 20 days it increases in sweetness and develops quality, with only about 5,000 kg harvested. Comparing 20 days with 40 days, the watermelons are similar in size, but to have a good mouthfeel and full sweetness, they must reach a full 40 days.

In late July 2006, the watermelon market fluctuated considerably. Chen Dengbao took the initiative to inspect Wuhan's two major fruit wholesale markets and checked online the watermelon sales prices around the province; then he proposed methods such as limiting the volume brought to market, selling at staggered times, and protecting the seedlings and strengthening the vines, guiding the melon farmers that they must not sell even one day early. In Wuhan he successfully built the "Fenghuangdi" gift watermelon brand, with sales prices far higher than those in surrounding areas, attracting merchants from all over the country to come and buy.

    Now, more and more farmers are getting rich by growing greenhouse watermelons. Wang Baozhi, Party branch secretary of the Dongjing Street brigade in Hannan District, Wuhan, China, said with deep feeling: "At the time, when the greenhouse gift watermelon planting project was introduced, there were different opinions within the branch. Some thought the risk was too great and that we were making trouble for ourselves, and I was a bit hesitant too. But at the critical moment, Chen Dengbao was the first to step forward and volunteer, and he succeeded, dispelling all the concerns of the cadres and the masses with facts. Today, our brigade has become a well-known watermelon specialized brigade, and Chen Dengbao has also become a Watermelon King in the truest sense."