«Chumak» - Organic Watermelon Seeds

This is a medium-ripening variety, days to mature 80-95, the stem is long 2,2-2,7 meters. The leaf is dissected, medium size, dark green.

The fruit is rounded with an average mass of 3.4 kg in good years from 5 to 6 kg. Medium-thick skin. The flesh is pink, dense, juicy, sweet. The dry weight content in fruits is 10-11%, total sugar - 7.69%, vitamin C - 8.41 mg. The seeds are medium size, cream color, smooth.

The variety is resistant to overripe and rotting fruits, has a distinctive appearance. Transportability and storage quality is high. Variety of watermelon "Chumak" is resistant to fusarium wilt. Cold resistant. The taste is excellent.

The Chumak variety was bred by the Dnepropetrovsk Experimental Station of the Dnepropetrovsk Scientific Research Center of the Institute of Vegetable and Melon Farming of the Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences.
 

Germination

In cool climates, watermelon seeds should be started indoors, but no sooner than a month before transplanting; plant three seeds per peat pot, 1/4" deep. Provide heat to keep the soil at least 80-85 degrees F. Cut off all but the strongest seedling as soon as true leaves appear, and transplant about a week after frost; put two or three plants in each hill with a 6-8' space in all directions. Gardeners in warm climates will be able to direct sow watermelons as soon as the soil temperature reaches at least 75 degrees F, planting six seeds per hill with 6-8' of space in all directions. Thin to the strongest two or three plants as soon as the seedlings appear. Watermelons should be planted in full sun and rich, loose soil. Young seedlings may benefit from black plastic to warm up the soil.
 

Growing Seeds

As soon as the vines begin to develop, apply a thick layer of mulch to control weeds and protect the melons from soil contact. Keep the soil moist until the fruit begins to grow, then water only if the soil dries out completely. Watch out for insect pests, which can be a problem. Charleston Grey is resistant to anthracnose and fusarium wilt.
 

Harvesting

Gardeners use many different methods of testing whether their watermelons are ripe, but knowing the approximate mature size of the melon helps to determine when it is nearing ripeness. One test is to knock on the watermelon with your knuckles, listening for a dull thump rather than a hollow ring. Another method is to check the underside of the melon where it rests on the ground; the skin should be a rich yellow. Also, the curling tendril closest to the stem of the melon often indicates ripeness when it begins to turn brown. Watermelons usually keep for several weeks in a cool place.