PAT Toscana

Cornia Valley watermelon

The Cornia Valley Watermelon is a Traditional Agricultural Product (PAT) on the national list approved by the Ministry of Agriculture And Forestry, whose requirements are regulated by the Region’s production regulations Tuscany.

Features

The watermelon of the Cornia Valley has an ellipsis shape; externally has a dark green color with light green streaks.
It tastes very sugary and the flesh is juicy and crunchy.
Sizes range from 6 to 25 kg.

It is produced from June to September.

Cultivation

The seedlings are purchased from nurseries in the area. The crop can follow in the crop sequence spinach, cabbage, tomato or autumn-vernini cereals.
A plough is performed at an average depth of 40-50 cm in autumn, then repeated soil refinement operations are carried out.
Plantation densities vary with the cultivation technique adopted (semi-strength or full field) and are between 4000 and 6000 plants/ha.

Three to four antiperonononosporic and anti-ooid treatments are normally performed.
A bottom fertilization is carried out based on phosphorus and potassium, supplementing with nitrogen-potassic inputs, during the culture cycle, for fertigation.

The collection is carried out manually, following the shortage times of the plant protection products used.
The watermelons are then transported with trailers to the company processing room where they are stored in the warehouse or in a cold room.

The typical watermelon is not given by the particular variety (the ones used are the most common), but by its sensory characteristics related to the climatic and pedological factors of the Cornia Valley that give it the very sugary flavor.
The cultivated varieties are the Royal Flash, elongated in shape, the round Crimson and the Vitumania, introduced only a few years ago.

The cultivation of this watermelon also takes place in the area of the Riotorto where it is very early.
There are difficulties in July and August for water supply.

In the past, organic manure-based fertilisation was much more used.
Watermelon is one of the most cultivated horticultural species in the Cornia Valley.

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