Taicheng Watermelon

Taicheng Watermelon

　　 Taicheng watermelon is a specialty of Taicheng Town, Yanling County, Xuchang City, Henan Province. The local farmers in Taicheng Town graft watermelon seedlings onto bottle gourd rootstock, which makes the watermelons drought-resistant and disease-resistant during growth. As a result, the produced watermelons are large, sweet, and excellent for storage and transportation.

　　 Many melon farmers across Yanling County grow watermelons, but Taicheng watermelons are the most famous. Particularly in Sunzhuang Village, Taicheng Township, where the cultivation history is long, farmers have, through long-term experimentation, grafted watermelons onto bottle gourds. This technique gives the watermelons a smooth skin, large size, and juicy flesh. The bottle gourd rootstock, being nearly woody, also contributes to the fruit’s excellent storage and transport qualities.

　　 Taicheng Township is located about 30 kilometers south of Yanling County. The area features flat terrain, fertile soil, and abundant water resources, making it particularly suitable for watermelon cultivation. It was once widely known as the “Watermelon Town.” After the reform and opening-up, farmers increased the use of scientific techniques, following Sunzhuang Village’s example of grafted watermelons. This changed the varietal structure of the watermelons, resulting in Taicheng watermelons that are of higher quality, sweeter in taste, and even better for transport and storage—qualities that have made them increasingly popular. Every July and August, merchants from other regions flock to the town to negotiate purchases, and the watermelons are distributed to cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Xi'an.

　　 It is reported that in 2006, Taicheng Township applied to register the “Taicheng Brand” grafted watermelon trademark, and it has since become a well-known “Quality Watermelon Town” both within the province and beyond. Currently, the watermelon cultivation techniques in the township have become increasingly mature, with the total planted area exceeding 50,000 mu.