Si Jiu Watermelon

Si Jiu Watermelon

　　In recent years, Taishan watermelons have gained widespread fame for their large-scale production, early market availability, high quality, and excellent varieties, securing a solid position in the markets of Hong Kong and Macau. As early as the first half of May, when watermelons elsewhere are still ripening on the vines, Taishan watermelons have already made their early debut in the market. After several years of selecting, purifying, and rejuvenating superior watermelon varieties, the “Xin Qing” and “Jia Bao” varieties have been chosen as the main cultivars. The “Xin Qing” watermelon has a round shape, while the “Jia Bao” is oval, but both are known for their thin rinds, red flesh, sweet taste, and few seeds. These two varieties are high-yielding, typically producing around 3,000 pounds per mu; those grown in areas such as Nancun and Bantan in Si Jiu, as well as Beikeng and Nanle in Fucheng, can yield over 5,000 pounds per mu. The largest single watermelon can weigh up to 24 pounds, with the average being around 17 to 18 pounds.