Watermelons are being harvested near Vitebsk

An experimental watermelon plantation in the northernmost region of Belarus has yielded unexpectedly good results. Harvesting of this exotic crop for the region is in full swing near Vitebsk.

Less than three months have passed from the planting of seedlings to the full ripening of the watermelons. At the same time, specialists say, no special conditions were created for this berry. Only once, at the beginning of summer, workers went through the melon field with watering. The watermelons turned out to be quite unpretentious, but at first, the agricultural enterprise feared that the experiment had failed.

Viktor Korsak, head of the variety testing plot at the "Olgovskoye" agricultural enterprise: "Cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins – these plants felt the most comfortable, grew and bloomed faster. And the watermelon, compared to them, was in a suppressed state."

About 15 watermelons per hundred square meters. The largest berries weighed over nine kilograms.

It is still unknown whether melons will take root near Vitebsk. In addition to watermelons, an experiment was also conducted with melons this year, but it was not as successful. Grapes pleased the local farmers much more. They were planted several years ago and intend to expand the plantation.