Summer arrives, the thermometer exceeds 35 degrees, and all you can think about is a whole, cold, and juicy watermelon for dinner. But when you get to the fruit shop, the displays are empty or what remains are small, expensive pieces. It's not a conspiracy; it's the harsh reality of a fruit that doesn't synchronize its peak production with our need to cool down.
The mismatch of the agricultural calendar and cultivation logistics 🍉
Summer watermelon is sown between March and April to be harvested in the middle of July. However, heatwaves bring demand forward to June, when the fruit has not yet reached its optimal sugar level. Farmers use plastic tunnels and drip irrigation to speed up the cycle, but the plant is stubborn: it needs long days and mild nighttime temperatures. If the heat arrives early, flowering is delayed, and supply does not cover the consumption peak.
Homemade solution: growing a watermelon on the balcony (guaranteed failure) 🌱
Tired of searching for it, I decided to plant a seed in a pot. After two weeks, a plant sprouted that took up half the living room, produced a flower that withered on the third day, and yielded a fruit the size of a golf ball. My neighbor, with more space, managed to grow a watermelon weighing 300 grams. My conclusion: it's easier to find a parking spot in the middle of August than a decent watermelon at the fruit shop at the end of June.