In this way, Don Gregorio closes the 12-month melon cycle with the same genetics used by Sakata. Joaquin Navarro, Head of Development at the company, affirms that “we are certain that it will be a very successful variety because it also has the capacity to reach a good size in stressful conditions.”
Don Gregorio is particularly indicated for early greenhouse cycles in Almeria and Murcia. In Almeria, the planting dates range from the 20th of January to the 20th-25th of February.
“We are very content because we have achieved our goal: arriving in Almeria with a high-quality greenhouse melon, with excellent flavour, and which has no differences from open-air grown melons,” the executive explains.
They are smooth fruit with lengthwise grooving and honey-coloured skin, firm-fleshed and with a high level of brix degrees. “It is a variety that ripens from the inside outwards, meaning good sugar levels are obtained along with traditional flavour.”
The fruit are dense and heavy, which allows for a very good post-harvest. These characteristics are added to excellent tolerance to powdery mildew and aphids, pests that are usually a problem in greenhouse melon crops in the region.
From the agronomic point of view, it is a melon that is easy to handle, without any difficulties and that requires hardly any treatment in order to obtain a good calibre. The medium sturdiness of the plant is perfect to ensure that the melon does not split, and in the trials carried out there have been no problems with aphids. Its low amount of wastage is another of its values.
