Timing in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Harvest Period using Greenhouse and Plastic Tunnels in Cukurova

Abstract

The 10 watermelon cultivars in early, middle and late groups were grown in unheated greenhouse, high tunnels, low tunnels and open field. Results of experiments showed that in low tunnels, high tunnels and unheated greenhouse had the earliness of 14-21 days, 22-44 days and 36-53 days, respectively depending on the cultivars, comparing to the open field. The last week of April or the beginning of May for greenhouse, the middle of May for high tunnels, and the first week of June for low tunnels were determined for the beginning of harvest period for early watermelon cultivars. The highest yield was obtained from the high tunnels which were 8.8 kg/m2 as the average of the 10 cultivars and 7.7 kg/m² as the average of early-season cultivars, the average yield from low tunnels was 7.2 kg/m2. The lowest total yields were obtained in open field (5.5 kg/m²) and greenhouse (5.9 kg/m²). The period between sowing and first harvest were 105 days, 116 days, 130 days and 147 days in open fields low tunnels, high tunnels and greenhouse, respectively and the average of 10 cultivars.