First melon cultivation in Barth: Sweet fruits are conquering the region!

First melon cultivation in Barth: Sweet fruits are conquering the region!

History is currently being written in Barth, in the Vorpommern-Rügen district: Barther Hahn Vegetable Bau GmbH is successfully harvesting watermelons and honeydew melons for the first time. Managing director Wolfgang Hahn and his dedicated team have followed in the footsteps of decades of tomato production with this ambitious project and are pleased with the first harvest yields.

The decision to grow melons was no coincidence. After 15 years of experience in greenhouse use, old greenhouses that were originally used for growing tomatoes in the GDR era were converted. In the winter of 2010/2011, masses of snow caused glass roofs to collapse, and in June 2012, a hail storm damaged additional greenhouses. The resulting cultivation experiment with watermelons of the “Mini Love” variety could therefore be seen as an innovative step in the region.

Harvest with promising results

A total of 350 watermelon plants were planted on April 21, 2023. The first harvest results have been promising so far: yields of 90 kg, 198 kg and 231 kg were already achieved on the first three days. The melons require a daily water supply of around 1,000 liters as well as additional liquid nutrients in order to grow optimally. Customer demand currently exceeds production capacity, which underlines the success of the cultivation.

The first melons are now available in the farm shop in Barth. The honeydew melons of the Italian “Impero” variety were also sown and are now part of the range.

Successful cultivation methods

In order to grow melons successfully, a certain amount of specialist knowledge is required. Like the experts from agronoblog.com explain, the choice of variety plays a crucial role, especially with regard to the health of the plants and the quality of the fruit. An optimal soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5 as well as correct irrigation are also essential for a good result. It is known that caring for melons is less time-consuming than caring for tomatoes, which benefits the team in Barth.

Wolfgang Hahn is already planning to continue growing melons in 2026 in order to further expand the range and meet the needs of customers.

Overall, melon cultivation in Barth is not only a bold step in a new direction, but also a promising project that could expand agricultural opportunities in the region. Further information about melon cultivation and developments to date can be found at ostsee-zeitung.de and ndr.de.