This archive report was first published on 9 July 2021.
Kenya's hot climate makes it an ideal place for watermelon farming, with the fruit being in high demand during the hot seasons.
According to Paul Mwanza, a farmer in Makueni County, watermelons perform best in hot areas, making it a lucrative business for many farmers.
Mwanza plants various avocado varieties, including Sukari F1, Sweet Rose, Riverside F1, and Sugar baby, but focuses on watermelon farming due to its high yields and short maturity period.
Watermelon is a warm-weather crop that thrives in temperatures between 22 and 28 degrees Celsius. Lower temperatures result in lower yields and quality.
For optimal growth, Mwanza recommends spacing watermelon plants 100cm to 150cm apart and incorporating manure well into the soil. He also advises against intercropping and recommends applying a handful of manure per planting two weeks before sowing the seeds.
Regulated water supply for irrigation is crucial, as waterlogged soil can be detrimental to melon plants and fruits. Well-drained sandy soil is the best for watermelon farming.
Harvesting watermelons typically takes 80 to 120 days, depending on the variety. Before harvesting, farmers need to determine if the fruits are mature and ready for harvesting, as immature fruits can lead to losses.
Mwanza sells a kilo of watermelon for between Sh25 and Sh40, with one Sukari F1 producing a fruit weighing four to seven kilos.
