This year, Ukraine's Poltava region has planted over 5,000 hectares of watermelons and melons, making it the country's leader in melon-growing acreage, according to the regional Department of Agro-Industrial Development.
Local farmer Hryhorii Khan manages around 1,500 hectares, of which 50 hectares were planted with melons this season, 95% of them watermelons. Harvesting of the earliest fruits began last week. "We plant some seedlings under mulch and some in open ground, sowing in three stages to stagger ripening. Yields will be below our initial plans, but about 50–70% of the crop should have good market quality," Khan said.
Cold nights in May reduced yields by an estimated 25–30% compared to previous years. "This season is unusual, not just here, but across the region. Late frosts and a cold spring hit melon yields hard," Khan explained.
In previous years, the farm harvested between 40 and 60 tonnes per hectare. This year, expectations are lower, at around 25–35 tonnes per hectare. The produce is sold wholesale, with strong demand from supermarket chains.
Compared to 2024, Poltava planted over 2,000 additional hectares of melons. Due to the spring weather, mass ripening and harvesting are running about two weeks late. Region-wide yields are forecast to match last year's level, about 8 tonnes per hectare.
Source: suspilne.media