The 8424 watermelon, also known as Early Jia 8424, is a top-tier watermelon variety. It is beautiful in appearance, thin-skinned, juicy, and refreshing, making it highly popular in the market and widely cultivated throughout China. So, how many fruits does one 8424 watermelon plant produce? Details are as follows:
How many fruits does one watermelon plant (8424) produce?
The 8424 watermelon is an early-maturing hybrid variety with a short growth cycle, strong disease resistance, and good fruit setting. A single plant can typically produce 3-5 fruits, with each fruit weighing 4-7 kg.
Is the 8424 watermelon a genetically modified variety?
8424 is not a genetically modified variety, but rather a product of long-term artificial selection. It was developed by Ms. Wu Mingzhu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a researcher at the Hami Melon Research Center of the Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, in 1984 from among high-quality watermelon varieties. This early-maturing watermelon variety, with strain number 24, was later named "8424" watermelon. Furthermore, genetically modified foods were only approved for testing in China in 1986, so this timeline confirms that the 8424 watermelon is not a genetically modified variety at all.
What are the differences between 8424 watermelon and Meidu watermelon ?
1. Maturity time
The Meidu watermelon is a mid-maturing hybrid variety, taking about 40 days from flowering to fruit maturity; the 8424 watermelon is an early-maturing hybrid variety, taking about 28-30 days from flowering to fruit maturity.
2. Fruit characteristics
(1) The rind of the Midu watermelon is thinner, but harder than that of 8424. The stripes on the rind are also darker green than those of the Zaojia 8424.
(2) The flesh of the Mido watermelon has no white veins.
(3) The flesh of the Mido watermelon is peach-red; the flesh of the 8424 watermelon is pink.
(4) The sweetness of Midu watermelon is generally 12-14; the sweetness of 8424 watermelon is generally 10-12.
3. Production Performance
The yield of Midu watermelon is higher than that of 8424 watermelon, with a yield of about 2700-3300 kg per mu.
4. Price differences
The Mido watermelon is a new variety that has replaced the 8424 watermelon in recent years, becoming the new "ace" watermelon. Compared to the 8424 watermelon, it has thicker flesh, more juice, and higher sweetness. Moreover, its rind is harder than that of the 8424, making it easier to transport, and therefore it is more expensive than the 8424 watermelon.
