Burgenland melon production grows sixfold as harvest peaks

Melon cultivation in Austria’s Burgenland has expanded more than sixfold to 32 hectares, with this year’s harvest now at its peak and expected to continue until September, ORF reported.

According to the Burgenland Chamber of Agriculture, seven producers now grow watermelons in the province. One of them is organic farmer Martin Pölzer from St. Andrä am Zicksee.

Melons need plenty of sun and warmth, Pölzer said, noting that the region has Austria’s highest number of sunshine hours and its highest temperatures. If planting does not begin too early, melons generally grow without difficulty, he said.

The extreme temperatures in recent days nevertheless posed a risk. Excessive heat can cause sunburn on melons and make them more vulnerable to rot. “But we got away with a black eye,” Pölzer said.

Targeted irrigation is also essential because watermelons contain up to 95 percent water. Pölzer uses mulch film and underground drip lines to help the plants develop deep roots and reduce evaporation.

To determine whether the fruit is ready to harvest, he taps it. A dull sound indicates that a watermelon is ripe, while a yellowish underside is another sign of maturity.

Farm-gate watermelons currently cost between 2 and 2.50 euros per kilogram. Sugar melons and honeydew melons are also now being grown in the Seewinkel region, and the Chamber of Agriculture sees further potential for expansion.