FB-Royal Red F1 is an icebox type watermelon hybrid with an oblong rind pattern in dark greenish black. Fruit sit in the 4-5 kg range that retail and household buyers prefer, with deep red flesh that is tender and succulent at 12-13% sugar. It is highly tolerant to bud necrosis and Fusarium wilt, two of the costliest watermelon problems in Indian fields.
Key characteristics
| Plant type | Icebox oblong type rind pattern hybrid |
| Skin | Dark greenish black |
| Fruit shape | Oval to oblong |
| Fruit weight | 4-5 kg |
| Flesh | Deep red, tender, succulent and juicy |
| Sugar (TSS) | 12-13% |
| Disease tolerance | Highly tolerant to bud necrosis and Fusarium wilt |
| Yield potential | High yielding variety |
Agronomy
| Days to first harvest | 70-75 days from sowing |
| Seed rate | 700-800 g per hectare |
| Yield | 25-35 MT per acre average |
| Seed count | Approx. 20-25 seeds per gram |
| Spacing | 30 x 60 cm |
| Season | Kharif (June-July) and Summer (February-March) |
Yield and maturity figures depend on season, region and cultural practice. Seed rate and spacing follow Indian agricultural practice and Farmson R&D trial data.
