MASTER OF MELONS

Mineral rich

Oscar Zerbinati’s land is set in Sermide, Mantua. His plot used to be the reservoir of the overflow from the River Po. This has given the soils complex, rich minerals and a high concentration of organic matter.

undiluted

Although great for storing valuable nutrients, the clay soils also naturally retain water.  Melons are great absorbers of water, naturally seeking it out when available, which dilutes their taste. Oscar skillfully limits water uptake: he covers them with sheeting to protect them from rainwater, and elevates the beds into mounds so any water drains away along the channels. The result — rich, dense flesh teeming with sugars.

Thinned

Pushing for flavor at every turn, Oscar thins his melons to less than half the number of conventional growers, even for his Sentinel Watermelon — a variety already known for low yields and thus rarely grown. By thinning his plants, the remaining fruits do not have to compete so tightly for nutrients, allowing each to reach its full flavor potential.

ripe

Three generations of experience gives Oscar instinctual knowledge of the perfect time to pick. For the large Sentinel Watermelons, he’s developed a ribbon system, color coding each fruit according to the time of fruit set. Like this, he knows exactly how long each watermelon has had to develop that intense flavor.

protected

Although they need the heat, melons can suffer from long and direct exposure to sun. To prevent them burning, Oscar applies a chalk and gravel based sunscreen, both to the fruits and the leaves — an incredible level of dedication. Beyond the field, he packs each melon into a crate laid with straw, ensuring they travel without damage.