It's hard to imagine anything grown in Antarctica due to its extreme temperatures which, at points, reached lower than a negative 100 degrees Fahrenheit. As such, a Russian scientist has successfully achieved the astonishing accomplishment of growing watermelon in the coldest place on Earth.
Watermelon in Antarctica
According to Live Science, the experiment was carried out at the Vostok Station located at the Pole of Cold, considered Earth's coldest place. Records show that this place had temperatures reaching -128.6 °F.
Despite the challenges, the Russian research station was able to grow watermelons in its greenhouse. This included help from the Russian Antarctic Expedition of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI).
An oasis was created in this cold temperature where air temperature and humidity were increased to create favorable conditions for the watermelons. The experiment also involved the help of colleagues from the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Agrophysical Research Institute.
The watermelon has come a long way from being its depictions discovered in a 4,300-year-old Egyptian tomb painting, as noted by Sputnik Globe. As such, it was now successfully grown in the coldest place on Earth.
Growth of the Watermelon
To grow out the watermelon, the team initially selected two varieties of watermelons that would ripen early aside from the way they taste. The scientists also looked for varieties that would adapt to low pressure and oxygen for it to match the greenhouse's environment.
According to a translated statement from the AARI, the seeds were planted on a thin soil substitute layer. For the sunlight, they used a special light and since there weren't insects, researchers needed to manually pollinate the watermelon.
Researchers reported progress after 103 days of planting the seeds as they finally had eight watermelons from six plants. Another translated statement from the Russian Geography Society reports that these watermelons reached 2 lbs in weight with up to 13 cm diameters.
Aside from its scientific implications, the growth of watermelons in Antarctica proved to be an enjoyable snack for scientists. Andrei Teplyakov, AARI's lead geophysicist, said that they were glad to remember the summer taste and that they had positive emotions when even just observing the growth of the watermelons.
Other Accomplishments in Antarctica
The Vostok Station is known for being able to grow other produce through its sophisticated greenhouse. In 2020, the researchers grew other plants from herbs like dill, basil, and parsley while also being able to plant vegetables like arugula and cabbage.
As for watermelons, The Korean Bizwire reports that Korean scientists held the previous record for watermelons grown in the coldest temperature. In 2021, the scientists grew watermelons at -78.1 °F temperatures at King Sejong Station in West Antarctica.
Aside from watermelons, the scientists have other plans regarding the next fruits they want to grow in the coldest place on Earth. Their lineup includes fruits like blueberries, blackberries, and even strawberries.
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