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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Watermelon”
By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon growers have been able to manage most disease pressure this year; except for gummy stem blight. It has been the one disease that has been extremely problematic for producers, says Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “I’d say it’s more …
By Clint Thompson Watermelon harvests are underway in Georgia. It’s not the big, seedless melons, which are still a few days away. Mini melons were being harvested last week. Jaime Patrick, Patrick Family Farms in Omega, Georgia, said his mini melons were being harvested, starting on Thursday, June 6. “We’ll do 15 buses a day, something like that. It isn’t …
By Clint Thompson North Florida’s watermelon crop continues to be impacted by increased disease pressure, though gummy stem blight remains the most difficult to control. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, reported in his weekly email that gummy stem blight is causing the greatest concern among …
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s watermelon harvests are still a couple of weeks away, according to one industry expert. The fact that this year’s crop is not slated to be picked until mid-to-late June is on par with what growers have experienced in recent years, says Ty Torrance, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable agent for Colquitt, Tift and Worth counties. …
John Bennett: “Everything is conducive right now for everything to go wrong.” By Clint Thompson Watermelons produced in Wilcox County, Georgia, are at baseball to softball size in most fields. Considering the late start to the planting season for most growers, that development is not far off for this time of year. John Bennett, University of Georgia (UGA) Wilcox County …
By Clint Thompson The watermelon season continues to move northward up the state of Florida. Harvests are well under way in the central and northern areas of the state. Laura Land, member of the executive council of the Florida Watermelon Association, highlighted the current season and where growers are concentrating their harvests. “The southern parts are coming to the end …
Downy mildew disease was observed in North Florida watermelons and South Georgia watermelons last week. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, confirmed in an email that downy mildew was confirmed in the southern part of the Suwannee Valley. He also reported that Ty Torrance, University of …
By Clint Thompson Like the rest of the Southeast, North Florida has been impacted by excessive rains over the past week, dating back to last Friday. It has impacted the region’s watermelon crop, which has just started being harvested. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, talked …
By Clint Thompson Alabama’s watermelon crop is on pace for a normal, average year, according to one producer. Jeremy Sessions, who farms 50 acres in Grand Bay, Alabama, said he should be ready to harvest by June 10. This comes despite challenging weather conditions throughout the growing season. “Everything looks pretty good. Early, we had some tough growing conditions. They …
By Clint Thompson Disease management in Georgia watermelons is currently a challenge considering how saturated fields are amid excessive rains this spring. The crop is susceptible to multiple diseases, and many farmers are unable to access the fields to apply much needed fungicides. Ty Torrance, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable agent for Colquitt, Tift and Worth counties, discussed the …
