By Clint Thompson
Thursday’s expected sunshine should help shine a light on the damage inflicted on North Florida’s watermelon plants from last weekend’s sub-freezing temperatures. How much acreage will need to be replanted is still a question for growers impacted by temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the Suwanee Valley.
“Because this was not necessarily a frost situation, it was more of a freeze situation, they’re probably still a day or two out from knowing (what needs to be replanted). They can see some damage, but we’ll probably continue to see damage for two or three days now,” said Laura Land, executive council member of the Florida Watermelon Association. “When the sun comes back out, the plants that suffered, you can see way more severely on a hot day than you can a cool day.”
There was an estimated 5,000 of the 7,000 acres normally produced in the Suwannee Valley that were already planted prior to last weekend. All were subjected to cold temperatures, an abundance of rainfall in two days following an extended drought and gale force winds.
Some growers will be forced to replant, though that may be more challenging than normal.
“There was not an abundance of transplants out there. In many cases, where they would perhaps like to replant, they may have to guard that decision a little bit because the availability of transplants is pretty minimal right now,” explains Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida.
