By Clint Thompson
South Georgia watermelon producers are behind in their plantings this spring, according to one University of Georgia Extension county agent. Excessive rains are the reason why, said John Bennett, Wilcox County Extension Coordinator.
“We really just got going good with our plants (last week). A lot of guys poked plants in starting Monday. We’re probably 7 to 10 days behind where we typically would be as far as putting plants in the ground,” said Bennett, who believes the growers can make up time with improved weather over the next couple of months.
“Overall, I still think we’re going to be okay. We’re not done yet. We’ve got guys still laying plastic and still doing everything they can right now. I hope we should be finishing up by (this week) if we can get some good sunshine and drier weather.”
Wet Weather
Bennett said that parts of his county in South Georgia have received between 10 and 14 inches of rainfall in the last six weeks. There have also been instances of standing water in fields.
“We’ve got guys using sump pumps to pump water out of row middles, just trying to get it where planting crews can walk them in. We’re doing things pretty unconventional right now, but it shows we’re behind because we really don’t have a lot of corn planted right now, either. It’s just wet,” Bennett said.
Bennett also noted his county’s growers are not alone in falling behind their planting schedules. It is a common occurrence across the area.
“I would think we’re pretty well behind as an area. You have some guys who hit it just right. But for the most part, we’re just delayed,” he said.
He estimated that acreage should approach 2,000 in Wilcox County this year, up from the typical 1,500 acres.