By Clint Thompson Georgia’s delayed start to the watermelon season was North Florida’s gain for a second year in a row. Bob Hochmuth, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, confirmed last week that some of his growers were still picking over fields, mostly because Georgia volume had not …
Call for Entries: Watermelon Retail Merchandising Contest Open
WINTER SPRINGS, FL – The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) is excited to announce the call for entries for their 16th annual Watermelon Retail Merchandising Contest. Retail chains, independent retailers, and commissaries are invited to compete for more than $10,000 in cash and prizes. The grand prize winner will receive $5,000, with $2,500 awarded to the second place, $1,000 for …
South Georgia Watermelon Harvests Underway
By Clint Thompson Watermelon harvests are underway across South Georgia. One crop scout attributes an uptick in disease pressure in watermelons this year to the increased rainfall experienced throughout the region in the spring. Tim Flanders, who scouts watermelon fields in the Tifton, Georgia, area, also said producers experienced some diseases sooner in the production season than normal. “We’ve got …
Attacking Anthracnose: UGA’s Dutta Highlights Research in Watermelon Disease
By Clint Thompson University of Georgia (UGA) research aimed at managing anthracnose disease in watermelons continues on the Tifton Campus. Project director Bhabesh Dutta, University of Georgia Extension vegetable plant pathologist, outlined various aspects of the grant during a recent Extension agent training. Dutta emphasized the importance of trying to reduce the disease’s impact from all angles. “We’re trying to …
Gummy Stem Blight a Problem for North Florida Watermelon Crop
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 …
UGA Extension Coordinator Discusses Challenges Facing Watermelon Producers
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 …
Watermelon Tracker: Florida Crop Moving North
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 Observed in Florida, Georgia Watermelons
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 …
North Florida Extension Agent: Weather Competitive Advantage for Watermelon Diseases
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 …
Challenging Weather Impacting Alabama Watermelon Producers
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 …



















