North Florida watermelons will be in supply later than normal, says Branford, Florida producer Laura Land. Land, who is also a member of the Florida Watermelon Association, says there will be more late-season watermelons this year in North Florida. “The increase in acreage that I’m seeing here in the North Florida area is pretty much that later crop,” Land said. …
Alert: Florida Watermelon Producers Wary of Increased Disease Pressure
Rainfall over the weekend in north Florida has watermelon producers wary of potential diseases that could potentially occur. Bob Hochmuth, UF/IFAS Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida, cautions farmers to look for any new symptoms that could occur. “Most of our fungicides are in fact preventative. Trying to play catch-up with a preventative fungicide after a disease has …
UF/IFAS Extension Agent: Cold Damage Was Close on Watermelons
Almost two weeks after a cold Easter weekend, North Florida watermelon producers are still counting their blessings. They understand the minimal damage their crop sustained during a chilly Easter weekend could have been a whole lot worse. “It was really, really close,” said Bob Hochmuth, UF/IFAS Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “Because a lot of those plants …
Narrow Escape: North Florida Watermelons Dodge Significant Frost Damage
Watermelon farmers in Northeast Florida escaped significant damage this weekend during frost and prolonged cold temperatures, believes Bob Hochmuth, UF/IFAS Regional Specialized Extension agent in Live Oak, Florida. “The way that I characterize it is we escaped narrowly. I think if we had another degree or two colder or if the event had been a couple of hours longer, any …
Watermelon Production Decreased in 2020
Prices were High Watermelon production in the United States decreased in 2020, while prices remained strong. According to the USDA Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook, domestic fresh-market watermelon production totaled 3,419.9 million pounds in 2020, which is a decrease of 4.4% from the previous season. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported that production in 2019 was 3,579.2 million …
Storage Options for Watermelons
From production to harvest, the battle is not yet over for watermelon farmers. There is the subject of post-harvest care, specifically, with storage options. Joe Kemble, Alabama Extension vegetable specialist, cautions growers that watermelons are not adapted to long-term storage. “They will last two to three weeks at most in storage,” Kemble said. “If you’re looking at long-term storage, say …
What to Expect? How Watermelons Fare This Year is Anyone’s Guess
South Florida’s watermelon crop is a couple of weeks away from harvest. Producers in that region are looking to rebound after COVID-19 decimated last year’s season. How will producers fare in 2021? Bob Stewart, owner of GID Farms in Immokalee, Florida, says, “You never know.” “You go plant them, grow them and make the best crop you can and let …
Watermelon Board Announces First Female Board President
Winter Springs, FL – March 10, 2021 – The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) held its bi-annual board meeting virtually on Saturday, March 6. Board member Jordan Carter was elected President by her peers, becoming the first woman to serve in this position. Prior to this nomination, Carter (District 3, Cordele, GA) served as Secretary/Treasurer as well as interim President …
Sweet Success: Syngenta Watermelon Excursion Excels in Diverse Climates
Watermelon research remains a key focus for scientists at Syngenta. Watermelon varieties need to withstand any type of diverse climate, especially for growers in Florida, Georgia, Indiana and California. Rebecca Wente-Naylor, breeding trial specialist at Syngenta, discussed the challenges of finding new varieties amid climate change during an American Seed Trade Association webinar. “With climate change, we’re already seeing a …
Rapid Response: New UGA Test for Fusarium Wilt a Major Help for Watermelon Producers
University of Georgia scientists have developed a rapid test to determine the presence of fusarium wilt in watermelons. This test produces much faster and more efficient results and will facilitate research for breeders who are researching new varieties. They can produce options that have resistance to the disease. Emran Ali, head of the Plant Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory at the University …