|
Watermelon
Frank J. Dainello,
Extension Horticulturist
Department of
Horticultural Sciences,
Texas A&M University |
Click photo to enlarge in new window. |
|
VARIETIES
| Hybrids: |
Stars-N-Stripes, Summer Flavor 800, Sangria, Royal Sweet, Big Stripe,
Jamboree, Stargazer |
| Yellow flesh= |
Summer Gold |
| Open pollinated: |
All Sweet, Jubilee II, Legacy |
|
SOIL PREFERENCE
Deep, well-drained, light textured soil having a pH range of 5.5 - 8.0(optimum
6.5 - 7.0). Does not tolerate heavy soils. |
OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS
Bright, hots days (80 - 95oF) and warm nights (60 -70oF).
Cooler temperatures and excessive rainfall slows growth and maturity. Overcast
and cloudy weather conditions reduces soluble solids (fruit quality). |
ESTABLISHMENT
| Method= |
Direct seeded (Transplants well). |
| Optimum time= |
When all danger of frost has passed and/or soil seed zone temperature
exceeds 70oF. |
| Seeding rate/A= |
1 - 3 lbs. |
| Seed / oz= |
300 - 600 |
| Seeding depth= |
0.75 - 1" |
| Seedling spacing= |
3' in-row on 80 A wide raised beds(irrigated) 5' in-row on 8 - 10'
wide raised beds(dry land) |
|
FERTILITY/FERTILIZATION
Rates presented as actual lbs/Acre N2, P2O5 and K2O (base actual rates on
soil test analysis).
| Generalized rate lbs/A: |
80 - 80 - 80 |
| N= |
40 - 90 lbs; 0 - 50 lbs pre-plant broadcast incorporated or split
band 4" deep and 4 - 6 " on either side of seed row at planting +
20 - 30 lbs side-dressed 3 wks after emergence; under high rainfall,
an additional 20 lbs may be required at vining (side dress in split
bands or through fertigation) |
| P= |
40 - 80 lbs; banded 3 - 4 " below seed at planting or near the level
of the transplant root base |
| K= |
40 - 80 lbs; if needed applied with pre-plant N |
| Starter solution(transplants)= |
approx 8 oz of high phosphate starter solution/plant at field setting |
WATER/IRRIGATION
10 - 15 "/season. Steady moisture supply (1 - 2 " every 10 - 14 days) required.
Key stages are establishment, blooming, and fruit set and enlargement. |
PEST MANAGEMENT
| Major Diseases |
Control |
| Downy mildew |
Acrobat, Aliette, Bravo, Gavel, mancozeb, Ridomil Gold Bravo, Ridomil
Gold Copper, Ridomil Gold MZ |
| Powdery mildew |
Bravo, Cabrio, Flint, Nova, Procure, Quadris |
| Alternaria |
Bravo, Cabrio, Flint, mancozeb, Quadris |
| Gummy stem blight |
Bravo, Cabrio, Flint, mancozeb, Quadris |
| Fusarium wilt |
Long rotations (5 years), resistant varieties |
| Virus |
None; manage vectors (Aphids or whitefly) to prevent or delay transmission |
| Nematode |
K-Pam, Telone II, Telone C-17, Vydate |
|
| Major Insects |
Control |
| Cucumber beetle |
Asana, Capture, endosulfan, Guthion, permethrin, Sevin |
| Leafminer |
Agri-mek, dimethoate, permethrin, Spintor, Vydate |
| Aphid |
Actara/Platinum, Admire, endosulfan, Fulfill |
| Whitefly |
Actara/Platinum, Admire, Danitol, endosulfan, insecticidal soap,
Vydate |
| Pickleworm and melonworm |
Asana, Capture, Lannate, permethrin, Spintor |
| Mite |
Agri-mek, Capture, Danitol, Kelthane |
|
| Weeds |
Control |
| Preplant incorporated |
Alanap, Prefar |
| Preemergence |
Command, Curbit, Sandea, Strategy |
| Postemergence |
Alanap, Dacthal, Poast, Sandea (shielded), Select, Treflan (shielded) |
|
| *NOTE*--The above is
a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Ssome of the labels
may have been revoke since the publication of this guide. Refer to product
labels for specifics and use accordingly. Failure to do so may result in
crop injury, death and/or citataion for law violation. Humans, animals and
the environment may also be adversely affected bty misuse. |
HARVEST
| Normal method= |
hand |
| Days after planting= |
| Direct seeded- |
85 - 95 |
| Transplanted- |
65 - 75 |
| Seed/oz= |
185 -625 |
| Approx yld lbs/A= |
20,000 - 70,000 depending upon inputs(water, variety, mulch) and
weather |
| Containers= |
Bulk wagons or pallet boxes |
| Grades= |
Normally field graded during loading, based on diameter size and
freedom form blemishes |
| Packaging/handling= |
4 - 5/fiberboard carton depending upon size, or, shipped in pallet
boxes or bulk lots. Straw between melon layers suggested for bulk
loads. |
| Anticipated yld/A= |
15,000 to 70,000 |
|
STORAGE / TRANSIT CONDITIONS
50 - 60oF at 80 - 85 % RH, can obtain chilling injury at 40oF.
Shelf-life 3 - 4 weeks. |
COMMENTS/PRODUCTION KEYS
- Can be produced under low input dry land systems.
- Open pollinated varieties better suited to dry land conditions.
- Responds well to high levels of inputs and management; transplant
establishment + plastic mulch + drip irrigation etc. Transplant establishment
may or may not be economically feasible with open pollinated varieties
or with hybrids, if used, best suited to plastic mulch (6' width) and
drip irrigation.
- In areas with high winds, wind breaks planted every 4 - 6 beds is
advisable. Windbreaks should be established in the fall in order to
provide protection to spring planted crop.
- Excessive nitrogen fertilization and irrigation delays maturity and
reduces fruit quality.
- Requires the addition of bees to obtain maximum yield and quality
(one strong hive / A).
- Straw layers should be placed between melon layers to reduce fruit
injury during bulk shipment.
- Palletizable bin boxes becoming popular for bulk shipment.
- Maintain good foliage coverage of fruit to avoid sunburn.
|
Texas Cooperative
Extension, Horticulture Crop Guides Series
Revised November, 2003
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/vegetable/cropguides/watermelon.html
Prepared for Web delivery by Brooke Bludau, Amanda Zan, and Dan Lineberger |
