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Varieties
Honey Girl, Honey Star, Sweet Delight, TAM Dew
Soil Preferences
Adaptable to wide range of soils, Optimum soil is well-drained, medium textured, soil with 6.0 - 8.0 pH. Will tolerate heavier soils than most other cucurbits.
Optimum Growing Conditions
Hot days and warm nights. Low soil and air temperatures can stunt growth. Fruit maturing with temperatures below 70°F are usually poor quality.
Establishment Methods
| Planting Method | Direct seeded or transplanted |
|---|---|
| Optimum Time | Spring - when soil temperature is >70°F Fall - 80-90 days prior to average first frost date |
| Seeding rate | 3/4 - 2 lbs/acre |
| Approx seed/oz | 1,300 |
| Seeding depth | 0.5 - 1" |
| Seedling spacing | In-row 8-12" in single line on 78-80" bed, or 12-24" with 2 lines on 78-80" bed |
Fertility/Fertilization
Rates presented as actual lbs/acre N2, P2o5, and K2o (base actual rates applied on soil test results).| Generalized rate: 120 - 70 - 70 lb/acre | |
| N* | 50-100 lbs; 40-50 lbs pre-plant + 20-30 lbs/acre side-dress at 2-4 true-leaf stage, and at vining |
|---|---|
| P | 60-100 lbs; banded approximately 2" below seed at planting |
| K | 60-100 lbs (most Texas soils contain adequate potassium) |
Water/Irrigation
Moderate water demand; 15-20"/season (may be significantly reduced with drip irrigation). Critical need periods are at establishment, and vining through fruit netting.Pest Management
Honeydew Diseases and Common Name of Fungicidal Controls
| DISEASE | FUNGICIDE* | OMRI LISTED FUNGICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Anthracnose | azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, copper sulfate, mancozeb, maneb, potassium phosphite, thiophanate-methyl, pyraclostrobin, | Bacillus subtilis, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate, |
| Downy mildew | dimethomorph, acibenzolar-s-methyl, chlorothalonil, copper sulfate, cymoxanil, fenamidone, fluopicolide, fosetyl-Al, mancozeb, mandpropamid, maneb, potassium phosphite, azoxystrobin, propamocarb hydrochloride, cyazofamid, pyraclostrobin, sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, trifloxystrobin, | Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, clove, rosemary and thyme oil, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, hydrogen dioxide, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate, streptomyces lydicus, |
| Gummy stem blight | azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, chlorothalonil, copper sulfate, kresoxim-methyl, mancozeb, maneb, paraffinic oil, polyoxin D zinc salt, potassium phosphite, pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, thiophanate-methyl, | Bacillus subtilis, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, hydrogen dioxide, |
| Nematode | 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, metam-potassium, metam-sodium, sesame oil, | azadirachtin, |
| Powdery mildew | acibenzolar-s-methyl, azoxystrobin, copper sulfate, kaolin, myclobutanil, paraffinic oil, polyoxin D zinc salt, potassium phosphite, potassium salts of fatty acids, kresoxim-methyl, pyraclostrobin, quinoxyfen, sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, sulfur, tebuconazole, thiophanate-methyl, trifloxystrobin, triflumizole, | Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, clove, rosemary and thyme oil, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, hydrogen dioxide, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate, streptomyces lydicus, |
| Vine decline | chlorothalonil, fludioxonil, thiophanate-methyl, | |
| Viruses | paraffinic oil, |
Honeydew Insect Pests and Common Name of Insecticidal Controls
| INSECT | INSECTICIDE* | OMRI LISTED INSECTICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Aphid | Acetamiprid, Bifenthrin, Diazinon, Dimethoate, Endosulfan, Fenpropathrin, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, Malathion, Oxamyl, Oxydemeton-methyl, Permethrin, petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Neem oil, |
| Cutworm | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Diazinon, Esfenvalerate, Flubendiamide, Lambdacyhalothrin, Permethrin, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis |
| Leafminer | Abamectin, Cyromazine, Deltamethrin, Dimethoate, Lambdacyhalothrin, paraffinic oil, Permethrin, petroleum oil, Soybean Oil, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Spinosad, |
| Looper | Methomyl | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis , Garlic Juice Extracts, Pyrethrins |
| Melonworm | Acetamiprid, Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Chlorantraniliprole, Cryolite, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Diazinon, Endosulfan, Flubendiamide, Indoxacarb, Lambdacyhalothrin, Methomyl, Permethrin, Spinetoram, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis , Spinosad, |
| Mite | Malathion, paraffinic oil, petroleum oil, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, |
| Thrips | Dazinon, Dimethoate, Dinotefuran, Fenpropathrin, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, Oxamyl, Petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean oil, Spinetoram, Thiamethoxam | Azadirachtin, Garlic juice extract, Neem oil, Peppermint and rosemary oil, Pyrethrins, Spinosad, |
| Whitefly | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Dinotefuran, Endosulfan, Fenpyroximate, Fosetyl-Al, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, paraffinic oil, petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil, Spiromesifen, Thiamethoxam | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Pyrethrins |
Weeds and Common Name of Herbicidal Controls
| WEED | HERBICIDE* | OMRI LISTED HERBICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Preplant incorporated | clomazone, ethalfluralin, DCPA, bensulide, trifluralin | Corn gluten meal |
| Preemergence (prior to spear emergence) | ethalfluralin, DCPA | |
| Postemergence | carfentrazone, oxyfluorfen, paraquat, halosulfuron, sethoxydim, glyphosate, pelargonic acid, clethodim | d-limonene, clove oil, cinnamon and clove oil |
* The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Ensure that products with one of the listed active ingredients is registered for the crop it is to be used on. Failure to do the above may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
** As stated in §205.206 of the National Organic Standards, pest management decisions should follow a hierarchical approach, which should be defined in a farm's organic systems plan. Please ensure that you have followed the appropriate steps and any product to be used in certified organic production systems has been approved by your certifying agent.
Harvest
| Days after planting | Usually harvested at 3/4 slip stage of maturity Fields may be harvested 5-10 times over 3 week period Direct seeded - 85-95 days Transplant - 70-80 days |
|---|---|
| Normal method | Hand harvested using harvest aid machinery |
| Containers | Bulk wagon |
| Grades | Based on fruit diameter and freedom from defects |
| Packaging/Handling | 9, 12, 18, or 23 fruit/half carton (approximately 38-41 lbs) Sometimes bulk loaded Usually hydrocooled to remove field heat and chlorine-treated prior to packing |
| Anticipated yield/acre | 10 tons (210 cwt)/acre |
Transit Conditions
32-41°F at 95% RH (freeze injury at 30°F); 1-2 weeks shelf-life.Comments/Production Keys
- Avoid heavy clay soils having poor aeration and drainage
- Plants are extremely cold sensitive (night temperatures < 50°F stunt growth), and easily injured by frost
- Crop well adapted to plastic mulch/drip irrigation culture; results in increased earliness, quality and percent packed out
- Extreme care required during harvesting and handling to avoid bruising and increased decay during transit
- Chlorine-treat fruit prior to packing and/or direct sales to avoid potential of salmonella and cholera contamination
- Excessive nitrogen delays maturity and reduces fruit quality
- Moisture received after netting can reduce soluble solids and subsequent fruit quality
- Bright sunshine during fruit maturity enhances soluble solids and quality. Conversely, cloudy overcast skies reduce soluble solids, sweetness, in fruit.