Weslaco:
Transplanted= 4 March 2010 (Average plant population of 1,452 plants/A)
Harvested(once-over)= 27 May 2010
Fertilization= Fertilized with 12-12-6 at 10 gal/A (wt. 10.71 lbs/gal) for a total of seven times on every irrigation run through the course of the season. (Rate of actual N-P-K in lbs per acre of 90-90-45).
Irrigation= Transplanted plants into test plot and drip irrigated on Mar. 4Drip tape was placed 6 inches deep and 6 inches offset from the center of the black plastic mulch bed.
Pest control= After plants were established two applications of Platinum were applied about 1 week apart at 4 oz/A. Three applications of Ridomil-Gold Bravo at 2 lbs/A were applied for general prevention of downy mildew.
Study Comments: Overall the season was very dry with some showers near harvest. Only significant rainfall was on April 12th with 2.7 inches. After this rain event downy mildew was observed but was kept under control. Vine decline was observed on a few plants near harvest but not as bad as the previous year.
La Pryor/Uvalde:
Transplanted= 5 April 2010 (Average plant population of 2,178 plants/A)
Harvested(once-over)= 5 July 2010
Fertilization= Prior to planting 40 units of nitrogen and 80 units of Phosphorus were injected into the planting rows. Liquid nitrogen was injected through the irrigation 4 times at a rate of 40 lbs/A. (Rate of actual N-P-K in lbs per acre of 200-80-0).
Irrigation= Center pivot with 8 irrigations applied through the season; 1-1.5 inches per application.
Pest Control= Transplants were treated with Admire Pro prior to planting.
Surround and Sunscreen were applied just prior to harvest.
Transplants were treated with Admire Pro prior to planting.
In addition, the following were applied:
4/28 Prophyt 16 oz + Bravo 16 oz + Actara 3 oz
5/12 Radiant 16 oz
5/26 Ridomil Gold Bravo 40 oz
6/1 Prophyt 32 oz + Oberion 8 oz
6/10 Presidio 3 oz + Ranman 2.1 oz + Actara 3 oz
6/16 Prophyt 48 oz + Rally 3 oz
6/12 Quadris 14 oz
Study Comments: Triploids seeded 5 March 2010
Diploids seeded12 March 2010
Sorghum stubble from the previous year served as the wind break; most stalks fell over negating much of the windbreak effect.
Row spacing=60 inches with triploids 4 feet apart and diploids 3 feet apart.
Curbit 1 quart/A was applied for weed control following transplanting.
Heavy rain prior to harvest delayed harvest for a week to 10 days and reduced yields and fruit quality. A bit of gummy stem blight on the vines was evident.
College Station
Transplanted= 8 April 2010 (Average plant population of 1,712 plants/A)
Harvested (two times) = 30 June 2010 and 12 July 2010
Fertilization= Fertilized with 15.5-0-0 at 20 lbs/A on 16 April and 39 lbs/A on 6 May. (Rate of actual N-P-K in lbs per acre of 41-0-0).
Irrigation= Drip tape was placed 3 inches deep in the center of the black plastic mulch bed.
Pest control= After plants were established, we applied one application of Imidacloprid at 14 ml/gal and one application of Cabrio at 14 oz per acre.
Study Comments: Rows were spaced 6 feet apart with plant spacing of 40 inches. Two diploid pollenizers were planted after each triploid plot. Weeds were mechanically tilled until watermelon plants began vining into the row middles. Rainfall was negligible for the majority of the trial, which kept disease pressure low.
Lubbock:
Transplanted= May 20, 2010 (average population of 1,959 plants/A)
Harvested(two times) = 19 August and 9 September 2010
Fertilization= Preplant 120 lbs/A nitrogen injected on 40” centers. (Rate of actual N-P-K in lbs per acre of 120-0-0).
Irrigation= Drip irrigation with Netafim T-Tape with 12” emitter spacings and applied twice weekly for a total of 1 – 1.5”/week.
Pest control= Applied Prefar (6.0 qts) + Sandea (0.75 oz) preemergence for weed control. Due to excessive rains, the trial was also handweeded 4 times. Also applied Procure once at 6.0 oz/A in mid-July.
Study Comments: Varieties were seeded in the greenhouse on April 19. All transplants were spaced at 24” in-row and 80” between-row (plot size) with 6 plants/plot + 2 pollinators (one at each end of plots). This was the first time this field had any cucurbits grown in it. Previous crop was cotton. There were no windbreaks and black plastic was not used in this trial. Although heavy rainfall occurred several times during season (June and July), weather was driest during the harvest period. Fruit quality was excellent with little to no culls. Very few fruit had blossom end rot or other fruit diseases, and vine growth was excellent. No bee hives were imported for pollination.
