Cooperative Extension Service
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
The University of Georgia
George
Boyhan, Extension Horticulturist-Vegetables
East Georgia Extension Center
Nessmith-Lane Building, 2nd Floor
PO Box 8112
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA 30460
912-681-5639 | 912-681-0376, Fax | 912-682-3481,
mobile
The annual beltwide onion production meeting will be held August 15, 2003, at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will be at the Captain's Corner restaurant in Vidalia. There will be a sponsored lunch followed by presentations by extension specialists on Vidalia onion research.
The following individuals will be on the schedule:
Thad Paulk, Agricultural Research Assistant III, who will discuss controlled atmosphere research.
Jeff Cook and Reid Torrance, Tattnall County Extension Agents, will discuss weed control research.
David Langston, extension specialist, will discuss disease and insect control.
George Boyhan, extension specialist, will discuss issues concerning variety selection and direct seeding onions.
Counties with Vidalia onion production should be getting a notice about this meeting from the Toombs County office. Ronnie Blackley, the new agriculture agent in Toombs County, is coordinating this meeting. Please encourage your growers and other interested parties to attend this meeting. If you have specific questions about the meeting, contact Ronnie or me.
by Relinda Walker
Georgia Organics, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable and organic growing practices, will sponsor an on-farm demonstration of organic no-till planting of broccoli on September 18 at Walker Farms near Sylvania, Georgia.
The event is the first of two field days associated with a five-month organic no-till experiment undertaken on two south Georgia farms, funded by a grant from the EPA, with the objective to reduce pesticide use in south Georgia. The field trials are being run at Heritage Organic Farm in Effingham County, which has been certified Organic since 1991, as well as at Walker Farms in Screven County, which is transitioning from conventional row crops and melon production to organic vegetables.
A growing number of Georgia farmers are using no-till or reduced tillage methods in vegetable production to improve soil fertility and reduce production costs. No-ill techniques have also been shown to reduce pesticide use over conventional tillage, but practitioners typically use herbicides to kill down the cover crop and/or prevent weed growth. In organic no-till, only mechanical means are used to kill the cover crop, and weeds must be controlled by organic methods. Dr. Ron Morse of Virginia Tech has reported success in organic no-till production for vegetable crops that develop sufficient canopy to shade out weeds. For the demonstration planting, we will use a no-till transplanter developed by Dr. Morse, who will be on hand to offer advice and answer questions about his experience.
At the September 18 field day, broccoli will be planted following two cover crops: soybean + millet and sunn hemp + millet. Half of each cover crop will be tilled in for green manure before planting broccoli; the other half of each cover will be mechanically killed and the broccoli planted directly into the killed mulch. A second field day, scheduled October 30 at Heritage Organic Farm to allow observation of the broccoli crop prior to harvest, will be combined with a workshop on organic methods of weed management.
For more information, contact Relinda at 912-481-2263, or e-mail Relinda@georgiaorganics.org
Below are the results of the watermelon and cantaloupe variety trials for this year. The year was marked by rainy weather throughout the production cycle. The plants, however, held up remarkably well under what should have been greater than normal disease pressure. The rainy weather did decrease the soluble solids from previous years, and there were greater internal problems with the watermelon. This was manifested with more white streaks in the flesh.
About half the watermelon varieties were seedless this year. I have been tracking watermelon sales in The Packer, and better than 60 percent of sales from Georgia have been seedless watermelons this season. With the introduction of Seminis' pollinizer variety 'Companion' and Syngenta's plants to introduce 'SP-1' next season, there is the possibility that all commercial watermelons could eventually be seedless. Another company that has a pollinizer is Hazera, with a variety called 'Minipool.'
We had three varieties in the trial that had yellow flesh: 'Sunny,' 'Gold Strike' and 'Butterball.' Both 'Sunny' and 'Butterball' are seedless varieties as well. The quality on these melons was particularly good.
The low yields of 8282 from Seminis reflects low germination, which resulted in fewer plants in the trial.
Cantaloupe varieties continue to be dominated by Athena type Eastern shippers. There were no differences in yield among the six varieties we tested in this season's trial.
| Watermelon
Variety Trial Results, 2003 Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center, Lyons, GA |
||||||||
| NO. | Entry | Company | Description | Yield (lbs/acre) |
Melons per weight class (%) | |||
 10
lbs |
>10
-20 lbs |
>20
- 30 lbs |
> 30 lbs | |||||
| 1 | WX-255 | Willhite | Hybrid | 54,712 | 11 | 86 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | WX-261 | Willhite | Hybrid | 48,098 | 14 | 70 | 16 | 0 |
| 3 | WX-262 | Willhite | Hybrid | 42,033 | 20 | 60 | 20 | 0 |
| 4 | Sunny | Willhite | Triploid | 36,483 | 10 | 83 | 7 | 0 |
| 5 | WX-266 | Willhite | Hybrid | 39,604 | 12 | 68 | 21 | 0 |
| 6 | Sweet Slice | Willhite | Hybrid Triploid | 44,515 | 24 | 72 | 3 | 0 |
| 7 | WX-207 | Willhite | Hybrid | 46,292 | 23 | 61 | 17 | 0 |
| 8 | Gold Strike | Willhite | Hybrid | 52,622 | 7 | 81 | 11 | 1 |
| 9 | Ole' | Willhite | Hybrid | 36,373 | 27 | 59 | 14 | 0 |
| 10 | WX-28 | Willhite | Hybrid Triploid | 38,021 | 18 | 55 | 26 | 0 |
| 11 | Genesis F1 | Shamrock | Hybrid | 37,713 | 46 | 54 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | ChaChaCha F1 | Shamrock | Hybrid | 36,688 | 25 | 72 | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | PX 11052889 | Seminis | Triploid Larger Tri X | 43,316 | 26 | 72 | 2 | 0 |
| 14 | Cooperstown | Seminis | Triploid | 39,709 | 17 | 80 | 4 | 0 |
| 15 | Olympia (5031) | Seminis | Triploid | 34,104 | 25 | 69 | 6 | 0 |
| 16 | 8282 | Seminis | Triploid | 19,511 | 28 | 39 | 33 | 0 |
| 17 | PX80309020 | Seminis | Triploid | 28,325 | 35 | 62 | 3 | 0 |
| 18 | XP 4510759 | Seminis | Triploid | 40,166 | 37 | 63 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | SSW 9140 | Florida Seed | 46,867 | 4 | 59 | 37 | 0 | |
| 20 | SSW 9905 | Florida Seed | 41,763 | 32 | 68 | 0 | 0 | |
| 21 | SSW 9150 | Florida Seed | 45,172 | 21 | 71 | 8 | 0 | |
| 22 | FSW 9130 | Florida Seed | 48,137 | 4 | 52 | 42 | 1 | |
| 23 | WD-02-29 | D. Palmer Seed | Diploid | 51,911 | 7 | 84 | 8 | 0 |
| 24 | WT-02-26 | D. Palmer Seed | Triploid | 32,329 | 25 | 71 | 4 | 0 |
| 25 | Sweet Eat'n | D. Palmer Seed | 313 Type (3N) | 39,683 | 31 | 69 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | WD-01-22 (Plantation Pride) | D. Palmer Seed | Blocky Calsweet Type (2N) | 48,407 | 11 | 67 | 21 | 1 |
| 27 | WD-02-25 | D. Palmer Seed | Allsweet Smoke (2N) | 55,431 | 17 | 73 | 10 | 0 |
| 28 | Butterball | D. Palmer Seed | Triploid | 53,780 | 28 | 72 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Afternoon Delight | D. Palmer Seed | Triploid | 35,191 | 20 | 78 | 3 | 0 |
| 30 | WD-02-28 | D. Palmer Seed | 2N | 47,165 | 14 | 62 | 23 | 1 |
| 31 | WD-02-23 | D. Palmer Seed | 2N | 38,667 | 8 | 76 | 15 | 2 |
| 32 | Compadre (DPS 4100) | D. Palmer Seed | 2N Watermelon | 44,979 | 19 | 61 | 19 | 1 |
| CV | 26% | |||||||
| Fisher's
Protected & Adjusted LSD (p0.05) |
20,141 | |||||||
| NO. | Entry | Company | Flesh Color | Fruit
Length (in.) |
Width (in.) |
Rind
Thickness (in.) |
Soluble Solids | Fruit Type |
| 1 | WX-255 | Willhite | Red | 13.3 | 8.2 | 0.8 | 9.5 | Allsweet |
| 2 | WX-261 | Willhite | Red | 16.9 | 7.7 | 0.8 | 8.6 | Allsweet |
| 3 | WX-262 | Willhite | Red | 16.4 | 7.7 | 0.7 | 9.3 | Allsweet |
| 4 | Sunny | Willhite | Yellow | 12.7 | 8.0 | 0.9 | 11.1 | Allsweet, seedless |
| 5 | WX-266 | Willhite | Red | 16.8 | 7.8 | 0.6 | 9.7 | Allsweet |
| 6 | Sweet Slice | Willhite | Red | 11.6 | 8.6 | 1.0 | 10.3 | Crimson Sweet, seedless |
| 7 | WX-207 | Willhite | Red | 16.1 | 8.2 | 0.8 | 10.1 | Jubilee |
| 8 | Gold Strike | Willhite | Yellow | 13.7 | 8.5 | 0.8 | 10.4 | Jubilee, Allsweet |
| 9 | Ole' | Willhite | Red | 15.1 | 8.4 | 0.9 | 10.5 | Allsweet |
| 10 | WX-28 | Willhite | Red | 17.0 | 8.4 | 0.8 | 8.9 | Allsweet, Jubilee, seedless |
| 11 | Genesis F1 | Shamrock | Red | 9.3 | 8.5 | 0.7 | 10.0 | Crimson Sweet/Jubilee, seedless |
| 12 | ChaChaCha F1 | Shamrock | Red | 11.1 | 8.4 | 0.7 | 10.9 | Crimson Sweet, seedless |
| 13 | PX 11052889 | Seminis | Red | 11.5 | 8.8 | 0.8 | 9.5 | Blocky Crimson Sweet, seedless |
| 14 | Cooperstown | Seminis | Red | 11.1 | 8.2 | 0.7 | 10.3 | Blocky Crimson Sweet, seedless |
| 15 | Olympia (5031) | Seminis | Red | 11.8 | 8.8 | 0.9 | 10.6 | Blocky Crimson Sweet, seedless |
| 16 | 8282 | Seminis | Red | 16.7 | 8.0 | 0.7 | 8.8 | Jubilee, seedless |
| 17 | PX80309020 | Seminis | Red | 11.1 | 7.9 | 0.9 | 10.6 | Blocky Crimson Sweet |
| 18 | XP 4510759 | Seminis | Red | 10.9 | 8.2 | 1.0 | 10.5 | Blocky Crimson Sweet, seedless |
| 19 | SSW 9140 | Florida Seed | Red | 13.9 | 9.1 | 0.8 | 10.1 | Blocky Jubilee |
| 20 | SSW 9905 | Florida Seed | Red | 10.8 | 8.4 | 0.7 | 10.6 | Crimson Sweet, seedless |
| 21 | SSW 9150 | Florida Seed | Red | 14.2 | 7.7 | 0.7 | 9.7 | Allsweet, light colored seed |
| 22 | FSW 9130 | Florida Seed | Red | 16.6 | 8.1 | 0.9 | 9.7 | Allsweet |
| 23 | WD-02-29 | D. Palmer Seed | Red | 11.9 | 8.7 | 0.8 | 8.9 | Blocky Crimson Sweet |
| 24 | WT-02-26 | D. Palmer Seed | Red | 11.9 | 8.6 | 0.9 | 10.0 | Crimson Sweet, seedless |
| 25 | Sweet Eat'n | D. Palmer Seed | Red | 11.1 | 8.1 | 0.8 | 9.8 | Allsweet |
| 26 | WD-01-22 (Plantation Pride) | D. Palmer Seed | Red | 15.3 | 8.2 | 1.0 | 9.4 | Allsweet |
| 27 | WD-02-25 | D. Palmer Seed | Red | 16.3 | 8.1 | 0.8 | 10.5 | Jubilee |
| 28 | Butterball | D. Palmer Seed | Yellow | 9.1 | 8.8 | 1.4 | 9.3 | Crimson Sweet, seedless |
| 29 | Afternoon Delight | D. Palmer Seed | Red | 10.2 | 8.8 | 0.9 | 9.7 | Crimson Sweet, seedless |
| 30 | WD-02-28 | D. Palmer Seed | Red | 12.1 | 10.0 | 0.8 | 9.2 | Dark Crimson Sweet |
| 31 | WD-02-23 | D. Palmer Seed | Red | 15.5 | 8.9 | 0.9 | 9.3 | Jubilee |
| 32 | Compadre (DPS 4100) | D. Palmer Seed | Red | 11.3 | 9.7 | 0.8 | 10.0 | Crimson Sweet |
| CV | 9% | |||||||
| Fisher's
Protected & Adjusted LSD (p0.05) |
1.6 | |||||||
| Cantaloupe
Variety Trial, 2003 Vidalia Onion & Vegetable Research Center, Lyons, GA |
|||||||||
| No. | Entry | Comapny | Type | Yield (lbs/acre) |
Yield (no./acre) |
Length (in.) |
Width (in.) |
Flesh
Depth (in.) |
Soluble
Solids (%) |
| 1 | ESC-02-09 | D. Palmer Seed | Eastern shipper | 19,729 | 3,812 | 7.5 | 6.3 | 1.5 | 6.6 |
| 2 | ESC-02-07 | D. Palmer Seed | Eastern shipper (Athena) | 23,541 | 3,691 | 8.8 | 6.9 | 1.7 | 6.2 |
| 3 | ESC-02-08 | D. Palmer Seed | NJ, MD, Biotype | 26,275 | 3,812 | 9.2 | 7.3 | 1.9 | 6.9 |
| 4 | RML 8793-VP | Rogers | 24,079 | 2,844 | 9.1 | 7.3 | 1.9 | 7.8 | |
| 5 | Athena | Rogers | Athena | 25,634 | 3,933 | 8.4 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 7.1 |
| 6 | SVR-1022 | Seminis | 38,345 | 3,449 | 9.6 | 8.2 | 2.1 | 7.4 | |
| CV | 39% | 21% | 20% | ||||||
| Fisher's
Protected & Adjusted LSD (p0.05) |
NS | NS | NS | ||||||
Don't forget about the Beltwide Onion Production Meeting sheduled for August 15, 2003. This is a great opportunity for you and your growers to get the latest research results, including the addition of new varieties.
Talk to you next month.