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 variety trials this summer featured 36 entries in the watermelon trial and 7 in the cantaloupe trial. This was the first year we had an opportunity to look at the new palm or personal watermelon. These melons are characterized as small, 3-5 pounds, and often seedless. Both Wannamaker and Rogers Seeds had entries in the trial in this class. These new watermelons are characterized not only by their small size but also their relatively thin rind. Often they are seedless. These melons are currently marketed directly to consumers or through exclusive arrangements with growers. These varieties tend to be lower-yielding in total tonnage per acre, so the usual markets are not suitable (sale by weight). They do command higher per unit prices at retail, with many thinking they will compete more directly with cantaloupes than with watermelons. They are so small that a single fruit is good for one or two servings, like a cantaloupe.
No single watermelon variety dominates the market like there is with cantaloupes. Both seeded and seedless watermelons continue to be sold in Georgia, but seedless varieties are growing in popularity with a greater selection of types.
Cantaloupes continue to be dominated by 'Athena' and Athena-type cantaloupes. This year's trial was no exception. There was a single variety in the cantaloupe trial, WS-SP04, that I would characterize as a honeydew. The seed company descriptor indicated it was a "Sprite-type" cantaloupe, but I would judge it too large for this designation. Finally, we are not reporting soluble sugar content this year for cantaloupes because the fruit was harvested too early. In the past, we have had trouble with southern blight infecting the cantaloupes as soon as they ripened. This is particularly problematic, since we grow the cantaloupes on bare ground. To alleviate this problem, we harvested early; it was, however, too early for the fruit to ripen completely. Otherwise, the trial went well, and we feel the size of the fruit was within the expected range for the particular varieties.
Below are the results of the watermelon and cantaloupe trials. If you have any questions, let me know.
| Cantaloupe Variety Trial, 2004. Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center, Lyons, Ga. |
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| Entry | Company | Description | No. of Fruit/Acre | Yield/Acre (lbs) |
Length (in) |
Width (in) |
Flesh Depth (in) |
| Athena | Rogers | Hybrid | 7,623 | 38,557 | 7.6 | 6.1 | 1.9 |
| Aphrodite | Rogers | Hybrid | 5,748 | 37,437 | 8.0 | 6.8 | 1.7 |
| WS-SP04 | Wannamaker | small specialty melon, 0.5-0.75 kg. 'Sprite-type,' high sugar | 7,442 | 27,491 | 6.0 | 5.8 | 1.8 |
| PX 1461-1013 | Seminis | Hybrid | 6,050 | 79,207 | 7.5 | 6.3 | 2.3 |
| Jaipur (BS 4309397) | Seminis | Hybrid | 7,260 | 38,932 | 7.8 | 6.2 | 1.9 |
| Moneyloupe (ACX 3908) | Abbott & Cobb | Hybrid | 4,538 | 27,316 | 8.3 | 6.5 | 2.1 |
| ACX 4757 | Abbott & Cobb | Hybrid 72 Maturity Fruit Shape Oval |
6,050 | 37,577 | 8.5 | 6.4 | 2.0 |
| CV | 22% | 27% | |||||
Fisher's Protected LSD (p 0.05) |
NS | NS | |||||
Watermelon Variety Trial, 2004
[Please click here for PDF version]
We have having a fall field day on October 21, 2004, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. We will begin with visits to the field plots, which will be followed by a sponsored supper. On the agenda will be blackberry trellis systems, organic Vidalia onions and a new pumpkin variety.
This is the culmination of several years' work on blackberry trellis systems with the inclusion of the shift-trellis system. Organic Vidalia onions have garnered interest in the marketplace, with several growers attempting this challenging method of production. We have been conducting research on growing onions organically for the past several years. Finally, and perhaps most exciting, we have been working on developing a new pumpkin for south Georgia. This new pumpkin has higher disease resistance, allowing fall production in south Georgia. This has not been possible in the past. We hope this will be a great benefit and a new opportunity for growers in south Georgia.
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Twilight Fall Field DayThursday October 21, 2004
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Directions: From Reidsville, take Highway 147 toward the prison. Just after entering Toombs County, look for the sign on the right. From Lyons, take Highway 178 south. Continue toward the prison; look for the entrance on the left. |
We are very excited about this new pumpkin variety and, if you have growers interested, they should plan to attend the Fall Field Day. We hope to have limited amounts of seed for growers to try next year. Talk to you next month or at the field day in a couple of weeks.