Texas proving ripe for melon growing

By JULIET BRISKIN | Country World Central Texas

June 21, 2001 -- This melon season is off to one of the best starts ever according to Bob Whitney, Comanche County Extension agent. Due to a growing technique developed by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service the plants are thriving.

On June 14 the Comanche County Extension office hosted a melon production tour in Gustine. Tour participants visited several melon fields and Extension specialists discussed melon production, a statewide watermelon variety trial, melon management and diseases.

According to Whitney the purpose of the program is to encourage producers to adopt a system of early intensively-grown, and managed watermelons to capture the early high market. "Most of the melons in the Valley are sold out by now," said Whitney. "There is a lapse in the market now and we hope to come off from the first of June all the way through the 4th of July."

With the system the Extension Service is promoting, melons are intensively managed for early production. "The melons are grown in 50-60 days from the time the transplants are put in the ground," Whitney said. "The only way to do that is using plastic mulches, irrigation and good quality transplants."

Dr. Frank Dainello, Extension horticulturist, spoke to the tour participants on the Watermelon Variety Trial sponsored by the Extension Service and intensive melon management. The statewide trial has five locations from the Rio Grande Valley to East Texas.

The trial began by growing the different varieties of watermelon in a green house until the first true leaves were formed. The plants were then transplanted to individual plots of raised beds covered with 1.5-millimeter plastic mulch. "We know plastic is a problem to manage," said Dainello, "but it is worth the effort if you are trying to get the high yield and high quality in the melons."

Drip tape was laid beneath the mulch for irrigation and beehives were placed adjacent to the plots to ensure good pollination.

Currently thirty-eight varieties are being grown in this trial. "We are trying to find out what varieties work best in each area and if they can be used successfully across the state," said Dainello. "It is nice to have varieties that are adaptable to a large area."

According to Daniello, this trial is helping bring about a better understanding of the yellow-vine disease. "Hopefully we can discover something that can withstand these disease problems," he said.

The Extension Service estimates that approximately 50,000 acres of watermelons are grown annually and is the state's most widely grown vegetable. According to The Packer's 1998 Fresh Trends Survey, seedless watermelon purchases increased 17 percent between 1992 and 1998.

Growers, shippers and retailers say the growth is attributed to increased acreage, higher consumer demand and better marketing strategies. For more information on this trial contact Bob Whitney in Comanche County at 915-356-2539.