High Plains Report:
1999 Statewide Watermelon Performance Trial
Texas A&M Research and Extension Center at Lubbock

By Roland Roberts, Dave Bender, Frank Dainello, Stanley Young, Mike Turner, Christi Carpenter, Brad Gruner, and Greg Durbin (TAEX Extension Horticulturist, TAEX Research Horticulturist, Extension Vegetable Specialist, Lubbock County Extension Agent, and TAES Research Technicians, respectively)

Results presented here are from the fifth planting in a season-long chronology of TAEX statewide watermelon trials established in 5 different regions of Texas. The High Plains trial was conducted at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center at Lubbock.

Seed of 40 watermelon varieties were sown into coarse-grade peatlite in super 6-packs at Caprock Growers Greenhouses in Lubbock. Triploid seedless varieties were sown on April 20, and seeded varieties on April 27. Soil tests showed P and K levels to be very high. Urea was broadcast on field soil, and disced-in to provide 150 lb N/acre. On June 3 and 4, transplants were field-set into black-plastic-mulched raised beds, 80 inches on-center, with a Water Wheel planter. Three replications of all variety entries were established.

Sunflower windbreaks were seeded on June 11. First male blossoms opened on June 10. Hail shredded leaves on June 12. Open male blossoms were observed again June 15 to 17. Female blossoms opened June 14 to 24.

Irrigation was applied through Netafim drip lines located 12 inches deep and 6 inches to one side of each watermelon row. Rows were 80 inches apart. Emitter spacing was 24 inches. Tensiometers were inserted to a depth of 12 inches, 15 feet from each end of one row, per replication. Each tensiometer was positioned between plants in a row until blossoming time, then moved 12 inches to one side of the row when fruit set began. Irrigation was started when tensiometer readings in the morning were 20 centibars or higher. More volume of irrigation water was required to re-wet the soil as the crop developed. A volume of 0.3 to 1.0 acre-inch per irrigation was required to saturate soil to the 12-inch depth. A total of 13.0 inches of irrigation water was required, and 4.8 inches of rain fell.

First harvest of mature melons began on August 12, and final harvest of mature melons was on August 20. Each melon was weighed and measured for length and diameter, and several fruit of each variety were photographed. A grower field day was presented August 12. Dave Bender conducted statistical analyses of data, using a SAS program which he tailored to this study.

Watermelon yields in 1999 were lower than in previous years, primarily due to hail damage sustained June 12 when plants were running and flowering was beginning. Some varieties seemed to recover more quickly than others, so flowering was less uniform.