CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 06/23/15

Soaring temperatures have watermelon farmers feeling the heat

By Clint Thompson

High summer temperatures and intense sun could reduce Georgia's end-of-season watermelon production this year, according to University of Georgia Cooperative Extension vegetable specialist Tim Coolong.

Because of the increased heat over the past week, risk of sunburn for watermelons in the field has been high. If watermelons do scald, they may not be marketable, which may reduce farmers’ normal timeframe for selling their crop.

Last week's temperatures in south Georgia were recorded in the upper 90s. Temperatures on the UGA Tifton Campus reached as high as 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, June 17, according to UGA’s Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network. At the grounds of the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition in Moultrie, Georgia, a high of 98 degrees F was recorded the same day.

“With the near-100 degree heat we’re seeing, the intense sunlight, it’s just really hard to keep those melons from getting burned,” Coolong said.

When watermelons burn, the rind can appear yellowed, which negatively affects the fruit’s appearance. The result is an unmarketable melon.

“As a homeowner, if you had watermelons that were a little sunburned, they would taste OK,” Coolong said. “Sometimes, if they get a little sunburned, they’ll mature early. You also may get a melon that doesn’t have the size on it that you would expect.”

Coolong said most farmers aim to sell their watermelons in the pre-July Fourth market, which is when demand for watermelons is highest. Typically, some farmers still harvest watermelons a week or two after the Independence Day holiday. However, as the heat adversely affects more watermelons, Coolong believes many producers’ crops may be finished by the end of June.

Coolong said farmers are applying different types of sprays to their watermelons to help shield them from the sun. Many of the products are calcium or kaolin-clay based.

“People have been spraying them very regularly this year. Typically, after that first pick, a large number of growers will spray some shade on their remaining melon crop. This year, it’s even more critical. If the vines are beat up, and it’s 100 degrees, it’s hard for a plant to come back after that,” Coolong said.

Coolong joined the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences two years ago to work on Georgia-grown vegetables, especially those with the most acreage in the state — watermelons, peppers, beans, cucumbers and onions.

Clint Thompson is an agriculture writer based in Tifton, Georgia.

Authors:
Clint Thompson
Experts/Sources:
Tim Coolong
A pair of sunburnt watermelons sit in a field in Tift County. Sunburnt watermelons in a field in Tift County.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
HurricaneHeleneGreenhouseDamageCropped CAES News
UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera
Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.
In Georgia alone, there are nearly 400,000 individuals employed in some segment of hospitality. With the unique mix of leisure travel in coastal Georgia and convention travel in Atlanta, HFIM students have a wealth of opportunities to choose the area that suits them best. CAES News
UGA redefines Southern hospitality through a thriving degree program 11/27/24 Claire S. Kinnard
There are nearly 400,000 individuals employed in some segment of hospitality in Georgia. With the unique mix of leisure travel in coastal Georgia and convention travel in Atlanta, University of Georgia hospitality and food industry management students have a wealth of opportunities to choose the area that suits them best. This versatile experience — with its focus on quality curriculum, meaningful interaction with local and national business, and experiential learning — has already begun graduating the next generation of hospitality leaders.
UGA Grand Farm Site Plan web CAES News
UGA Grand Farm wins stage two of 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund competition 11/13/24 Jordan Powers
Startups in the agricultural technology sector face significant barriers on the path to establishment, including access to training and capital. These barriers are heightened for underrepresented entrepreneurs seeking to start new companies. The University of Georgia Grand Farm, part of a historic partnership between the University of Georgia and Fargo, North Dakota-based Grand Farm, aims to change that.
In partnership with the Center for Black Entrepreneurship, Innovation Gateway is one of 49 recipients of the Federal and State Technology Grant, receiving $200,000 to support proposals for Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer. (Photo courtesy of Center for Black Entrepreneurship) CAES News
Innovation Gateway partners with Center for Black Entrepreneurship on new SBA grant 11/08/24 Brandon Ward
Innovation Gateway will continue supporting startups and technology-based small businesses affiliated with the University of Georgia—thanks, in part, to the renewal of the Federal and State Technology Grant. In partnership with the Center for Black Entrepreneurship, Innovation Gateway is one of 49 grant recipients in 2024, receiving $200,000 to support proposals for Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer grants, which are awarded to startup businesses engaged in developing advanced technologies.
University of Georgia startup CytoNest Inc. released its first commercial product this year, a fiber scaffold that optimizes cell manufacturing and tissue engineering. (Photo by Lauren Corcino) CAES News
UGA again ranks No. 1 in new research-based products 11/04/24 Brandon Ward
The University of Georgia once again ranks No. 1 among U.S. universities for the number of commercial products to market based on its research, according to an annual survey conducted by AUTM. For nine straight years, UGA has placed in the top two and has never appeared out of the Top 5 in the 11 years the survey has been reported by AUTM. UGA industry partners and startups released a record 66 new products developed from the university’s research in fiscal year 2023, on which the AUTM report is based.
Combining data collection and analysis with plant pathology, precision agriculture and robotics, the UGA team will build a photographic library of the foliar symptoms caused by onion diseases and other physiological disorders, feed them into the AI software, and use machine learning to identify the diseases based on pattern and color recognition from the images. CAES News
UGA uses AI, robotics to improve Georgia’s Vidalia sweet onion crop 10/23/24 Jordan Powers
A multidisciplinary team of UGA researchers aims to enhance the competitiveness of Vidalia onion growers in Georgia by providing them with the ability to confidently detect onion diseases early, enabling them to make management decisions on their crop at a critical time. These abilities, researchers say, should result in increased yield and quality of marketable onions and an overall increase in efficiency and productivity.