Watermelon season in georgia

Georgia growers report that after two years of unpredictable and extreme weather patterns, this growing season has been smooth. The 2019 georgia watermelon season starts vsc news. Increases in average yield per acre will continue as more growers adopt. Watermelons are notoriously finicky when it comes to transplanting. Georgia summers are very hot and dry for the most part. The long, hot georgia summer is perfect for growing this mouthwatering, refreshing, sweet and tasty fruit. Florida watermelon shipments archives haul produce. The peak harvest season is from late may through midjuly. Whats in season florida produce calendar infographic. Watermelon is a warm season vegetable in the cucurbiteae family.

As is the case with other summer melons, watermelons need a long, hot season to develop. Of course, watermelons are nothing new to most of uspeople of global trade, but you should try georgian watermelons at the end of summerbeginning of autumn and you will reshape your attitudes toward this juicy berry. Watermelon farmers hit the market early this season. Late summer and early fall harvests of watermelon can be found in the southern high plains. Add a balanced fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. A warm season crop related to cantaloupe, cucumber and pumpkin, most watermelons are grown in central georgia or along our southern coastal plains. It is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, having more than varieties watermelon is a scrambling and trailing vine in the flowering plant family cucurbitaceae. And like his fellow producers, rutland is uncertain as to what to expect from this years crop, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Youll find an alphabetical listing of seasonal fruits and vegetables grown in georgia and their approximate harvest seasons below. This is definitely true for texas, california and georgia. If you live in warmer climes, you can sow seeds directly outdoors, but wait until the soil temperature warms to at least 70f to avoid. On the other hand, georgia s watermelon season starts at the end of july and ends at the beginning of. Consisting of 92 percent water, they are 100 percent delicious and nutritious, as a typicallysized slice contains about 85 calories. As the largest watermelon grower, packer, and shipper in the u. Florida is one the top producing states for watermelons in the u. Growing georgia posted a story this week noting that the official season for georgia watermelons has begun. Storage store an uncut watermelon for up to a week.

Averaging 3000 semitruck loads per year, raymon j land watermelon sales is a national leader in wholesome, fresh watermelons. Typical harvest dates for crops in georgia typical crop and harvest dates in georgia. The area of jamaica is st elizabeth parrish near the southcoast. Watermelon citrullus lanatus is a plant species in the family cucurbitaceae, a vinelike flowering plant originating in west africa. For this reason this is the first watermelon that i planted in our garden in jamaica. Georgia cantaloupe is available from may through october. Commercial watermelon production uga cooperative extension. Children of all ages love the sweet, juicy fruit of these hotweather african natives. It is also the time of watermelon plentitude and the vendors are flooded by them.

If you have extra room in the garden, watermelons can be. The florida watermelon association represents the growers, brokers and associated companies of the watermelon industry in florida. It might be common knowledge for many georgians by now that we have one small town which has been dubbed the watermelon capital of the world. Georgias watermelon season begins university of georgia. We went for 10 days where we picked thousands of watermelons daily. On the other hand, georgias watermelon season starts at the end of july and ends at the beginning of. The small georgia town that transforms into a watermelon wonderland each year.

If you have extra room in the garden, watermelons can be fun and interesting to grow. The company also grows watermelon in georgia, missouri, indiana and delaware, which enables the company to have melons available through. The purpose of the association is to promote the best interest of the industry from production to consumption. Harvest season starts in april in the lower rio grande valley. Georgia rattlesnake watermelon premium garden seeds.

The cordele state farmers market is the major watermelon distribution hub for the southeast. For one georgia farmer, the watermelon season lasts from june 10week of july 4. The small georgia town that transforms into a watermelon. The sunshine state has been home to watermelon production since the 16th century. This is how its down in tifton georgia for the 2018 watermelon season.

Watermelons can be grown on any welldrained soil throughout georgia but are particularly well adapted to the coastal plain soils of south georgia. Planting calendar for places in georgia old farmers almanac. During the summer, cordele celebrates the watermelon harvest with the annual watermelon days festival. Sow 8 to 10 watermelon seeds in a hill, and push seeds 1 inch into the soil. As georgia residents know, there is more to seasonal produce in the peach state than peaches. Search or browse our list of watermelon farms companies in georgia by category or location. Of course, it varies a little bit every year, depending upon the weather and other conditions. Rind is tough, making it a good choice for farmers markets, picnics and enjoying at. Planting for georgia s watermelon crop begins in march. These are the typical, historical dates that crops are ready to be picked or harvested in georgia.

Georgia rattlesnake watermelon is one of the oldest heirloom varieties in existence. Georgia growers report that after two years of unpredictable and extreme. Samantha kilgore, executive director of the georgia watermelon association, said the season was good all around. Cordele celebrates 70th annual watermelon days festival. Unlike the past two years, the weather this year has been cooperative for producers and a great crop is expected. Watermelon is also a good source of vitamins a and c.

During the watermelon season, which lasts from early june through august, the market is open from 7am. Ours usually ripen in late july and into august, and it is always worth the wait. Grown all over florida, it is grown as far north as jackson county and as far south as collier county. Greene is owner of lime creek farms in arabi, georgia. Grow heirloom watermelons georgia rattlesnake watermelon seeds. Also known as gypsy, this watermelon variety was developed in georgia around the 1830s. Days to maturity range from 70 to 90, depending on the variety.

Georgia melons are mature in early june through midjuly, which means most of the melons on the market around july 4 are going to be georgia melons. Georgia watermelon season kicks off with quality crop. Our georgia crop is coming to an end, this is the awesome group that somehow got the melons from the fields to the grocery stores. Sweet, refreshing georgia watermelon is in a store near you. The weather for this years growing season has been good so far, said georgia watermelon association gwa president rob greene. After two years of extreme weather during their season, georgia watermelon growers are reporting smooth sailing overall acreage is down, but yields and quality are up, according to a news. In texas, the watermelon season is from june to august. Florida watermelon set for early, plentiful harvest packer. Finding local, inseason foods at the peak of flavor may seem like a challenge, but its easy with the help of these georgia grown farmers. As these plants put down a sizeable taproot, it can start to coil around the inside of the pot and cause the plant to become rootbound quickly, which complicates transplants.

Georgia has the perfect climate to produce a consistent crop with good yields and sweet melons. Georgia crop harvest calendar when fruit and vegetables. Cordele, in crisp county, has the largest melon market in the state and is considered the heart of the georgia watermelon industry. Although georgiagrown melons are available locally throughout the season, the majority of the states melons are exported to northern states and canada. Ben drennan, the balloonmeister of the event, looks forward to. Cordele georgia is known as the watermelon capital of the world because of the quality and quantity of watermelons grown in the county. It is known for the green and white stripes that resemble the pattern of a rattlesnake. Perfect growing conditions this year could start florida melons up to three weeks early, with good volume and quality throughout the season, growers say.

The 2019 watermelon crop is expected to have the crisp, sweet flavor and high quality unique to georgia watermelon. She spoke with agnet medias josh mcgill in october at the produce marketing associations 2017 fresh summit in new orleans, louisiana. Watermelons will continue to be an important part of vegetable production in the state. A warmseason crop related to cantaloupe, cucumber and pumpkin, most watermelons are grown in central georgia or along our southern coastal plains. The red soil also helps to make this melon the way that it is. It is getting hot quickly, and that is watermelon weather. Gardeners in colder climates can still have success in growing watermelon vines by starting seeds indoors and choosing short season varieties. Watermelon is a warmseason vegetable in the cucurbiteae family. Kids have been spitting the seeds from this old southern favorite since the 1830s. This page has a table below that tells when each fruit or vegetable is normally ready to be harvested georgia. Healthy harvest farms llc is with jody sommer horton and 2 others.

This june, cordele celebrates its claim as the watermelon capitol of the world with the 70th annual watermelon days festival. Although watermelon is a popular treat in the summertime, the watermelon season will slightly vary from different states. A warm spring means an early watermelon season for farmers in georgia. These should have watermelon ready for harvest in april.

Most watermelons are grown primarily in and around crisp county near the city of cordele. Our free planting guide calculates the best dates for sowing seeds indoors and outdoors, and for transplanting seedlings to the gardenall customized to your location. Cut watermelon should be tightly wrapped in plastic and refrigerated for no more than. Whats in season in april 2020, and other timely information. It requires a lot of space, sunshine, water and nutrients. Georgia watermelon growers had a successful crop for the 2017 season. Georgia rattlesnake watermelon flesh is bright pink and sweeter than sweet. Imported watermelon is in its peak season from march through may. Fresh from florida watermelons can be found in grocery stores across north america. Watermelon is a warmseason crop related to cantaloupe, squash, cucumber and pumpkin. And what better time to celebrate the watermelon capital than smack dab in the middle of summer. My husband took me to florida for my first time picking watermelon which is a family tradition every summer.