Tag: Watermelon
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Question of the Week – Yellow Watermelon
Why did this watermelon get so sunburned? This is no sunburn. It’s a watermelon with a yellow rind! At the recent Watermelon Field Day, we had the opportunity to look at and taste many new and existing lines of watermelons in the field. This one yellow-rind watermelon named Tropical Apollo caught my attention. At first…
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Weekly Field Update – 8/4/25
Temperatures have cooled down nicely and rain is plentiful. Planting for fall crops continues around the state. The weather is perfect for disease development including downy mildew, Southern blight, and anthracnose. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss any of our winter/spring meetings. Also, check out…
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Weekly Field Update – 7/28/25
Well, its hot. Parts of the state received rain this past week, while others have been dry for most of the month. Some growers are applying kaolin products to reduce sunscald on developing fruit. Fall crops are beginning to go into the ground. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically…
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Why Reusing Watermelon Plastic for Watermelon is a Very Bad Idea and Other Plant Pathology Horror Stories
From Clemson Plant Pathologist Tony Keinath Extension agents have recently received some questions from growers about reusing plastic from a spring watermelon crop for a fall watermelon crop. This scenario is what I call a classic plant pathology “horror story.” It is literally the worst thing a watermelon, cantaloupe, or cucumber grower could do for…
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Weekly Field Update – 7/21/25
Another hot, humid week has passed. Growers are prepping fields for fall crops, and some planting has begun. As dry weather has set in, mites are becoming a problem in places. Disease pressure remains high in a variety of crops. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t…
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July Grower Spotlight – Phil Sandifer and Sons Farms
Where is Anna Sara visiting this week? For this month’s Grower Spotlight, and in celebration of National Watermelon Month, Anna Sara visited Phil Sandifer and Sons Farms. They are a third-generation family-run farm that specializes in commercial watermelon and cantaloupe production. The beautiful 2,300-acre farm is bordered by the South Fork of the Edisto River and…
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Weekly Field Update – 7/14/25
It has been hot and humid around the state. Several thunderstorms have come through the state bringing some much-needed rain. Plenty of disease is present, including gummy stem blight, anthracnose, and downy mildew. Piercing/sucking insects are causing damage as well. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t…
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Weekly Field Update – 7/7/25
After some rain and wind in the Pee Dee from Tropical Storm Chantal on Sunday, the week is off to a hot start. Watermelons, peaches, tomatoes, peppers, etc. are being harvested. Disease and insect pressures are climbing. See details below. Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss any of…
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Weekly Field Update – 6/30/25
Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss any of our winter/spring meetings. Also, check out the latest episode of the SC Grower Exchange Podcast below. Don’t forget to look at our Resources tab for links to crop handbooks, helpful websites, and related blogs. Be sure to scroll all the…
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Weekly Field Update – 6/23/25
Keep an eye on the Upcoming Events tab periodically so you don’t miss any of our winter/spring meetings. Also, check out the latest episode of the SC Grower Exchange Podcast below. Don’t forget to look at our Resources tab for links to crop handbooks, helpful websites, and related blogs. Be sure to scroll all the…
The South Carolina Grower 