The watermelon industry is extremely popular in Georgia, with watermelons grown on an estimated 20,000 acres per year. Still, consistently making a profit requires constant innovation and hard work.
Picking, grading, packing and shipping melons remains the most costly aspect of watermelon production. Irrigating fields and applying newer, more effective fungicides to combat the diseases of watermelon are also two of the more expensive input costs.
Scientists with UGA Extension and the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences conduct research trials to aid farmers in producing a cost-efficient and high-yielding watermelon crop.
Our Programs and Services
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Lab Testing and Analysis Services Testing for soil, plant tissue, water quality, animal waste, feeds and forages, pesticides, and much more!
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On-Site and Telephone Consultation Available in many county offices for ag producers.
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Organic Agriculture Certificate Program Understand organic agriculture production in the southeastern United States.
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Pesticide Safety Education Program Topics include pest identification, storage and disposal, pesticide drift and runoff prevention, water quality protection, and food safety.
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Production Meetings Updates on local issues for growers and producers.
Popular Publications
- UGA Weed Control Programs for Watermelon in 2017 (C 1080) When it comes to growing commercial watermelons, crop rotation, tillage, and a sound herbicide program are all often critical components for long-term success. This circular focuses on developing soun…
- Managing Root-Knot Nematodes in Georgia Watermelons (B 1529) Root-knot nematodes are highly adaptable, obligate plant parasites (parasites that cannot reach adulthood without a host) that attack plant roots and establish a prolonged relationship with their host…
- Fusarium Wilt of Watermelon in Georgia (B 1485) Watermelon production faces many challenges in Georgia. The warm, humid climate favors numerous foliar diseases. Because of the long history of watermelon production in Georgia, soilborne diseases suc…
- Water Use and Irrigation Management for Vegetables in Georgia Series: Water Use and Irrigation Management for Vegetables in Georgia: Watermelon (Citrullis lanatus) (C 1183) This circular contains the fundamentals of watermelon irrigation scheduling using the crop water demand method. Decisions regarding the timing, frequency, and amount of water required for a crop are s…
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Protecting Seasonal Workers
Increase in COVID-19 infections among seasonal workers in Florida puts Georgia producers on alert.
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Sunscalding
UGA Extension urges growers to rotate chemical applications consisting of calcium nitrate to protect their crops from the sun.
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Downy Mildew
All of Georgia's cucurbit crops are susceptible to downy mildew, which can affect plants' foliage and cause the leaves to curl and die.
| Top Watermelon Producers | |
|---|---|
| County Name | Value |
| Crisp | $65,140,608 |
| Tift | 16,400,000 |
| Turner | 11,361,060 |
| Wilcox | 11,100,000 |
| Telfair | 10,129,500 |
| Worth | 7,767,000 |
| Berrien | 6,268,665 |
| Mitchell | 6,219,375 |
| Lee | 4,680,000 |
| Colquitt | 4,444,965 |
| State Total: | $180,278,529 |
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Displaying farm gate values for 2019. Values are tallied in October for the previous year. |
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