Title: Watermelon Production
Headings: Watermelon Production
Watermelon Production
Marketing
Recommended watermelon varieties for Pennsylvania
Production Considerations
Planting and Fertilization
Pollination
Pest Management
Harvest and Storage
Environmental Regulations
Risk Management
Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices
Sample Budget
Initial Resource Requirements
Labor:
Equipment:
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Content: Several preplant and postemergence herbicides are available for watermelons, depending on the specific weed problem and the growth stage. If infestation levels are mild, early cultivation (prior to vine running) can help reduce weed problems. Insects are a major problem in watermelon production. Cucumberbeetle, aphids, seed corn maggot, leafminers, and rindworms (cucumber beetle larvae) can all cause crop losses. Monitoring insect populations with traps and scouting will help you determine when to apply pesticides and how often to spray. Several watermelon diseases can cause crop losses, including bacterial fruit blotch, fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, downy mildew, and gummy stem blight. Viruses such as cucumber mosaic (CMV), squash mosaic (SqMV), and watermelon mosaic (WMV-1, 2) are also a problem. These diseases can be controlled by using disease-resistant varieties and by having a good crop-rotation system and soils with good air and water infiltration rates. Many of the pesticides required for watermelon production are restricted-use pesticides and re quire a pesticide license to purchase. Pesticide applicator tests are usually administered at county extension offices so you should contact your local office for dates and times for these examin