Clemson Watermelon Field Day is July 10

BLACKVILLE, S.C. — Mark your calendars for Clemson University’s Annual Watermelon Field Day at the Edisto Research and Education Center (REC) on Thursday, July 10.

This event is for growers, researchers and agricultural professionals looking to stay at the forefront of watermelon production.

What to expect:

• Updates on diseases of watermelon and other cucurbits.
  • Anthony “Tony” Keinath, vegetable plant pathologist, will give updates on Pythium root rot, Pythium cottony leak and anthracnose on watermelon, and other topics to be determined.
• Current watermelon market trends and future outlook.
  • Yefan Nian and Qi Jiang, agricultural economists, will give updates on the current watermelon market status and explain what the future looks like for the watermelon industry.
• Organic watermelon research at the Edisto REC.
  • Ashok Sah and Bhupinder Jatana, vegetable crop researchers, will talk about an organic transition project they are involved in that looks at using carbon-based organic materials for nutrient and pest management in organic production systems.
• Evaluation of pre-emergent herbicide programs in watermelon.
  • Matthew “Matt” Cutulle, vegetable weed scientist, will talk about the use of pre-emergent herbicides and proper application techniques for effective weed control in watermelon production in South Carolina.
• Improving pesticide efficacy.
  • Zachary “Zack” Snipes, area horticulture agent, and Phillip Carnley, commercial horticulture agent, will demonstrate what sprayers to use to apply pesticides, how the sprayers work and how to make them work better. This will be an in-field demonstration and involve using water-sensitive paper and several different sprayers set at different pressures.
• Current watermelon research at the Edisto REC.
  • Jatana and Sah will talk about the soil health and soil-borne pest management benefits of cover crops in rotation with watermelon, optimum management practices and economic feasibility of grafted nursery in conventional production systems.
• Watermelon variety demonstrations.
  • Field day participants will visit a demonstration plot of 59 different watermelon varieties.

Watermelon Field Day details:

• Date: July 10.
• Location: Clemson Edisto REC, 64 Research Road, Blackville, S.C. 29817.
• Time: Registration begins at 8 a.m. in front of the main building, followed by indoor presentations until 10 a.m. Or, register online at Watermelon Field Day on Eventbrite.
• Field tour and talks will be conducted until noon.
  • For the field portion, participants will drive their vehicles to the watermelon site and enter the field at the east or far gate.
• Lunch will be provided.
• 1.5 South Carolina Core pesticide credits will be offered.

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