Sustainable Practices for Vegetable Production in the South
Dr. Mary Peet, NCSU
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Muskmelon and Watermelon
Production, Consumption and Nutritional Value
Eleven percent of the watermelons consumed in
the United States are imported. The top watermelon-producing states in 1987, based on acreage,
were Texas, Florida, California, Georgia, and South
Carolina. In 1992, the Southeast had 78 percent of
total U.S. harvested acreage. The top states for cantaloupe production, based on acreage, were California,
Texas, and Arizona. In 1992, 26.7 percent of the total
U.S. acreage was located in the Southern Region.
BOTANY: Muskmelon and Watermelon
PRODUCTION PRACTICES: Muskmelon and Watermelon
HARVEST and POST-HARVEST: Muskmelon and Watermelon
Acreage of top melon-production states in the Southern Region
- Watermelon:
- Texas, 61,617
- Florida, 38,770
- Georgia, 21,620
- South Carolina, 14,077
- Alabama, 8,023
- Cantaloupe:
- Texas, 18,703
- Georgia, 3,865
- Virginia, 1,020
- Florida, 732
- Oklahoma, 675
Per capita consumption of melons.
| Year |
Cantaloupe |
Honeydew |
Watermelon |
| 1946 |
11.2 lbs |
NA |
19.4 lbs |
| 1989 |
10.4 |
2.5 |
13.6 |
| 1993 |
8.5 |
1.6 |
14.2 |
Nutritional content of melons
|
Vitamin A |
|
Vitamin C |
| Fruit |
Portion |
Calories |
% RDA |
% RDA/100g |
|
% RDA |
% RDA/100g |
| Muskmelon |
477g |
80 |
185 |
78 |
|
150 |
63 |
| Honeydew |
226g |
50 |
1 |
1 |
|
57 |
50 |
| Watermelon |
926g |
110 |
50 |
11 |
|
50 |
11 |
Integrated Pest Management
Life cycles and monitoring and
control practices for some of the common insect pests in the southern
United States are described in Integrated Pest Management.
Some
of the important diseases of vegetables in the South and their control are
described in Disease Management. Cultivar
resistances to
the more common insects and diseases in the South are listed in Melon cultivars with insect and disease resistance, however, as it may be useful to select cultivars with multiple
resistances. The list is not meant to be inclusive, as new resistant
cultivars are constantly being released.
References
- U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1992 Census of Agriculture. Table 29. Vegetables, Sweet corn
and melons harvested for sale: 1992 and 1987. p. 396421.
- USDA. Agricultural statistics (1947-1993), US GAO, and, Vegetables & Specialties: Situation & Outlook report
(1987-1994). USDA Economic Research Service, quarterly.
- Poleman, C.M., and N. . Peckenpaugh. 1991. Nutrition essentials and diet therapy. W.B. Saunders. Co.
- Rutgers Univ. 1984. Commercial vegetable production recommendations. Bulletin E001. Rutgers Univ., Cook
College, New Brunswick, NJ.
- Parnes. R. 1990. Fertile soil. a grower's guide to organic and inorganic fertilizers. AgAccess. Davis. CA.
- Cuperus, G., and J. Motes, editors. 1990. Cucurbit production and pest management. Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service.
- Douce, G.K., and R.M. McPherson. 1988. Summary of losses from insect damage and costs of control in
Georgia, 1987. Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station Special Publications 54.
- Terry, E.R., and W.M. Stall. 1992. Smooth amaranth interference in muskmelon. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc.
105:319-321.
- Seed catalogs such as Johnny's, Petoseed and Asgrow, NC Extension publications, including the 1991 Suggested
Vegetable Varieties for the North Carolina Commercial Grower.
- Cuperus. G., and J. Motes, editors. 1990. Cucurbit production and pest management. Oklahoma State
University Cooperative Extension Service.
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