Planting: Seeded 4/21/00 into 50-cell Pro-Trays using a peat vermiculite soil-less mix. Cells were thinned as needed to one plant per cell. Plants were field-planted on May 26, 2000 using a Water Wheel Planter.

Spacing: Rows were 5 feet apart, with plants set onto raised beds at 36" spacing between each plant in the row. The beds were covered with black plastic mulch with trickle irrigation under the mulch prior to planting. Seven plants per plot (5' x 20') provided a plant density of approximately 3,080 plants per acre.

Soil Type: Haubstadt Silt Loam

Fertilizer: Applied 120 lbs. N, 120 lbs. P2O5 and 120 lbs. K2O per acre prior to laying plastic mulch according to soil test recommendations. 20-20-20 (1 lb./100 gallon water, 8 oz. per plant) with transplanting water.

Weed Control: 4 pts / Acre Curbit 3EC pre-plant between rows on 5/25/2000; hand-hoed and cultivated as necessary.

Pest Management: 2.5 fl. Oz. Furadan 4F per 1000 linear feet of row applied as a 7 inch spray band over the row prior to laying the plastic mulch. Pounce on 6/21, 6/29 and 7/26 at a rate of 5 fl oz./A; Sevin XLR 1 qt/A 8/10 and 8/17 Bravo Ultrex 2 lb/A on 6/21/, 7/26 and 8/10; Quadras 15.4 oz/A 6/29 and 8/17

Irrigation: Trickle irrigated on 5/30, 6/9, 6/22, 6/29, 7/11, 7/18, 7/28, 8/2, 8/14 and 8/23

There was average fruit set and yield throughout the harvest season. Vine health and quality remained good throughout the season. Harvest yield and quality attributes were collected and observed. Carnival was the number one diploid melon, also producing the largest amount of marketable fruit per acre. The cultivar Celebration had the largest average fruit weight for the season of the diploid melons. Crimson Sensation had the highest percent of soluble solids.

The cultivar Millionaire was the number one triploid watermelon also producing the largest amount of marketable fruit per acre. Seed Way 4502 had the largest average fruit weight of the triploids that were on trial. Millennium had the highest percent of soluble solids of the triploids.

The growing season and average daily heat units seem adequate to produce high quality melon crop. Even with the cooler than normal heat units for a typical growing season. With field trials similar to this, Watermelon crops can fit into the production scheme for Southern Ohio growers.