Watermelon variety trials are conducted every year at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center in Vincennes, IN. In the 2018 trials, it included 38 standard-size seedless watermelon cultivars and 10 personal-size watermelons. This article discussed the top yielding varieties in our trials in 2018. The full report of the variety trials, and  information about the previous trials  can be found at https://ag.purdue.edu/arge/swpap/Pages/SWPAPPDFPresentstions.aspx Standard size seedless watermelons Tailgate is a new cultivar from Seminis. First time entered into our evaluation in 2018. Tailgate had the top yield variety in the 2018 trial. It produced large-sized fruit, average fruit weight was 18.5 lb, 37% fruit in 36 counts and 20% in 30 counts category. Firm flesh, good quality. Tailgate was one of the five cultivars that did not have hollow heart fruit among the 12 fruit selected for the quality test. Bottle Rocket had a consistent high yield in both 2017 and 2018 trials.[Read More…]

With the growing interest from consumers looking for new, unique products, yellow– and orange-flesh watermelons might create opportunities for small-sized growers to differentiate their products. This article answers a few questions you may have about growing and marketing these unique type of watermelons. Yellow and orange-flesh watermelons usually have narrow strips with varying degree of green color as the background. The rind pattern is sometimes called tiger-striped rind pattern. There are also some cultivars that have similar outside appearance as the typical red-flesh watermelons. Like red-flesh watermelons, both seeded and seedless types of yellow- and orange-flesh watermelons are commercially available. Some examples of cultivars are listed in the table below. Table 1. Example yellow- and orange- flesh seedless and seeded watermelon cultivars and their seed sources. Cultivar Flesh color Size (lb.) Shape Seed Source Seedless cultivar Amarillo Yellow 13-15 Round Jo, Si, Ru Lemon ice Yellow 10-12 Oval-round NE, Ho Orange[Read More…]