Suggested watermelon varieties for texas vegetable resources. Our large selection of sweet, juicy watermelons extends through shapes and colors. Watermelon season runs throughout the summer from may to september but the. The bolivar peninsula used to be the watermelon capital of texas. If youre only familiar with 30pounders that require their own refrigerator shelf, be on the lookout for newer, hybrid mini watermelons. They are the largest annual horticulture crop in texas. Watermelons are humidity and heatloving plants that produce the largest harvests and sweetest fruits when grown in a fullsun exposure and protected from cool winds. Harvest season starts in april in the lower rio grande valley. Take a look at the peak seasons of produce at your h.
The wiggins farm down in snook, texas has been growing watermelons for over 45 years. Watermelon texas department of agriculture website. Also a funny true watermelon story thown in for your enjoyment. Black plastic mulch can increase the soil temperature, giving melons an earlier start on growth. In texas, the fourday luling watermelon thump is held the last weekend in june. Midmarch is usually time for the last frost of the season. To celebrate watermelon season, the farm credit farmers market will be holding a watermelon day on friday, july 26 th. Delicious red meated black diamond watermelon grown in west texas. Click below to see whats typically in season each month, or visit the lakeline or mueller. Whats in season florida produce calendar infographic.
Click below to see whats typically in season each month, or visit the lakeline or mueller facebook page on wednesday and friday to see what vendors are bringing that weekend. In luling, however, the local water tower is shaped and. Tyler has a history of being the center of a vibrant trade area for east texas fruits and vegetables of all kinds. Beneficial parasitoids and predators are available but are not widely used due to low reliability.
Seasonal fruits and vegetables of texas the spruce eats. The diiorio family has been growing fruits and vegetables for the public for four generations. Texas is one of the largest watermelonproducing states, with growers sprinkled around the state. Imported watermelon is in its peak season from march through may.
Photo by marshall hinsley the arrival of july marks the beginning of planting season for pumpkins in texas. Roadside market melons come from smaller acreage and parttime farmers. Prices on april 8 for mexican crossings of seedless watermelons passing through south texas were 3236. If you are in a cooler zone, start seeds indoors about a month before transplanting. Sequential harvests start in april in the lower rio grande valley, in june and july in the winter garden and east texas areas, and progresses to august in the rolling plains area, with late summer and early fall harvests in the cross timbersdeleon and southern high plains. According to the, the united states ranks fourth in production of watermelons. Youll find a texassized selection of certified organic producefrom justpicked berries and broccoli to bagged salads. Ground was cold, ground was real cold, collins said. It just doesnt get much better than fresh fruits and veggies. Texas has a long watermelon season between may and november.
Youll have loads of fun at these 10 pickyourown fruit farms in texas. Although watermelon is a popular treat in the summertime, the watermelon season will slightly vary from different states. Weve created an inseason produce calendar for florida so you can easily see when its the right time to find the freshest cantaloupe or watermelon, or if youve missed citrus season. Texas is the top producer of watermelons in the nation, according to the u.
Florida watermelon set for early, plentiful harvest packer. Watermelon demands warm temperatures both soil and air. Do not plant seeds until the soil warms in the spring and all danger of frost is past. Mexico watermelon season looking good until january. Were so confident in our produce that we offer a 100% freshness guarantee on every produce item you purchase. Luckily, the lone star state home to some wonderful pickyourown fruit farms, where you can stock up on the sweetest, most flavorful crops this season. A variety of crops can be planted, grown, and harvested more than once per year in many areas of texas, making them available more or less yearround. But while the statue in diley is made of concrete and located at the city park, it is smaller than most texas watermelons. Not much has changed in those years, which is probably why they are so successful, selling over 3 million watermelons every season. Texas crop harvest calendar when fruit and vegetables are. In texas, the watermelon season is from june to august. Texas watermelons typically ripen from june in northern florida and texas through july, august and september in the midatlantic, midwest and new england.
Click below to see whats typically in season each month, or visit the lakeline or mueller facebook page on fridays to see what vendors are bringing that weekend. The nwa is comprised of nine different state chapters and more than 700 members in 30 states and canada. Muskmelons are often mistakenly called cantaloupes, but the true cantaloupe is a small, warty fruit and is not usually grown in the united states. Melons are warmseason crops and are easily injured by frost. If you live in a climate with a short growing season, consider starting your watermelon seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting seedlings into the garden. Manta has 20 companies under watermelon farms in texas.
Both communities sport statues of sorts of watermelons. Provide your indoor seedlings with moist soil, bright light and warm temperatures between 80. Watermelons are grown all over the lone star state. Texas leading vegetable crop ripe and ready for the table. Texas watermelon, cantaloupe producers fare well due to. Hempstead west of houston calls itself the watermelon capital of texas, as does dilley south of san antonio. And if you have as little as 12 to 16 square feetthats 4 feet by 4 feet, you still have enough space to grow watermelon. A watermelon grows in a basin dug into a north texas garden plot. The 5 most popular are seeded, seedless, mini, yellow and orange flesh. Watermelon seeds grow watermelons at home eden brothers. In 2006, the name of the texas chapter was changed back to the texas watermelon association to reflect its current membership and goals of promoting texas grown watermelons. Watermelons in texas vegetable resources aggie horticulture. Full of cancerbattling lycopene and low in calories, watermelon is a classic summer fruit that works well alone, paired with cheese or mixed into a drink. Explore the table below to see the typical seasons for fruits and vegetables in texas.
This will give you a small jump on the growing season. Time is ripe to buy texas watermelons houston chronicle. More than 1,200 watermelon varieties exist, including rare whitefleshed watermelon, but youll likely find four or five different kinds in the grocery store. Late summer and early fall harvests of watermelon can be found in the southern high plains. Tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, corn, okra, beans, peas, cantaloupe and watermelon are growing during this time. Although watermelon is available year round, domestic watermelon is in its peak season from may through august.
As bill mclean reports, texans should have plenty to choose from as summertime is peak watermelon season in texas. Texas is one of the largest producers of watermelon in the u. Gardeners in colder climates can still have success in growing watermelon vines by starting seeds indoors and choosing shortseason varieties. Diiorio farms and roadside market brings you home grown and farm fresh produce year around, you can taste the difference in our produce that grows here. These fresh produce picks are in their peak season right now. There is evidence from seeds in pharaoh tombs of watermelon cultivation in ancient egypt. There are two general types of watermelon festivals 1 community festivals, usually organized by a church, school, local chamber of. We will be having a watermelon recipe contest for those who have a delicious dish featuring watermelons that is blue ribbon worthy. Watermelon citrullus lanatus is a plant species in the family cucurbitaceae, a vinelike flowering plant originating in west africa. Texass famously warm climate means plenty of fruits and vegetables are, possibly, inseason more or less all the time. If you are in cusco in the period from the beginning of december till the end of march consider yourself lucky it is just the perfect time to taste different kinds of local exotic fruit. Department of agriculture national agricultural statistics service, and are the no. Whats in season in may 2020, and other timely information.
It is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, having more than varieties watermelon is a scrambling and trailing vine in the flowering plant family cucurbitaceae. The twa is a member of the national watermelon association. Watermelon, known botanically as citrullus lanatus, is a tender vegetable that is related to the cucumber and native to africa. Out of the 44 states that produce watermelons, texas is one of only five states that consistently leads watermelon production in the u. All the most delicious and refreshing fruit is brought from various parts of peru, including such rarities as l. A trademark menu item at all picnics, outings at the beach or lake, dinners eaten outside with friends. July and august are the peak season for fresh and juicy watermelons. Texas gardening for the springsummer begins earlier than the northern sections of the country. Box 12847 austin tx 78711 877 99gotex for the hearing impaired. Sow watermelon seed directly, or set out your transplants 3 to 4 weeks after the last average frost date in spring.
In 2009, texas growers planted almost 21,000 acres of. Get ready for a real texas tradition the luling watermelon thump, four days and nights of texas fun with summers best treat a sweet luling watermelon. Watermelon vines are very tender and should not be transplanted until all danger of frost has passed. Oklahomas valliant watermelon festival is held each july. Early planting helps reduce losses due to lateseason insects. Melons what kinds of melons are commonly grown in texas. It can be tricky for transplants to wrap their minds around this truth. We caught up with one farmers harvest not far from the alamo city. If you like to purchase locally produced watermelons, you can find the right watermelon season for your state in the following chart. Juan anciso, texas agrilife extension service service. Days to maturity range from 70 to 90, depending on the variety.
The east texas state fair farmers market has been in existence since 2009. But if you have less than 90 growing days, you can still harvest a watermelon. It takes all summer for the watermelon harvest to move from south texas to the panhandle, so supplies are plentiful. Texas crop harvest calendar when fruit and vegetables. A couple of months later, california kicks in between july and november. Hey all, just a quick question, we are huge watermelon fans in this house but it seems 9 out of 10 supermarket melons are dry and gritty and dont have the wonderful fresh watermelon taste. In luling, texas, the watermelon is so popular that the town celebrates with an annual four day festival called the watermelon thump, which includes fun activities such as seed spitting, watermelon eating, and a contest for. Peak watermelon season is here goldsboro daily news.
When people think of sweet, red, juicy, watermelon, they think of texas. You as the consumer should know the people that grow your food. Watermelon crop behind schedule, texas growers worry ahead of. This is definitely true for texas, california and georgia.
We also like this tool from the texas department of agriculture to find out whats in season. The seeds can be started indoors up to three weeks before planting in the garden. Find out what months various fruits and vegetables are in season in. The beauregard watermelon festival in louisiana celebrates the harvest of the local sugartown watermelons every june. Knox county is officially the seedless watermelon capital of texas by act of the texas legislature in 1997. Melons are vining crops that require a lot of space, especially watermelons. Plant groups of six to eight seeds at a depth of 1 to 1. Theres no better time than now to enjoy a sweet, juicy, texas watermelon. Dudley smith, texas agricultural experiment station and dr.
Radishes watermelon, daikon, french breakfast, easter egg. To be safe, wait at least two weeks past your last frost date. But diley, texas, also makes the claim as being the unofficial selfproclaimed watermelon capital of texas. Occasionally, a late frost will occur and you will have to. Johnson melon corp 5336 state highway 222 e knox city, tx 79529 940 6583883 view contact info 940 6583883 american melon sales llc. On the other hand, georgias watermelon season starts at the end of july and ends at the beginning of. Melons most commonly grown in texas include honeydew, muskmelon and watermelon. There are 2 wiggins watermelon farms, where every season, they contract out helpers to pick and load watermelons. Hundreds of farms grow watermelons in an area of over 17,000 hectares throughout the state.
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