Watermelon

Industry

An Overview of the Watermelon Industry in

Georgia

Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office

Dr. Frank Flanders and Adrienne Gentry
August 2006

Objectives
Students will be able to:
Outline the importance of the
watermelon industry in Georgia.
Name four watermelon varieties.
Name the top three watermelon
producing states.
Discuss seedless watermelons.
Rank the watermelon industry
compared to other Georgia
agricultural commodities.

Why is the watermelon industry important?

Watermelons are delicious and nutritious
and are a summer tradition.

By weight, watermelon is the mostconsumed melon in the U.S., followed by

cantaloupe and honeydew.

Georgia ranks fourth nationally in total

value from watermelon production.

Watermelon Products
Simple slices
Salsa
Salad dressings
Even muffins
Used as decorations

Watermelon

Watermelon's botanical name is Citrullus lanatus of the

botanical family Curcurbitaceae. It is a cousin to
cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.

Watermelons are "vine crops" with spreading growth

habits the crops of this family prefer hot and humid
weather as is found in the southern United States.

Watermelons need an average of 4 months to mature,

from 80 to 120 days. A loose, sandy loam soil is preferred.

The watermelon is comprised of about 90% water,

approximately 4 gallons for a forty pound melon. Water
supply is critical during the growth and development of
the plant and fruit. Water shortages will cause noticeable
gaps in production with a reduction in leaf area and
overall yield.

Watermelon Varieties
About 200-300 varieties are grown in the U.S. and
Mexico, although there are about 50 varieties that
are very popular. The following are the four varieties
you will most likely see at your local store.
Picnic
Crimson Sweet
Jubilee
Allsweet

Yellow Flesh
Seeded
Seedless

Seedless
Triploid Hybrid

Mini-Watermelon
Yellow Flesh
Red Flesh

Seedless Watermelons

How are seedless watermelons made? Where

does a plant without a seed come from? The
answer is in the number of chromosomes. A
normal watermelon plants chromosomes are
doubled by the use of the chemical colchicine.
Doubling a normal (diploid) watermelon
results in a tetraploid plant (one having four
sets of chromosomes). When the tetraploid
plant is bred back, or pollinated, by a diploid
or normal plant, the resulting seed produces a
triploid plant. The seeds/plants have three
chromosomes and cannot reproduce. Seed of
seedless varieties are available from most
major seed companies.

Georgias Commodity
Value
Rank by
sale

Sales ($1000)

Percent of total
sales

Poultry and eggs

2,780,214

56.6

Vegetables, melons (watermelons),

and potatoes

383,556

7.8

Cotton and cotton seed

318,013

6.5

Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture

315,324

6.4

Other crops and hay

246,936

Cattle and calves

240,070

4.9

Milk and other dairy products from

cows

212,720

4.3

Fruits, tree nuts and berries

122,151

2.5

Grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry

peas

102,464

2.1

Tobacco

10

89,058

1.8

Item

US Watermelon
Production
State
Harvested
1. Florida

Pounds Produced
800,000

2. California
13,500

688,500

3. Texas
27,500

605,000

4. Georgia
23,000

379,500

5. Arizona
6,400

294,400

Acres

25,000

Interesting Facts

The first recorded watermelon harvest

occurred nearly 5,000 years ago in Egypt.

Over 1,200 varieties of watermelons are

grown worldwide in 96 countries.

Watermelon is about 90% water.

Cordele, Georgia claims to be the

"Watermelon Capital of the World" because
so many melons are grown in the area and
travel through the State Farmers' Market
there.

Interesting Facts
Watermelon has no fat or cholesterol, is an
excellent source of vitamins A, B6 and C, and
contains fiber, potassium, lycopene.

Early explorers used watermelons as canteens.

Assessment
1. Name four watermelon varieties.
2. What is the scientific name for watermelons?
3. Name three of the top producing watermelon states.
4. How many varieties of watermelons are grown in the United States and Mexico?
A. 1200-1300

B. 200-300

C. 500-600

D. 50-60

5. Georgia ranks __________ in the US in total value from watermelon production.

A. First

B. Tenth

C. Fourth

D. Sixth

6. What kind of weather do watermelons prefer?

7. How long do watermelons need to mature?
8. The watermelon is comprised of about __________ percent water.
A. 15

B. 70

C. 60

D. 90

9. A shortage in what would be detrimental to a watermelon crop?

10. Where does watermelon production fall in the Georgia commodity value list?
A. 2nd B. 7th C. 8th D. 3rd

Quiz Key
1. Picnic, Jubilee, Crimson Sweet, Allsweet, Seedless, Triploid Hybrid, Ice
Box, Yellow Flesh, Mini-Watermelon, Red Flesh, Yellow Flesh.
2. Citrullus lanatus
3. Texas, Arizona, Georgia, California, Florida
4. B. 200-300
5. C. Fourth
6. Hot and humid weather
7. Four months
8. D. 90
9. Water
10. A. 2nd

References
http://www.watermelon.org/watermelon_funfacts.asp
http://www.uga.edu/vegetable/watermelon.html