Watermelon Variety Demonstration Plots, Summer 2005

Stars N Stripes Watermelon

Jamboree Watermelon

Summer Flavor 500

In the summer of 2005, nineteen watermelon varieties were grown at the farms of Rodney and Todd Bond in Stony Pointe, La.; Chad Miller, Hico, La.; and Anthony Yakahoski, Farmerville, La. The plots were established by transplants and grown on black plastic mulch. Drip irrigation was used at the farms of Chad Miller and Anthony Yakahoski.

Each plot was evaluated for maturity, yield, shape, melon size and foliage. Melons were cut in the field and evaluated for flesh color, seed size, seed color, size of seed cavity and soluble solids. Melons from the Bonds' plot were harvested and brought to Baton Rouge and stored at room temperature for a week to evaluate shelf life. Jubilee was grown as the standard variety.

Jubilee was mid season variety with average yield of 20-22 pounds, long oblong melons with a light green rind with dark green stripes and good foliage. The red flesh melon had a thick rind with a medium size black seed in a medium size seed cavity with good shelf life. The soluble solids were average.

The varieties that stood out in the test were Stars N Stripe, Jamboree and Summer Flavor 500. Click here to see the complete findings.

Stars-n-Stripe was the top melon in the test. It is an early variety with good yields of 20 -22 pounds, oblong melons with a light green rind and narrow dark green stripes with good foliage. The red flesh melon had a thin rind with a medium size black seed in a small seed cavity and good shelf life. The soluble solids were in the high range.

Jamboree is an early maturing variety that produces average yields of 20 -22 pounds, oblong melons with a light green rind and medium dark green stripe with only average foliage. The bright red flesh melon had a thin rind with a large black seed in a medium seed cavity with good shelf life. The soluble solids were average.

Summer Flavor 500 is a medium maturity variety with good yields of 20 -22 pounds, oblong melons with a dark green rind and wide light green stripe and good foliage. The red flesh melon had a thin rind with a small black seed in a large seed cavity and good shelf life. The soluble solids were average.