Drought vs. Watermelons
By: Morgan Moore
Updated: August 2, 2012
What says summer more than watermelon?
But with this year's high temps and lack of rain, you may not get to have your pick of the fruit.
"The watermelons have been suffering, there's no doubt about that," said Norman Conde of Melon Acres.
Experts say the drought has caused the size of the melons to be smaller than normal, and has produced a lower yield than in years past.
Last year's watermelons were affected by sunburn, but it's actually mites that are getting to this year's crop.
"Mites love drought, and rain actually knocks them off the leaves," said Conde. "Every year it's something different, every year is different, they always seem strange."
And while everyone might be doing their rain dances, for watermelons it's all about the irrigation.
"The fact that you do have seem control over the amount of water that goes in, and when you have control over the amount of water that goes in the ground, you also then have control over how much water is picked up by the melons," said Conde.
And your taste buds might agree.
"Generally speaking during a drought year, melons taste better bc they haven't gotten an excess of water so they tend taste better," said Conde.
The watermelon season will actually end a little early this year, because officials say they were able to start picking about two weeks sooner.
the Knox County Watermelon Festival is this Saturday in Vincennes.
But with this year's high temps and lack of rain, you may not get to have your pick of the fruit.
"The watermelons have been suffering, there's no doubt about that," said Norman Conde of Melon Acres.
Experts say the drought has caused the size of the melons to be smaller than normal, and has produced a lower yield than in years past.
Last year's watermelons were affected by sunburn, but it's actually mites that are getting to this year's crop.
"Mites love drought, and rain actually knocks them off the leaves," said Conde. "Every year it's something different, every year is different, they always seem strange."
And while everyone might be doing their rain dances, for watermelons it's all about the irrigation.
"The fact that you do have seem control over the amount of water that goes in, and when you have control over the amount of water that goes in the ground, you also then have control over how much water is picked up by the melons," said Conde.
And your taste buds might agree.
"Generally speaking during a drought year, melons taste better bc they haven't gotten an excess of water so they tend taste better," said Conde.
The watermelon season will actually end a little early this year, because officials say they were able to start picking about two weeks sooner.
the Knox County Watermelon Festival is this Saturday in Vincennes.
