It's an expensive, labor-intensive business. In addition to their seedless melons under pivot irrigation, an adjacent field of corn also is being grown under the pivot system. The Allisons also use the black plastic for the transplants. But in addition, Mark and Lori also plant strips of wheat in the fall which they don't harvest, but leave as windbreaks to protect the tender young melon vines in the spring from what can be treacherous winds in our part of the world. Next time, I will plant the wheat down in the middles.
Anthracnose disease is a dreaded and common invader of melon fields.
Lee said some farmers use three pints of Bravo each week to keep their melon fields safe. You have to be committed. A liquid starter solution is important in getting transplants off to a good start. But a tissue test during the growing season will allow an immediate analysis of the plant's nutrition needs. Comanche County Ag Agent Bob Whitney is pleased growers are getting a good price for melons.