Watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a warm-season crop in the Cucurbit family. Watermelons are grown across the state, including larger areas in Casey County, Lincoln County, Hart County, Allen County, and Daviess County. Kentucky farms annually harvest more than 1,000 watermelon acres, the Commonwealth's second largest fresh market vegetable by area.
Key Requirements
| Land | Low to Medium |
| Labor | Medium to High |
| Capital | Low to Medium |
Take the HortBizQuiz to see how much Land, Labor, and Capital you have for your operation.
Markets
- Direct to Consumer
- Farmer's Market
- On-Farm Stand
- CSA
- Restaurant
- Local Grocery
- Auctions
Pests & Disease
Gummy stem blight had been the most widespread and serious disease of watermelon in Kentucky. Insect pests include aphids, cucumber beetles, and two-spotted spider mites.
Costs and returns are presented as estimates. They will vary based on your farm and markets.
Costs and returns are presented as estimates. They will vary based on your farm and markets.
Challenges
- Weeds can be an issue with watermelons in commercial fields.
- Need to know the cultivar you are deciding to plant.
Opportunities
- Black plastic mulch in raised beds with drip irrigation has been used successfully with watermelons.
- Large demand for watermelon in the Summer months gives opportunities for many different market channels.