Project Overview
Annual Reports
Commodities
- Fruits: melons
Practices
- Production Systems: organic agriculture
Proposal summary:
Project objectives from proposal:
Twenty varieties of open-pollinated melons will be planted on a plot of Masardis fine sandy loam that has been under cultivation for several years and has been recently limed and fertilized. Two hybrid varieties that have done well in the University of Maine trials will also be included for comparison. A fertile, light-textured soil is typically recommended for melons, especially in colder climates. While Masardis soils have naturally low fertility, the drainage is optimal and we have spent several years building organic matter and soil nutrient levels at this site. Recent soil tests indicate the success of our soil-building program.
Melon varieties have been selected based on their advertised days-to-maturity and/or a history of performing well in the northeast. All open-pollinated varieties advertised by Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, High Mowing Seeds, Bountiful Gardens, and Sand Hill Preservation as maturing in eighty or fewer days gained automatic entrance to the trial. A few additional varieties were chosen with unspecified maturity but historical roots in cold areas. Finally, a few varieties with longer maturation but other characteristics of commercial interest (italicized in the table) were included. The table below lists the varieties I intend to use in the trial. Actual varieties used in the trial may depend on seed availability, but will be chosen primarily for advertisement of short season or good cool-weather performance.
In mid-April, or as soon as the soil may be worked, the site will be rotovated and a locally produced, MOFGA-approved, guaranteed-analysis, manure-based compost (Living Acres 1.5-6-2) will be incorporated at 150#/1000 square feet and 500 linear feet of infrared-transmitting plastic mulch will be installed in rows 6’ on center.
In early May, melon seeds will be started in 2.33” round Dot pots (OMRI-listed peat pots) filled with a blend of 80% Komplete NP Germination Mix (a locally produced MOFGA-approved potting soil) and 20% worm castings. Three seeds per pot will be planted in eighteen pots per variety (pots will be individually labeled with variety name on a wooden plant label). Three weeks after planting, the plants will be thinned to the strongest seedling in each pot.
In mid-June, the melons will be transplanted in their pots (to avoid root disturbance and consequent setback of the seedlings), with their labels, through the plastic mulch. Three five-plant blocks of each variety will be planted in random order. Each transplant will be watered in with one pint of a 64:1 dilution of a fish-kelp emulsion. Wire hoops will be erected three feet apart along each row and covered with Agribon Ag-19 row cover.
The row covers will be lifted on a biweekly basis to spray with a foliar feeding solution (128:1 dilution of fish-kelp emulsion), for a total of six foliar feedings. Covers will also be removed in very hot weather (over 95 degrees) to prevent heat stress. Once the first female bud opens, row covers will be removed. Row covers will be replaced when pollination is complete. No supplemental irrigation will be provided; in our pumpkin crops we have always found that plastic mulch prevents evaporative loss and renders irrigation unnecessary in our climate. Excessive water can also result in melons with poor eating quality (low sugar content and watery texture).
Harvest will begin with the first ripe fruit and end when vines are killed by frost. The following records will be kept:
• Total Yield, Total Marketable Yield and Percent Marketable. Yields of ripe melons will be recorded separately for each five-plant block. Melons that are unmarketable (split, rotted, moldy, excessively lopsided or otherwise ugly) will be deducted from the total yield to give the marketable yield.
• Date of First Marketable Melon from each variety. This will inform growers how early in the season melons from a particular variety may be sold, or (in the case of later varieties) how likely a variety will be frost-killed before producing a crop.
• Response to Disease & Insect Pressure. While the row covers should prevent heavy insect infestation, we cannot expect perfection. Where appropriate, notes will be kept on varieties’ response to negative pressures (e.g. percent of leaves affected by powdery mildew) in each block.
• Brix. Three melons from each block will be randomly selected and tested for sugar content. I have requested funds for a refractometer for this purpose. We do not use a refractometer for our ordinary farming activities and will need to purchase one for the project. Since sugar content is the most precisely quantifiable measurement of eating quality in fruit, the information provided by the refractometer would be well worth its modest cost.
• Consumer Ratings. While sugar content is central, it is not the only measure of eating quality. Depth of flavor and pleasant texture are also important but less easy to measure empirically. We will cut up randomly selected melons and offer them for blind tastings at farmers markets or other appropriate venues, asking consumers to rate each melon on a scale of 1-10 for eating quality.
• Storage Capacity. It is of economic interest to the farmer to be able to store a crop in good condition; this provides extra time to find a market for the produce and also extends the period over which the crop can deliver good cash flow. Therefore, two melons from each variety will be randomly selected and stored in a 35-40 degree cooler. They will be evaluated on a weekly basis for exterior soundness (firm rind, lack of mold/waterspots/softening, good coloration) and melons that are no longer in marketable condition will be discarded. The last three remaining melon varieties will be opened and evaluated for their eating quality after storage.
The entire experiment will be repeated in 2011, in an attempt to reduce the effect of weather patterns on the results.