- Author: Scott Stoddard
- Posted by: Gale Perez
The cantaloupe industry in California is in the middle of a huge paradigm shift, transitioning from classic western shipper varieties that require multiple harvests, to new Harper varieties, also known as LSL (Long Shelf Life) melons. Purported benefits include less labor at harvest and prolonged superior quality at the grocery store. Examples of Harper-type melons are the Infinite Gold, Fiji, Caribbean King and Caribbean Gold. Due to grower and buyer interest, seed companies are rapidly expanding the number of varieties with this trait.
However, LSL varieties are expensive hybrids relative to older, open pollinated cultivars, and seed costs can become a significant portion of the total cost of production, with some estimates...
- Author: Lynn M. Sosnoskie
- Author: Brad Hanson
- Author: W Thomas Lanini
Introduction:
According to the most recent statistics, the United States (US) was the world's sixth largest producer of melons, with a significant proportion (>50%) of the country's production occurring in California. In 2011, 36,900 and 10,300 acres of cantaloupes and honeydews were harvested, respectively. Combined, the crops were valued at an estimated $227 million, which is an increase of 29% over 2010.
Weed control in melons is difficult due to the vining nature of the crop (which can prohibit mechanical cultivation) and the limited availability of safe and selective preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) herbicides. Early-season weed control is crucial in order to prevent competitive...