DATE: June 24, 2009

CONTACT: Gilbert Miller, 803-284-3343, ext. 225
gmllr@clemson.edu

WRITER: Peter Hull, 843-554-7226, ext. 118
phull@clemson.edu


Visit the Watermelon Field Day to discover ‘the hidden part of the plant’

BLACKVILLE — The Clemson University Edisto Research and Education Center will host its annual Watermelon Field Day July 9. The field day is free and open to the public, and includes lunch and watermelon tasting.

Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. and is followed by an indoor classroom session at 9 a.m. in the center’s auditorium. Topics to be covered include tactical irrigation, disease control and a presentation by Clemson plant physiologist Christina Wells on “the hidden part of the plant.”

Clemson University’s Edisto Research and Education Center in Blackville will host the 2009 Watermelon Field Day July 9. The field day is free and open to the public.Wells will discuss how roots, particularly feeder roots, take up water, how roots grow and management of water and nutrients.

The tour then heads outside to view field research projects and variety trials. Field discussions will include watermelon insects and tools to measure soil water.

The field day will feature 30 seedless watermelon and 10 mini-watermelon varieties, including common commercial varieties and potential new melons.

Certified Crop Adviser and Pesticide License credits also will be offered.

For more information call 803-284-3343 or visit the Web site.

Clemson’s Edisto center is on U.S. 78 three miles west of Blackville in Barnwell County.

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