NC State Extension Horticultural Science Vegetable Specialist, Jonathan Schultheis, and the Cultural Management Program in the Horticulture Department at NC State have summarized the results from their 2023 North Carolina Standard Size Triploid Watermelon Evaluation Study and the report is now available on the Cucurbit Portal. Please visit the Cucurbit Cultivar Evaluations & Variety Trials page to view field studies on melons, pumpkins, and squash from previous years.

Dr. Schultheis and his team evaluated 32 standard size triploid (seedless) cultigens and 1 diploid (seeded) watermelon cultigen from 11 seed companies at the Horticultural Crops Research Station in Clinton, NC. The watermelon entries were evaluated for yield and for quality characteristics such as soluble solids (sweetness or Brix), color, flesh firmness, and hollow heart.

This study was made possible by the assistance of Hunter Barrier (Superintendent) and Wesley Hairre (Horticulture Supervisor), Horticultural Crops Research Station, Clinton, NC, as well as the personnel at the research station for their help in establishing, maintaining, and harvesting the 2023 cultigen evaluation study. We also want to acknowledge summer employees Lia Hunt and Daphne Meyer for their assistance with this study. The cooperation and support of BASF/Nunhems, Bayer/Seminis, Enza Zaden, Hazera, HM Clause, Origene Seeds, Known You Seed, Sakata Seed Company, Seedway, Syngenta, and U.S. Seedless were also appreciated. Finally, want to thank Joy Smith for performing the statistical analysis and aiding in the interpretation of the data collected from this study.