UOG Extension to host Watermelon Field Day

UOG Extension to host Watermelon Field Day

UOG Extension to host Watermelon Field Day


1/21/2025
A watermelon
A watermelon sits on the red dirt of a southern Guam farm.
A watermelon
A watermelon nestled among its vines on a clear, sunny day on a southern Guam farm. Watermelon thrive in warm climates and grow well in Guam’s dry season.

Gardeners and farmers interested in learning how to grow seedless watermelon are invited to a special Watermelon Field Day at the University of Guam’s agricultural experiment station in Inalåhan. The two-hour event will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8.

Watermelon thrives in warm, humid climates, making it an ideal crop for Guam growers. Additionally, it is a popular fruit among Guam consumers — seedless varieties, in particular. Seedless watermelon has a longer shelf life than seeded varieties, has a more flexible window of time for harvesting, and can usually be sold at a higher price.

In a new initiative to introduce seedless watermelon as a commercial crop for island farmers, the Cooperative Extension & Outreach service under the University of Guam’s Land Grant has conducted a variety trial with four different seedless varieties. Participants at the field day will learn which of these varieties is recommended in Guam as far as yield and resistance to insect pests and plant diseases.

Participants will also learn how seeds for seedless watermelon are produced, what special techniques are required for producing seedless watermelon, and about the important role of honeybees and pollenizers in growing seedless watermelon.

The workshop will be facilitated by extension horticulturalist Dr. Robert F. Bevacqua, and each participant will take home sample seed packets of seedless watermelon varieties.

Registration is required to attend, and space will be limited to the first 30 registrants. To sign up, contact Glenda Hall at (671) 735-2080 or ghall@triton.uog.edu. There is a $10 fee payable upon registration or at the door.

About University of Guam Land Grant

As a federally designated Land Grant university since 1972, the University of Guam provides instruction, research, and community outreach in the fields of agriculture, food, natural resources, nutrition, and consumer science in order to improve life in Guam and Micronesia. Its two Land Grant units include the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center and UOG Cooperative Extension & Outreach, which operate within the College of Natural & Applied Sciences.