Season-long Row Cover Potential for Melons OSU South Centers
OBJECTIVE
OSU Extension
Investigate and demonstrate the applicability of management tactics of using season-long row covers in muskmelon production.
Pike County
WEATHER INFORMATION STUDY INFORMATION Planting Date 06/26/2025 Harvest Date(s) 08/15-09/15/2025 Variety Athena Management Conventional System Plasticulture, irrigation – drip tape, row covers Study type Randomized complete block Treatments 3 Replications 4 Size of trial 0.25 acre Soil type
Omulga Silt Loam
STUDY DESIGN
Plots consisted of three rows of muskmelon, each 50 ft long which were either covered with lightweight mesh row covers (ProtekNet) supported by 3 ft tall hoops or left open as controls with either conventional or organic insect management. The row middles of conventional pots were treated with preemergent herbicides prior to planting. Row middles of covered and organic treatment plots were seeded with Teff grass, Eragrostis tef, as a weed suppressing cover. At flowering, 15 native cucurbit bees, Eucera pruinosa, were captured from nearby squash and pumpkin fields while resting in closed flowers and transferred to a plastic bag. Any bycatch cucumber beetles were destroyed prior to release into each covered plot beneath the row covers. All fruit were harvested and graded according to USDA standards.
88 | Ohio State Digital Ag Program
Growing Season Weather Summary APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
Total
Precip (in.)
6.59
6.09
3.64
6.55
0.13
3.60
26.6
Cumulative GDDs
283
638
1317
2130
2794
3274
3274