Exploring super-sized watermelons: 1890 embraces cutting-edge gardening approaches

At the farm, several watermelons have surpassed the 150-pound mark as Dr. Brandon Huber, controlled environment research scientist, uses innovative gardening techniques to work toward beating the 274-pound state record.

“Watermelon is a very popular fruit in the Palmetto State, so I’m excited to push the boundaries of what’s possible as we grow these watermelons,” Huber said. “I believe it will take innovative techniques, including grafting, to continue to push the limits in growing giant watermelons and work towards breaking records. Many other techniques in addition to grafting are used by competitive growers.”

Currently, the world record for giant-sized watermelon stands at 350 pounds. Through grafting, which combines two different plant varieties to create a single plant with combined traits, Huber is merging watermelon and gourd plants to enhance watermelon performance and heighten disease and pest resistance.

“There’s no secret to growing record-sized watermelons, but rather a combined effort to optimize all inputs to maximize plant potential,” Huber said. “Watermelons grown using innovative grafting techniques, which utilize disease-resistant root systems can achieve sizes that challenge our understanding of what’s possible in the world of agriculture,” he added.

In addition, Huber says managing growing conditions, weed control and protecting crops from extreme weather are considerations for growing the largest fruit possible.

By implementing such strategies, Huber grew three watermelons at the Research & Demonstration Farm, which had a daily fruit gain of five pounds each. The innovative approach not only yields larger watermelons but also exemplifies ways science is reshaping the future of agriculture.

Huber has applied the grafting technique to grow record-size watermelons on his own as well. Recently he competed in local and state watermelon-growing competitions.

His 199-pound watermelon won both Best in Show and Best Overall at the Orangeburg County Fair. In September, his 199-pound watermelon placed seventh at the Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival in Elkin, NC.

Huber also competed in two additional watermelon-growing contests in North Carolina. In the Spring Hope National Pumpkin Festival in Spring Hope, he won fourth place for a 199-pound watermelon and, in the North Carolina State Fair, he placed sixth for growing a 235.9-pound watermelon, the largest grown for the season.

Huber also won first place at the SC State Fair. The prized watermelon remains on display at the fair.

For more information about watermelons, contact Dr. Brandon Huber, controlled environment research scientist, at bhuber@scsu.edu.