By Clint Thompson
A prolonged dry period is not all bad for South Georgia vegetable producers. The current conditions are almost ideal for growers amid the current harvest season, according to Tim Coolong, associate professor in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
“Most vegetable growers, in general, they would probably prefer it to be dry, because they’re all irrigated. They can cut back on disease when it’s dry. They can put as much water as they pretty much need out,” Coolong said. “With watermelons specifically, you cut down on other fruit rots and other sorts of things. I think overall, staying dry for the vegetable growers, they’re probably okay with that.
“Right now, cantaloupes are starting to come off. Watermelons are pretty close, if not ready to go. Most of the fruiting vegetables are pretty much ready. At this point, for the most part, any heavy rains would be detrimental to those crops in terms of any fruit diseases.”
South Georgia received some rain on Thursday. According to the University of Georgia Weather Network, Tifton, Georgia received 0.49 inches, while Moultrie, Georgia received 0.50 inches.