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Wet soils can prevent growers from transplanting tomatoes at the ideal size and age. Experiments were conducted to determine the length of time that transplants can be held before yield is reduced Also, different techniques for holding and hardening plants were compared. Seven ages of `Sunny' tomato plants (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 weeks old at transplanting) were either grown normally, grown with limited water, or grown with limited fertilizer. Plants were grown in trays containing 128 cells, with each cell approximately 3.2 by 3.2 by 11 cm. Water was applied for 3 minutes either once a day or twice a day. Fertilizer (20-20-20) was applied either once a week or once during the entire seedling production period. Transplants were later planted in the field. The experiment was conducted in 1990, 1991, and 1993. The yield response to transplant age was quadratic, with maximum yield occurring with 6, 7, and 8 week old transplants. In general, the greatest yield occurred when water was withheld, and the lowest yield occurred when fertilizer was withheld from the transplants
Watermelon is the major fresh-market vegetable grown in Oklahoma, but growers have few labeled herbicides from which to choose. Grower surveys in Oklahoma have identified weed control as the major production problem facing watermelon producers. In 1995 and 1996, various mechanical and chemical weed control strategies have been explored. `Allsweet' watermelons were grown with various combinations of labeled and unlabeled herbicides, as well as mechanical control treatments. Treatments included bensulide, clomazone, DCPA, ethalfluralin, glyphosate, halosulfuron, napropamide, naptalam, paraquat, pendimethalin sethoxydim, and trifluralin. Certain chemicals were used in combination. Paraquat and glyphosate were used as wipe-on materials. Glyphosate and paraquat could not be applied until weeds were taller than the watermelon foliage, causing serious weed competition. In general, superior results were obtained from hand-weeded plots, trifluralin, and DCPA. Halosulfuron gave superior control of broadleaf weeds, but had a negligible effect on grasses. Napropamide gave good control of grasses and broadleaf weeds other than solanaceous weeds. No chemical, when used alone, gave satisfactory control throughout the growing season. Early cultivation, followed by chemical application at layby, appears to be one of the better treatments.