Master Gardeners’ 4th grade Watermelon Contest returns

 

Once again, Lincoln County Master Gardeners are distributing free watermelon seeds to fourth graders in the county. Seeds will be given to students at each school in the county, and homeschoolers can pick up seeds at the County Extension Service on the second floor of the Lincoln County/Brookhaven Governmental Complex.

Watermelons grown by fourth-grade students will be weighed Saturday, Aug. 6, 6-8 p.m. at the Exchange Club Fair to see who has won a prize. The top three melons by weight will win their growers $25, $50 or $100. The biggest melons at each school will win $25 each for the boy and girl who grow them. 

Brookhaven Academy students received their seeds Tuesday. Bogue Chitto, Enterprise, Loyd Star and Brookhaven Elementary students will each receive their seed packets over the remainder of the week. Seeds will be delivered to West Lincoln students after the Easter break.

Each of the packets will have plenty of seeds to help each student grow his or her own Congo watermelons. The seeds will sprout five to 10 days after planting and take about 90 days to mature. Instructions for sunlight exposure and watering will be included.

The seeds are easy to grow, and can be cultivated in the ground or in a large container. The sweet melons can reach more than 40 pounds. 

For more information, call Master Gardener Steve Edge at 601-748-1776 or MSU Extension Service Agent Jennifer Williams at 601-835-3460.