117 pound watermelon grown locally
Published 7:07 am Wednesday, July 1, 2015
MASSIVE MELON: O’Brien Hodge stands next to a 117 pound watermelon he grew at his farm located just outside of Poplarville. He said he will try to grow a 200 pound watermelon next season.
Photo by Jeremy Pittari
Poplarville residents may have passed by a local vendor parked on Main Street near City Hall and had to take a double take of a large watermelon on display.
The 117 pounder was grown by O’Brien Hodge and his farming partner Jessie Beall on a small farm just outside of Poplarville. About 20 acres of his land is used to grow the melons.
O’Brien and his son, Clay Hodge, were selling their fresh produce this week just in time for the Fourth of July, a holiday that is not only famous for fireworks, but also for enjoying fresh watermelon.
While not record breaking, Hodge’s large melon didn’t receive any special treatment during the growing process. He said he fertilized it like all the rest.
“It’s just a perfect storm of soil, rain and fertilizer,” Clay Hodge said.
As cars passed the vendor Monday morning many drivers could be seen staring at the large fruit.
“This is a head turner,” Clay Hodge said. “We’ve already had people ask ‘what’s in that watermelon?’ I just said ‘watermelon.’”
O’Brien Hodge said he grows Carolina Cross watermelons, which according to various websites is a strain capable of producing fruit weighing in at 200 pounds.
O’Brien Hodge said he has at least two others still on the vine he expects to weigh more than 100 pounds.
By Monday O’Brien Hodge said he had a man willing to buy the massive melon already on display for about $50, but said if someone offered him more he’d let them buy it.
Even though the fruit was the largest watermelon he’s grown so far, O’Brien Hodge intends to try for a 200 pounder by spreading his rows out more to allow for more space to mature and fertilizing the plants more often.
Currently his rows are spread out at about 9 feet by 6 feet, but plans to try a 12 foot by 8 foot spacing next season.
Watermelon is not the only crop he cultivates, O’Brien Hodge said he also grows corn, some of which he donates to a children’s home in Laurel. He also intends to donate some of his watermelon to the residents of the Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home in time for the Fourth of July this week.
