Video: Local Watermelon Crops Late For 4th of July Celebrations

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HOUSTON, Miss. (WCBI)-As you head out to the store to gather food and supplies for tomorrow’s July 4th celebration many of you will be putting a water mellon in your cart.

Local growers say this year’s crop may not be as big as last years.

Prospect Farm in Houston has a wide variety of fruits and vegetables to choose from

“We grow a little bit of everything peaches, we have a lot of peaches and blackberries right now an all assortment of vegetables,” says Doil Moore.

As the fourth of July quickly approaches more customers are demanding watermelons.

“They’re doing okay, they’re just behind we had a cold spring, wet spring,” says Moore

Many in the South consider eating a watermelon on July fourth a tradition, but some Northeast Mississippi farmers say their crops may not be ready in time for this year’s celebration.

“We were hoping to have melons by the fourth, but right now we are pushing it. We’re picking a few now, but just not many,” says Moore.

Doil Moore, a worker at Prospect Farm says the weather has a profound impact on crops.

“Weather means a lot. We planted early we had a warmer than normal spring and temperature was better so we got to plant early and we had them by the fourth,” says Moore.

For those lucky few, who will get a watermelon from prospect farm for the fourth of July, there will be a few seeds to spit out.

“We’ve talked about it a little bit, but we think the seeded watermelons are a little better. So we’re sticking with the seeded,” says Moore.

No matter how you celebrate this fourth of July make sure you grab a slice of heaven.

Last year Prospect farm grew a watermelon that weighed 33 pounds.