Stem Rot Sidelines Big Melon
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The darkened area around Jolene’s stem shows the soft spot that developed, making Allen Rogers’ giant watermelon ineligible for the certified weigh-off in Kentucky.
SYLVA RENA – Allen Rogers almost got Jolene to Kentucky.
For weeks, the watermelon grower had been nursing his giant melon along, hoping she would hold together long enough to make the trip to the Bluegrass Championship Weigh-Off in Hawesville, Kentucky.
Jolene had stopped growing about three weeks ago, but Rogers still hoped the melon he once thought could reach 300 pounds would survive until the competition.
She came up just a few days short.
Stem rot Rogers had been watching for several weeks finally softened the end of the melon, making Jolene ineligible for the certified weigh-off.
“I just needed another week,” Rogers said.
Jolene will still get one final trip to the scales. Rogers plans to have her weighed Wednesday afternoon just to see how big she is.
Rogers already owns Mississippi’s giant watermelon record. His 274-pound Carolina Cross, Josephine, set the state record in 2024 before making the trip to Kentucky for a certified weigh-off. Josephine finished behind Kentucky grower Nick McCaslin’s 309.5-pound watermelon.
This year, Rogers hoped Jolene might be the melon to finally break the 300-pound barrier.
The Kentucky trip isn’t canceled, however.
Rogers has a smaller backup watermelon that he plans to take to the Bluegrass Championship Weigh-Off Saturday at the Hancock County Fairgrounds in Hawesville. The event is organized by Kentucky Giant Growers, headed by McCaslin, and will feature giant watermelons, pumpkins and other produce.
Rogers doesn’t expect the backup melon to challenge Jolene in size, but it will give him an entry and a reason to make the trip.
