SIKESTON MAN ON A MISSION: STRIVES FOR WORLD-RECORD WATERMELON

BENTON -- Bob Dwyer hopes to smash the world watermelon record with big melons grown on his small Sikeston farm.

Wednesday afternoon he weighed in a 201-pound melon, which might be the biggest watermelon grown in the world this year. Although this year's melon won't come close to the all-time record, Dwyer says it is another step toward his goal.

"I'm pursuing a world-record-sized watermelon," Dwyer said, just moments before cutting the melon from the quarter-acre field.

The official biggest watermelon was grown in 1990 by Bill Carson of Arrington, Tenn. It weighed 262 pounds.

"He is my hero," Dwyer said.

To contend for any official title, Dwyer's melon had to be weighed on a scale certified by the Department of Agriculture. Ten witnesses must sign affidavits to the official weight. An official with the University of Missouri department of agriculture inspects the field and the melon to check for foul play. A notary public seals the proceedings.

After the official proceedings, Dwyer's melon was certified at 201 pounds. The watermelon is over 59 inches in circumference. "You just have to see it to believe it," Dwyer said.

The melon will be on display at Diebold's Orchards

Dwyer is in his fourth year of the world-record pursuit. "For people who pursue these things for the record, it's kind of a fraternal order," he said.

This year Dwyer cultivated eight large melons. One smashed the Missouri State Fair record, tipping the scale at 189 pounds. The previous record was 172 pounds, a melon also grown by Dwyer.

Another big melon is on display at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant in Cape Girardeau. It weighs 167 pounds.

But the melon cut Wednesday was the best of the bunch this year.

The good news for Dwyer is that other big-melon growers haven't had a great growing season. "Hope, Ark., bombed out, and North Carolina is not looking good, but they haven't officially checked in yet," Dwyer said.

Last year Dwyer grew the Missouri record melon, which weighed 213 pounds.

"I knew we weren't quite at that level this year, but I wanted to get this one certified anyway," Dwyer said. "I have to do that formally to have the bragging rights."

Watermelons, Dwyer said, are the perfect crop. "Watermelon crosses every barrier in society," he said. "Children, the elderly, all ethnic groups, everyone has had a good experience with a watermelon. I think we spread happiness. People just can't believe it when they see these big melons."

After a few days at Diebold's, Dwyer said the melon will be on display at Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston. At the end of the grand watermelon tour, Dywer will cut the melon and feed those who have helped with the project.

"Yes, they taste good, too," he said. "Last year we had a party with the big melon and fed 45 people with half of it."

Watermelon growing is a hobby for Dwyer. "We normally donate the bulk of these to charities for children's fund-raisers," he said. "Then there are bragging rights. We'll be able to brag about this one."

He shares some secrets of growing giants through his site on the World Wide Web, www.melonman.com.

Start with good genetics. Cull all the melons but one from the vine. Provide lots of water. And Dwyer's real secret: "I use spotted fertilizer from Appaloosa horses to enrich the sandy loom soil."

This year's eight plants filled about a quarter acre. It's not just the melons that are big. The vines are 60 feet wide. Commercial melon plant vines average about 9 feet in width. The seeds are big too, and a giant melon might contain 600 to 1,000 seeds.

Dwyer is collecting seeds from this year's big melons.

"It's competitive," he said. "We are trying to build a superior genetic plant through cross-breeding and in-breeding. We are getting a stronger plant year after year. Then all we need is Mother Nature to cooperate."