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Watermelon, muskmelon and honeydew production in Iowa has expanded in recent years according to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. In 2012 there were more than 200 acres of melon in Iowa. Horticulturists with the ISU Extension and Outreach office advise the fruit favors growing in warm weather with temperatures between 85 and 90 degrees. Also, melons are being grown in Iowa in non-traditional ways, such as in strip tillage with cereal rye as a cover crop. The rye provides weed suppression while reducing the need for herbicides. Ajay Nair, assistant professor of horticulture and extension vegetable specialist at ISU, states, “Having melons in a strip till system keeps the melons clean which means there is less chance of them rotting and less cleaning that needs to be done, leading to a higher quality product.” Melons can now be found at area farmers’ markets, with the fruit ready to be eaten.