This watermelon has a bright red flesh with a very sweet flavor. These melons can reach weights of up to 20-25 pounds! This vine is not suitable for trellis growing but does have some resistance to anthracnose and fusarium disease. This variety is a classic type that is loved by many.
Planting/Harvesting Notes
- Plant in full sun with well draining soil.
- Plan for the vine to grow on the ground. This variety is very heavy and it can be tricky to get the melons to successfully ripen on a trellis.
- Water moderately, but be careful as this melon is susceptible to cracking once ripe.
- Plant is ready to harvest 85-90 days after planting.
- Expect one or two 20-25 pound watermelon(s) per vine.
How do I know if my watermelon is ripe?
Watermelon won’t ripen off the vine so it’s important to know when your melon is ripe. The best way to tell if a watermelon is ripe is to look at the small tendril in the crotch of the stem connecting the melon to the main vine. The crotch of this stem should also have a small, oval shaped leaf called the spoon leaf. Once both the spoon leaf and the tendril are completely dried, the melon is ripe and ready to be picked. Keep in mind that the spoon leaf may dry up and fall off. If the tendril is completely dried and the spoon leaf is dried or not present, the melon is ready to be picked.
Image credit: “Watermelon ‘Sweet Crimson’” by FarOutFlora is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.