Additional images and information via True Love Seeds
This variety of watermelon was saved from a Polish immigrant who had raised these watermelons for many years. Some watermelons appear like the classic striped icebox melon and others appear with white rinds. Each melon will be delicious though!
These melons have been stewarded by Bryan O’Hara of Tobacco Road Farm. He has been selecting the most delicious, earliest, and largest watermelons from this variety for over 15 years. These seeds were acquired from True Love Seeds.
Planting/Harvesting Notes
- Plant in full sun with well draining soil.
- This watermelon should be grown on the ground. The melons are too large to be grown on a trellis.
- Water moderately, but be careful as melons are susceptible to cracking once ripe.
- Check frequently for ripeness once the melon reaches about the size of a soccer ball.
- Plant is ready to harvest 75-80 days after planting.
- Expect 1-2 melons per vine.
- Seeds can be saved from the melon when cutting a ripe melon open to eat.
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.
