Watermelon - Crimson Sweet

Dark and light yellow-green striped, 10" x 12" blocky oval fruits weigh in at 15–25 lb. Crisp, sweet pink flesh and vigorous vines. Avg. 1–2 fruits/plant. Avg. 10,660 seeds/lb.

SCIENTIFIC NAME:Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus

CULTURE:A light, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5–7.5 and a southern exposure is ideal. Good soil moisture is important in early stages of growth and during pollination when fruits are setting. After this point do not water the last week before fruits are ripe, as overwatering can cause bland fruit.

TRANSPLANTING:Sow indoors in 50-cell plug trays or 2–3" peat pots in late April or one month (no sooner!) before transplanting outdoors. Plant 2 seeds per cell or pot, about ½–1" deep. Keep temperature 80–90°F (27–32°C) until germination. Handle young plants carefully and never let the soil dry out. Grow seedlings at 75°F (24°C). Reduce water and temperature for a week to harden seedlings. When the weather is frost-free, warm, and settled, transplant 2–3' apart in rows 6–8' apart, or thin to 1 plant/pot or cell with scissors and transplant 18" apart. Even hardened watermelon seedlings are tender! Do not disturb roots when transplanting, and water thoroughly.

DIRECT SEEDING:Sow 1–2 weeks after last frost when soil is warm, above 70°F (21°C), 3 seeds every 18–36", ½–1" deep, thinning to 1 plant/spot.
TRIPLOID/SEEDLESS:Start indoors under favorable conditions to ensure proper germination. A pollenizer watermelon, or normal seeded watermelon, is required for fruit set. Seeds of a pollenizer and complete growing instructions are included with each order. Although the fruits are practically seedless, a few seeds may form under stressful conditions. For more information, see our Seedless Watermelon production guide.