Giant Florida Watermelon

12 Seeds

Matures in 95 days

Companion planting: Beans, marjoram, corn, ...

Bad companions: Tomato, Swiss chard, potato, ...

This dark green-skinned melon can measure up to 15 inches in diameter and weigh 50 lbs. Its sweet, firm, and delicious flesh makes it a popular variety among gardening enthusiasts. It's even possible to see melons reaching up to 80 lbs!

Sow your watermelon seeds indoors a maximum of 4 weeks before the last ground frost. Plant 3 or 4 seeds in a peat pot at a depth of 1/2 inch. When the seedlings have true leaves, select the strongest one by cutting the others with scissors. Transplant the seedlings to the garden after acclimating them; at least one week after the last ground frost. Leave 6 to 8 feet of space between each plant and provide them with rich, loose soil. You can use black plastic to provide thermal protection to the roots.

Once the watermelon vines have started to grow well, apply a thick layer of mulch to control weeds. Keep the soil moist until the fruits have developed, and only water when the soil is completely dry afterward.

During harvest, test the sound of your melons to see if they are ripe. A dull thud rather than a hollow sound should indicate ripeness. Another technique is to check if the section of the melon touching the ground is a rich yellow.