20 seeds
Matures in 75 days
Companion planting: Beans, marjoram, corn,...
Bad companions: Tomato, Swiss chard, potato,...
This open-pollinated watermelon produces 8-inch diameter fruits. Its dark green rind is tough, and its delicious red flesh. This watermelon variety thrives in the north and is one of the earliest melons ready for harvest.
Sow your watermelon seeds indoors a maximum of 4 weeks before the last 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 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.
At harvest, test the sound of your melons to determine ripeness. A dull thud rather than a hollow sound should indicate readiness. Another technique is to check if the section of the melon touching the ground is a rich yellow.