Packed in Resealable Long Life Mylar
Moisture Proof Packets
10+ Year Survival Seed Viability

• Category: Melon
• Type: Watermelon
• Variety: Crimson Sweet
• Family: Cucurbita
• Botanical Name: Cucurbita citrullus
• Hardiness Zones: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12
• Growing Difficulty:  3
• Soil PH:  5.5 to 6.5
• Fertilizer Requirements: Nitrogen
• Soil Type: Rich, Moist, Well-Draining
• Germination (days): 3 to 10              
• Soil Temp for Germination: 80-95°F
• Lighting Conditions: FULL SUN
• Days to Maturity:  80-85
• Planting Depth:  1/4”
• Distance Apart (in row):  6-8ft
• Row Spacing: 6-8ft

Sowing Instructions

IN WARM CLIMATES – DIRECT SOW WHEN SOIL TEMPS ARE ABOVE 75°F

Starting Indoors

IN COOL CLIMATES – 3 WEEKS BEFORE LAST FROST – TRANSPLANT 1 WEEK AFTER LAST FROST

Growing Tips

Plant your watermelons in full sun, with rich and loose soil. Young starts may benefit from black plastic to bring the soil up to temperature quicker.

Once the vines begin to develop, spread a layer of mulch to keep the soil moist, control weeds, and prevent the melons from too much contact with the soil.

Keep the soil moist until the fruits begin to grow, only water the plants once the soil dries out completely after fruiting.

Make sure to keep an eye out for pests, as they can be harmful to developing melons.

Culinary Uses

Watermelon makes the best summertime treats, harvest your melons and bring them directly inside to be sliced or balled.

Harvesting Crops

Everyone has their own way of determining when a watermelon is ripe, but there are a couple sure-fire ways to know that you are harvesting the melon at the peak of maturity.

Turn the melon slightly to see the color of the skin touching the mulch, if it is yellow, the melon is ready to be harvested. You may also knock on the melon, listening for a dull thump instead of a hollow ring. The last way to check ripeness is to look at the tendril closest to the stem. If this is turning brown, your melon is ripe and ready for picking. Watermelons will keep for several weeks in a cool place out of direct sunlight.

Harvesting Seed

Be cautious when planting your watermelons, as they will cross-pollinate with other watermelon varieties easily.

When the watermelon is ripe and ready for harvest, the seeds are mature enough to save. Cut the melon to remove the seeds. Wash them thoroughly to remove the sticky residue. Spread them out on a flat dry surface to dry for roughly one week. Once dried and safely stored, they should be viable for up to four years depending on how you store them.