Watermelon
Sugar Baby Watermelon
WA985
80 days. The standard of the icebox melons, Sugar Baby has been a staple at picnics for years. Vines grow to 6 feet and set 4-6 melons roughly 10 inches across. Has that unmistakable crisp, mouthwatering, sweet rich flavor. Terrific for home gardens.
Open Pollinated
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"Melons: Cucumis melo
Watermelons: Citrullus lanatus
Successful melon and watermelon production is often a jewel in a gardener's crown. Raising them to maturity in southern areas can be almost as easy as raising radishes. Not so for northern gardeners, as summers can be too cool for many varieties to perform well. Over the years, we have trialed hundreds of varieties and offer you early-maturing melons with the best flavor.
CULTURE: All types of melons can be direct sown in warmer regions, but will yield a much better crop if started indoors about 3 weeks prior to your last frost. We recommend planting in raised beds covered with green, silver, or black plastic mulch. This method produces better yields.
FOR TRANSPLANTS: Fill 3-4 inch, individual pots with sterile seedling mix. Plant 2-3 seeds 1/2 inch deep per pot. Germination occurs in 3-10 days when the soil temperature is 70-85°:F. Thin the pots to the best single plant after the seedlings are well established. Grow the seedlings under dry, warm conditions until they develop at least 1 true leaf. Transfer to cold frame if you have one. Fertilize seedlings with a fertilizer such as 2-1-1 Earth Juice Grow (ZFE245). Transplant into the garden just before the plants become root bound and when the soil temperature is at least 60°F. Space transplants 3-4 feet apart in rows 5-6 feet apart. Apply 1/2 cup of our complete fertilizer dug in well around each plant.
TO DIRECT SOW: Soil temperature must be above 65°F for decent germination. Like most vine crops, melon and watermelon seeds require even moisture levels to prevent rotting. The soil should be moist to the touch. Space and fertilize as you would transplants. Watermelon seeds are less tolerant of cool conditions than cantaloupe. They are best adapted to the warmer, longer season areas of the US. In more difficult climates, the use of plastic mulch is highly recommended. Green, silver, or black mulch increases the soil temperature and air temperature close to the plants during the day, and using a floating row cover like Reemay or Gro-Therm can also increase your success. Monitor the temperature under the row covers on hot days especially early in the season. Optimum soil temperature for germination: 70-85°F. Days to emergence: 3-10.
DISEASES: Select disease-resistant melon varieties, as bacterial wilt and powdery mildew are common problems. Watermelons are subject to several wilts, and fungal and viral diseases. Most can be controlled with good soil management, proper rotation, garden sanitation, and by not using overhead watering methods.
INSECTS/PESTS: Control insects, especially cucumber beetles, with Pyrethrin or a floating row cover.
HARVEST: Cantaloupe will easily slip from the vine when ripe. With other melons, check the leaf where the fruit is attached to the vine. The fruit is mature when this leaf begins to yellow. Watermelons are ready for harvest when the tendril closest to the fruit is dry and brown or when the bottom side of the fruit is yellow. Melons and watermelons will not ripen off the vine. Pick in the cool of the day and chill quickly. Store melons at 35°F and 95% relative humidity. Store watermelons at 45°F and 85% relative humidity.
SEED SPECS: Minimum germination standard: 80%. Usual seed life: 3 years. Days to maturity: from date of transplanting. Add 10-15 days if direct seeding. Approximately 25-40 melon seeds per gram, 20-40 watermelon seeds per gram; 28 grams per ounce.
Melons: Sampler: 1/2 gram Packet: 3 grams.
Watermelons: Sampler: 1 gram Packet: 7 grams.
Unless otherwise noted.
Key to Melon Disease Resistance
DM...Downy Mildew, Races 1, 2, 3
F...Fusarium Wilt, Races 0, 1, 2
PM...Powdery Mildew, Races 1, 2
"
Watermelons: Citrullus lanatus
Successful melon and watermelon production is often a jewel in a gardener's crown. Raising them to maturity in southern areas can be almost as easy as raising radishes. Not so for northern gardeners, as summers can be too cool for many varieties to perform well. Over the years, we have trialed hundreds of varieties and offer you early-maturing melons with the best flavor.
CULTURE: All types of melons can be direct sown in warmer regions, but will yield a much better crop if started indoors about 3 weeks prior to your last frost. We recommend planting in raised beds covered with green, silver, or black plastic mulch. This method produces better yields.
FOR TRANSPLANTS: Fill 3-4 inch, individual pots with sterile seedling mix. Plant 2-3 seeds 1/2 inch deep per pot. Germination occurs in 3-10 days when the soil temperature is 70-85°:F. Thin the pots to the best single plant after the seedlings are well established. Grow the seedlings under dry, warm conditions until they develop at least 1 true leaf. Transfer to cold frame if you have one. Fertilize seedlings with a fertilizer such as 2-1-1 Earth Juice Grow (ZFE245). Transplant into the garden just before the plants become root bound and when the soil temperature is at least 60°F. Space transplants 3-4 feet apart in rows 5-6 feet apart. Apply 1/2 cup of our complete fertilizer dug in well around each plant.
TO DIRECT SOW: Soil temperature must be above 65°F for decent germination. Like most vine crops, melon and watermelon seeds require even moisture levels to prevent rotting. The soil should be moist to the touch. Space and fertilize as you would transplants. Watermelon seeds are less tolerant of cool conditions than cantaloupe. They are best adapted to the warmer, longer season areas of the US. In more difficult climates, the use of plastic mulch is highly recommended. Green, silver, or black mulch increases the soil temperature and air temperature close to the plants during the day, and using a floating row cover like Reemay or Gro-Therm can also increase your success. Monitor the temperature under the row covers on hot days especially early in the season. Optimum soil temperature for germination: 70-85°F. Days to emergence: 3-10.
DISEASES: Select disease-resistant melon varieties, as bacterial wilt and powdery mildew are common problems. Watermelons are subject to several wilts, and fungal and viral diseases. Most can be controlled with good soil management, proper rotation, garden sanitation, and by not using overhead watering methods.
INSECTS/PESTS: Control insects, especially cucumber beetles, with Pyrethrin or a floating row cover.
HARVEST: Cantaloupe will easily slip from the vine when ripe. With other melons, check the leaf where the fruit is attached to the vine. The fruit is mature when this leaf begins to yellow. Watermelons are ready for harvest when the tendril closest to the fruit is dry and brown or when the bottom side of the fruit is yellow. Melons and watermelons will not ripen off the vine. Pick in the cool of the day and chill quickly. Store melons at 35°F and 95% relative humidity. Store watermelons at 45°F and 85% relative humidity.
SEED SPECS: Minimum germination standard: 80%. Usual seed life: 3 years. Days to maturity: from date of transplanting. Add 10-15 days if direct seeding. Approximately 25-40 melon seeds per gram, 20-40 watermelon seeds per gram; 28 grams per ounce.
Melons: Sampler: 1/2 gram Packet: 3 grams.
Watermelons: Sampler: 1 gram Packet: 7 grams.
Unless otherwise noted.
Key to Melon Disease Resistance
DM...Downy Mildew, Races 1, 2, 3
F...Fusarium Wilt, Races 0, 1, 2
PM...Powdery Mildew, Races 1, 2
"
