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Watermelon (Crimson Sweet) is one of the most beloved and reliable home garden watermelons — an open-pollinated variety producing large, round-oblong fruits weighing 15–25 lbs with distinctive light-green striped rinds and exceptionally sweet, bright-crimson flesh. Thriving in zones 4–11 in warm summer conditions, Crimson Sweet matures in 80–85 days and is widely regarded as having the finest flavor of any traditional-style watermelon. Its firm, crisp flesh has high sugar content and holds its texture well for cutting and serving. Disease resistance to anthracnose and fusarium wilt is notably better than older varieties. The seeds are easy to save and replant, making it an excellent heirloom garden variety.
Start watermelons indoors 3–4 weeks before last frost, or direct sow in warm soil (70°F+). Plant in full sun in sandy, fertile, well-drained soil. Space hills 6–8 feet apart. Use black plastic mulch to warm soil and retain moisture. Water deeply and consistently during vine growth and fruit development; reduce watering as fruits near maturity to concentrate sweetness. A balanced fertilizer at planting plus a side-dressing of potassium-rich fertilizer when fruits reach softball size produces the sweetest results. Test for ripeness: tap the fruit (dull thud = ripe), check the underside patch (cream-yellow = ripe), and look at the stem tendril nearest the fruit (dried brown = ripe). Prevent diseases with wide spacing and avoiding overhead watering.
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