Watermelon, Sugar Baby (Certified Organic Seeds)

Description: An excellent northern, short-season variety that produces reliable yields of 6 – 12 lb., perfectly round fruits ranging from 18 – 22 cm (7 – 8.5) in diameter. Fruits have a solid green rind and deep red flesh. Flavour is sweet and juicy.

USDA Certified Organic/ Open Pollinated/ Non-GMO

Pack Size:1/16 ounce

• General Info
• Germination
• Growing Info
• Growing Indoors

Latin Name:Citrillus lanatus
Main Uses:Culinary

Days to Maturity:100 days
Exposure:Full sun
Height:Vine
Flowering Time:70 days

Certified Organic:USDA Certified Organic

Germination: 5 – 10 days at 22 – 25 C.
Indoors:Watermelondoes best whenstarted indoors in short-season climates, as theyrequire warm soil and a long growing season to yield well.

Sowdirectly intoa minimum 7.5 cm (3″) pot and use containers that are biodegradable and can be planted into the soil outdoors.Sow three seeds per pot, and thin to the strongest seedling when plants are about 7.5 cm (3″) tall.Bottom heat will encourage strong root development for watermelonseedlings and is recommended. Sow indoors 3 – 4weeks before the average last frost date but not earlier – watermelonsbecome unruly if kept indoors for too long!

We recommend applying a kelp supplement such as Sea Magic starting at the time of sowing, then weekly through the growing season. A transplant fertilizer such as Evolve Seedling starter can be alternated with the kelp on a bi-weekly basis once the second set of true leaves has emerged.

Transplant Spacing:Watermelons are often planted into little hills – ideally of 2/3 compost, 1/3 soil – and hills are spaced at 90 cm (36″) apart. Up to three transplants can be planted into each hill. Plantinto the ground outdoors only after the soil has warmed to 18 – 20C (typically by the second week of June in southern Manitoba). Black bio-film or other dark mulch can be laid over the soil a week or two before planting to warm the soil faster.

Growing in Containers:Watermelon is not well suited to pots simply because they grow so many rambling vines. However, some gardeners find great success allowing watermelons to spill out of larger planters all over a deck or patiowhere the fruit will be supported as they develop.

If you decide to grow watermelon in pots, use a mix of 2/3 compost, 1/3 potting soil, and be sure pots have drainage holes.

Fertilizing (Garden):Watermelonis a heavy feeder and thrives in rich soil. Amend your soil withquality compostahead of planting. We recommend Sea Soilmixed with 1/3 garden soil and made into small mounds.Applying a kelp supplement on a weekly basis will reduce drought stress, and is a good addition to bi-weekly feeding with an organic veggie fertilizer such as Evolve Tomato 3-2-2.

Watering (Garden):Watermelons require frequent watering when getting established but develop a strong root system and require less watering once grown in. Many growers mulch with straw around watermelons, which further reduces watering requirements and alsosuppressesweeds.

As the fruits get close to maturity (look for changes to the light-coloured spot where melon touches the ground – it will change from white to a warm yellow at maturity), cut back on supplemental watering to increase sugar content in the fruit.

Suitability for Indoors:Not suited for indoors.