Crimson Sweet has a tough, medium-thick, light-green rind with small, dark-green stripes. Its shape is blocky at 12″ by 10″ and weighing up to 25 pounds. Its bright, deep-red flesh is high in sugar content and has few, small seeds. It was an All-American Selections winner in 1964.
Watermelon – Crimson Sweet – Citrullus lanatus
Soil & Water: Watermelon prefers light, loamy, fertile, deep, well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5-6.5. Add plenty of organic matter. Water plants amply until setting out, then water more sparingly. Mulch to prevent weed competition.
Planting & Growing: Start seeds indoors 2-3 weeks before the last frost or sow seeds directly after frost. Set out 3-4 transplants per hill, selecting the strongest two when vines are 1′-2′ long. Watermelons are large vining plants that can take over an extensive garden space. They can be trellised, but use slings to support the developing fruit.
Harvesting & Storage: Harvest melons when the tendril closest to the stem turns dry and brown and the stem becomes brittle. Eat fresh, freeze flesh in a honey-based syrup, or pickle the rind.
- Soil Temperature: 75-95F
- Planting Depth: 1/2″
- Germination: 3-9 Days
- Height At Maturity: 18″-24″
- Days To Maturity: 88 Days
- Sun/Shade: Full Sun
- Spacing After Thinning: 4′-6′
