Seedlings are available at Longfellow’s for transplanting beginning in Early May.  Transplant when soil temperatures are warm and the danger of frost has passed.  Plant 2 to 3 seedlings in the center of raised hills, taking care not to disturb tender roots.  Plants will vine as they grow.  Keep watered and fertilized to produce sweet, tasty fruit.

The varieties we grow are:

• Charleston Gray – Long, cylindrical fruit has a light green rind and will reach 28-35 pounds with bright red flesh.  85 days to maturity.
• Crimson Sweet – Each plant will produce three to five large watermelons.  The oval shaped fruit will reach 15-25 pounds and is very sweet and juicy with very few seeds.  The rind is dark green with light green stripes.  85-90 days to maturity.
• Sugar Baby – Better for small spaces, the vines on this variety are more compact.  Fruits are also smaller, reaching 8-10 pounds.  The flesh is firm, sweet, and red with dark seeds.  70-80 days to maturity.