Watermelon, Organic (Mountain Sweet Yellow)

Botanical Interests Organic Mountain Sweet Yellow Watermelon Seeds

Cutting into this large, 20–35 pound, oblong melon will reveal plenty of juicy, sweet, yellow fruit. These melons have a dark green rind marked with lighter green stripes. Developed from the very popular red-fleshed 'Mountain Sweet' melon grown in the mid-1800s by farmers in the Northeast, this variety grows in any region with warm summers. Long, warm summers produce the largest watermelons.

Sowing Information:

• Light: Full sun
• When to Start Inside: Not recommended except in very short growing seasons, 2 to 4 weeks before transplanting. Roots are sensitive to disturbance; sow in biodegradable pots that can be planted directly into the ground. Transplant when the soil temperature is at least 60°F.
• When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when the soil temperature is 70°–90°F.
• Seed Depth: Plant seeds ½ inch deep.
• Seed Spacing: 2–3 seeds per mound, 4-6 feet apart. 
• Thinning: When 3 leaves, thin to 1 plant per mound
• Days to Germinate: 5–10 days
• Days to Maturity: 95–100 days

Growing Notes:

• Harvesting: It can be tricky to know exactly when a watermelon is ripe and ready to pick. First, know the number of "days to harvest" and begin checking fruits as the harvest date draws closer. Signs to look for are: (1) the bottom of the melon (where it lies on the soil) turns from light green to a yellowish color; (2) the surface color of the fruit turns dull; (3) the skin becomes resistant to penetration by the thumbnail and is rough to the touch; and (4) light green, curly tendril on the stem near the point of attachment of the melon is brown and dry. All of these indicators may not necessarily occur at the same time.
  
• Variety Information: Mountain Sweet Yellow' produces oblong fruits that average 20–35 pounds. Outer rind is dark green with lighter green stripes. The yellow interior is firm and sweet.