Sweet Dakota Rose Organic Watermelon

Nature & Nurture Seeds

Citrullus lanatus

$4.99

Pkt(≈20 seeds)
Certified Organic
80-90 days. Luscious watermelon bred in North Dakota by the Podolls of Prairie Road Organic Seed. Our friend Ryan Padgett of Radicle Roots Community Farm in Ann Arbor grew this watermelon and we were really impressed with it. Round, medium sized (8-15lbs) fruit, with rosy red very sweet flesh. Sprawling vines produce 2-3 fruits per plant. Popular at the HomeGrown Festival’s heirloom tasting. Adapted to cool, northern climates. Good choice for market growers because it stores and handles well. Released under the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) to keep seeds unpatented and in the hands of the people for all times.

Watermelon is a hot weather crop and needs lots of room to sprawl. Direct sow seeds outdoors once warm summer weather has arrived (minimum soil temp of 65° in early June). Keep seeds moist until germination. Or, start seeds indoors 5/7 in small biodegradable pots (because watermelons do not like their roots disturbed during transplanting) into a good starting mix. Ideal temperature for germination: 85-95° (use heating mat). Watermelon seedlings are sensitive to damping off fungus so keep soil lightly moist but not too wet and use an oscillating fan (set to low) to provide good air circulation. Days to germination: 4-5. Once 2 leaves appear, grow plants at a cooler temperature (around 72°). Do not let plants become pot-bound in their pots. Transplant seedlings outdoors, pot & all, early June. Protect plants from cucumber beetles by covering seeds/seedlings with row cover fabric at planting. Protect plants from groundhogs and deer.