Sweet Siberian Organic Watermelon

Nature & Nurture Seeds

Citrullus lanatus

$4.49

Pkt(≈25 seeds)
VALUE SIZE: 4 g (≈ 100 seeds)
Certified Organic
85 days. A wonderful, easy-to-grow golden watermelon. Rind is green, fruits are medium sized and oblong with delectably sweet, juicy flesh. Small, brown seeds. We have been growing it since 2002 - we love its sweet flavor and dependable ripening! Brought to the U.S. around 1900 from the Siberian region of Russia where it was extensively grown. This early watermelon is great for northern growers. Brought back from oblivion by Glenn Drowns, of Sand Hill Preservation Center (Calamus, Iowa), who obtained seeds from the USDA, ARS seedbank in the 1980’s. We hope that you love this watermelon as much as we do.

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 May 7th in small biodegradable pots (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. Though this watermelon is a good choice for northern growers, watermelons are a hot weather crop and will perform poorly during a particularly cool summer (if temps are not at least consistently in the 80’s).