Watermelon – Sugar Baby

This is our first year growing this variety for our Spring 2025 Plant Sale! Grown from Ed Hume seeds that were shared by our friends at Growing Neighbors.

Notes from Hume Seeds

A relatively early variety of watermelon. It is a small, dark skinned, round ‘ice box’ type, 7″ to 8″ in diameter. Its red-orange flesh is firm and sweet. Sugar Baby is drought resistant and well adapted to home gardens. All melons need ample heat and an adequate growing season to mature. Approximately 85 relative days to maturity.

Specs:

• Plant Size: 48" - 72"

• Days to Maturity: 85 days

• Light Preference: Full sun

• Fruit Size: 6-12 lbs, 2-5 melons

TRANSPLANTING:

Growing melons is a challenge in cool, short season climates. Select a warm, sunny location with southern exposure or against a heat retaining wall. Soil should be fairly rich, well drained and raised for extra warmth. Water plants when soil becomes fairly dry, preferably in the morning. Avoid over watering or spraying the foliage.

HARVEST & STORAGE:

Keep an eye on the tendrils of your watermelon plants, they will give you a hint when the fruits are ripe and ready to harvest. If the tendril closest to a fruit is green, the fruit is likely not ready to pick. If you are in range of the maturity date for your variety and the tendril closest to the fruit is brown and has died back, it should be safe to harvest your watermelon. Note that, unlike some other fruits, they do not continue to ripen (or sweeten) after harvesting.

Some people like to stop watering a week or so before harvesting watermelon, claiming it concentrates the sugars. You can give that a try, but be mindful of any other plants in your GreenStalk garden that might be thirsty!

Once harvested, watermelon lasts for about ten days at room temperature. Once cut open, refrigerate and enjoy within about four days.

SEED SAVING:

Remove seeds from ripe melon. Soak in warm water for two to four days, then clean and dry until completely dry. Store in a cool, dry place.

https://humeseeds.com/product/watermelon-sugar-baby/