Be sure to check out our Watermelon Growing Guide for more tips & tricks on successfully growing watermelons at home.

Crimson Sweet Watermelon is Hoss' favorite variety of watermelon. Crimson Sweet is known for it's high sugar content and deep crimson flesh. Round fruits average 20-25 lbs and are light green with dark green stripes. Crimson Sweet Watermelon was an AAS winner in 1964 and has been an American favorite for decades. Fruits have a delicious, meaty heart and few small Seeds that make eating so much easier. Just cut in half and grab a spoon!

Watermelons may be direct seeded or transplanted. For direct seeding, we recommend planting Seeds every 12" along the intended row to ensure a good stand. Once plants emerge, thin plants to one every 2 feet. Watermelons can be susceptible to plant diseases if excess leaf moisture is present. As a result, we recommend using drip irrigation on watermelons to reduce leaf moisture and feed plants more effectively. During periods of heavy rainfall, using a fungicide like Liquid Copper can help to alleviate disease pressure as well.

Watermelons also perform well when transplanted. In early spring, we recommend transplanting to get a jump start on the growing season. Watermelon prefers warmer temperatures for seed to germinate. By transplanting, you can have plants in the ground before the soil temperature warms enough to direct seed. We recommend starting transplants 4-5 weeks before the desired outdoor planting date. Watermelon transplants grow great in our heavy-duty seed starting trays, where they develop a solid root ball with roots that are trained to grow downward. Plants are ready to go in the ground when they can be easily pulled from the cells in the seed starting tray. Watermelons are ready to harvest when the tendril near the fruit completely dries. The tendril can be found between the fruit stem and the fruit. It is usually curly and green, but will dry when fruits are ready to harvest.

Crimson Sweet Watermelon Planting Information

Planting Method: direct seed or transplant

When to Plant: after last frost

Planting Depth: 1/2"

Seed Spacing: 24"

Row Spacing: 5-6'

Days to Maturity: 85

Disease Resistance: Anthracnose, Fusarium Wilt

AAS Winners