These annual, petite watermelons are solid, dark green on the outside with red, firm, and sweet flesh on the inside. They can weigh about 6-10 pounds and have compact vines, making them a space-efficient melon for a small garden. Takes 79 days to mature.
Sugar Baby Watermelon Plant (Suggested Donation $6)
Sunlight/Where to Plant: Plant two weeks after the last frost in full sun.
Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation is ideal, but can be watered every day and best done in the early morning so the leaves dry before sunset, preventing fungal disease. About one week to ripeness, water only as needed to keep vines from wilting.
Spacing: Plant at least 3’ apart.
Other important info: Prior to planting, cover soil with black plastic to hasten soil warming. Avoid contact with the soil once melons reach the size of a softball, placing them on straw or cardboard. Amend soil with nutrients (compost, manure, Miracle-Gro, etc.). To determine if a melon is ripe, rap on its skin and look for a low-pitched thud. An unripe Sugar Baby will register as a high-pitched tinny sound.
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