Nellie’s Sugar Melon (Citrullus lanatus) My great grandmother (Anastasia aka Nellie) grew one watermelon on her farm, she referred to it as a Black Sugar Melon. We are most certain it was the classic ‘Sugar Baby’ that she would have originally sown in the late 1960’s. This heirloom icebox type melon first appeared on the market back in 1959. The seeds have been in the family since that time. We have trialled and selected those super sweet black melons that great grandmother Nellie would have been proud to harvest and share with her family. Sugar Baby melon seeds produce watermelons that have a thin, hard rind with unique striping, becoming almost black at maturity. The flesh is firm and sweet, displaying an orange-red hue. The fruits are round and grow to about 7 inches in diameter on vines that can be grown on the ground or by using a trellis system. Give watermelon a lot of heat for the best productivity by growing under a mini greenhouse tunnel, or planting in mounds and raised beds.
85 days to maturity
25 seeds per packet $4.45
Planting instructions: Seed indoors 1/2 inch deep. Line out transplants after risk of frost has passed, spacing 5-6 seed apart. Direct seed in raised hills sowing 5-6 seeds 1/2 inch deep. Soil temperature should be at least 21 degrees Celsius. Space mounds 5-6 feet apart, thinning to 3 plants per mound.
