Art Combe's Ancient Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) In the early 1920's, plant enthusiast Art Combe, found a small woven pot in a remote sandstone cave in the Mogollon Rim region of Arizona. The pot was filled with bright red watermelon seeds of which he planted and successfully germinated a limited number of. The first fruits he grew were small and slightly bottle necked, with remarkable flavour. After several decades, Art selected the largest and most rounded specimens. After decades of selection, he stabilized a population of large dark-green skinned oval watermelons containing a bright red and sweet flesh. Art used an xeriscape approach to growing in the searing hot desert. As a result, these ancient watermelons are extremely heat and drought tolerant! This was naturally our best producing watermelon through the drought of 2025 here in Nova Scotia. Fruits reached sizes of 12-16” and up to 15 lbs. A fascinating seed discovery and a trouble free heirloom worthy of adding to your heritage garden mix!
95 days to maturity
15 seeds per packet
Planting Instructions: Seed indoors 1/2 inch deep. Line out transplants after risk of frost has passed, spacing 5-6 feet apart. Direct seed in raised hills sowing 5-6 seeds 1/2 inch deep. Soil temperature should be at least 21 degrees C. Space mounds 5-6 feet apart, thinning to 3 plants per mound.
