Crimson Sweet Watermelon
Photo: "Watermelons" by Steve Evans · CC BY 2.0
Vegetable · Watermelon

Crimson Sweet Watermelon

Cucurbitaceae

1963 Kansas State University. 1964 AAS winner. THE standard full-size watermelon — classic dark/light green striping. 15-25 lbs, deeply red, crisp, sweet flesh. Resistant to fusarium wilt and anthracnose. Needs consistently warm soil and sustained heat. NOT ideal for short-season or cool-summer zones. Each plant produces 1-3 large melons. NON-CLIMACTERIC.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity
80–90 days
Sun
8+ hours
Container
Not Ideal

Zone Planting Guide

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 5–14 days
Optimal Temp 85°F
Seed Depth 1"

Watering

Weekly Water 1–2 "
Needs High

Soil

pH Range 6–6.8

Resilience

Heat: High Cold: Low Drought: Medium

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Heavy feeder
Recommended Recipes Worm castings topdress, Compost tea, Kelp foliar

Sources

horticultural Epic Gardening — Crimson Sweet university UMN Extension — Growing Melons university University of Minnesota Extension — Growing melons in the home garden university Colorado State University Extension — PlantTalk: Warm season vegetables (frost tender, best growth temps) university University of Maryland Extension — Ripening behaviors and harvest indexes of watermelons, cantaloupes and honeydew melons university University of Georgia Extension — Ripe Watermelon Fact Sheet (tendril/ground spot/thump)

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Crimson Sweet Watermelon Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Crimson Sweet Watermelon vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

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