Sugar Baby Watermelon

Cucurbitaceae

1956 introduction. THE 'icebox' watermelon — small enough to fit in a refrigerator. 6-12 lbs (typically 8-10), round, dark green rind. Very sweet bright red flesh (Brix 10.2). Compact vines (shortest watermelon). BEST watermelon for small gardens and short-season zones (75-80 DTM — shortest melon). Drought tolerant. Disease resistant. Each plant produces 2-3 melons. NON-CLIMACTERIC: will not sweeten after harvest — must pick at peak.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

75–80 days

Sun

8+ hours

Seed Start

3–4 weeks

before transplant

Container

Not Ideal

15+ gallon pot

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 5–14 days

Optimal Temp 85°F

Seed Depth 1"

Transplanting

Min Soil Temp 65°F

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

seed-catalog Thresh Seed Co — Sugar Baby seed-catalog John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds 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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Sugar Baby Watermelon Planting Dates by Zone

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

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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