Watermelon, Sugar Baby

Sugar Baby is the classic icebox watermelon with dark green skin and super sweet red flesh in compact 8-10 pound fruits. The smaller size means faster maturity (75 days) and easier handling, perfect for small families or gardeners with limited space.

Watermelon: Watermelons are the ultimate summer reward! These heat-requiring vines (Citrullus lanatus) demand an extended warm season and patience, but they deliver impossibly sweet, juicy fruits. Choose from classic crimson, yellow, orange, or white flesh, in sizes ranging from personal 5-pounders to 30-pound specimens. Icebox varieties offer faster maturity for short-season climates. Ripeness is critical and determined by the hollow thump test, a yellow ground spot, and a dried tendril near the stem—since flavor does not improve off the vine, perfect timing ensures a feast, not disappointment.

• Growing Tips: Transplant 1-2 weeks after the last frost when soil reaches 70°F+, spacing 36-60 inches apart or 2-3 plants per hill; requires a long, hot growing season.

• Sun Requirements: Full sun (8+ hours required/best).

• Preferred Soil: Rich, well-drained, sandy loam with consistent moisture until fruits start ripening, then reduce water for enhanced sweetness.

• Harvest Details: Check for a hollow sound when thumped, a yellow ground spot where the fruit touches the soil, and a dried tendril near the stem (typically 80-100 days); timing is critical as there is no post-harvest flavor improvement.