1# CRIMSON SWEET WATERMELON

Crimson Sweet Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus ‘Crimson Sweet’) is a famous heirloom watermelon variety beloved for its sweet, crisp red flesh, attractive striped rind, and dependable garden performance.

🍉 Variety Overview

• Type: Watermelon (heirloom, open‑pollinated)

• Fruit Size: 20–25 lb (sometimes larger)

• Shape: Round to slightly elongated

• Rind: Light green with dark green stripes

• Flesh: Bright red, firm, very sweet

• Days to Maturity: ~80–90 days

• Vine Length: 10–15+ feet

• Seeds: Black

• Use: Fresh eating, slicing, juicing, sharing

✅ Why Grow Crimson Sweet

• Excellent sweetness and crisp texture

• Reliable producer with uniform fruits

• Thick rind resists cracking and handles well

• Widely adapted—performs well in northern and southern gardens

• Classic watermelon look and flavor

• Heirloom—seed can be saved

Crimson Sweet is often considered the standard by which other watermelons are judged.

🌤️ Growing Conditions

• Season: Warm‑season crop

• Sun: Full sun (8+ hours)

• Soil: Sandy or loamy, well‑drained, high in organic matter

• Soil pH: 6.0–6.8

• Temperature: Thrives in heat; frost sensitive

⚠️ Watermelons require warm soil and consistent heat for best sweetness.

🌱 Planting Instructions

• When to Plant:

  • After last frost when soil is ≥70°F

• How to Plant:

  • Depth: 1 inch

  • Spacing: 3–4 feet between plants

  • Rows: 6–8 feet apart

🌱 Tip: Plant in raised hills enriched with compost for warmth and drainage.

💧 Care & Feeding

• Water deeply and consistently during vine growth and flowering

• Reduce watering once fruits begin to ripen to improve sweetness

• Mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds

• Feed early with balanced fertilizer; avoid excess nitrogen later

🍉 Pollination & Fruit Set

• Needs bees for proper pollination

• Poor pollination causes misshapen fruit

• Avoid insecticides during flowering

🍉 Harvesting

• Ready when:

  • Underside (ground spot) turns creamy yellow

  • Tendril nearest the fruit dries and turns brown

  • Fruit sounds hollow when tapped

• Fruit does not continue to sweeten after harvest

🍴 Eating Quality

• Very sweet (often 10–12%+ brix)

• Crisp, refreshing texture

• Excellent sliced, chilled, or cubed

• Seeds are easy to remove

🌿 Companion Plants

• Corn

• Beans

• Radishes

(Avoid planting near cucumbers and squash if disease pressure is high.)