Most vigorous watermelon varieties

uno · February 6, 2008

Last year I got hooked on growing watermelons. I grew a few little ones and I loved it! I have no trouble growing just about everything else but I struggle with watermelons.

For this year I really want to get a good crop of melons.

I learned with growing pumpkins that it can be the variety that you grow that can make all the difference. I tried growing pumpkins for years and had horrible results and then last year I tried baby pam and I got so many pumpkins I didn't know what to do with all of them...on only 3 plants.

I have been asking around to try and find the most vigorous watermelon varieties.

So far my top two that I came up with were summer flavor 420 and orangeglow.

I just wanted to see what watermelons others have grown that were their strongest healthiest growers?

Thanks

Jim

Tormato · February 6, 2008

Jim,

I'll second Orangeglo for vigor. I do limit each plant to just two fruit. At 25-30 lbs each, that's enough, for me.

Tormato

johno · February 6, 2008

Moons & Stars red (Van Doren strain) is the only one that works for me.

kktwahoo · February 6, 2008

Jim,

I am sort of where you are, but my friend says Blacktail Mountain, Orangeglo, and Moon & Stars are the best three around here to grow!

Good luck!

barkeater · February 8, 2008

The most vigorous, prolific watermelon I've ever grown was Yellow Doll, and earlier than Sugar Baby.

February 6, 2008	#1
uno Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: SW Pennsylvania, zone 6a Posts: 147	Most vigorous watermelon varieties Last year I got hooked on growing watermelons. I grew a few little ones and I loved it! I have no trouble growing just about everything else but I struggle with watermelons. For this year I really want to get a good crop of melons. I learned with growing pumpkins that it can be the variety that you grow that can make all the difference. I tried growing pumpkins for years and had horrible results and then last year I tried baby pam and I got so many pumpkins I didn't know what to do with all of them...on only 3 plants. I have been asking around to try and find the most vigorous watermelon varieties. So far my top two that I came up with were summer flavor 420 and orangeglow. I just wanted to see what watermelons others have grown that were their strongest healthiest growers? Thanks Jim

February 6, 2008	#3
johno Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arkansas zone 6b Posts: 441	Moons & Stars red (Van Doren strain) is the only one that works for me. __________________ You create your own universe as you go along. Winston Churchill

February 6, 2008	#4
kktwahoo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Wahoo, Nebraska Posts: 132	Jim, I am sort of where you are, but my friend says Blacktail Mountain, Orangeglo, and Moon & Stars are the best three around here to grow! Good luck! __________________ Kent & Kathy, near Wahoo, Nebraska "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." From In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan

February 6, 2008	#2
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	Jim, I'll second Orangeglo for vigor. I do limit each plant to just two fruit. At 25-30 lbs each, that's enough, for me. Tormato

February 8, 2008	#5
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	The most vigorous, prolific watermelon I've ever grown was Yellow Doll, and earlier than Sugar Baby.