Sweetest Watermelon

DuckCreekFarms · February 14, 2012

I am tinkering with the idea of growing some melons for the farmer's market this year. I need some that are not too big and very sweet. Any suggestions from personal experiance?

Also looking for suggestions for the sweetest and tastiest cantalopes.

thanks
gary
www.duckcreekfarms.com

Petronius_II · February 14, 2012

A week or two ago, I happened to stumble on a Wisconsin State Univ. webpage that has many of the answers you seek. Doesn't cover any larger melons, just midsize and down. Doesn't cover all that many midsize either. Tendersweet is MIA, for example.

Thought I was never going to be able to find it again:

http://agsyst.wsu.edu/watermelonphotos.html

Fusion_power · February 14, 2012

From growing a LOT of watermelons, there are not many that have superb flavor.

Yellow Moon & Stars
Ledmon
Luscious Golden
Whitley's Yellow Popper

Of the above, Yellow Moon & Stars and Ledmon are the best overall, but both of them average weight is about 32 pounds. Luscious Golden is a bit smaller maybe 25 pounds

Susan Healy is an excellent cantaloupe.

DarJones

DuckCreekFarms · February 14, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petronius_II

A week or two ago, I happened to stumble on a Wisconsin State Univ. webpage that has many of the answers you seek. Doesn't cover any larger melons, just midsize and down. Doesn't cover all that many midsize either. Tendersweet is MIA, for example.

Thought I was never going to be able to find it again:

http://agsyst.wsu.edu/watermelonphotos.html

thanks for sharing the website, It will give some interesting reading

Petronius_II · February 14, 2012

Just did a quick page search of that page. 7 varieties with Brix above 11, another 5 Brix above 12, and Treasure Chest, a seedless yellow-flesh triploid hybrid, with a whopping 13.0.

Orangeglo shows up as 10.7 which is still quite respectable, better than Crimson Sweet. Farmerdill likes it, but likes Tendersweet better.

I'm not real good with watermelon... yet. I've gotten decent performance from Charleston Grey, which I still love muchly from my youth, but in the city, children (and some adults) always try to steal watermelon before it's even ripe, which is why I refuse to grow it in the meetinghouse garden. If Buhl corn is a raccoon magnet, watermelon is a magnet for bandits of the two-legged kind.

DuckCreekFarms · February 14, 2012

Our biggest predator for watermelon is coyotes. I tried the yellow moon and stars once, but it may have not been the best season as It wasn't very sweet to me, but I may give it another trial. I think I got the seeds from Baker's Creek.... However the coyotes adored it and I barely had a couple to taste. I'm planting in a different location this year and I hope the coyotes won't be a problem.

I'm going to check out the Susan Healy

thanks

Mudman · February 14, 2012

Yeah thanks! That is by far the best resource for watermelons that I have ever seen!

February 15, 2012

Osh Kirgizia and Cream of Saskatchewan did quite well for me this [last] year here in lower Michigan.

What ever you do, don't plant Cream of Saskatchewan and White Wonder beside each other... you can't really tell them apart.

**nctomatoman** · February 15, 2012

I've found Watermelon to vary so much with location and season - when living in Pennsylvania, the Moon and Stars I grew were the best melon I ever had - they were a round, large, white seeded strain (pink flesh). I've tried them here in my NC garden, and they aren't nearly as good - but the yellow fleshed Moon and Stars was delicious - both are bigger than what you are looking for.

At the Raleigh Farmers Markets, we tend to go for Sugar Babies - like a black bowling ball, not all that large, but really delicious. Most are now growing seedless melons, which used to be pretty awful, but last year someone carried a small to medium sized seedless orange flesh that was really spectacular.

DuckCreekFarms · February 15, 2012

I have actually ordered the Cream of Saskatchewan from Sand Hill and looking forward to trying it. It sounded so much like the Icecream watermelon mentioned in another thread except it has black seeds. I would love to try that one if anyone ever finds a source.

Yes, the way our farmer's market is set up, the customers have to carry their purchases a distance making heavy things not as desirable. I have noticed that the smaller or icebox types seem to do well. ....I wouldn't mind trying a seedless one, but I have heard so much differing opinions on their culture, that I am not sure if I should...

Blk_Vegan · February 15, 2012

Two that I've grown personally and would recommend are:

Orangeglo
Strawberry

Both are very sweet with crisp flesh. Orangeglo being my favorite of the two. Good size, outstanding flavor and gorgeous deep orange color.

DuckCreekFarms · February 16, 2012

I have Orangeglo on order, I will look into strawberry
thanks

lurley · February 17, 2012

The amish around here grow ambrosia and goddess musk melons, they are divine. I've grown the ambrosia for years when I have room. I also like orangeglo for watermelon, but have given up growing them here for the most part unless one of the kids wants to work on it. I just don't get enough product from the space needed verses other things I can grow like tomatoes, peppers, onions, greens, etc. So I will let the amish grow my melons for now, they do a great job, and not expensive.

gourmetgardener · February 19, 2012

You might want to try Crisp 'n Sweet. You will need to plant a pollinator, such as Escort or Pollimax. I had great luck with it last year, and my customers just loved it. It is available from Siegers Seeds. Sweet Polly is not far behind.

moon1234 · March 3, 2012

The sweetest melon is NOT always the best. Most people will love Goddess Muskmelon, but it has a lower brix that many muskmelon. It is also considered an early season melon only. It cracks, badly, mid-season.

As for watermelon, I don't grow any yellow melons. They do not sell well around here. I grow Ruby Premium, Harmony and a new variety called fascination. I use Jade star (Pata Negra) as a pollinator, which is a seeded sugar baby. I find at my farmers market that I can sell just as many seeded as seedless. I am the only grower who sells the newer hybrid seeded varieties.

I personally think the best tasting melon I sell is the Pata Negra. It has firm flesh, is sweet without becoming sickeningly sweet and has a nice color with good watermelon taste.

February 14, 2012	#1
DuckCreekFarms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mounds, Oklahoma Posts: 257	Sweetest Watermelon I am tinkering with the idea of growing some melons for the farmer's market this year. I need some that are not too big and very sweet. Any suggestions from personal experiance? Also looking for suggestions for the sweetest and tastiest cantalopes. thanks gary www.duckcreekfarms.com __________________ DuckCreekFarms.Com

February 14, 2012	#6
DuckCreekFarms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mounds, Oklahoma Posts: 257	Our biggest predator for watermelon is coyotes. I tried the yellow moon and stars once, but it may have not been the best season as It wasn't very sweet to me, but I may give it another trial. I think I got the seeds from Baker's Creek.... However the coyotes adored it and I barely had a couple to taste. I'm planting in a different location this year and I hope the coyotes won't be a problem. I'm going to check out the Susan Healy thanks __________________ DuckCreekFarms.Com

February 14, 2012	#7
Mudman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NW Wisconsin Posts: 910	Yeah thanks! That is by far the best resource for watermelons that I have ever seen! __________________ Mike

February 15, 2012	#9
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I've found Watermelon to vary so much with location and season - when living in Pennsylvania, the Moon and Stars I grew were the best melon I ever had - they were a round, large, white seeded strain (pink flesh). I've tried them here in my NC garden, and they aren't nearly as good - but the yellow fleshed Moon and Stars was delicious - both are bigger than what you are looking for. At the Raleigh Farmers Markets, we tend to go for Sugar Babies - like a black bowling ball, not all that large, but really delicious. Most are now growing seedless melons, which used to be pretty awful, but last year someone carried a small to medium sized seedless orange flesh that was really spectacular. __________________ Craig

February 15, 2012	#10
DuckCreekFarms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mounds, Oklahoma Posts: 257	I have actually ordered the Cream of Saskatchewan from Sand Hill and looking forward to trying it. It sounded so much like the Icecream watermelon mentioned in another thread except it has black seeds. I would love to try that one if anyone ever finds a source. Yes, the way our farmer's market is set up, the customers have to carry their purchases a distance making heavy things not as desirable. I have noticed that the smaller or icebox types seem to do well. ....I wouldn't mind trying a seedless one, but I have heard so much differing opinions on their culture, that I am not sure if I should... __________________ DuckCreekFarms.Com

February 14, 2012	#2
Petronius_II Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Albuquerque, NM - Zone 7a Posts: 209	A week or two ago, I happened to stumble on a Wisconsin State Univ. webpage that has many of the answers you seek. Doesn't cover any larger melons, just midsize and down. Doesn't cover all that many midsize either. Tendersweet is MIA, for example. Thought I was never going to be able to find it again: http://agsyst.wsu.edu/watermelonphotos.html

February 14, 2012	#3
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	From growing a LOT of watermelons, there are not many that have superb flavor. Yellow Moon & Stars Ledmon Luscious Golden Whitley's Yellow Popper Of the above, Yellow Moon & Stars and Ledmon are the best overall, but both of them average weight is about 32 pounds. Luscious Golden is a bit smaller maybe 25 pounds Susan Healy is an excellent cantaloupe. DarJones

February 15, 2012	#8
WillysWoodPile Guest Posts: n/a	Osh Kirgizia and Cream of Saskatchewan did quite well for me this [last] year here in lower Michigan. What ever you do, don't plant Cream of Saskatchewan and White Wonder beside each other... you can't really tell them apart.

February 15, 2012	#11
Blk_Vegan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 131	Two that I've grown personally and would recommend are: Orangeglo Strawberry Both are very sweet with crisp flesh. Orangeglo being my favorite of the two. Good size, outstanding flavor and gorgeous deep orange color. __________________ Success in life is not guaranteed but a life with no purpose is guaranteed to fail.

February 16, 2012	#12
DuckCreekFarms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mounds, Oklahoma Posts: 257	I have Orangeglo on order, I will look into strawberry thanks __________________ DuckCreekFarms.Com

February 17, 2012	#13
lurley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 741	The amish around here grow ambrosia and goddess musk melons, they are divine. I've grown the ambrosia for years when I have room. I also like orangeglo for watermelon, but have given up growing them here for the most part unless one of the kids wants to work on it. I just don't get enough product from the space needed verses other things I can grow like tomatoes, peppers, onions, greens, etc. So I will let the amish grow my melons for now, they do a great job, and not expensive.

February 19, 2012	#14
gourmetgardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Canada (Zone 6b) Posts: 119	You might want to try Crisp 'n Sweet. You will need to plant a pollinator, such as Escort or Pollimax. I had great luck with it last year, and my customers just loved it. It is available from Siegers Seeds. Sweet Polly is not far behind.

March 3, 2012	#15
moon1234 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 54	The sweetest melon is NOT always the best. Most people will love Goddess Muskmelon, but it has a lower brix that many muskmelon. It is also considered an early season melon only. It cracks, badly, mid-season. As for watermelon, I don't grow any yellow melons. They do not sell well around here. I grow Ruby Premium, Harmony and a new variety called fascination. I use Jade star (Pata Negra) as a pollinator, which is a seeded sugar baby. I find at my farmers market that I can sell just as many seeded as seedless. I am the only grower who sells the newer hybrid seeded varieties. I personally think the best tasting melon I sell is the Pata Negra. It has firm flesh, is sweet without becoming sickeningly sweet and has a nice color with good watermelon taste.