I don't have much issue starting the seedless and this year I planted outdoors in March. That's very early here, 3-4 weeks before average last frost. But with our sun and a black weed barrier overlaid with clear poly they come up in 5-7 days. Star Brite is easier to get up and outgrew anything else including 7-8 seedless cultivars. I think the key to getting seedless up other than warm soil is to get them up without watering again after planting. My system does that. I cut a small hole in the black weed barrier, plant, water well, and cover with the clear poly. Remove or slit the clear as they start to emerge.

Allenwrench: Seedless melons won't grow from either seed. If you want to grow seedless melons buy seed from a reputable seller. Seedless melons are somewhat harder to germinate than regular watermelon. But once established they are strong growers and yield well. You will need to plant a pollinator variety. The Fruitnut

I can tell you how I germinated mine. I stuck them in the jiffy pots for 2 weeks. Had it setting on a heating mat. they weren't doing anything. So I put one in a baggie to try that method. Repotted the others in different potting soil. I finally got disgusted and told my wife to take one to work (she works at a biology dept at a university). They have a greenhouse and she is good friends with them there. I had put the seed in a baggie for her to take to work. She forgot it and left it in her purse for 2 days. When she did remember, her friend said it was already germinating but she would pot it for her. So, my best guess is stick it in your wifes purse for few days because my others still havn't germinated :(

I really enjoy watermelon, but really do not enjoy fighting the seeds. I'm hesitant to buy watermelons because they're just not good. I think there's far fewer melons grown locally and that's the problem. I went to a buffet a couple weeks ago and had some watermelon there and one piece was rather tasty, not great but I was hungry for watermelon. The other two pieces were fair at best. I've never had luck with "seedless" melons either. If I see a stand where someone actually grew them instead of trucking them in from Arizona or someeplace, I might try one from them, but I walk by them in the stores, reluctantly. "Seedless" are gaining more and more shelf space in the stores. I'm not totally sure why, except possibly being smaller they fit more in the same space. But melons aren't the only thing. Anyone having trouble finding GOOD grapes these past couple years? I don't like to do it but I won't buy now unless I try them in the stores. And have passed them by quite often. I have noticed the past few years that the red grapes are usually better than the green ones. Can't blame the stores for the producers' failures. Sad situation when canned fruits and vegetables are superior to "fresh".