Varieties recommended by the state of Florida. This is a good source for us as S. Fl really faces allot of obstacles when it comes to growing.

Large: Jubilee (aka FL Giant), Crimson Sweet, Charleston Grey 133

Small: Sugar Baby, Mickeylee

Here is a link that might be useful: Good source for recommended varieties.

THANKS so very much! The Sugar Baby ones are doing OK. We will switch to Crimson Sweet and Charleston Grey 133. We do not have sufficient room for the giant watermelons. OUR DEEPEST THANKS FOR THE KIND INFORMATION FROM BOTH OF YOU.
Carolyn

The watermelon is ripe when the curly tendril opposite of the watermelons stem is completely brown. Also look for the ground spot to lighten up on the underside of the melon, not really change size. Full sun is best but let the leaves shade the melon.

This one still has some time to go.
{{gwi:66327}}

Glad to see this post.

A neighbor had a vine with a round, medium-sized, dark green melon. Anyone know what this kind might be? Or can guess what it might be?

Thanks,

Sheri

I wonder if it sould be the heirloom called Moon and Stars? Does it have no stripes and several yellow blotches resembling celestial bodies?

Susie

Susie,

From what I could tell it was quite round and solid green with no yellow blotches.

Take care,

Sheri

islandmanmitch---Thanks for the melon pointers and photo. The tendril info is one that I have never heard before but will certainly remember because I am planning on giving some sweet melons a try. Does this work for fruits like cantaloupe?

Christine

May be of interest: I've lived in Broward since 1959. We planted or (they just sprang up) watermelon seeds in the yard. Don't remember fertilizing or watering them much but I think the soil was very rich already at that time. I remember the vines practically taking over the back yard which was a large yard. We harvested a 38 pound watermelon and a 42 pound one! Those numbers must be pretty accurate 'cause I remember them all these years. But I don't remember if these melons were in the same year or from the same vine. The variety looked like a Charleston Grey. The melons were delicious as I recall.

Sheri

In response to the first post about black gummy spots on melons..

GUMMY STEM BLIGHT (caused by Didymella bryoniae/Phoma cucurbitacearum). Gummy stem blight is one of the most important diseases of watermelons in Florida. It can affect most above-ground parts of the watermelon plant. Symptoms, which may be difficult to distinguish from other foliar diseases, include brown to black leaf spots, stem cankers, or fruit spots. Lesions eventually develop black spots, which are the fruiting bodies of the fungus (pycnidia). A brown, gummy material may be produced on the surface of lesions. On watermelon fruit, the disease is referred to as black rot. It produces water-soaked spots on the fruit, from which gummy material leaks out.

-Mus

Hey just wondering if you still have tomato seeds haha im very interested. Currently i am growing pineapple, squash, strawberries and avacados. Please email me at rolycaceres@gmail.com

I have tried EVERY COMMON watermelon variety Crimson Sweet, Jubilee, Charleston Gray, Sugar Baby etc. All varieties that grew easily and did well for me every year for me in Zone 7B. All of them sucked in Florida 9B.

I have yet to grow a single watermelon or Cantaloupe to maturity in Florida 9B even when planting at the recommended times and using due care and IFAS recommended practices.

All my melon plants were attacked by diseases and died before bringing any fruit to maturity and those few that were on the vine rotted 1/2 way to maturity.

Personally I think you have to start off with bullet proof commercial grade varieties that have more disease & nematode resistance than any seeds you can buy from Burpee's or Home Depot.

Personally I think it's easier to grow vegetables on Venus than in lousy unimproved Florida native soil.

If anyone has the secret to growing Watermelons & Cantaloupes in South Florida please let me know. It's a safe bet you can't do it without spraying with a fungicide and treating the soil with methyl bromide for nematodes.

I don't grow melons (no space and don't love 'em), but when I was a kid and kept a horse out on NW 47 Ave inCarol City, the sandy pasture was full of melons that started from seeds dropped when folks were eating grocery melons. They never got huge, but they were very red and sweet and came back on their own every year.

nighthawk0911 This is a very old thread! I am in Pt. Charlotte Fl zone 10b and do very well here. I have gotten over 450 lbs at one planting of 10 vines about 5 years back. I know much more now and have 14 planted out this year.