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WATERMELON
(Citrullus vulgaris) 25-35 seeds per packet. We're #1 in heirloom watermelons–check our selection! Thrives in summer heat. A long-standing crop in the South, where it was originally transported by slaves from Africa. Sow the seed one-half inch deep outdoors after frost-season is over and soil is warm. Soil should be rich and well-amended with compost or manure. Sow the seed 6 inches to one foot apart, in rows 6-8 feet apart. Or sow in hills 6-8 feet apart, 5 seeds per hill, and thin to the best three plants. Where summers are short or cool, try "icebox" (very small) types; or try any variety that comes from cooler, northerly climates. May be started indoors from seed no more than 2-3 weeks prior to setting-out date, and never let watermelon seedlings become root-bound in their pots. Watermelon is probably ripe when the light patch on the underside has changed to pale yellow, and the tendril immediately opposite the stem from the fruit has withered.
Attention, Watermelon Farmers:
Due to Watermelon Fruit Blotch, growers who want watermelon seed in quantities over 1 oz (per variety) must sign and return a waiver before shipment. For information call: 417-924-8917
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Fairfax
86 days. 30-40 lb. fruit that are oblong, and have a striped, thin tough rind. The bright red flesh is very sweet! Excellent taste, it was developed in 1952 by the USDA and Clemson. A good market melon.
Item Code: WM101
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Kolb's Gem or American Champion
100 days. Huge melons that have grown as large as 130 lbs.! This variety dates back to at least the 1880's. The fruit are nearly round, and have sweet red flesh. Excellent choice if giant watermelons are desired.
Item Code: WM102
Out of Stock
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Chilean Black Seeded
90 days. Very rare! A pre-1910 heirloom that is nearly extinct. It is very handsome in appearance, the fruit are striped and nearly round, and weigh 10-20 lbs. The rind is very thin and hard, and yields are excellent--even in a dry year. The flesh is a sparkling, crimson red, and very sweet and juicy with a delicious flavor, seeds are large and black. A good melon for market growers. 10 seeds.
Item Code: WM103
Out of Stock
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Tom Watson
87 days. Large, 20-40 lb. fruit, with sweet crisp dark red flesh. The tough rind makes it a good shipping melon. A pre-1900 heirloom, popular with old-timers, and is getting hard to find, as most sources have dropped it.
Item Code: WM104
Bulk Quantities
1 oz - $6.00
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Mountain Hoosier
85 days. Large melons can grow up to 80 lbs., Dark green rind and very sweet, deep red flesh, excellent flavor. This pre-1937 heirloom is very productive.
Item Code: WM105
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Kleckley's Sweet
85 days. Bright red, with a high sugar content, this heirloom has been a favorite ever since introduced by W. Atlee Burpee in 1897. Fruit is large and somewhat oblong, rind is dark green. Not for shipping, but perfect for the kitchen garden.
Item Code: WM106
Bulk Quantities
1 oz - $4.00
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Golden Midget
70 days. A beautiful miniature watermelon that weighs around 3 lbs. It's easy to tell when they are ripe as the rind turns a lovely golden yellow when ready for harvest, a very beautiful contrast with the salmon-pink colored flesh. The taste is sweet and refreshing. Very early, matures in just 70 days. Developed by the late Dr. Elwyn Meader, UNH in 1959. Unique.
Item Code: WM107
Out of Stock
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Osh Kirgizia
Unique fruit have a yellow-lime colored rind with jagged deep green stripes. The flesh is pink-red, sweet and tasty. This Russian variety did well here in the Ozarks and was productive. Fruit weigh about 13 lbs. Introduced to the USA by Seed Savers Exchange in 1992.
Item Code: WM109
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Black Diamond Yellow Flesh
90 days. This rare variety of Black Diamond has light yellow flesh with a deep black-green rind and the taste is very sweet. Can grow to very large sizes.
Item Code: WM112
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Georgia Rattlesnake
90 days. A long time southern favorite, thought to have been developed in Georgia in the 1830's. Its stripes resemble that of a Rattler, hence the name. Sweet light crimson colored flesh and large size, used as a shipping melon, a great old variety.
Item Code: WM113
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Dixie Queen
80 days. Pre-1935 variety, round in shape, can grow up to 50 lbs. Flesh is brilliant red, solid and of a fine flavor, skin is striped dark green and greenish ivory; uniform in shape, size, color and quality.
Item Code: WM114
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Crimson Sweet
85 days. AAS/Winner-1964, very popular, crisp and sweet, medium red flesh, mild flavor. Personally, I prefer a stronger taste. Good anyway!
Item Code: WM115
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Charleston Gray
87 days. This popular variety dates to 1954, the long gray-green fruit grow to 20-40 lbs.; the red flesh is fiber-free and very tasty. Yields are very good, and melons are excellent for home or market.
Item Code: WM117
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Carolina Cross
90 days. This is the variety that produced the current 262-lb. world record, and the watermelon to grow if you want true giants! Consistently produces huge melons, 65-150 lbs., and has produced many 200-lb. melons, as well. Fantastic fruit have green stripes and red flesh. These will impress your gardening friends and are sure fun to grow and exhibit at fairs. Amazing! 10 seeds per packet.
Item Code: WM151
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Moon and Stars
95 days. Legendary Heirloom Variety rediscovered in Macon, Missouri. Can grow over 40 lbs. The dark green rind has bright yellow spots on it! Spots range in size from tiny to several inches across. Leaves are also specked in yellow. It has very sweet brilliant red flesh. This is becoming one of the most popular Heirloom varieties, a winner! Originally introduced by Peter Henderson & Co. in 1926, and was called "SUN, MOON AND STARS." The catalog says "...an extraordinary variation...and that it has such a delicious taste" it was sold then for 20 cents a packet. Unique variety!
Item Code: WM121
Bulk Quantities
1 oz - $7.50
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Moon and Stars - Yellow Fleshed
90-95 days. Rare, this is the yellow meated strain of this fine heirloom. The dark green fruit and leaves are speckled with deep yellow. We are happy to have this large, sweet melon this year.
Item Code: WM122
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Mountain Sweet Yellow
95-100 days. The yellow fleshed strain of a very old heirloom that was popular in the 1840's. Large striped fruit have deep yellow flesh that is amazingly sweet and tasty, the plants are quite productive. A real beauty.
Item Code: WM123
Out of Stock
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Congo
90 days. Large 30-40 lb. melons, very tough striped rind. The flesh is deep red, very firm. Has a high sugar content, an excellent big watermelon, tasty! AAS winner from 1950.
Item Code: WM124
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Klondike Blue Ribbon Striped
85 days. Delicious red flesh that is very sweet and crisp, has been a family favorite of ours for many years. Medium-large size and a good shipper. A very good melon. Rare.
Item Code: WM125
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Peacock Striped
87 days. A good sized melon, with fine-textured bright-red flesh, another good shipping variety, sweet and tasty.
Item Code: WM126
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Orangeglo
85 days. Very sweet, beautiful deep orange flesh, excellent almost tropical flavor! The best tasting of ALL varieties we tried - the favorite of many who tried it at our place. High yields. Very resistant to wilt and insects; strong healthy vines. These will sell at roadside stands & markets!
Item Code: WM127
Out of Stock
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Blacktail Mountain
70 days. One of the earliest watermelons we know of, superb for the north, but it also grows well in heat and drought. The flesh is red and deliciously sweet, the fruit have a dark rind and weigh 8-12 lbs. each. This excellent variety was developed by our friend Glenn Drowns, owner of the Sand Hill Preservation Center in Iowa. A favorite of many gardeners across the USA. One of the best we have ever tried!
Item Code: WM129
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Jubilee
90 days. Long oval shaped fruit with very tasty flesh that is deep red and very crisp. A popular old favorite. Large size.
Item Code: WM130
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Orange Flesh Tendersweet
90 days. Excellent deep orange flesh, very sweet and crisp, flavor lives up to its name! Delicious tasting! We prefer orange-fleshed types over most reds and yellows - they seem to yield better here than most others. A great variety for markets.
Item Code: WM131
Bulk Quantities
1 oz - $6.00
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Sugar Baby
79 days. The #1 icebox sized melon! Early! 6-10 lb. melons are great for the north and have sweet deep red flesh.
Item Code: WM132
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Cream of Saskatchewan
80 days. A beautiful little melon with sweet, tasty cream-colored flesh! An excellent variety for the north. Fruits around 8-10 lbs each, with a striped green rind. A favorite of those who grow it! An old heirloom.
Item Code: WM133
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Melitopolski
An early variety from Volga River region of Russia. Round 10" fruit with green striped skin and bright red, sweet flesh. These are piled into pyramids in Moscow street markets.
Item Code: WM134
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Small Shining Light
80-90 days. Old-fashioned Russian variety that produce 10"-12" fruit early, and will ripen even in the middle territories of Russia, so is perfect for cool season areas. Very dark green rind and sweet red flesh.
Item Code: WM135
Out of Stock
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Chelsea
90-100 days. This heirloom has been grown near Chelsea, Iowa for over 100 years, and is thought have come from Czechoslovakia. Round fruit have a pale green rind with darker green spots and markings. The delicious flesh is sweet and a deep pink color.
Item Code: WM139
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Chris Cross
85-90 days. This heirloom was bred in Montrose, Iowa in 1950 by "Chris" Christenson and the "Cross" was Hawksbury crossed with Dixie Queen. 15-20 lb. fruit have green striped rind and tasty, crisp red flesh. This variety is almost extinct.
Item Code: WM140
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Picnic
90-100 days. These beautiful, oval melons have dark green, glossy rinds and deep red flesh. It has become very rare.
Item Code: WM141
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Colorado Preserving or Red Seeded Citron
90 days. This variety of melon was used in the 19th century, for making preserves, candied citron, pies and more. The firm white flesh is not good for fresh eating but has many holiday uses in the kitchen. These are rock hard and keep for months. Citron type melons are the ancestors to domestic watermelons and still grow wild in Africa. These are very easy to grow as they resist almost everything. Huge vines, 10 lb. fruit have bright red seeds.
Item Code: WM142
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Thai Baby Watermelon
This is the variety used in Thailand when they are about 3" long. Can be cooked in many ways: stir-fried, or in curries, soups and more. Easy and fun to grow.
Item Code: WM143
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Long Milky Way, Moon and Stars
95 days. Brilliant red, sweet and crisp, this elongated variety of the famous "Moon and Stars" is among the best of its type. The 30-lb. fruit are more narrow in shape and the rind is dark green with golden-yellow moons and small, yellow stars. This fun variety was developed by our friend, Glenn Drowns, of the Sand Hill Preservation Center.
Item Code: WM153
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Daisy or Yellow Shipper
85 days. Very tough rinds make this one of the best yellow varieties for shipping. Rinds are striped and flesh is bright yellow, crisp, sweet and very tasty! Fruit weigh 13-20 lbs. This variety was found growing in a field of watermelons by a customer of Burrell Seed Co.
Item Code: WM116
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Verona
70-86 days. Developed by Mississippi State Univ. in 1965. Large fruit are nearly round and have attractive dark green skin; their red flesh is delicious, being sweet and crisp. A good overall watermelon that is a great keeper and shipper, making it ideal for markets. Good resistance to disease.
Item Code: WM146
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Sugarlee
90 days. Developed by University of Florida, Leesburg, in 1981. This watermelon is very early and has good sized 15-18 lb fruit that have striped rinds. The flesh is pink-red and very sweet. Good resistance to disease and a tough rind for shipping.
Item Code: WM147
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Dixielee
90 days. Developed by University of Florida, Leesburg, in 1979. Larger and about a week later than Sugarlee, this one produces 22 lb round fruit with firm, deep, red flesh that is very sweet. They have a striped rind and are good producers, another real winner.
Item Code: WM148
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Tendergold
80 days. A fairly early orange-fleshed variety that has great taste and texture; its rind is hard and tough, making it a good orange variety for market. They are very uniform and weigh around 22 lbs.
Item Code: WM149
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White Wonder
80 days. Beautiful, snow white flesh is so pale it is almost transparent! The small 3-8 lb icebox-sized fruit are round. The flavor is unique, fruity and so delicious. This refreshing variety is perfect for gourmet growers wanting to target high-class markets. They will add contrast to any display and are sure to bring attention at farmers markets. White-fleshed watermelons were common in the 1800's and Henry Fields was still selling seeds for a white-fleshed variety in the 1970's. But due to corporate agriculture, these genetic treasures are about to be lost This will be a shame as white-fleshed varieties date back hundreds of years and were developed in Africa from wild strains. This early variety is not for shipping as they crack easy, but you will enjoy their unique crispness fresh from the garden.
Item Code: WM150
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Ali Baba
100 days. Our favorite watermelon! We introduced this fine variety six years ago, after we were sent seed by Aziz Nail (a seed collector from France) who collected this fantastic variety in Iraq. It is now nearly impossible to get seeds from this ancient country so we are so happy to offer this rare genetic treasure! The 16-25 lb melons have hard gray-green rinds that makes them perfect for shipping and storage; the light color makes them resistant to sun burning. Plants are large, vigorous and give heavy yields of oblong fruit, and they do well in many conditions. The flavor is superb, being very sweet and luscious, and the texture is very crisp. This is a best seller and is a favorite of Dr. Amy Goldman featured in her book "Melons for the Passionate Grower". Ali Baba has received much acclaim from market growers and will forever win a spot in any melon lover's heart.
Item Code: WM152
Out of Stock
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Takii Gem
90 days. Extinct commercially until now, this variety was given to the USDA in 1955 by Takii & Company of Kyoto, Japan. This small icebox melon has sweet, red flesh and a grayish-green rind. Produces very early; great for areas with short growing seasons.
Item Code: WM155
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Will's Sugar
90 days. Small, 10-lb. fruit are oval in shape, with dark-green, mottled rinds. This early melon was introduced in 1889 by Oscar H. Will Seed Co., of Bismark, North Dakota, whose 1909 catalog describes them as "fresh, bright red, perfectly solid, very sweet and of delicious flavor." A great melon that needs to be saved as it is nearly extinct.
Item Code: WM157
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North Star
85-90 days. This great strain of Moon and Stars was selected in northern Illinois to produce large melons in that climate. The rind is covered with small stars and speckles. The flesh is pink and very sweet. This great-tasting variety was developed by our friend, Merl Neidens. A good choice for home and market gardens.
Item Code: WM158
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Royal Golden
Wow! The most beautiful watermelon we carry; the rind of this heirloom turns brilliant golden-yellow when ripe! The distinctive color makes it a snap to know when to harvest and is so beautiful in your garden. The tasty pinkish-red flesh is sweet, crisp and refreshing. This variety is much larger than 'Golden Midget', with fruit weighing 10-25 lbs, perfect for adding a real splash of color to your market stand or kitchen. We are so happy to offer seed for this great old melon that used to be offered by Willhite Seed of Poolville, Texas, until they discontinued it from their catalog in the 1970s and it almost became extinct.
Item Code: WM160
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Missouri Heirloom Yellow Flesh
We are excited to offer this great old variety from the "Show Me" state. It produces round, 20-lb melons with pale green skin and bright golden-yellow flesh that is crisp, sweet and refreshing. A really nice yellow type that is hard to find.
Item Code: WM159
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Desert King
85 days. This watermelon produces 20-lb fruit that have a light pea-green rind that is resistant to sun burning. It is also one of the most drought-resistant varieties of watermelon known. It has sweet, yellow flesh and is very popular in the watermelon-growing areas of Arkansas. Good for storage.
Item Code: WM145
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Wilson's Sweet
New!
Very unique spotted rind, with very crisp, sweet red flesh that bursts
with rich, old-time watermelon flavor! One of the best melons I've
tried in the last few years. Truly a winner! It used to be grown
commercially, and was offered by several seed companies in the
1960s, but has since become nearly extinct. A great variety for
home and market gardeners, as it produces 15-to 20-lb fruit that
keep well.
Item Code: WM161
Out of Stock
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Thai "Chatchai" 185
New!
A wonderful-tasting ice-box type melon from Thailand. The fruit weigh
6 to 8 lbs, and have a superbly tasty, crisp flesh that is sweet and fine grained. One of the better small melons I have tried. Collected by us in 2006 in Bangkok.
Item Code: WM162
Bulk Quantities
1 oz - $8.00
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Thai Rom Dao
New!
Small fruit weigh about 5 lbs. A striped green rind and bright red flesh that is sweet and tasty. A fun little melon from
Thailand.
Item Code: WM163
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Stone Mountain
New!
A legendary commercial melon from the early 20th century. Stone Mountain was introduced in 1923 by Hastings Seed Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and went on to become one of the top commercial melons of the 1930s and 1940s, but now it is almost extinct due to mass production and hybrids. Nice-sized fruit weigh about 30 lbs, and
have thick rinds that makes them excel as shippers and storage melons. The red flesh is sweet, juicy and wonderful, bringing back memories of how watermelons used to taste. A classic Southern melon that we are proud to offer, thanks to seed collector Rodger Winn.
Item Code: WM164
Out of Stock
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Gold Baby
New!
Sweet flesh is a beautiful creamy-lemon color. Fruit weigh
around 5 lbs, and are perfect for small gardens. They have
thin, green-striped rinds, vines produce well, and the fruit are
quite colorful; very rare.
Item Code: WM165
Out of Stock
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White Sugar Lump
New!
We at last have a limited supply of seed for this very rare melon.
The pale flesh is a creamy white color, with a light, refreshingly
sweet taste. Fruit weigh around 5-10 lbs each, and produce
early. It was carried by the Henry Fields Seed Company in the
1950s and 1960s, and in 1956 they said "Sweet as sugar, that's
why we call them Sugar Lumps." They offered these in three colors:
red, yellow and white. Thin-striped rind.
Item Code: WM166
Out of Stock
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