Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus • Cucurbitaceae
🌱 Seed Category
Fruit
🌍 Origin Region
Sub-Saharan Africa, widely cultivated globally in warm temperate to tropical regions
📅 Days to Maturity
80-90 days to maturity from direct sowing; slightly faster if transplanted carefully as seedlings.
🌡️ Hardiness Zones
Typically grown as a tender annual across USDA Zones 3-11; sensitive to frost.
About This Seed
Seeds are flat, oval, dark brown to black with a slightly mottled texture and blunt ends, roughly 9-12mm in length. The resulting plant is a trailing or climbing vine with deeply lobed, coarse leaves, producing large sweet fruit with a hard rind and juicy flesh.
Growing Information
Growing Season
Warm-season crop, plant in Spring after all danger of frost has passed, usually direct sown or started indoors 3-4 weeks prior
Germination
Germinates in 7-14 days at optimal soil temperatures of 70-95°F (21-35°C). Requires warm soil and moderate moisture; light is not strictly required for germination.
Planting Instructions
Plant 1 inch deep in rich, well-draining sandy loam soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8. Space seeds 3-4 feet apart in rows spaced 6-8 feet apart, or plant in hills with 3 seeds per hill.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun (at least 6-8 hours daily) and consistent watering, especially during fruit set. Moderately drought-tolerant once established but benefits from regular moisture.
Companion Plants
Good companions include radishes, corn, marigolds, and nasturtiums to deter pests; avoid planting near potatoes.
Special Characteristics
High heat tolerance, excellent sweetness, produces large refreshing fruits rich in lycopene and hydration, highly attractive to pollinators.