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gardening

A Guide to Growing Different Types of Watermelons

Learn how watermelon types differ, what seedless plants need to set fruit, and how to choose a variety for your growing season, garden space, and preferred fruit size.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 3 min read
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Choose watermelon varieties by the fruit you want and the growing conditions you have: small, round icebox melons suit gardeners seeking manageable fruit, while larger classes need more room. Seedless watermelons are triploid plants and need pollen from a seeded watermelon to set fruit. Before buying seed, compare days to maturity, vine habit, disease resistance, and your local growing season.

What “type” of watermelon means

Watermelon types are grouped in two different ways: by how their seeds develop and by the fruit’s size, shape, or rind. A cultivar may fit both descriptions—for example, it can be a triploid seedless watermelon and produce an icebox-sized fruit.

Seeded, hybrid, and seedless describe seed development

Open-pollinated varieties can generally be saved true to type when grown and harvested appropriately. F1 hybrids are crosses selected for traits such as uniformity; saved seed may not produce plants like the parent. Triploid varieties are commonly called seedless, but their fruit can contain small, soft, undeveloped seed-like structures. The University of Georgia explains these categories in its watermelon variety guide.

Triploid plants also have a pollination requirement: they produce too little pollen to set fruit on their own. Plant a compatible diploid, seeded watermelon nearby to supply pollen, and follow the seed supplier’s guidance on cultivar compatibility and layout. Utah State University reports that production-field guidance based on research uses 25%–33% diploid pollenizer plants; that figure is not a universal home-garden ratio. See Utah State’s watermelon production guidance.

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Fruit classes describe size, shape, and rind

These class descriptions are useful for narrowing choices, not guarantees of the size any individual plant will produce. Fruit size varies with cultivar and growing conditions.

Fruit class Typical description
Jubilee Oblong, striped fruit, commonly 25–35 pounds
Charleston Gray Similar in size and shape to Jubilee types, with a light-green rind
Crimson Sweet Round, striped fruit, commonly 20–30 pounds
Allsweet Smaller oblong fruit, around 15–25 pounds
Icebox Round fruit of 10 pounds or less

These class descriptions and weights are from the University of Georgia’s variety guide. Oklahoma State University’s regional production guide also lists examples including Charleston Gray strains, Jubilee, Allsweet, Crimson Sweet, Royal Sweet, and smaller-fruited types. Cultivar examples and availability can vary by region and season.

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Flesh color adds another choice

Red is not the only option. Extension lists include yellow-fleshed examples such as Desert King, Tendergold, and Yellow Buttercup, and an orange-fleshed example, Orange Crisp. These are examples, not a guarantee that a seed seller currently stocks them. Check current regional recommendations and the seed packet before choosing.

How to choose a variety for your garden

No single cultivar is best for every garden. Utah State University recommends evaluating fruit size, earliness, sweetness (often assessed as soluble solids), vine habit, and disease resistance, while accounting for local soil, climate, and production practices. Use those factors to match a variety to your space and season.

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  • Growing season: If your warm season is short, prioritize an early cultivar or consider transplants. Check local frost dates and wait for warm soil; regional planting advice is more useful than a date that claims to apply everywhere.
  • Space and fruit size: Large-fruited watermelons generally need room for spreading vines. Icebox types are a practical choice when you prefer smaller fruit or have limited refrigerator space, but check the named cultivar’s actual vine habit.
  • Seed preference: Seeded types avoid the special pollenizer planning required by triploids. For a seedless crop, select a compatible diploid pollen source as well as the triploid seed.
  • Flavor and color: Compare expected sweetness and choose among red, yellow, or orange flesh where suitable cultivars are available.
  • Disease pressure: Resistance differs among cultivars and is not immunity. Check current local extension recommendations and the seed supplier’s listed resistance traits rather than assuming a variety is disease-proof.

Utah State’s variety-selection guidance explains why location and growing practices matter. Oklahoma State’s recommendations are regional, so use them as examples rather than as a universal cultivar list.

Planting and growing basics

Watermelons need a sunny site and well-drained soil. Plant after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed. They can be grown from seed or transplants, and a soil test can guide fertilizer decisions. For local planting dates and cultivar-specific spacing, follow your regional extension advice and the seed packet rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all schedule. Utah State’s home-garden growing guide covers site, soil, and planting basics.

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How long watermelons take to mature

Timing depends on the variety and conditions, and published estimates may start counting at different stages. The University of Georgia’s home-garden guide gives a broad harvest window of 70–90 days, depending on variety. Utah State gives about 35–45 days from flowering to mature fruit. These are approximate ranges measured from different starting points, not competing promises for every plant. See the UGA guide and USU guide.

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