Collection: Watermelon Seeds (Heirloom)

The Best Heirloom Watermelon is Homegrown

The watermelon is the classic summer fruit. Without a watermelon on the table, no family reunion, Labor Day BBQ, or weekend picnic is complete. Every harvest is worth celebrating, and we all take pleasure in our gardens. But imagine bringing your own home-grown watermelon to your next family picnic.

Some gardeners are turned off by the fact that watermelons demand warm weather and full sun, as well as the fact that they take several months to yield fruit. This warm-weather vining annual is hardy in zones 3 through 10, but in cooler areas, planting heirloom watermelon seed indoors is a fantastic method to get a head start on the growing season. Heirloom watermelons enjoy full sun and require a fair amount of water, but greenhouse plastic allows gardeners in various climates to savor the benefits of home-grown melons.

How to grow heirloom watermelon plants

Three weeks after the last frost, heirloom watermelon can be sown directly. Watermelons can take up to 90 days to develop, so if your growing season is short, start your watermelon seeds indoors and transfer them outside three weeks after the last frost. Before sowing or transplanting, wait until the soil temperature reaches at least 70°F. Heirloom watermelon is a heavy feeder that demands a lot of nutrients and a lot of soil. Plant three to four watermelon seeds in mounds of compost, sand, and organic fertilizer, then thin to two seedlings when the plants have two sets of true leaves.

Heirloom Watermelon is Delicious and Healthy

Heirloom watermelon is an excellent snack to keep you hydrated and healthy, whether you eat it by the slice, blended into a smoothie, or in a pleasant fruit salad. Watermelon is a low-calorie fruit that is high in vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, the antioxidants in heirloom watermelon help to protect the heart and reduce inflammation.

You'll never have to sort through pricey, unripe, store-bought watermelons again if you grow your own heirloom watermelon from seed. Heirloom watermelons are simple to cultivate but do require the right amount of space. There are 13 heirloom watermelon varieties available from Eden Brothers, some of which have been engineered to be compact, extremely sweet, or disease resistant.

For more information about planting, growing, and harvesting heirloom watermelon seeds, see the Watermelon Seeds Planting Guide.