The Crimson Sweet Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is also referred to as the ‘Warpaint’ Watermelon. It is a newer heirloom variety that was developed in 1963 in Kansas, US. As the name suggests, this beautiful bright red fleshed melon is very sweet. It has become a favourite for both backyard and commercial growers alike and apart from their wonderful flavour, there are several other reasons for this. Firstly, this variety transports and stores very well, the fruit is large and can weigh as heavy as 10-11 kg (22-24 pounds). The plant grows quickly and produces ripe fruit in as little as 80 days and lastly, this variety is resistant to two common garden fungal diseases (anthracnose & fusarium wilt), which makes it an easy variety to grow, even for beginners.
Crimson Sweet Watermelons are suitable for Temperate, Mediterranean, Sub-Tropical and Tropical climates. They also require 6-8 hours of full sunlight per day and are not tolerant to frost.
Watermelon fruit has great nutritional value, it provides a good dose of immune boosting vitamins C & A, potassium and is also a rich source of lycopene which has cancer preventing properties and pectin which can help protect the body from radiation.
Growth
Crimson Sweet Watermelon is an annual fruiting plant that grows to around 50 cm (2 feet) high and up to 2 metres wide (6 ft). It’s a fast-growing vine. The fruits of this variety are large and oblong in shape, with fantastic stripes of dark and light green, which is where it gets its other common name ‘Warpaint’. The flesh is deep red and doesn’t contain a large amount of seeds. Crimson Sweet Watermelons average in weight between 7-11 kg (15-24 pounds).
Watermelons thrive in dry temperatures between 15 and 30°C (60 and 85°F). Until flowering, plants perform better when soil is allowed to dry out between watering. Once flowering begins, regular water is required, and mulching is recommended in hot climates to avoid the soil drying out completely.
For a smaller but still sweet watermelon variety, try Watermelon Sugarbaby.
Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.
FAMILY:
Cucurbitaceae
CLIMATE:
Temperate to Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
10 to 40°C / 50 to 113°F
SOIL TYPE:
Well-draining.
LOCATION:
Full sun for around 6-8 hours per day.
HEIGHT:
Up to 60 cm (2 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 2 metres (6 feet)
pH:
5.5-7.0
GROWTH TYPE:
Annual
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Low – Medium
POLLINATION:
Bees.
MATURITY:
Average 80-100 days
GERMINATION RATES:
89-95%
GERMINATION TIME:
7-14 days at temperatures between 15 to 30°C / 60 to 85°F.
GERMINATION DIFFICULTY:
Easy
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 12
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
Yes
WEED POTENTIAL:
No
EDIBLE:
Yes
SEED STORGE & VIABILITY:
Cold Storage at 4°C (Fridge) up to 4 years.
FACTS ABOUT CITRULLUS LANATUS (Watermelon)
Watermelons are native to West Africa and there is evidence that seeds were found in ancient Egyptian tombs.
Slaves from Africa introduced watermelon seeds to the Americas when brought over by the Spanish. As early as 1576, some Spanish settlers introduced them into Florida, United States.
There are more than 1000 varieties of watermelon!
