Blacktail Mountain Watermelon 1/16 OZ
| Availability: | In stock (8) |
Our best melon for short, cool seasons with crisp, sweet flesh that rivals hybrids.
Solid dark green rind and crimson flesh. Fruit averages 8" across. Vines reach 10'. Excellent keeping quality and yields. Harvest just before ripe and melons will finish off in storage. Developed by Glenn Drowns of Sand Hill Preservation Center in Calamus, Iowa. This variety is protected by the Open Source Seed Initiative - learn more here.
- Early and reliable
- Stores up to 2 months
- 6-10 lbs
- OSSI
- Open-Pollinated
Cultural Info
Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) are warm season tender annuals in the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes cucumbers, summer squash and winter squash, and gourds
Soil Nutrients and Requirements
Sandy or light textured soils that warm easily in the spring are desirable. Melons are heavy feeders. Give 80-120 lbs of N per acre. Calcium deficiency can lead to blossom end rot, especially when adequate moisture is not available. Use dolomitic limestone.
Seeding Depth
½”
Plant Spacing
Plant spacing: 12-18"
Row Spacing
6’ row centers.
When to Sow
Days to maturity are from transplanting, add 10-14 days if direct seeding.
Other Considerations
Plastic mulch and floating row cover are used to increase soil and air temperatures as well as ward off insects, especially cucumber beetles.
Harvest
Ripeness is determined by four methods: when the tendril nearest the fruit is dried and brown; when the ground spot has turned from white to yellow; when the blossom end of fruit becomes soft; and the ubiquitous “thump test”— fruit should sound hollow. Cut fruit cleanly from the vine to avoid stem-end rot.
Storage
Store at 45°F and 85% humidity for up to 3 weeks.
