I'm in New England, specifically zone 6b, and I'm on the hunt for watermelon varieties that actually ripen well in this area. I'm particularly interested in options that also offer great flavor and yield. So far, I've come across a few varieties like Sugar Baby, Blacktail Mountain, Otome, and Lemon Drop. Has anyone successfully grown these or perhaps other varieties in northern, shorter growing seasons? I'd love to hear about your experiences regarding their ripeness, taste, and yield since I'd prefer not to waste space experimenting with too many types.
3 Answers
I've had great success with Sugar Baby in a similar northern climate. I usually start them indoors, and by early to mid-August, I've got ripe melons. They have a sweet flavor and are perfect for small spaces! Definitely recommend giving them a try.
I've had mixed results with Sugar Baby, but I've grown some other cool varieties like Kazakh melon and Minnesota midgets (these are melons, not true watermelons) along with Orangeglo. Not many watermelons do well for me due to the short growing season, even when starting indoors. I find that cantaloupes and other types of melons perform better in my garden.
Same here, I loved growing Sugar Baby in Ohio (zone 6b). Once you taste a homegrown melon, you won't want store-bought ever again! This year, I’m also trying Sweet Siberian, and I grow them vertically, which helps save space. Usually, I get around two melons per plant, each about 6 lbs.
Sounds awesome! I'd love to see some pics of your setup!