WaterMelon Crimson Sweet

Watermelon Crimson Sweet is a popular and productive watermelon variety producing large oval to round fruits with light green skin and dark green stripes. The fruits can average around 20–25lb in warm growing conditions and have brilliant red, very sweet flesh.

This variety has good disease resistance and is ready to harvest in around 85 days from seeding in warm conditions. It can be grown outdoors in a warm, sheltered, sunny spot, although growing under glass gives the most reliable results, especially in cooler UK conditions.

Crimson Sweet is ideal for gardeners who want to grow large, sweet watermelons for summer eating, fresh fruit platters, juices, smoothies, and garden harvests.

Key Features

• Productive watermelon variety
• Large oval to round fruits
• Light green skin with dark green stripes
• Average fruit weight around 20–25lb in good conditions
• Brilliant red flesh
• Very sweet flavour
• Good disease resistance
• Best grown in full sun and warmth
• Suitable for greenhouse or warm sheltered outdoor growing

Growing Information

• Sow from April to May
• Sow around 1cm / ½ inch deep
• Use 7cm / 3.5 inch pots with free-draining seed compost
• Keep at 20–25°C until germination
• Germination usually takes 5–10 days
• Transplant into 13cm / 5 inch pots after the first true leaves appear
• Harden off carefully before planting outside
• Plant out only after all frost risk has passed
• Space plants around 24 inches apart
• Grow in a warm, sheltered position in full sun
• For the most reliable crop, grow under glass
• Water regularly
• Feed with liquid fertiliser every 14 days
• Pinch out the growing point at the 4-leaf stage
• Train side shoots along the row
• Hand pollinate if required
• Harvest when the fruit sounds hollow when tapped

Technical Details

• Type: Annual
• Temperature required: 20–25°C
• Germination: 5–10 days
• Days to maturity: 60–90 days
• Position: Full sun, warm and sheltered location