Watermelon Sugar Baby

Sugar Baby is the most famous home-garden watermelon in the world – grown since the 1950s and still the benchmark against which early melon varieties are measured. What makes Sugar Baby special? The name says it all: the deep red flesh is extremely sweet and juicy – hence Sugar. In this proven selection the fruits reach 5–7 kg and, thanks to the early maturity, ripen reliably even in temperate latitudes, in the greenhouse as well as outdoors. Success comes down to three rules: first, starting indoors is essential – from late April at a germination temperature of 25–28 °C. Second, the 15 °C limit applies: below that, watermelons stop growing entirely, so plant out only after the last frost. Third, the variety needs a full-sun, wind-sheltered spot – the more warmth, the sweeter the fruit. Harvest before the first frost without fail. You can tell ripeness by the dried tendril at the stem, the yellow ground spot and the hollow sound when tapped. Who is this variety for? Beginners in the melon adventure – hardly any variety is more forgiving – and families: a chilled home-grown Sugar Baby is the summer highlight par excellence. Open-pollinated, so you can save your own seed.