RARE Heirloom Organic YELLOW FLESH Moon and Stars Watermelon Seeds (Sun, Moon and stars Watermelon) Seeds (10)
Citrullus lanatus
Moon & Stars Yellow Flesh Watermelon (90-95 days)
First mentioned around 1900, but probably much older.
This watermelon is a family heirloom from Georgia, although it was said that this melon was routinely brought to the Southern United States from Bermuda around Christmas time.
Watermelons are indigenous to Africa and followed the slave trade throughout the world. Bermuda was no exception.
I suspect someone in Georgia decided they didn't want to wait for Christmas to get their next yellow flesh and started growing them.
However this rare yellow fleshed mellow got here, it has been a favorite ever since.
Deep green skin with the classic moon and stars pattern.
Reaches 20-25 pounds.
Excellent flavor, but not as sweet as the pink fleshed variety.
White seeded.
Some disease resistance and drought tolerance.
Very rare.
Similar to the red Moon and Stars but with a firm, sweet yellow flesh and white seeds. Fruit can go 2 feet in length and weigh a dozen pounds. Good, sweet, memorable flavor.
20 seeds
PLANTING
Citrullus lanatus
Germination: 4-10 days
Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 70-85ºF
Seed Sowing Depth: 1/2" deep
Sowing Indoors: 3-4 weeks before last frost. Provide 70-85ºF soil temperature. Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot. Sowing into individual biodegradable peat/cow pots reduces root damage when transplanting. Transplant after last frost, 36-48" apart.
Sowing Outdoors: After last frost when soil temperature is over 70ºF.
How much does a packet plant: 18-20 foot single row, 5-6 hills
Harvest: Look for the following signs as it does take some practice on telling when they are ready to harvest. The closet tendril to the stem dries, there is a crack in the stem that attaches the watermelon to the vine, where the watermelon touches the ground it should be a butter yellow color, give it a knock with your hands it should sound hollow, the skin is dull, and slipping of the stem from the melon with slight finger pressure.
Tips: Plant in fertile soil, amended with compost or well rotted manure and keep well watered. They benefit from growing on black plastic and by using row covers for weed, insect control, and more rapid growth.