{"product_id":"20-graines-de-pasteque-sugar-baby-legumes-fruit-semences-paysannes","title":"20 Sugar Baby Watermelon Seeds (Citrullus lanatus)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCitrullus lanatus\u003c\/em\u003e “Sugar Baby”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSugar Baby watermelon: developed in the United States in the 1950s, this variety was designed for gardens and short growing seasons. Where classic watermelons require long summers and plenty of space, Sugar Baby produces 3–4 kg fruits in a considerably shorter cycle—making it suitable for cultivation well beyond the Mediterranean region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCharacteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReasonably sized fruits:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3–4 kg, slightly oval, with a uniformly dark green rind.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRed, sweet flesh:\u003c\/strong\u003e firm and juicy, with few black seeds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVery early:\u003c\/strong\u003e its short cycle makes it successful in less warm climates.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDrought-resistant:\u003c\/strong\u003e once established, it tolerates dry summers well.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSowing advice:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExposure:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun, in a warm, sheltered location—this is the essential condition for sweet fruit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e rich, deep, loose and rather sandy, with good drainage. It is a hungry plant: a planting hole filled with well-rotted compost makes all the difference. It does not tolerate standing water around the crown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMethod:\u003c\/strong\u003e sow in individual pots under cover at 22–25 °C from April onward, 2 cm deep, placing the seed on its edge. Soaking the seeds for 12 hours in lukewarm water speeds up germination. See \u003ca href=\"\/pl-intl\/blogs\/le-coin-des-graines\/comment-semer-graines-coton-godet-terre\"\u003ehow to sow your seeds\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting advice:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTransplant in May–June with the root ball intact, taking care never to disturb the roots, into compost-filled holes spaced 1–2 metres apart. Dark mulch warms the soil and significantly speeds up fruit production.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCare advice:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater generously during growth, then \u003cstrong\u003ereduce watering considerably as soon as the fruits begin to swell\u003c\/strong\u003e: this is what concentrates the sugars. Too much water at the end of the cycle produces bland watermelons.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLimit each plant to 3 or 4 fruits and slide a tile or board underneath each one to keep it away from damp soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvesting advice:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThree signs together indicate ripeness: the tendril closest to the fruit has dried out, the ground spot has changed from white to creamy yellow, and the fruit sounds hollow when tapped. Watermelons do not ripen after picking.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBeneficial companion plants:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt enjoys growing near \u003ca href=\"\/pl-intl\/products\/20-graines-de-mais-ornemental-amero\"\u003ecorn\u003c\/a\u003e, which protects it from the wind, and \u003ca href=\"\/pl-intl\/products\/15-graines-de-capucine-naine-fleurs-jardins-amie-potager-semences-paysannes\"\u003edwarf nasturtium\u003c\/a\u003e, which diverts aphids. See \u003ca href=\"\/pl-intl\/blogs\/le-coin-des-graines\/associations-legumes-potager\"\u003ecompanion planting in the vegetable garden\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBenefits for biodiversity:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLike melon, it depends entirely on bees to set fruit: without pollinators, there are no watermelons. This is an excellent reason to sow nectar-rich flowers nearby.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIts spreading foliage broadly covers the soil and protects it from drying out during summer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUses:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSimply chilled, in a salad with feta and mint, as juice or sorbet. The white rind can be candied very successfully—a traditional recipe that helps prevent waste.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHarvesting your own seeds:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTake the black seeds from a perfectly ripe fruit, rinse them to remove the pulp and dry them flat for several days. Watermelons cross-pollinate with other watermelon varieties but not with melons or squash. See \u003ca href=\"\/pl-intl\/blogs\/le-coin-des-graines\/conserver-ses-graines\"\u003esaving your seeds\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOur commitment to Quality:\u003c\/strong\u003e at SemiSauvage - Permaculture, we grow and select our seeds with respect for all living things as our guiding principle. Based near the Auvergne Volcanoes, we choose open-pollinated, non-hybrid varieties, test them for germination rates, and carefully sort and package them without any chemical treatment. Our belief: to give gardeners back the ability to resow, year after year, seeds that truly belong to them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWatermelons within reach of gardens in both the North and the South.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SemiSauvage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48866937373005,"sku":"3760335362002","price":4.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0826\/1658\/2477\/files\/46-graines-pasteque-sugar-baby-fond-blanc.webp?v=1719913351","url":"https:\/\/semisauvage.com\/pl-intl\/products\/20-graines-de-pasteque-sugar-baby-legumes-fruit-semences-paysannes","provider":"SemiSauvage","version":"1.0","type":"link"}