All Sweet Watermelon History

All Sweet Watermelon variety was developed as a sister line to Crimson Sweet by Dr. Hall at the University of Kansas. Stands in the field for an extended period without over ripening. Elongated, striped fruits, 25-30 pounds each.

How To Plant All Sweet Watermelon

Unless you live in an arid climate like I do, you’ll need to mound up small hills to plant your melons on. This provides a little extra room for the vines to sprawl over and also prevents water from pooling around the main stem. For those of us in arid climates, I recommend a shallow “crater” rather than a hill to conserve moisture. To create such a crater, dig a hole about two to three feet across and six inches deep. Take the soil you remove and mound it around the rim. The depth of these “craters” will help to prevent water from evaporating, and the higher rims will provide your vines with a little extra room to meander down.

If your growing season is shorter than the number of days required to grow your preferred watermelon variety, you’ll want to start these seeds indoors and set out seedlings when daytime temperatures are at least 70°F. These All Sweet Watermelon plants have delicate roots and don’t like to be transplanted. I recommend that you start seedlings in biodegradable, preferably peat-free, pots such as these CowPots that are available from Arbico Organics, which are made from composted cow manure.

Preserving And Storing All Sweet Watermelon

The most common way of keeping the big fruits is in the form of watermelon rind pickles or preserves.

Preserving And Storing All Sweet Watermelon Seeds

Spit the seeds into a bowl or bucket and then wash them in cool water with a tiny drop of dish soap; rinse them thoroughly. Allow to dry on screens for several weeks, until they are dry enough to snap in half by hand. Alternately, spread them in an even layer on dehydrator screens set to the lowest possible heat and dry them until they are brittle. Store dried seeds in an envelope or jar for up to four years. Click here to learn more.

All Sweet Watermelon Recipes

This hydrating summer fruit is one of the best parts of summer! Turns out, there are so many creative ways to eat watermelon outside of cutting it into thick slices.

Watermelon Nutriton

Watermelon is low in calories and fiber and consists mostly of water and simple sugars. It also contains FODMAPs, which cause digestive problems in some people. It is a good source of vitamin C and contains decent amounts of potassium, copper, vitamin B5, and vitamin A (from beta carotene). Watermelon is a good source of the amino acid citrulline and the antioxidant lycopene, which play important roles in your body.

Other Melon Varieties Worth Checking Out

 Wilson`s Sweet

 Ancient