Sugar baby watermelon, a small, easy-to-grow watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
- Exposure
- Sun
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11b (7.2°C ≤ T° < 10°C)
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Cucurbitaceae
- Genus
- Citrullus
- Species
- Watermelon Citrullus lanatus
Imposing, greedy, demanding... Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) are a real challenge for gardeners. Fortunately, there's a solution for all those who have little space, sun or time to devote to their vegetable garden: Sugar baby. This compact, hardy Watermelon variety is virtually impossible to miss!
How to recognize Sugar baby watermelon?
Sugar baby is an annual vegetable plant. It grows up to 60 cm tall.
Its creeping stems can exceed 2 m. They bear tendrils and dark-green, sharply-cut leaves.
As with other Cucurbitaceae, each plant has flowers of both sexes. Male or female, they are yellow and corolla-shaped. But only the female flowers have a bulge at their base. This is the ovary that gives rise to the fruit.
The Sugar baby variety produces round fruits with very dark, almost black skin. They measure between 15 and 20 cm in diameter and weigh 3 to 4 kg. The seeds are brown and the orange-red flesh is very sweet. Each plant produces up to 5 fruits during the summer.
Is Sugar baby watermelon toxic?
Sugar baby watermelon is non-toxic, and both its fruits and seeds are edible. The former are eaten raw and are appreciated for their taste and nutritional properties. The latter are best eaten grilled, as an aperitif, for example.
Our care tips
Sugar Baby Watermelons like sun and warmth. If you live in a region with short, cool summers, place tiles at the foot of the plant to reflect the heat.
Watering
Sugar Baby Watermelons like water. Don't let the soil dry out. Water at the base, without wetting the foliage, to prevent powdery mildew.
Use rainwater or tap water.
Repotting
Sugar Baby Watermelons need space. Get a perforated pot of at least 30 liters (40 cm deep by the same diameter). You can line the bottom with clay balls or gravel to optimize drainage.
Fill the pot with a rich substrate, such as potting soil for vegetable plants. You can even add a slow-release organic fertilizer.
If you've sown your seeds in biodegradable cups, plant your pot in the center.
If you've sown your seeds in plastic cups, water the clod of your Watermelon Sugar baby to keep it whole. Carefully remove the pot so as not to damage the roots and plant your seedling. Do not touch the roots, even if they are rolled up. They are very fragile and you could damage them.
Pack and water generously, without wetting the foliage.
You can use a stake to help your Citrullus lanatus climb and save space.
Fertilization
To promote the growth of your Citrullus lanatus, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.
Fertilize your Watermelon Sugar baby to provide it with the necessary nutrients. You must adapt your fertilizer to its growth. Choose :
- A nitrogen-rich fertilizer (special vegetable fertilizer or nettle manure) at start-up;
- A fertilizer rich in potassium (tomato fertilizer or comfrey purin) as soon as the flowers appear.
Prune
When the first fruits appear, prune your Watermelon Sugar baby.
Pinch off the end of the main stem withyour fingers or clean pruning shears. This action stops stem growth and encourages the growth of fruit already formed.
Remove any secondary stems that have no flowers or are crowding the plant.
Keep only 2 to 3 fruits per plant to allow them to develop properly.
Pulling out
Once the plant has dried out completely, you can pull it out.
When the foliage turns yellow and the stem becomes brittle, this is a sign that the root system is no longer functioning. You can uproot the plant to make room for other crops.
Take the base of the main stem (the stalk) with your full hand. Use gentle circular movements to loosen the roots, then lift gently. If the soil is compact, use a fork. Push it about 15-20 cm from the stem and pry up to dislodge the root ball without breaking it.
Pick up any dead stems and leaves lying around to prevent spores and fungi from remaining in the soil.
Planting
Dig a hole 2 to 3 times wider and deeper than the root ball. If planting several plants, space them at least 1.5 m apart. Place a handful of compost at the bottom of the hole.
Plant your Citrullus lanatus without burying the crown. Fill in with garden soil. Use potting soil for vegetable plants ifyour soil is poor. Tamp and water.
Sugar Baby Watermelons need warmth. If temperatures are still cool, protect your plants with a tunnel or a veil.
Sowing
Once the risk of frost has passed, you can sow your Citrullus lanatus seeds.
Sow the seeds from your Citrullus lanatus into pots. You can use plastic pots, but we recommend choosing biodegradable ones. This way, you won't risk damaging the fragile roots when transplanting.
Fill your pots with seed-starting mix or garden soil mixed with a little compost.
Plant three seeds per pot. Cover them with one centimeter of soil. Water gently and keep the soil moist until the first leaves appear.
Frequently asked questions
When to harvest Sugar Baby watermelon?
Sugar Baby watermelons are generally harvested 70 to 90 days after sowing. The signs of maturity are the same as for other watermelons:
- The tendril near the fruit is dry;
- The fruit is heavy and sounds hollow and muffled when tapped.
What's the difference between a Sugar baby watermelon and an ordinary watermelon?
The Sugar Baby watermelon is a variety of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). It is distinguished by its size and earliness. Its fruits weigh up to 4 kg and it ripens faster than other varieties. Ordinary watermelons, on the other hand, are often larger, sometimes less early, and have a more or less sweet taste.
How long can you keep watermelon?
Whole and uncut, watermelons keep for 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature, or a little longer in a cool place. In the fridge, it will keep for up to 3 weeks. A cut watermelon should be stored in a cool place, well protected (cling film or airtight box) and eaten within 3 to 5 days.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposure
- Sun
- Substrate
- Humus soil
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn potsIn tubs
- Category
- Vegetable
- Tags
- Edible fruitCold-sensitiveLarge pot
- Origin
- East Africa
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11b (7.2°C ≤ T° < 10°C)
- Leaf color
- Light green
- Flower color
- Yellow
- Fruit color
- Dark green
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Find out more
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
