Watermelon Sugar Baby [Citrullus lanatus]

The annual watermelon 'Sugar Baby' develops fruits weighing up to 3 kg with salmon-colored, juicy flesh. The taste of the fruits is aromatic and sweet. Ideal for direct sowing or pre-cultivation, pot cultivation possible, sowing in spring, good for mixed culture, harvesting the fruits.

 Description 
The watermelon 'Sugar Baby' is an annual fruit vegetable plant that comes from southern Africa. The species was valued thousands of years ago for its many health benefits and uses. The plants form long tendrils on which the aromatic and sweet fruits, weighing up to 3 kg, develop. When fully ripe, the skin is dark green with salmon-colored, juicy flesh. One plant develops 2-4 fruits.

 General information 
Plant family: Cucurbitaceae
Life cycle: Annual
Days to harvest: 150 days
Plant height approx.: 40 cm
Root type: Shallow rooter
Nutrient requirements: High
Water requirements: High
Winter hardiness: Up to 3°C
Location: Sunny
Soil: Permeable, sandy, loamy, humus

pH value: 6 to 7

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Dark germinator
Sowing depth: 2-3 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 18-26 °C
Germination time: 6-14 days
Plant and row spacing: 70x80 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 3-4 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: Peanut, Soy, Bean, Pea, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Beetroot, Nasturtium, Corn
Unfavorable mixed culture: Potato, Tomato

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Direct sowing is possible at an ambient temperature of at least 15°C. Pre-cultivation in small pots from March to June is recommended. The ideal location for the plants is sheltered from the wind, warm and sunny.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Direct sowing is possible at an ambient temperature of at least 15°C. Pre-cultivation in small pots from April to May is recommended. The ideal location for the plants is sheltered from the wind, warm and sunny.

 General recommendations 
The best time to germinate pumpkins is when the average night temperature is 15°C. Direct sowing in rows is possible. Pre-cultivation and subsequent planting at the specified planting distance is recommended. When pre-cultivating, sow the seeds directly in small pots or in seed trays and plant them from the second pair of leaves after the cotyledons or when the root ball is sufficiently rooted directly in the prepared bed.
Watermelon 'Sugar Baby' ideally prefers a soil that is moist, permeable, nutrient-rich and contains a little sand as well as plenty of humus and clay. It does not tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
Outdoor cultivation is only recommended in subtropical climates; greenhouse cultivation is recommended in temperate climates. It is recommended to cut the side shoots after the flowers have fertilized. Sufficient and consistent watering is necessary and has a positive effect on the quality of the fruit. At temperatures below 10°C the plant reduces its growth. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water retention capacity, additional incorporation of biochar and primary rock flour is recommended.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds.

 Plant care 
Loosened, nutrient-rich and constantly moist soil is fundamentally important for growth and quality fruit formation. Depending on the nature of the soil, nitrogen-rich fertilization is recommended after 8 weeks, and potassium-rich fertilization after about 11 weeks.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Citrullus lanatus
English names: Watermelon
German names: Wassermelone
Portuguese names: Melancia
Spanish names: Sandía
French names: Pastèque

 Origin 
Country: Germany