Sugar Baby- Icebox Watermelon seeds

NON-GMO Heirloom.

Introduced in 1956, 'Sugar Baby' watermelon is a type of icebox or picnic watermelon. ... Like many icebox types, 'Sugar Baby' ripens 8- to 12-pound fruits in 75 days (compared to 120 days for a full-size watermelon). Even though fruits are small, they're packed with full-size flavor and sweetness.
Vegetable Planting: Direct sow outside after danger of last frost. Plant in hills of 2-3 plants per hill at 60”-72” apart, and 1“ below soil surface.

• Fruit Size: 8 to 10 pounds
• Matures: 78 days
• Plant Size: Long vine

This small, round melon is called an icebox type because it is petite enough to fit in the refrigerator. This widely adapted heirloom variety is solid, dark green on the outside with a bright red, firm and fine-grained flesh that is super sweet. Watermelon contains high levels of healthy antioxidants, making Sugar Baby a great sweet way to pack in good nutrition. Vines are compact. Plant about 4 feet apart.

This early standard “icebox” watermelon, Sugar Baby, is popular throughout the world. Nearly round fruit average 7 to 8” in diameter and weight 7 to 10 lbs. Red-orange flesh is firm and great tasting with small dark-brown apple like seeds. Matures in 68 to 80 days.  Drought resistant and great for the home garden! Average water needs. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies, and/or birds.

Growing Sugar Baby Watermelon Seeds: As soon as the vines begin to develop, apply a thick layer of mulch to control weeds and protect the melons from soil contact. Keep the soil moist until the fruit begins to grow, then water only if the soil dries out completely. Sugar Baby watermelons can tolerate some drought. Watch out for insect pests, which can be a problem.

Harvesting Sugar Baby Watermelon: Gardeners use many different methods of testing whether their watermelons are ripe, but knowing the approximate mature size of the melon helps to determine when it is nearing ripeness. One test is to knock on the watermelon with your knuckles, listening for a dull thump rather than a hollow ring. Another method is to check the underside of the melon where it rests on the ground; the skin should be a rich yellow. Also, the curling tendril closest to the stem of the melon often indicates ripeness when it begins to turn brown. Watermelons usually keep for several weeks in a cool place.

Saving Sugar Baby Watermelon Seeds: Watermelons will cross with other varieties of watermelon, so isolation may be necessary to ensure genetic purity. When the melon is ripe, the seeds will be mature. Cut open the melon and remove the seeds; wash them to remove the sticky residue. Spread them out to dry for a week, then store them in a cool place for up to four years.