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Botanical Interests

Charleston Gray Watermelon Seeds

Charleston Gray Watermelon Seeds

Regular price $2.99
Sale price $2.99 Regular price
~2.0 g (~40 seeds)
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Product Details

You'll have lots of thick slices for those late summer barbecues and picnics! This open-pollinated melon, developed by renowned watermelon breeder Charles Andrus, of the USDA in Charleston, SC, was the first to be resistant to both Fusarium wilt and anthracnose disease. Greenish-gray rind protects melon from sunburn. It is still affectionately called "that gray melon from Charleston". Fruits average 22"–26" long and 25–35 pounds.

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  • Variety Info
  • Sowing Info
  • Growing Info

Variety Info

Days to Maturity: 85–100 days

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Type: Watermelon (Learn more)

Native: Africa

Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual

Exposure: Full sun

Plant Dimensions: 6'–10' vines

Variety Info: 22"–26" long, 10" wide, oblong fruit that is greenish-gray, and weighs 25–35 pounds. Interior is bright red. 'Charleston Gray' produces 1–2, 20–25 pound fruit per plant with brilliant red, crisp, very sweet interior. Disease resistant to Fusarium wilt and anthracnose.

Attributes: Fusarium Wilt Resistant, Anthracnose Resistant, Frost Sensitive

Sowing Info

When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is 70°–90°F.

When to Start Inside: Not recommended except in very short growing seasons, 2 to 4 weeks before transplanting. Roots are sensitive to disturbance; sow in biodegradable pots that can be planted directly into the ground. Transplant when soil temperature is at least 60°F.

Days to Emerge: 5–10 days

Seed Depth: ½"

Seed Spacing: 2–3 seeds per mound

Row Spacing: 4'–6' apart

Thinning: When 3 leaves, thin to 1 plant per mound

Growing Info

Harvesting: It can be tricky to know exactly when a watermelon is ripe and ready to pick. First, know the number of "days to harvest" and begin checking fruits as harvest date draws closer. Signs to look for are: (1) the bottom of the melon (where it lies on the soil) turns from light green to a yellowish color; (2) the surface color of the fruit turns dull; (3) the skin becomes resistant to penetration by the thumbnail and is rough to the touch; and (4) light green, curly tendril on the stem near the point of attachment of the melon is brown and dry. All of these indicators may not necessarily occur at the same time.

4.0
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars
Based on 4 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 3 Total 4 star reviews: 0 Total 3 star reviews: 0 Total 2 star reviews: 0 Total 1 star reviews: 1
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4 reviews
  • Jacob N.
    Verified Buyer
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Oct 31, 2023
    5 Stars

    The water melon germinated extremely fast to germinate and is currently in a 3 gal grow bag.

    Which best describes you as a gardener? Intermediate
  • Danny ..
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    Jul 3, 2024
    5 Stars

    Just harvested my first watermelon. It grew huge and has great flavor, though it's quite seedy. Would grow again.

    Which best describes you as a gardener? Intermediate
  • Ricky
    Verified Buyer
    Rated 1 out of 5 stars
    May 9, 2022
    1 Star

    I bought two packets of these seeds and out of both packets only 2 seeds germinated! Both a seed start pellet and a napkin in a sandwich bag were tried. I have three other types of watermelon that are growing fast. Not sure what happened with this type of watermelon but I'd stay clear.

  • DANIEL
    Verified Buyer
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    May 9, 2022
    5 Stars

    Zone 6. Started outdoors. I have tried to grow watermelons a few times over the years and this is the first watermelon that has succeeded. I'm not sure the problems in the past are the soil the climate or the gardener but I was very pleased to get a few reasonable sized melons this year. The melons were not huge but we of a decent size and were decently sweet. A few did develop an end rot but overall, given our past performance I was very impressed with this melon.