Tropical Sunshine (F1) Watermelon Seed
Quick Facts
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Latin Name
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Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus
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Days To Maturity
Days To Maturity
Average number of days from seeding date to harvest, within a specific crop group. If a transplanted crop: average number of days from transplant date. Not sure if crop is direct-seeded or transplanted? Check the Growing Information box for details. If crop can be both direct-seeded or transplanted, days to maturity refers to direct seeding. Days to maturity for all flowers and herbs is calculated from seeding date.
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80 Days
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Life Cycle
Life Cycle
Plants can be Annuals (single growing season), Perennials (grow year after year), Tender Perennials (grow year after year in warmer climates; and in some cases when given special protection in colder climates), or Biennials (require two years to mature).
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Annual
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Hybrid Status
Hybrid Status
Hybrid: The offspring of a cross between two or more distinct parent lines, usually of same species, and selected for improved traits.
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Open-pollinated: A non-hybrid variety that can reproduce itself in kind, demonstrating relatively stable traits from one generation to the next. -
Hybrid (F1)
Tropical Sunshine (F1) Watermelon Seed
Our best-tasting yellow seedless watermelon.
Bright flesh with crisp, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Dark tiger-striped rind—almost Sugar Baby type. Icebox-sized fruits avg. 11–13 lb. Improved flavor and sweetness over Amarillo, which it replaced.Specs:
Quick Facts
-
Latin Name
-
Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus
-
Days To Maturity
Days To Maturity
Average number of days from seeding date to harvest, within a specific crop group. If a transplanted crop: average number of days from transplant date. Not sure if crop is direct-seeded or transplanted? Check the Growing Information box for details. If crop can be both direct-seeded or transplanted, days to maturity refers to direct seeding. Days to maturity for all flowers and herbs is calculated from seeding date.
Close
-
80 Days
-
Life Cycle
Life Cycle
Plants can be Annuals (single growing season), Perennials (grow year after year), Tender Perennials (grow year after year in warmer climates; and in some cases when given special protection in colder climates), or Biennials (require two years to mature).
Close -
Annual
-
Hybrid Status
Hybrid Status
Hybrid: The offspring of a cross between two or more distinct parent lines, usually of same species, and selected for improved traits.
Close
Open-pollinated: A non-hybrid variety that can reproduce itself in kind, demonstrating relatively stable traits from one generation to the next. -
Hybrid (F1)
- This product does not ship to the following countries: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, Taiwan.
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Citrullus lanatus var. lanatusCULTURE:
A light, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5–7.5 and a southern exposure is ideal. Good soil moisture is important in early stages of growth and during pollination when fruits are setting. After this point do not water the last week before fruits are ripe, as overwatering can cause bland fruit. Since watermelons like consistently warm conditions, plastic mulch and row covers will make for earlier crops and better yields, especially in the North. Remove covers when plants have female flowers (tiny fruit at base of blossom).DAYS TO MATURITY:
From transplanting; add about 10 days if direct-seeded.TRANSPLANTING:
Sow indoors in 50-cell plug trays or 2–3" peat pots in late April or one month (no sooner!) before transplanting outdoors. Plant 2 seeds per cell or pot, about ½–1" deep. Keep temperature 80–90°F (27–32°C) until germination. Handle young plants carefully and never let the soil dry out. Grow seedlings at 75°F (24°C). Reduce water and temperature for a week to harden seedlings. When the weather is frost-free, warm, and settled, transplant 2–3' apart in rows 6–8' apart, or thin to 1 plant/pot or cell with scissors and transplant 18" apart. Even hardened watermelon seedlings are tender! Do not disturb roots when transplanting, and water thoroughly.DIRECT SEEDING:
Sow 1–2 weeks after last frost when soil is warm, above 70°F (21°C), 3 seeds every 18–36", ½–1" deep, thinning to 1 plant/spot.AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:
1 oz./340', 1,000 seeds/500', 3 oz./1,000', 1⅓ lb./acre at 3 seeds every 18", in rows 6' apart.TRIPLOID/SEEDLESS:
Start indoors under favorable conditions to ensure proper germination. A pollenizer watermelon, or normal seeded watermelon, is required for fruit set. Seeds of a pollenizer and complete growing instructions are included with each order. Although the fruits are practically seedless, a few seeds may form under stressful conditions. For more information, see our Seedless Watermelon production guide.INSECT PESTS:
Protect against cucumber beetles with floating row covers applied at transplanting, or control with insecticides such as pyrethrin or azadarachtin.DISEASE:
Choose varieties resistant to diseases in your area. "Sudden wilt" is a complex disease and cold weather stress syndrome in late summer when plants have a heavy set of ripening watermelons, can cause plants to wilt almost overnight. Keep plants healthy with good fertility and irrigation to avoid sudden wilt.RIPENESS:
There are 3 ways to tell when a watermelon is ripe: 1) the tendril nearest the point on the vine where fruit stem attaches is browning/dead; 2) the spot where the fruit rests on the ground is yellow; and 3) the classic mystery — you hear "punk," as opposed to "pink" or "pank," when you flick the melon with your fingers.STORAGE:
Hold at 45°F (7°C) and 85% relative humidity 2–3 weeks.TRANSPLANTS:
Avg. 550 plants/oz.SEEDS/LB. (AVG.):
9,700.PACKET:
See individual varieties.Johnny's is committed to your success, every step of the way.
We want you, our customer, to be 100% satisfied with all of our seeds, tools, and supplies.
If anything you purchase from us proves unsatisfactory, we will either replace the item or refund the purchase price.