Citrullus lanatus 'Mini Love'
fruitMini Love is a 2017 All-America Selections winner and the standout personal-sized watermelon for small gardens, containers, and short-season growers. Compact vines reach only 3 to 4 ft and produce 4 to 6 melons per plant, each weighing 7 to 9 lb with bright dark-green-striped rind, dense red flesh, high sugar, and a thin but crack-resistant rind.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 3 days
Harvest
~70 days
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
Spacing
24-36 in. apart in hills
Planting Depth
Seed 1 in. deep
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 11
Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At planting, at vining, and at fruit set
Fertilizer
10-10-10 pre-plant; lower N during fruit set
Mini Love is the watermelon to try where space or season is tight. Direct sow after soil reaches 70F, or start indoors 2 to 3 weeks before transplanting in peat or paper pots. Plant in hills with 4 to 5 seeds at 1 inch deep, then thin to 2 strongest plants. Hills can be only 2 to 3 ft apart in rows 4 to 6 ft apart - much tighter than full-sized varieties. The plants do well in 5-gallon-plus containers, with a small trellis if you want to grow up; support each fruit with a sling so the rind does not pull off the vine.
Start seeds indoors
Mar 25
Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
Projected first harvest
Jul 8
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Cover compact plants with floating row cover until flowering, then pull it back for pollinators
Scout leaf undersides for copper egg clusters and crush; smaller plants are easier to monitor closely
Hose off colonies, plant alyssum nearby, and support resident ladybugs
Give container plants airflow, water at the base, and remove infected lower leaves promptly
Mini Love ripens early - about 70 days. Watch for the tendril nearest the fruit to dry and brown, the ground spot to turn creamy yellow, and the rind stripes to dull slightly. Cut the stem with shears and cradle the fruit; the thin rind is crack-resistant but still bruises. Personal melons store about a week at room temperature; refrigerate only after slicing.
Watermelon delivers a heavy dose of lycopene (about 4.5 mg per 100 g), vitamin C, vitamin A as beta-carotene, and potassium. Mini Love is a personal-sized fruit, so a single melon supplies several servings; eating fresh keeps the heat-sensitive vitamin C intact. At 92 percent water it is one of the most hydrating fruits in the garden.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.