Sugar Baby Watermelon

Citrullus lanatus 'Sugar Baby'

fruit

A compact 8 to 10 lb icebox watermelon — the classic home-garden choice where space is limited. Deep green skin, crisp sweet red flesh, and fewer seeds than full-size types. Matures in about 75 days.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Nasturtium — Deters cucumber beetles
• Marigold — Repels nematodes
• Radishes — Trap crop for cucumber beetles at bed edges
• Borage — Attracts pollinators needed for fruit set

❌ Keep away from

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Cucumber beetles →

  Row cover until flowering; blue hubbard squash as a perimeter trap crop; mulch to disrupt egg-laying

• Powdery mildew →

  Space for airflow and water at the base; remove affected foliage

• Blossom drop →

  Ensure pollinators have access; hand-pollinate in low-bee conditions by transferring pollen with a brush

🌾 Harvest & storage

Check the tendril nearest the fruit — when it dries and turns brown the melon is likely ripe. Tap the fruit: a hollow thud indicates ripeness. The belly spot where the fruit rested on the ground should be creamy yellow, not white. Refrigerate after cutting.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Very high in lycopene (comparable to tomatoes) and vitamin C. Also contains citrulline, an amino acid that supports blood vessel health. About 92 percent water — highly hydrating.