Sugar Baby Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus 'Sugar Baby'
fruitA 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.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 3 days
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Harvest
~80 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
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Spacing
36-60 in. apart (vine)
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Planting Depth
1 in.
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Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Growing Details
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 and when vines run; stop after fruit reaches softball size
Fertilizer
Balanced 10-10-10 early, then low-nitrogen once fruiting
🌱 Growing Guide
Direct sow in warm soil after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early. Full sun and heat are essential. Watermelons stall in cool weather. Give rich soil and generous water while fruit swells, then taper off as fruits mature to deepen sweetness. Mulch to warm the soil and keep fruit off the ground.
Planting Calendar
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Start seeds indoors
Mar 25
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Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
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Projected first harvest
Jul 18
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ 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
Potato
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Row cover until flowering; blue hubbard squash as a perimeter trap crop; mulch to disrupt egg-laying
Space for airflow and water at the base; remove affected foliage
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.
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.