Organic Sweet Siberian Watermelon, 1898 Heirloom
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - A Russian variety first offered by Peter Henderson & Co. in 1898. Obtained from the SSE member Glenn Drowns who introduced it into the Seed Savers Exchange in 1987. Green oblong watermelons weigh about 10 pounds. The flesh is very sweet, juicy, and apricot-colored.
Characteristics:
Organic
Oblong fruits grow to 10 pounds
Apricot-orange flesh
Very sweet and juicy
80-85 days
This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States.
25 seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Citron Red Seeded Watermelon, Heirloom
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - This variety has been grown for centuries and used to make preserves, pickles, and "sweetmeats." It is possible that the watermelon originated in Africa and that it was cultivated in the Nile Valley as early as the 2nd millennium BCE and is mentioned in the Bible. Later the watermelon was brought to India and China before being brought to Europe. It was brought to North America by European colonists and African slaves.
Characteristics:
Red seeds and striped green rinds
Extremely drought tolerant
Fruits can be stored for up to 1 year
Hard, tasteless white flesh
25 seeds
This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States.
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Doll Babies, Icebox, Watermelon, Organic
$3.75
$4.39
Renee's Garden - Our mix of small, crispy-sweet, heirloom “ice box” watermelons with either pinky-red or yellow flesh. Vines are strong growers, with tough and crack-resistant rinds.
Characteristics:
Organic
Heirloom
Good in containers
Crisp, pink, red, or yellow flesh
45 Seeds
Instructions - Melons need full sun, rich soil, and warm temperatures. Plant only when the weather is warm and nights stay above 50°F. Make slightly rounded hills 2 feet in diameter and 5 feet apart. Sow 5 or 6 seeds 1 inch deep and 4 inches apart in a small circle in top of each hill. When seedlings have several sets of leaves, be sure to thin them out, leaving only the 3 strongest plants to grow and mature in each hill. No more than several weeks before the last frost date, sow seeds in individual pots of seed starting mix. Keep warm and moist, and provide a strong light source until the weather warms enough to transplant outdoors. Pick melons when the tendril closest to the fruit turns brown, and the light patch on the bottom of the melon changes from cream to tan. Watermelons keep well in the refrigerator, even after being cut open.
Growing Notes: Amend soil well with aged manure or compost. If summers are short or cool, put down black plastic to retain heat, then plant it into holes made in plastic. Where insects are a problem, cover seedlings with floating row covers to exclude them, removing them when plants blossom. Keep young vines well watered and fed, tapering off as fruits ripen up for the best sweet flavor.
Plant in April-June
Full Sun
Plant 1" deep
Hills: 4" apart
7-10 days to germinate
69-80 days to harvest
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability.
Organic Blacktail Mountain Watermelon
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - Gorgeous green-black round fruits weigh 6-12 pounds. Deep scarlet flesh is super sweet, juicy, and crunchy. Perfect for short-season areas; also does well in hot humid climates. Bred by SSE member Glenn Drowns in the 1970s when he lived in northern Idaho, where summer nights average 43°F. 65-75 days.
Organic
Round fruits grow to 6-12 pounds
Deep scarlet flesh, dark green-black rind
Super sweet, juicy, and crunchy
Perfect for short-season areas; also does well in hot humid climates
65-75 days
This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States.
25 seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Organic Chris Cross Watermelon, 1950 Heirloom
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - Family heirloom from Montrose, Iowa that was once thought to be lost. The result of a cross between Hawkesbury and Dixie Queen was made by Chris Christensen in 1950. Reliable yields of 15-20 pound nearly round pale green fruits with jagged dark green stripes. Moderately sweet. 85-90 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
Round fruits grow to 15-20 pounds
Pink flesh and pale green skin with jagged dark green stripes
Moderately sweet flavor
25 seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Organic Borrie's Yellow Watermelon, Heirloom
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - This juicy, flavorful variety ranks first with Seed Savers Exchange’s greenhouse manager, who has sampled dozens of watermelon varieties. Acquired by Joseph Borries about 1970, it so impressed his family that they have grown this heirloom variety faithfully in Illinois since that time. The oblong fruit averages 15-20 pounds, ripens to green with dark-green stripes and produces yellow, sweet flesh. 80 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
80 days
25 seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Organic Moon & Stars (Cherokee) Watermelon, 1924 Heirloom
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - Eye-popping and scrumptious with bright pink sweet flesh and black seeds, this variety produces fruits that are about 2' long and weigh 10-16 pounds. Introduced in 1924 as Sun, Moon, and Stars by Peter Henderson & Co of New York. This strain is from Mereel Hales of Oklahoma who feels it is a pure example of the original variety Hales received from a Cherokee man in Mississippi. 95 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
Elongated fruits grow to 24 inches long
Fruits weigh up to 10-16 pounds
Sweet pink flesh
Speckled rind with "moon" and "star" markings
95 days
25 seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Organic Sugar Baby Watermelon, 1956 Heirloom.
$2.95
$3.25
Excellent short-season variety with reliable yields of sweet, juicy melons.
High Mowing Organic Seeds - The standard for small watermelons! Perfectly rounded fruits range from 7-8.5" in diameter with a solid green rind and deep red flesh. Our strain has been selected for cool growing conditions and high yields.
Characteristics:
Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated
Drought tolerant
6-12 lbs
75 days (Short Season)
1/16 oz approx.
Instructions - Watermelons are warm-season tender annuals. Sandy or light-textured soils that warm easily in the spring are desirable. Melons are heavy feeders. Give 80-120 lbs of N per acre. Calcium deficiency can lead to blossom end rot, especially when adequate moisture is not available. Use dolomitic limestone.
Plant 1/2" deep
Plant spacing: 12-18"
Row Spacing: 6' row centers
Sow: Days to maturity are from transplanting, add 10-14 days if direct seeding.
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Organic Moon & Stars Yellow Fleshed Watermelon
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - Introduced by Southern Exposure Seed Exchange in 1987. Foliage and fruits are spotted with yellow, just like the original Van Doren strain, but the flesh is yellow and seeds are white. Sweet fruits up to 24" long and 16 pounds in weight. Shows some tolerance to disease and drought. 95 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
Oval fruits grow to 24 inches long and 16 pounds
Yellow flesh and white seeds
Foliage and fruits are spotted with yellow
Shows some disease and drought tolerance
95 days
25 seeds
This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States.
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Organic Moon & Stars Van Doren Watermelon
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - Eye-popping and scrumptious with bright pink sweet flesh and black seeds, this variety produces fruits that are about 2' long and weigh 10-16 pounds. Introduced in 1924 as Sun, Moon, and Stars by Peter Henderson & Co of New York. This strain is from Mereel Hales of Oklahoma who feels it is a pure example of the original variety Hales received from a Cherokee man in Mississippi. 95 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
Elongated fruits grow to 24 inches long
Fruits weigh up to 10-16 pounds
Sweet pink flesh
Speckled rind with "moon" and "star" markings
95 days
25 seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Crimson Sweet Watermelon, Organic
$3.25
$3.50
High Mowing Organic Seeds - Quality and reliability in a classic oblong melon with juicy sweet flesh.
An excellent variety for gardeners and growers alike, with vibrant red, firm, fine-textured flesh and silver and dark green striping.
Characteristics:
Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated
Classic sweet flavor
15-25 lbs
1/16 oz seed count
Instructions - Sandy or light-textured soils that warm easily in the spring are desirable. Melons are heavy feeders.
Plant 1/2" deep
Plant Spacing: 12-18"
Row Spacing: 6' row centers
Harvest & Storage: Ripeness is determined by four methods: when the tendril nearest the fruit is dried and brown; when the ground spot has turned from white to yellow; when the blossom end of fruit becomes soft; and the ubiquitous “thump test”— fruit should sound hollow. Cut fruit cleanly from the vine to avoid stem-end rot. Store at 45°F and 85% humidity for up to 3 weeks.
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability
Organic Chelsea Watermelon, 1900 Heirloom
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - In the early 1900s Chelsea, Iowa was famous for melons grown on the sandy hills north of town. Farmers would fill their horse-drawn “triple box” wagons in the field, haul them to town, and sell the melons right from the wagons. Today SSE member Marvin Kucera is the only person growing this watermelon in Chelsea. Sweet, pink-fleshed, 15-20 pound fruits with white seeds will keep for several weeks once picked. 80-90 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
Round fruits grow to 15-20 pounds
Pink flesh with white seeds
Sweet and keeps well once picked
25 seeds
This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States.
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Golden Midget Watermelon
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - An outstanding little watermelon, with golden-yellow rind and salmon-pink flesh. Pleasantly sweet, about 3 pounds in weight. Bred by Elwyn Meader and Albert Yaeger at UNH in 1959; a cross between New Hampshire Midget and Pumpkin Rind. Has a built-in ripeness indicator: fruits turn yellow when ready. Very early variety, ripening in just 70 days.
Characteristics:
Fruits grow to 3 pounds
Salmon-pink flesh, golden yellow rind
Fruits turn yellow when ready to harvest
Good for short seasons
Ripens in 70 days
25 seeds
This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States.
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Organic Halbert Honey Watermelon, 1902 Heirloom
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - Developed by Mr. H.A. Halbert of Texas and introduced in 1902 by the W. Atlee Burpee seed house. Thirty years later the Steckler Seed Co. of New Orleans still called it “one of the best tasting melons on the market, a favorite”. Sweet pink flesh with a crisp juicy texture. The dark green elongated fruit has a thin, somewhat delicate rind. 90-100 days
Characteristics:
Organic
Dark green, elongated fruit with somewhat delicate rind
Pink flesh with crisp, juicy texture
Sweet flavor
Tan-white tipped seeds
85-95 days to maturity
25 Seeds per packet
This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States.
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability
Organic Mountain Sweet Yellow Watermelon
$3.25
$3.75
The Seed Savers Exchange - Introduced into the 1991 Yearbook by Dr. Larry Woods from Georgia. His seed source grew this variety since the 1950s. Oblong 20-35 pound fruits with dark and light green stripes. Extra-firm deep yellow flesh and black seeds. Quite productive, very high sugar content. 95-100 days.
Characteristics:
Organic
Oblong fruits grow to 20-35 pounds
Extra-firm, deep yellow flesh and black seeds
Rinds are dark green with light green stripes
Very high sugar content
95-100 days
25 seeds
Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors in 12" diameter hills after danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Space hills 8' apart in all directions. Seeds will germinate in 4-10 days. Can also be started indoors 4 weeks before transplanting out. Watermelons love heat and prefer sandy or light-textured soils.
Plant 1/2" deep
Hill 6-8 seeds together
Thin to 3-4 plants
Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability