Vegetable Cultivar Descriptions for North America
Watermelon (A-L), Lists 1-26 Combined
Edited by Gary W. Elmstrom
SunSeeds Co.
7087 East Peltier Road
Acampo, CA 95220
and Fred McCuistion
Seminis Vegetable Seeds
432 Ty Ty Omega Road
Tifton, GA 31794
Africa 8 - Breeder: Rev. Rush Wagner, Old Umtali Mission,
South Africa. Parentage: selection from accession sent by
Wagner to Layton. Characteristics: round fruit, flaccid
sweet red flesh, early maturity. Resistance: anthracnose.
1937.
Alabama Giant - Breeder: Willard Cole, Fort Payne, Ala.
Parentage: cross between Cole's All Heart, Congo, and Black
Diamond. Characteristics: long, striped melon; deep, red
meat with dark seeds; good shipper. Adaptation: sandy soil.
1955.
Alena - Breeder: Newe Yaar Expt. Station, Haifa, Israel.
Parentage: tetraploid developed by colchicine treatment
of Sugar Baby seedlings. Characteristics: has classic polyploid
features such as broader and thicker leaves, less branching,
and slower growth than diploids, seed number per fruit is
about 70 compared with 500-1000 in diploid Sugar Baby, flesh
is darker red and firmer than that in Sugar Baby. 1981.
All Heart - Breeder: Willard Cole, Fort Payne, Ala. Parentage:
Black Diamond x Congo x Dixie Queen. Characteristics: oblong,
green with darker green stripe, red meat; seeds white with
dark tip end. Resistance: fusarium wilt. Adaptation: high
sandy soil. 1950.
Allsweet (Kansas 70-1,2,3) - Breeder: Charles V. Hall,
Kansas Agr. Expt. Sta., Manhattan. Parentage: [(Miles
x Peacock) x Charleston Gray]. Characteristics: long
cylinder shape, broken stripe; very sweet, firm flesh with
small dark-brown seeds. Resistance: fusarium wilt and anthracnose
(except race 2). Similar: Crimson Sweet for quality. Adaptation:
general. 1972.
Almora (XPH 964) - Breeder and vendor: Asgrow. Characteristics:
F1 hybrid, hybrid of Sugar Baby type with lighter rind color.
Similar: Sugar Baby. 1986.
Amarillo - Breeder: T. Williams. Vendor: Syngenta Seeds.
Parentage: triploid seedless F1 hybrid. Characteristics:
yellow fleshed, globe shaped fruit; striped medium green
rind; fruit wt. 12-14 lb.; early maturity (80 days). Similar:
Buttercup. 2001.
Angeleno - Parentage: possibly from Chilean watermelons
or Chilean Black Seeded cultivar.
Apollo (PS 11052889) - Breeder and vendor: Seminis Vegetable
Seeds. Parentage: triploid F1 hybrid. Characteristics: early,
uniform, large Tri-X type seedless watermelon; fruit are
oval shaped, 18-20 lbs., rind has a dark green stripe on
a light green background; firm red flesh; small pip size;
good fruit setting ability. Similar: Millionaire, Tri-X.
Adaptation: NAFTA, Southeast U.S., Mexico. 2004.
Assal (XPH 5082) - Breeder and vendor: Asgrow Seed Co.
Characteristics: F1 hybrid, an early maturing semi-round
type, somewhat darker green than Chilean Black.; about 17
pounds; very high fruit set. Similar: Chilean Black. Adaptation:
wide. 1985.
AU-Golden Producer (AU-83-1003CSY) - Breeder: Alabama Agric.
Expt. Station, Auburn University. Vendor: Hollar and Co.
Parentage: mutant of AU-Producer. Characteristics: similar
in appearance to AU-Producer but flesh is a bright yellow-orange
color. Resistance: fusarium wilt, anthracnose, gummy stem
blight. 1993.
AU-Jubilant (AU-1) - Breeder: Alabama Agric. Expt. Station,
Auburn University. Vendor: Hollar. Parentage: Jubilee x
PI 271778. Characteristics: elongated fruit with narrow,
dark green stripes on a light green background weigh 35-40
lb. Resistance: anthracnose race 2, fusarium wilt, gummy
stem blight. Similar: Jubilee. 1985.
AU-Producer (AU-3) - Breeder: Alabama Agric. Expt. Station,
Auburn University. Vendor: Hollar. Parentage: Crimson Sweet
x PI 189225. Characteristics: round fruit with medium-wide
dark green stripes on a light green background weigh 25-30
lb. Resistance: anthracnose race 2, fusarium wilt, gummy
stem blight. Similar: Crimson Sweet. 1985.
AU-Sweet Scarlet (AW-82-50CS) - Breeder: Alabama Agric.
Expt. Station, Auburn University. Vendor: Hollar and Co.
Parentage: Crimson Sweet, PI 189225, Allsweet, PI 362515,
Calhoun Sweet and Fusarium wilt Resistant Peacock. Characteristics:
fruit are round to oblong in shape and similar in rind color
to AU-Producer and weigh 4-6.5 kg, flesh is bright red and
firm. Resistance: fusarium wilt races 0 and 1, anthracnose
race 2, gummy stem blight. 1995.
Baby Gray (PSX 36585) - Breeder and vendor: Petoseed Co.
Characteristics: F1 hybrid, Icebox watermelon, gray-green
in color with excellent shipping qualities. Resistance:
fusarium wilt. 1990
Baby Klondike - Breeder: Vegetable Crops Dept., Univ. of
California, Davis. Parentage: Baby Delight x Klondike R-7.
Characteristics: round, green, 10 to 12 pounds, red flesh,
small tan seeds. Resistance: fusarium wilt. Adaptation:
southwestern and southern United States. Calif. Agr. 6:15.
1952.
Baronet (XPH 962) - Breeder and vendor: Asgrow Seed Co.
Characteristics: F1 hybrid, dark-green, cylindrical fruit,
(20 to 24 pounds) small-seeded, with concentrated set. Similar:
Picnic in color. Adaptation: southwestern United States,
Mexico, and the Middle East. 1984.
Black Diamond, Yellow Belly - see Superior Black Diamond.
Black Kleckley - Breeder: Iowa. Parentage: Jugoslavia 7,
Iowa Belle, Kleckley Sweet. Characteristics: darker rind
than original Kleckley Sweet. 1945.
Black Seeded Klondike No.3 - Breeder: Dept. Vegetable Crops,
University of California, Davis. 1933.
Blacklee - Breeder: Watermelon and Grape Investigations
Laboratory, Florida Agr. Expt. Sta., Leesburg. Parentage:
Leesburg x Hawkesbury. Characteristics: excellent internal
quality, no hollow-heart or white heart, thin rind, good
shipping qualities. Resistance: fusarium wilt. Similar:
Kleckley Sweet. Adaptation: United States. Fla. Agr. Expt.
Sta. Press Bul. 605. 1944.
Blackstone - Breeder: Southeastern Veg. Breed. Lab., Charleston,
S.C. Parentage: Florida Giant, Fairfax. Characteristics:
very prolific, good sizes, good quality shipper. Resistance:
anthracnose; tolerant to fusarium wilt. Similar: Florida
Giant. 1956.
Blue Belle (XP 765) - Breeder and vendor: Asgrow Seed Co.
Characteristics: F1 hybrid, fruit small, round-oval; versatile
for bulk shipping and local markets. Resistance: fusarium
wilt. Similar: Sugar Baby. Adaptation: wide. 1977.
Brownlee - Breeder: Mr. Walker, Florida. Parentage: Leesburg
x Hawkesbury. Characteristics: thin rind, good internal
quality, sweet crisp red flesh with hollow heart or white
heart. Similar: Kleckley Sweet. 1941.
Buist Little Gem - Breeder and vendor: Robert Buist Co.
Characteristics: 75 days to harvest; earliest cultivar;
fruit nearly round, small in size, 12 to 17 lb.; skin dark
green stripes on gray green background; flesh pinkish red,
very firm, sweet, delicious eating.
Burpee's Fordhook Hybrid - Breeder and vendor: W. Atlee
Burpee Co., Philadelphia, Penn. Characteristics: F1 hybrid,
early, prolific, small seeds and excellent quality; flesh
bright red; weight 12 to 14 pounds. Similar: Sunnybrook.
Adaptation: wide. Burpee catalog. 1958.
Bush Baby II (NVH 4274) - Breeder and vendor: Northrup,
King and Co. Characteristics: F1 hybrid, bush type (3 to
5 feet across); round fruit with dark-green exterior; some
green stripes; fruit averages 7 to 10 pounds; earlier than
Sugar Baby. Resistance: fusarium. Similar: Sugar Baby. Adaptation:
wide. 1985.
Bush Charleston Gray (82-4041) - Breeder: P.Yorty. Vendor:
Musser Seed Co. Parentage: Sugar Bush x Charleston Gray.
Characteristics: plants 3-4' diameter with fruit 60-70%
the size of Charleston Gray, smaller seeds and finer flesh
than Charleston Gray. Similar: Charleston Gray. PVP. 1983.
Bush Desert King - Breeder: Texas Agr. Expt. Sta., College
Station. Parentage: mutation in Desert King. Characteristics:
a distinct plant type; short internodes, dense foliage,
fruit are Desert King type. Adaptation: southern United
States. 1957.
Bush Jubilee (84-4052) - Breeder: P.Yorty. Vendor: Musser
Seed Co. Parentage: Sugar Bush x Jubilee. Characteristics:
plants 3-4' diameter, dwarf plants with fruit 60-70% the
size of Jubilee. Seeds are smaller and the flesh has a finer
texture than Jubilee. Similar: Jubilee. PVP. 1983.
Butterball - Breeder and vendor: D. Palmer Seed Co. Parentage:
triploid F1 hybrid. Characteristics: seedless type with
canary yellow flesh that is crisp and firm; very high yield;
oval fruit shape; 15-18 lb fruit weight; narrow stripe on
light green background; good shipper. Resistance: Fusarium
wilt. Adaptation: U.S. 2002.
Buttercup (4505) - Breeder: Dr. Warren Barham. Vendor:
D. Palmer Seed Co. Characteristics: tiger stripe, bright
yellow flesh. Adaptation: most watermelon growing areas
around the world. 1999.
Calhoun Gray - Breeder: North Louisiana Experiment Station,
Calhoun, LA. Parentage: Calhoun Sweet x Charleston Gray.
Resistance: anthracnose, fusarium wilt races 0 and 1. 1965.
Calhoun Sweet - Breeder: North Louisiana Expt. Sta., Calhoun.
Vendor: Florida Tyner-Petrus Wholesale, West Monroe, La.
Characteristics: good quality, early, prolific, drought
and disease resistant, tender rind, local market type. Resistance:
fusarium wilt, slightly resistant to anthracnose. Similar:
Black Diamond. Adaptation: wide. Proc. SAWA. 1951.
California Klondike - Parentage: selection from Klondike.
Similar: Klondike. 1933.
Calsweet - Breeder: Mr. Duke Layton, California. Parentage:
selected from a breeding line of Charles V. Hall, (Miles
x Peacock) x Charleston Gray, the same parents as Allsweet,
Crimson Sweet. Characteristics: 21 x 18 inch size, 20-30
lb., wide indistinct stripes, bright red flesh. Resistance:
fusarium wilt.
Campeche (SSC 1083) - Breeder: Qualiveg Seed Production.
Vendor: Shamrock Seed Co. Parentage: F1 diploid hybrid.
Characteristics: widely adapted; Allsweet rind pattern;
vines with abundant foliage and broad leaves for fruit protection;
fruit has an elongated shape with a 24 lb. average weight
(larger girth than standard Allsweet); bright red flesh
and high sugars enhance its overall internal quality; matures
in 80-90 days and offers high yields over a long season.
Resistance: Fusarium wilt (race 1) and anthracnose. Similar:
Sangria. Adaptation: all watermelon growing regions. 2002.
Cardinal (XPH 5085) - Breeder and vendor: Asgrow Seed Co.
Characteristics: F1 hybrid, early long-oval type with small
seed with high seedling vigor. Similar: Calsweet. Adaptation:
southwestern United States and Italy. 1985.
Carmen F1 - Breeder and vendor: Hollar and Co. Characteristics:
F1 hybrid, medium-green exterior with dark gray-green stripes;
oval shape, medium size. Resistance: fusarium wilt. Adaptation:
western, midwestern, and southern United States, Australia,
and the Middle East. 1985.
Carnival (RXW 118) - Breeder and vendor: Rogers. Characteristics:
F1 hybrid, fruit have a blocky shape with Crimson Sweet
rind color and weigh 22-26 lb, flesh is bright red and has
12-13 percent soluble solids and matures early. Resistance:
fusarium wilt race 1, anthracnose race 1. Similar: Regency
and Royal Sweet. 1995.
Carolina Bradford - Vendor: Robert Buist Co. Characteristics:
85 days to harvest; a fine shipping cultivar having a very
tough, elastic rind; fruit large, 25 lb., oblong, deep green
irregularly striped with a darker shading; flesh dark red,
fine grained and sweet; seeds creamy white with some slightly
mottled.
Carolina Cross #183 - Breeder and vendor: Burpee Seed.
Characteristics: gigantic fruit, 200 lb. size, oblong fruit
shape, light green rind with narrow dark green stripes,
100 days to harvest.
Celebration - Breeder: T. Williams. Vendor: Syngenta Seeds.
Parentage: diploid seeded F1 hybrid. Characteristics: Allsweet
type; large (21-26 lb.) blocky fruit; early, mid-season
maturity (84 days). Resistance: fusarium wilt races 0, 1;
anthracnose race 1. Similar: Summer Flavor 800. 1999.
Cha Cha Cha (SSC 31829) - Breeder and vendor: Shamrock
Seed Co. Parentage: F1 triploid hybrid. Characteristics:
seedless; consistent yield and quality over a wide range
of production regions and growing conditions; strong vines
produce oval shaped fruit weighing 17-19 lbs; rind is dark
green with narrow, light green stripes; fruit has very sweet,
bright red flesh and excellent rind demarcation; 75 days
from transplant to harvest. Resistance: none claimed. Similar:
Summer Sweet 5244. Adaptation: U.S. 2003.
Charlee (F83CE) - Breeder: Central Florida Research and
Education Center, University of Florida, Leesburg. Vendor:
Petoseed Co. Parentage: Texas W5, Charleston Gray, and Calhoun
Gray. Characteristics: plants are vigorous and fruit ripen
early-midseason, fruit is similar in shape, appearance,
and weight to Charleston Gray, flesh texture and flavor
is better than that of Charleston Gray, Jubilee, and Crimson
Sweet. Resistance: fusarium wilt races 0 and 1, anthracnose
race 1. PVP. 1990.
Charleston '76 (NCX 760) - Breeder and vendor: Niagara
Chemical Div., FMC. Parentage: selection from Charleston
Gray. Characteristics: brighter red flesh, blockier shape
than Charleston Gray for easier shipping. Resistance: anthracnose
and fusarium wilt. Similar: Charleston Gray. Adaptation:
general. Amer. Veg. Grower, Dec. 1972.
Charleston Elite (NV 4300) - Breeder and vendor: Northrup,
King and Co. Characteristics: open pollinated, fruits are
long, cylindrical with blunt ends, averaging 24 lb, seeds
are brown mottled. Resistance: fusarium wilt and anthracnose
(race 1). Similar: Charleston Gray No. 133 and Charleston
Gray No. 5. Adaptation: wide. 1983.
Charleston Express (NVH 4260) - Breeder and vendor: Northrup,
King and Co. Characteristics: F1 hybrid, unique for earliness
of maturity; produces smaller fruit than regular gray types,
earliness is the primary distinguishing feature. Similar:
Charleston Gray. 1988.
Charleston Gray (No. 51-27) - Breeder: Southeastern Veg.
Breeding Laboratory, Charleston, S.C. Parentage: (((Africa
8 x Iowa Belle) x Garrison) x Garrison) x ((Hawkesbury x
Leesburg) x Garrison). Characteristics: long, gray uniform
shape, hard rind. Resistance: anthracnose, fusarium wilt,
sunburn. Similar: Purdue Hawkesbury. Adaptation: universal
regional. Seed Journals Oct. 1954.
Charleston Gray No.133 - Breeder: Mr. Stevenson, India.
Parentage: Charleston Gray selected for higher wilt resistance.
Characteristics: thinner rind; otherwise similar to Charleston
Gray. Resistance: fusarium wilt. 1961.
Charleston Sweet (XP 2005) - Breeder and vendor: Asgrow
Seed Co. Parentage: Charleston Gray x Asgrow line. Characteristics:
more blocky than Charleston Gray, redder, sweeter flesh,
small seed. Resistance: fusarium wilt. Adaptation: general.
Asgrow Catalog. 1970.
Chris-Cross - Breeder: Chris Christensen, grower, Montrose,
Iowa. Parentage: Hawkesbury x Dixie Queen. Characteristics:
light green, dark stripe, black seed; oblong or oval shape,
no white heart, no hollow heart; holds well after ripening.
Resistance: fusarium wilt. Adaptation: wide, particularly
to dry areas. 1950.
Colebrook - Breeder: E.M. Meader. Parentage: open pollinated
selection from Korean cultivar Shingyamato. Characteristics:
round, 10 lb. fruit, thick rind, striped pattern, bright
red flesh, small brown seeds. Similar: Merrimack Sweetheart,
Yankee Queen, Sweet Sugar. 1948.
Cole's Early (Harris' Earliest) - Breeder: Coles Seed Store,
Pella Iowa. Vendor: Robert Buist Co. Characteristics: 80
days to harvest; extra early; a favorite in the North; for
home market; fruit small size, 15 lb, short, nearly round,
dark green stripes irregular on a light green background:
rind tender; flesh light red, sweet and delicious; seeds
black. 1892.
Companion (PS 11006741) - Breeder and vendor: Seminis Vegetable
Seeds-Petoseed. Parentage: diploid open pollinated. Characteristics:
small dwarf plant, compact, round gray fruit, 2-3 kg in
size. Similar: none. Adaptation: North America, Mexico.
2002.
Condor (XPH 5080) - Breeder and vendor: Asgrow. Characteristics:
F1 hybrid, an early, prolific Sugar Baby type, round, very
dark outer color, no striping, excellent texture and flavor.
Similar: Sugar Baby. 1983.
Congo - Breeder: USDA, Southeastern Vegetable Breeding
Laboratory, Charleston, S.C. Parentage: (African x Iowa
Belle) x Garrison. Characteristics: high quality and long
bearing. Resistance: anthracnose. Adaptation: regional,
to the southeastern United States. Southern Seedsman, Nov.
1949.
Conqueror - Breeder: Orton. Parentage: Eden x citron. Characteristics:
insufficient fruit quality for commercial production; used
to develop wilt resistant cultivars with acceptable fruit
quality. Resistance: fusarium wilt. 1908.
Cooperstown (XP 4590339) - Breeder: David Dean. Vendor:
Seminis-Asgrow. Parentage: F1 hybrid. Characteristics: seedless
with mottle stripe on green background, oval fruit shape,
medium to large size. Resistance: anthracnose, fusarium
wilt. Similar: Tri-X-313. Adaptation: North America. 2000.
Corporal (PS 56595) - Breeder: Manual Rosa. Vendor: Seminis
Vegetable Seeds-Petoseed. Parentage: F1 hybrid. Characteristics:
seeded, all sweet type, late, wide strips, large fruit.
Similar: Sangria. Adaptation: U.S., Mexico. 1999.
Crimson Glory (PS 38485) - Breeder and vendor: Petoseed
Co. Characteristics: F1 hybrid, good early shipper with
excellent yields and round square fruit, rind has a bright
green background color with Crimson Sweet rind pattern.
Resistance: fusarium wilt. 1990.
Crimson Sweet (Kan. 60-6) - Breeder: Charles V. Hall, Kansas
State Univ., Manhattan. Parentage: (Miles x Peacock) x Charleston
Gray. Characteristics: light green with dark stripe, fine
texture, small dark seed, high sugar; excellent shipping
quality. Resistance: anthracnose and fusarium wilt. Adaptation:
general. Kansas State, 6 Feb. 1963.
Crimson Tide (NVH 4268) - Breeder and vendor: Northrup,
King and Co. Characteristics: F1 hybrid, Crimson Sweet type,
with a slightly darker stripe; fruit 24 lb, semi-elongated
with small, dark-brown seeds; matures in Crimson Sweet class.
Resistance: fusarium wilt. Similar: Crimson Sweet. Adaptation:
wide. 1984.
Crimson Trio (NVH 4291) - Breeder and vendor: Northrup,
King and Co. Characteristics: triploid, round seedless watermelon
with Crimson Sweet rind pattern. Resistance: fusarium wilt;
tolerance to anthracnose race 1. Similar: Tri-X-313. 1989.
Crisby (Nun 1839) - Breeder and vendor: Canners. Characteristics:
very early Crimson Sweet type, round-oval shape, fruit weigh
7-9 kg and have red flesh and small brown seeds. 1989.
Cuban Queen - Breeder and vendor: W. Atlee Burpee. 1881.
Dark Icing - Vendor: D.M. Ferry. 1888.
Delta (PS 36594) - Breeder: Jose Gomez. Vendor: Seminis
Vegetable Seeds-Petoseed. Parentage: F1 hybrid. Characteristics:
Royal Sweet type, crimson Sweet stripes, oblong, 18-25 lb.
strong plant, vigorous, wide adaptability. Similar: Royal
Sweet. Adaptation: United States. 1998.
Delta Queen (FMX 13) - Breeder and vendor: Ferry-Morse
Seed Co. Characteristics: F1 hybrid, large, oblong, dark-green
fruit with narrow black-green stripes. Similar: Chilean
Black-Seeded. Adaptation: wide. 1985.
Diamond King - Breeder and vendor: Hollar and Co. Characteristics:
F1 hybrid. Adaptation: midwestern and southern United States.
1985.
Dixie Belle (Stone Mountain) - Breeder: H.G. Hastings,
Atlanta, Georgia. Characteristics: thick, tough, dark green
rind, 17 x 14 inches, 35-40 lb., red, sweet flesh. 1924.
Dixie Queen (White-Seeded Cuban Queen) - Breeder: Johnson.
Vendor: Stokes Seed Co. Parentage: Cuban Queen x Kolb Gem.
Characteristics: round fruit 30-40 lb., pink flesh, white
seeds, narrow dark green stripes over light green rind;
90 days to harvest; popular with home gardeners, roadside
markets, truckers and shippers; fruit oblong or nearly round;
rind thin, but tough; flesh crisp and extremely sweet with
very few seeds; seeds white and small. 1890.
Dixie Queen Hybrid - Breeder and vendor: Peto-Hollar Co.,
Rocky Ford, Colo. Parentage: closed. Characteristics: F1
hybrid. Similar: Dixie Queen. Resistance: fusarium wilt.
Adaptation: wide. Peto-Hollar Catalog. 1953.
Dixielee (Florida 75-1) - Breeder: Agric. Research Center,
University of Florida, Leesburg. Parentage: Texas W5, Fusarium
wilt Resistant Peacock, Fairfax, Summit, and Graybelle.
Characteristics: round fruit with Jubilee stripes that weigh
18-22 lb, flesh is firm and a very deep red color, flesh
quality is excellent. Resistance: fusarium wilt race 1,
anthracnose race 1. 1979.
Dokodoko - Breeder and vendor: P.J. Ito and O.K. Atubra,
Dept. of Hort., University of Science and Tech., Kumasi,
Ghana. Parentage: selection of F1 hybrid Top Yield. Characteristics:
fruit similar to Charleston Gray but is longer and lighter
green, flesh is crisp and red with very small brown seeds,
relatively thick rind makes for better shipping than Sugar
Baby; higher yielding than Sugar Baby and Crimson Sweet,
with comparable fruit quality; fruit is medium sized (7
kg) with about 10% soluble solids, and has a thick rind
which withstands rough handling. Similar: Charleston Gray.
HortScience, 1978, 13: 487. 1978.
Domek (XP 772) - Breeder and vendor: Asgrow Seed Co. Characteristics:
open pollinated. Similar: Chilean Black. PVP certificate
No. 8000166. 1980.
Dulce Verde (4506) - Breeder: Dr. Warren Barham. Vendor:
D. Palmer Seed Co. Parentage: F1 hybrid. Characteristics:
solid dark green rind. Similar: Peacock. Adaptation: most
watermelon growing areas around the world. 1999.
Dumara (Nun 6485) - Breeder and vendor: Nunhems. Characteristics:
oblong fruit shape with rind and color like Crimson Sweet,
fruit weigh 14-16 kg, good shipping quality with dark red
and crispy flesh and small seeds. Resistance: fusarium wilt
race 1. 1991.
Dunbarton - Breeder: USDA and South Carolina Agr. Expt.
Sta., Charleston and Clemson. Parentage: (African x Iowa
Belle) x Garrison. Characteristics: large, long, late, dark
green, hard rind; seed white with dark tip. Resistance:
anthracnose. Similar: Tom Watson. Adaptation: southern United
States. 1953.
Early Jubilee (PSX 33484) - Breeder and vendor: Petoseed
Co. Characteristics: F1 hybrid, early maturing with high
yield capability and large, uniform fruit. Resistance: fusarium
wilt and anthracnose. 1990.
Early Kansas - Vendor: Robert Buist Co. Characteristics:
80 days to harvest; a fine shipper; fruit nearly round,
40 lb., light green with wavy stripes; flesh bright red
sweet and tender; seeds reddish brown.
Early Midget - Breeder and vendor: Petoseed Co., Saticoy,
Calif. Characteristics: F1 hybrid, early ice-box type. Adaptation:
northeastern and midwestern United States and southern Canada.
The Peto Story, Petoseed Co. 1959.
Early Resistant Queen - Breeder: Iowa. Parentage: Early
Market Queen x Hawkesbury. 1945.
Excel - Breeder: D.H. Gilbert of Monticello, Florida. Characteristics:
poorly fixed hybrid. 1906.
Fairfax - Breeder: Southeastern Vegetable Breeding Laboratory,
USDA, Charleston, S.C. Parentage: Garrison x (African x
Iowa Belle) x (Leesburg x Hawkesbury). Resistance: anthracnose
and fusarium wilt. Similar: Garrison. Adaptation: southeastern
United States. 1952.
Falcon (RS 56395) - Breeder: Manual Rosa. Vendor: Seminis
Vegetable Seeds-Petoseed. Parentage: F1 hybrid. Characteristics:
seeded, Allsweet shaped watermelon, early planting, wide
stripes, large fruit, high yields, no hollow heart or bottlenecks.
Adaptation: United States and Mexico. 1999.
Family Fun - Breeder and vendor: Petoseed Co. Characteristics:
F1 hybrid, early maturing, oblong, light-green skin with
dark-green stripes; sweet red flesh, average size 20 pounds.
Resistance: fusarium wilt, anthracnose, and mildew. Adaptation:
general. Petoseed Catalog 1973.
Fandango (SSC 46072) - Breeder: New Avenue Seeds. Vendor:
Shamrock Seed Co. Parentage: F1 hybrid. Similar: Summer
Sweet 5244. Adaptation: all watermelon growing regions.
1999.
Far North - Breeder and vendor: Fischer Seed Co. Parentage:
Sugar Bush x Peacock. Characteristics: dark green fruit,
6-8 lb., bright red flesh, black seeds; many off-types.
Faribo Hybrid 57 - Breeder and vendor: Farmer Seed and
Nursery Co., Fairbault, Minn. Characteristics: F1 hybrid,
very early, high yield, excellent flavor; thin rind; weight
7 to 10 pounds. Resistance: fusarium wilt. Similar: Early
Russian. Adaptation: northern tier of states. Farmer Seed
and Nursery, 8 Sept. 1954.
Fenway (XP 6279) - Breeder and vendor: Seminis Vegetable
Seeds. Parentage: F1 triploid hybrid. Characteristics: seedless
Sugar Baby type, high yield, round to slightly oblong fruit
shape, dark green rind with very dark green faint mottled
stripe, rind has shown excellent resistance to sunburn.
Similar: Sugar Baby (except seedless). Adaptation: southeastern
U.S. 2001.
Fiesta (NVH 4298) - Breeder and vendor: Northrup, King
and Co. Characteristics: F1 hybrid, Allsweet or Calsweet
type, excellent quality, bright red flesh with high sugars,
dark green rind with light green stripes, fruit weigh 22-25
lb, good yields with multiple harvests. Resistance: fusarium
wilt race 0; tolerance to race 1, anthracnose. Similar:
Sangria and Allsweet. 1991.
Florida Favorite - Vendor: Robert Buist Co. Parentage:
Rattlesnake and Pearson. Characteristics: 80 days to harvest;
excellent for the home garden or home market trade, not
for long distance shipping; fruit large, 25 lb., long with
round ends; light green with mottled stripes of dark green;
rind fairly tough; flesh dark red, crisp and sweet; seeds
white.
Fusarium Wilt Resistant Dixie Queen - Breeder: Duke V.
Layton, Hemet, Calif. Vendor: J.C. Robinson Seed Co., Waterloo,
Neb. Parentage: Dixie Queen crossed on Hawkesbury at Oskaloosa,
Iowa, in 1936. Characteristics: similar to Dixie Queen,
except that it has resistance to fusarium wilt; medium large
white seed and a thicker, tougher rind. Similar: Dixie Queen.
Adaptation: most of the United States except west of the
Rocky Mountains. 1943.
Garrisonian (No. 51-23W) - Breeder: USDA, Southeastern
Vegetable Breeding Laboratory, Charleston, S.C. Parentage:
(((Africa 8 x Iowa Belle) x Garrison) x Garrison) x ((Hawkesbury
x Leesburg) x Garrison). Characteristics: large size; hard
rind; superior flesh. Resistance: one form of anthracnose
sunburn. Similar: Garrison. Adaptation: southern and eastern
United States. Seedsmen's Digest. Dec. 1957.
Genesis (SSC 460015) - Breeder and vendor: Shamrock. Characteristics:
triploid, highly prolific seedless watermelon with dark
green stripes over a medium green rind, flesh is crisp,
bright red and very sweet. Similar: Jack of Hearts. 1992.
Georgia (152185) - Breeder: Eldon Heersink. Vendor: Seminis-Petoseed.
Parentage: F1 hybrid. Characteristics: small Crimson Sweet
type, strong vine, early to medium early maturity; fruit
about 10-13 lb. with small broken dark green stripes. Similar:
Crimson Sweet. Adaptation: Guatemala, South America. 2000.
Georgia Fusarium Wilt Resistant - Breeder: Georgia Expt.
Sta., Experiment, GA. Vendor: H.G. Hastings, Georgia Expt.
Sta. Parentage: Cuban Queen x Iowa Belle. Characteristics:
short blocky to near round, dark green, 25 to 30 pounds,
thin rind, good red flesh, fine grained with few strings.
Resistance: fusarium wilt. Southern Seedsman, Jan. 1943.
Georgia Rattlesnake - Characteristics: 90 days to harvest;
an excellent shipping melon popular for its size, productiveness
and eating qualities; fruit very long, large, 25 to 30 lb.,
light green, irregularly mottled with dark green stripes;
striking appearance; rind very tough; flesh bright scarlet,
crisp and sweet; seeds all white with black tips. Adaptation:
southern U.S. 1870.
Golden Anniversary - Parentage: Wikara x Kleckley. Characteristics:
sweet.
Golden Honey Cream (Honey Cream) - Breeder and vendor:
Robson Quality Seeds, Hall, N.Y. Parentage: introduced as
Honey Cream in 1937; selected from badly mixed strain from
Japan Seed Co. by a program of selfing and selecting; have
true, deep yellow stock. Characteristics: early maturing,
deep golden yellow flesh with excellent flavor and sweetness.
Adaptation: Maine to Florida. Robson Catalog. 1954.
Golden Midget - Breeder and vendor: New Hampshire Agr.
Expt. Sta., Durham. Parentage: New Hampshire Midget x Pumpkin
Rind. Characteristics: orange-colored rind when ripe, dark-colored
seeds, 70 day maturity. Similar: New Hampshire Midget in
size and shape. Adaptation: wide. N.H. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul
No. 440. 1959.
Gray Monarch (Long Light Icing) - Vendor: Robert Buist
Co. Characteristics: 85 days to harvest; a large melon mostly
adapted for home gardens; fruit 25 lb. cylindrical with
blunt ends, a beautiful light gray green faintly mottled
darker; rind thin and tender; flesh red, sweet and delicious;
seeds white.
Graybelle (59-7) - Breeder: Veg. Breeding Laboratory, USDA,
Charleston, S.C. Parentage: Sugar Baby x Charleston Gray
sister line. Characteristics: early, medium size, round,
gray. Resistance: anthracnose race 1 and sunburn. Adaptation:
general. USDA, May 1963.
Green Seeded Citron - Vendor: Robert Buist Co. Characteristics:
95 days to harvest; bred exclusively for preserving; fruit
round, 10 lb., striped alternately with dark and light green.
Flesh clear white and very solid. Seeds glossy olive green.
Greengem (XPH 5359) - Breeder and vendor: Asgrow. Characteristics:
F1 hybrid, Sugar Baby type, round, with a dark green rind
and red flesh, sweet with small seeds, early maturing. Resistance:
fusarium wilt race 1. Similar: Sugar Baby. 1988.
Gypsy (HMX 8914) - Breeder: Bill Copes. Vendor: Harris
Moran. Parentage: triploid F1 hybrid. Characteristics: an
early seedless type with medium round fruit; fruit have
a dark striped exterior and red flesh. Adaptation: U.S.
2002.
Halbert Honey - Vendor: Robert Buist Co. Characteristics:
85 days to harvest; a fine, large prolific melon; sweet
flavor; for home use and nearby markets; fruit 30 to 35
lb., cylindrical with blunt ends, dark glossy green with
fine veins; rind tender, flesh rich red, extending clear
to the rind; seeds white with black tips.
Harris' Earliest (Cole's Early) - Vendor: Robert Buist
Co. Characteristics: 80 days to harvest; extra early; a
favorite in the North; for home market; fruit small size,
15 lb, short, nearly round, dark green stripes irregular
on a light green background: rind tender; flesh light red,
sweet and delicious; seeds black.
Hawk (131784) - Breeder: Manuel Rosa. Vendor: Seminis Vegetable
Seeds-Petoseed. Parentage: F1 hybrid. Characteristics: Allsweet
type, seeded, wide stripes, for early planting. Similar:
Sangria. Adaptation: U.S. & Mexico. 1999.
Hawkesbury (synonyms Hawkesbury Wilt Resistant, Dark Seeded
Gray Monarch) - Breeder: H.S. Shirlow, N.S.W. Australia.
Parentage: selection from a field of Gray Monarch with dark
rather than light colored seed. Resistance: fusarium wilt.
Similar: Gray Monarch. 1935.
HM 7927 (HMX 7927) - Breeder: Robert Schroeder. Vendor:
Harris Moran. Parentage: F1 hybrid. Characteristics: very
early maturity; strong plant; very high and concentrated
yield; fruit are 5-9 kg; rind pattern is a narrow dark green
stripe on a light background; flesh is red with small brown
seeds. Adaptation: U.S. 2002.
Honey Cream - see Golden Honey Cream.
Honey Red (NCX 1559) - Breeder and vendor: Moran. Characteristics:
Sugar Baby type with both larger vine and fruit, flesh color
is a darker red than Sugar Baby, fruit weigh 9-11 lb, have
a tough rind. Resistance: fusarium wilt. Similar: Sugar
Baby. 1983.
Hope Diamond - Breeder: Univ. of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Parentage: Black Diamond x fusarium wilt- and anthracnose-resistant
breeding line. Characteristics: high quality; good shipper.
Resistance: fusarium wilt and anthracnose. Similar: Black
Diamond. Ark. Farm Res. Vol. 7, no. 1. 1958.
Huck Finn (FMX 11) - Breeder and vendor: Ferry-Morse Seed
Co. Parentage: FM inbreds. Characteristics: F1 hybrid, fruit
large, blocky, oblong, with markings similar to Crimson
Sweet. Similar: Crimson Sweet. Adaptation: wide. 1985.
Hungarian Honey - Parentage: introduced from Hungary. 1885.
Hybrid Sugar Baby - see Sugar Doll.
Imagination - Breeder: T. Williams. Vendor: Syngenta Seeds.
Parentage: triploid seedless F1 hybrid. Characteristics:
Sugar Baby type; very dark, solid green rind; bright red
flesh; fruit wt. 12-14 lb.; mid-early maturity (82 days).
Similar: Emerald. 2001.
Improved Stone Mountain No.5 - Breeder: Mr. Younkin, Iowa.
Parentage: Iowa Belle x Stone Mountain. Resistance: some
fusarium wilt tolerance. Similar: Stone Mountain.
Iowa 112 - Breeder: Mr. Younkin, Iowa. Parentage: Iowa
Belle x Jugoslavia 7. 1938.
Iowa Belle - Breeder: Porter, Iowa. Parentage: Conqueror
x unknown male parent (probably Kleckley Sweet). 1932.
Iowa Dixie - Breeder: Mr. Wilson, Iowa. Parentage: Iowa
Belle x Japan 7. 1934.
Iowa King - Breeder: Porter, Iowa. Parentage: Conqueror
x unknown male parent (probably Kleckley Sweet). 1932.
Irish Gray - Vendor: Robert Buist Co. Characteristics:
90 days to harvest; one of the finest watermelons; productive,
very sweet and tender; earlier than Tom Watson, but similar
in shipping quality; fruit large, 25 to 30 lb. oblong, smooth,
a distinct mottled greenish gray: rind tough and hard; flesh
bright red, firm and sweet; seeds white.
Ironsides - Breeder: Vegetable Breeding Laboratory, USDA,
Charleston, S.C., and Florida Agr. Expt. Sta. Leesburg,
Fla. Parentage: (Leesburg x Hawkesbury) x Garrison. Characteristics:
long, dark green, longitudinal ribbing, ends slightly tapered,
early, excellent internal quality, sets few culls. Resistance:
fusarium wilt. Similar: Blacklee. Fla. Agr. Expt. Sta. Circ.
S-21, Nov. 1950.
Jade Star (PSX 36385) - Breeder and vendor: Petoseed Co.
Characteristics: F1 hybrid, Sugar Baby type, very dark green
rind, intense red flesh color, suited for home garden. Resistance:
fusarium wilt. 1990.
Jamboree - Breeder: T. Williams. Vendor: Syngenta Seeds.
Parentage: diploid seeded F1 hybrid. Characteristics: Allsweet
type; large (22-27 lb.) elongated fruit; dark red flesh;
mid-season maturity (85 days). Resistance: fusarium wilt
races 0, 1; anthracnose race 1. Similar: Sangria, Corporal.
2001.
Japan 7 - Parentage: received from Prof. Akewo Hemmi, Japan.
Characteristics: white flesh, yellow rind, small oval fruit,
early maturity. Resistance: fusarium wilt.
Jetstream (XPH 5084) - Breeder and vendor: Asgrow. Characteristics:
F1 hybrid, large fruited Crimson Sweet type, round fruit
with excellent eating quality and red flesh, recommended
for areas where size attainment might be a problem with
other types. Resistance: fusarium wilt race 1. Similar:
Crimson Sweet. 1988.
Jubilation (NVH 4258) - Breeder and vendor: Northrup, King
and Co. Characteristics: F1 hybrid, Jubilee type melon,
shape is shorter and more blocky than Jubilee, flesh is
medium bright red with excellent sweet flavor, very high
yielding vigorous vine that holds up well, approximately
84 day maturity. Resistance: fusarium wilt and anthracnose
race 1. Similar: Jubilee and Royal Jubilee. 1987.
Jubilee (F59-3) - Breeder: Florida Agr. Expt. Sta., Leesburg.
Parentage: Africa 8, Iowa Belle, Garrison, Hawkesbury, and
Leesburg. Characteristics: black-seeded Garrison type; fruit
large, tough rind, sweet, pink-red flesh; elongated fruit
with narrow, dark green stripes on a light green background;
fruit 35 to 40 lb, with pinkish red flesh color. Resistance:
anthracnose and fusarium wilt. Similar: Garrisonian. Adaptation:
eastern United States. Fla. Agr. Expt. Sta. Circ. S-148.
1963.
Jubilee II - Breeder: Crall, Leesburg, Florida. Parentage:
Jubilee x Jubilee 5. Characteristics: fruit and plant resembles
Jubilee but selected for higher resistance to wilt. Resistance:
fusarium wilt. Similar: Jubilee. 1990.
Juliett (NV 4317) - Breeder and vendor: Rogers. Characteristics:
elongated Jubilee type, fruit weigh 23-30 lb, bright red
flesh has approximately 11 percent soluble solids, approximately
90 day maturity. Resistance: fusarium wilt races 0 and 1.
Similar: Jubilee, Jubilee 2, Royal Jubilee. 1992.
Kafir - Breeder: selected from African stock. Resistance:
fusarium wilt, anthracnose. 1932.
Kengarden - Breeder: H. Mohr, University of Kentucky. Parentage:
Dwarf Asahi Yamato x (dwarf Bush Desert King x breeding
lines) x New Hampshire Midget. 1975.
Kleckley Resistant No. 6 (Fusarium Wilt Resistant Kleckley
Sweet) - Breeder: Iowa State College, Ames. Vendor: Iowa
Melon Growers Assn. Parentage: selection from Kleckley Sweet.
Characteristics: exceptionally high quality, medium size
Kleckley Sweet. Resistance: fusarium wilt. Similar: Kleckley
Sweet. Adaptation: midwestern United States. Iowa Agr. Expt.
Sta. Rpts. 1934, 1936. 1937.
Kleckley Sweet (Monte Cristo) - Breeder: W.A. Kleckley,
Alabama. Vendor: Robert Buist Co. Parentage: possibly Boss
x Arkansas Traveler. Characteristics: thin, glossy, dark
green rind, large white seeds, medium-red flesh, oblong
fruit, 25-40 lb., 85 days to harvest; always popular and
a favorite with all; excellent for home use and nearby markets;
rind thin and brittle; flesh juicy and very sweet. 1887.
Klondike - Parentage: a mutation selected in California.
Characteristics: blocky fruit, rind solid green with stripes,
20-25 lb., fine textured flesh. 1908.
Klondike R.S. 57 - Breeder and vendor: California Agr.
Expt. Sta., Davis. Parentage: R 7 x Ironsides. Characteristics:
tough rind, shipping type, high quality. Resistance: fusarium
wilt. Similar: Blue Ribbon. Adaptation: California and southwestern
United States. 1959.
Klondike R7 - Breeder: Mr. Porter, California. Parentage:
Iowa Belle x Klondike. Characteristics: fruit 15 x 10 inch
size, 20-25 lb.; thin, dark-green rind; sweet red flesh.
Resistance: fusarium wilt. 1937.
Klondike Striped - Parentage: selection by grower in California
from field of Klondike. Characteristics: oblong fruit with
thin, tough, light green rind with narrow dark green stripes,
20-25 lb., fine textured flesh. 1923.
Klondike Striped Blue Ribbon - Breeder: Mr. Porter, California.
Parentage: Klondike R7 x Klondike Striped. Characteristics:
thin tough rind, light green with narrow dark stripes, 15
x 10 inch size, 20-30 lb., sweet dark-red flesh. Resistance:
fusarium wilt, anthracnose, sunburn. 1939.
Klondike WR - Breeder: Mr. Layton, California. Parentage:
California Klondike 3 x Klondike R7. Characteristics: like
Klondike, but sweeter. Resistance: fusarium wilt (better
than Klondike). 1957.
Klondike WR 60 - Breeder: Mr. Layton, California. Parentage:
California Klondike 3 x Klondike R7. 1958.
Kolb Gem - Breeder: R.F. Kolb, Alabama. Vendor: D.M. Ferry.
1885.
Lady - Breeder: G.W. Elmstrom. Vendor: Sunseeds. Parentage:
diploid F1 hybrid. Characteristics: early maturing, compact
plant, medium vigor, good leaf coverage, 22-26 lb fruit
(28-35 lb in good growing conditions); Allsweet type fruit
with wide dark stripe on medium green background and elongate
shape; excellent fruit quality; very deep red flesh; tender,
very sweet flesh; few, very small seeds. Resistance: Fusarium
wilt race 1. Similar: Allsweet. Adaptation: wide; performs
well in eastern U.S. 2001.
Leesburg - Breeder: Watermelon and Grape Investigations
Laboratory, Florida Agr. Expt. Sta., Leesburg. Parentage:
selection from Kleckley Sweet. Characteristics: very prolific,
uniform, good internal quality, has a tendency to sunburn.
Resistance: fusarium wilt. Similar: Kleckley Sweet. Adaptation:
regional to southwestern United States. Fla. Agr. Expt.
Sta. Bul. 288. 1936.
Long Light Icing (Gray Monarch) - Vendor: Robert Buist
Co. Characteristics: 85 days to harvest; a large melon mostly
adapted for home gardens; fruit 25 lb. cylindrical with
blunt ends, a beautiful light gray green faintly mottled
darker; rind thin and tender; flesh red, sweet and delicious;
seeds white.
Long Mountain - Parentage: selection from Stone Mountain.
1936.
Louisiana Queen - Breeder: North Louisiana Experiment Station,
Calhoun. Parentage: Summit x Fairfax. Characteristics: fruit
similar in appearance to Dixie Queen and matures early,
rind is tough and suitable for shipping, flesh is bright
red, firm, crisp and sweet, fruit weigh approximately 20
lb. Resistance: fusarium wilt race 1. 1971.