Watermelon Seeds - Congo HEIRLOOM - AAS WINNER
- Long, Dark Green Striped Oblong Shaped
- Firm and Sweet Flesh has a Sugar Content of 9.4%
- Prefers Full Sun Exposure and Warm Weather
Shipping Schedule
Seeds are shipped year-round, while perennials & bulbs are shipped seasonally. Pre-ordered bulbs ship at the proper planting time for your zone. Spring pre-orders are placed any time before March 1. Fall pre-orders are placed any time before September 1. These items will not ship immediately, but will be delivered at the ideal time for planting. Orders containing both seeds and bulbs may be split into multiple shipments. Click here for more shipping information.
| Pre-Ordered Spring Bulbs & Perennials | Shipping Begins |
|---|---|
| Zones 9 - 12 | Late February to Early March |
| Zone 8 | Early to Mid March |
| Zone 7 | Mid to Late March |
| Zone 6 | Early April |
| Zone 5 | Late April |
| Zones 2 - 4 | Late April to Early May |
| In-season orders ship immediately at the time of purchase to all zones until inventory is depleted. | |
| Saffron Crocus & Bearded Iris | Shipping Begins |
| All Zones | Late August |
| Pre-Ordered Fall Bulbs | Shipping Begins |
| Zones 2 - 4 | Mid September |
| Zone 5 | Mid to Late September |
| Zone 6 | Late September |
| Zone 7 | Late September to Early October |
| Zones 8 - 12 | Early to Mid October |
| In-season orders ship immediately at the time of purchase to all zones until inventory is depleted. | |
| Pre-Ordered Fall Perennials* | Shipping Begins |
| All Zones | Mid October |
| *Amaryllis Bulbs, Hosta Roots, Lily Bulbs, Papaver Roots, Paperwhite Bulbs, Peony Roots & Siberian Iris Roots | |
Product Description
The Congo is an extra sweet, gorgeous heirloom watermelon, and delicious one to boot! These luscious watermelons regularly grow to 50 Pounds and above! Congo was an All-America selection winner in 1950.
Watermelons grow best in warm weather and sandy soils. Make sure their trailing vines have plenty of space and let your melons enjoy the warm summer sun for delicious, sweet harvests!
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Fast Facts
Name: Watermelon Seeds - Congo Botanical Name: Citrullus lanatus Life Cycle: Annual Light Requirement: Full Sun Planting Season: Warm Season Plant Type: Long vine Features: Heirloom, AAS (All-American Selections) Winners Fruit Size: 30+ lbs Days to Maturity: 60-90 Days Plant Spacing: 36-48 inches Planting Depth: 1 inch Sowing Method: Start Indoors, Direct Sow Cold Stratification: No Hardiness Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Ships: Year Round -
Planting Instructions
When to plant:
If you live in a climate with a short growing season, consider starting your watermelon seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting seedlings into the garden. Sow watermelon seed directly, or set out your transplants 3 to 4 weeks after the last average frost date in spring. Watermelon demands warm temperatures – both soil and air. Transplant or direct sow watermelon seeds only when the average soil and daytime air temps are at least 70F. Watermelons are heavy feeders and need soil rich in nutrients. They grow best in loose, well-drained, but moisture-retentive soil rich in organic matter. Amend your soil with aged manure, seaweed, and/or compost before planting.
How to plant:
Dig a hole 12” deep and 24” wide, fill with compost, manure and several handfuls of sand – this will create an area that is both moisture retentive and well-draining. Use the soil that was removed from the hole to create the mound and then sow your seed or transplant there.
Sow Watermelon seeds 1” deep, planting 4-6 seeds (or transplanting 2-3 of your strongest seedlings) in mounds that stretch 24” across. Planting on hills or mounds ensures that roots stay warm and the soil is well-drained. If direct sowing, wait until your young seedlings have developed three to four true leaves and choose to keep your strongest 2-3 plants by cutting the thinned out seedlings at soil level with scissors. If you pull out your weakest seedlings, you may disturb the tender roots of your remaining plants, so use of scissors or clippers is advised. Build mounds 5-10 feet apart.
We advise using a nitrogen fertilizer on your watermelon plants until flowers form. Then, switch to a high phosphorus and potassium fertilizer like liquid seaweed. Keep area well weeded, we don’t want our watermelons fighting for nutrients and water. Because this is a warm-season crop, it is helpful to mulch around the base – this will help with weed control and moisture retention.
Watermelons are 95% water and require plentiful, even watering for quick growing. Keep the soil moist until fruit reaches full size then stop watering while the fruit ripens.When to harvest:
Stop watering your watermelons about 10-14 days before the fruits are ready to harvest, this will concentrate the plant’s sugars and your watermelon will be sweeter. You may want to place a board under each melon to keep the fruit clean and dry. Watermelons will be ready to harvest after 70-90 days from sowing. Most people tap their watermelons and listen for a dull thump to know when the fruit is ripe. Other maturation signs include the ceasing of growth, the yellowing of the underside and the drying of the stem near the fruit’s base.
Other tips (if any): Companion plants are corn, radish, beans, nasturtiums, marigolds and oregano. Bad companions are potatoes as they attract many of the same insects that feed on watermelon plants.
Avoid growing watermelon where night temperatures dip below 50 F; this will cause fruit to lose flavor. If temperatures exceed 90F for several days, flowers will drop without setting fruit. Watermelons require 70-90 frost-free days to reach harvest and will tolerate no frost. In cool or short-season regions, plan ahead by starting indoors or choose smaller varieties that come to harvest early.
Watermelon leaves commonly wilt in the afternoon sun, this is ok. If you see the leaves wilting before noon, immediately water as it is a sign of stress due to the heat and drought. Never allow the vine itself to become dry. A soaker hose or drip irrigation is the best way to water.
If you live in an area where the weather and soil are dry, try planting your watermelon in inverted hills rather than mounds. Make an inverted hill by removing two inches of soil from a circle 24” across, and use this soil to make a rim around the circle. This way, irrigation water or rainfall can be captured. We know lots of gardeners in Zones 9 and above use this technique for their watermelon, squash, beans, and many other summer vegetables.
Regular, even watering will help fruits avoid blossom-end rot which is caused by fluctuation of soil moisture.
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Product Reviews
Review
waiting for warmer weather
i will be waiting for spring time in my area, for now i will store in the fridge in a sandwich bag, then a few weeks before spring i will plant indoors till last frost, then sow in garden
Review
watermelon seeds
High and quick germination rate vines growing all over lots of blooms which I hope turns into lots of big sweet melons
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Watermelon Seeds - Congo HEIRLOOM - AAS WINNER
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