- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
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Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 80 days
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Type: Watermelon (Learn more)
Native: Africa
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual
Exposure: Full sun
Plant Dimensions: 6'–10' vines
Variety Info: 8–10 pound fruit about 9" long with bright red, sweet flesh, and fewer than average, very small seeds. The rind is dark green with thin, mottled, darker green stripes. 'Sugar Baby' was introduced in 1959.
Attributes: Frost Sensitive
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is 70°–90°F.
When to Start Inside: Not recommended except in very short growing seasons, 2 to 4 weeks before transplanting. Roots are sensitive to disturbance; sow in biodegradable pots that can be planted directly into the ground. Transplant when soil temperature is at least 60°F.
Days to Emerge: 5–10 days
Seed Depth: ½"
Seed Spacing: 2–3 seeds per mound
Row Spacing: 4'–6' apart
Thinning: When 3 leaves, thin to 1 plant per mound
Your hardiness zone is
Growing Info
Harvesting: It can be tricky to know exactly when a watermelon is ripe and ready to pick. First, know the number of "days to harvest" and begin checking fruits as harvest date draws closer. Signs to look for are: (1) the bottom of the melon (where it lies on the soil) turns from light green to a yellowish color; (2) the surface color of the fruit turns dull; (3) the skin becomes resistant to penetration by the thumbnail and is rough to the touch; and (4) light green, curly tendril on the stem near the point of attachment of the melon is brown and dry. All of these indicators may not necessarily occur at the same time.
- Christina OcavaRated 5 out of 5 stars4/2/265 Stars
Thankyou!
- Christina OcavaRated 5 out of 5 stars4/2/265 Stars
Thankyou!
- RareRated 5 out of 5 stars11/20/255 Stars
AWESOME!!!
- Nickolas P.AL, United StatesVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars9/20/25Easy to grow
Easy to grow
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateWho do you grow for? YourselfHow do you prefer to grow? Raised Bed - Barbara A.Verified BuyerRated 1 out of 5 stars9/18/25No Melons
Last year I had four watermelons that weighed over twenty pounds. This year, not one seed germinated. I bought one packet of seeds that did nothing, so I bought another packet. Nothing!
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests9/19/25Hey Barbara,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts in a review. I've reached out to you via email to offer assistance. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your experience is positive. Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️