A Beginner's Guide To Watermelon Varieties

Snacking on a juicy piece of watermelon can be so refreshing on a hot summer day. The fruit tastes delicious on its own, whether cubed or eaten directly off of the rind. It can also make the perfect addition to a fruit salad during cookouts with friends and family. You can even use watermelon in a wide variety of other recipes, including smoothies, salads, salsas, frozen treats, and cocktails.

You may have noticed that some watermelons have black seeds, while others are seedless. But you probably didn't know that there are actually more than 300 different types of watermelon grown in the United States. 

These different types can vary significantly in size. Some weigh around 1 pound, while others can weigh as much as 40 each. These watermelon types may also come in different shapes, be seeded or seedless, or have different colored flesh. Read on to learn more about some of the many varieties of watermelon you may be able to grow in your own backyard or find at your local farmer's market.

If you're looking to try a newer watermelon variety that is turning out to be a favorite, look no further than the Big Tasty. This variety can also be a good choice if you prefer seedless watermelons, as the Big Tasty does not contain any seeds. The watermelon has a sweet taste with a firm and crunchy texture. These qualities have helped the Big Tasty to win awards for its flavor.

This type of watermelon is moderately sized and classified as an icebox watermelon. Icebox watermelons are generally smaller than heirloom watermelons. They generally weigh between 6 and 8 pounds, making them easier to carry than larger melon types. 

The Big Tasty's inner flesh is that classic deep red color, but its outer rind is less typical. This exterior has a lighter, greenish-gray color. These watermelons can be used in a variety of recipes or eaten straight off the rind. Its flavor even holds better than some other varieties, meaning you can cut and store the melon for a bit longer before using it all up.

The Bush Sugar Baby is a type of icebox watermelon that typically weighs between 6 and 12 pounds. Icebox watermelons are named for their smaller size, which makes them easier to fit in the refrigerator than larger melons. 

These watermelons have a deep pink to red flesh, which comes dotted with black seeds. Their rind is a solid dark green, lacking the stripes that several other watermelon varieties have.

This fruit has a high sugar concentration, making it very sweet. Its flesh is also firm and crisp, making it good for balling and several other applications. Whether you're looking for a watermelon to slice and serve at a summer barbecue, you want to make fruit salad, or you'd like to prepare a watermelon smoothie, the Bush Sugar Baby could come in handy.

The Captivation is another watermelon variety for those who don't like seeds. The fruit is ideal for slicing and snacking or adding to your favorite fruit salad recipe. They weigh 14 to 17 pounds each and are oval in shape. 

The Captivation has a darker green rind, but once they are ready to be picked, the rind color fades a bit. The inner flesh of a Captivation is crunchy and red. However, this color is lighter than the one you'll find in other varieties. If you're planning to plant Captivation watermelon seeds in your home garden, expect them to take 89 days to mature.

Another watermelon variety you might want to taste, or even grow in your garden, is the Cream of Saskatchewan. This variety can thrive in warm and cold climates, making it a good choice for growers across the country. It is believed that this watermelon variety was first grown in Russia before being brought to Canada, then later to the United States.

The Cream of Saskatchewan watermelon has a much paler inner flesh than you'll find with most other melons. It may be pale yellow or nearly white in color. It is not a seedless variety. 

These melons are crispy and relatively sweet. They can also be easily identified by their rind, which has dark green stripes against a brighter green background color. The rind is also much thinner than that of many other melons. Most Cream of Saskatchewan melons weigh between 5 and 10 pounds each.

With its inner yellow flesh, the Desert King is an especially unique-looking watermelon. The seeds of this watermelon also look a bit different, since they come in a grayish-black color. Also, the outer rind of the fruit is on the thinner side. This rind is light green in color. Even if it doesn't look like the watermelons you're used to, the taste of Desert King watermelons won't disappoint. It is very sweet and juicy. 

Desert King watermelons grow best in full sun. They do not require a lot of water. They are considered a drought-resistant variety, hence the name. A Desert King watermelon can weigh up to 40 pounds, but many are closer to 20 pounds.

Georgia Rattlesnake watermelons — one of the fruits from which the Florida Giant watermelon was created — are a bit smaller than their offspring. They generally grow to weigh about 35 pounds, but some have been known to get even bigger. 

This type of watermelon has a thick and solid rind, which allows for safer and easier transport and storage than some other varieties. This rind is decorated with dark green and white-green stripes. This fruit also has a crisp, pink-red flesh that contains black seeds, perfect for a refreshing treat on a hot day. It is a type of heirloom watermelon that was first developed in the 1830s.

Harvest Moon watermelons are a seedless hybrid heirloom variety. They have pink-red flesh with a spectacularly juicy flavor. The melons weigh between 18 and 20 pounds and have a dark green rind. The rind is speckled with yellow spots.

If you're looking for a watermelon you can grow in your backyard, the Harvest Moon is a good variety to consider. It offers much more compact vines, while each plant still produces four or five melons. The melon is also able to tolerate very hot conditions. However, it does require full sun and moist soil.

If you're looking for a sweet watermelon to serve at your next backyard picnic, look no further than the Klondike Blue Ribbon Striped watermelon. With its higher sugar content, this melon offers a delicious flavor, perfect for enjoying straight off the rind. Of course, you could also add it to your favorite fruit salad recipe, combine it with other fruits for smoothies, and more.

First developed in 1939, Klondike Blue Ribbon Striped watermelons are a medium-sized variety, with most weighing between 20 to 30 pounds. They are also known to be disease-resistant. 

The watermelon comes with a thin, coarse rind that's decorated with dark and light green stripes. When you cut into a Klondike Blue Ribbon Striped watermelon, you'll find it's filled with firm and deep red flesh.

The Mini Love is another award-winning watermelon. As its name implies, it is a smaller variety, usually weighing only 7 to 9 pounds. They may be either round or oval in shape. Each melon has a dark green rind with lighter green stripes. The best thing about the Mini Love watermelon is the juicy and sweet taste that its dark red flesh delivers.

This type of watermelon can be a good option for home gardens. The vines of Mini Love watermelons are much smaller than many other varieties. In fact, the vines are so compact that you could even potentially grow them on your deck or patio. Additionally, the plant is resistant to diseases. It can even yield up to six watermelons on each vine.

Orange Crisp watermelons are another variety that doesn't look how you'd expect. Instead, these melons have a bright orange inner flesh with a delectably sweet flavor. The flesh is firm and crisp, making it perfect for balling, slicing, and more. An Orange Crisp is also known to hold its sweet flavor once cut, allowing you to store it for longer before having to use it all up.

Orange Crisp watermelons grow to be 14 to 18 pounds. They have a decently thick dark green rind, with lighter green stripes. The contrast between the orange flesh color and green rind makes this variety look attractive when sliced and served.

Tendergold watermelons have juicy and delicious yellow flesh. When at their peak, their flesh is a yellow-orange color with a sweet taste. Relatively large black seeds are mixed in with this yellow flesh. The rind surrounding the beautiful yellow flesh is deep green with lighter stripes. Tendergolds can be shipped more easily than some other varieties since their rinds are thick and sturdy. 

This type of watermelon generally weighs between 22 and 28 pounds. They can last over a week after being picked, making them an excellent choice for households that may not be able to consume an entire watermelon in just a day or two.

If you're looking for a smaller melon, you'll want to try a Yellow Petite watermelon. This variety weighs just 6 to 10 pounds, putting them in the icebox category. This size also makes them perfect for one or two people to share. Yellow Petite melons have a nice round shape with a striped rind.

Inside this rind lies a gorgeous, deep yellow flesh. While these melons are quite attractive, the best thing about them is their taste. As is the case with other yellow watermelons, the Yellow Petite is very sweet. This sweet and juicy flavor makes the variety ideal for eating straight off the rind. Of course, you can also add it to any of your favorite recipes, like watermelon salad. Just remember to keep in mind that the Yellow Petite's sweeter flavor may change things if your recipe calls for red watermelon.