FruitWatermelon
Striped Klondike Blue Ribbon Watermelon
Striped Klondike Blue Ribbon Watermelon is an heirloom, open-pollinated variety that traces its roots to California breeding programs, where it was developed for resilience in variable summer climates. These annual vining plants produce seeded melons in 77-80 days, thriving across hardiness zones 3-13 with full sun exposure. What sets this cultivar apart is its exceptional durability: these plants tolerate cooler temperatures and even sunburn that would stress less hardy varieties, while still delivering the smooth, less fibrous flesh that makes watermelon eating a pleasure. Grow these in garden plots with generous spacing (36 inches between plants, 120 inches between rows) and you'll harvest melons that showcase the classic striped appearance and reliable performance that built this variety's reputation.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Soil
Well-drained, Sandy Loam, Fertile
Growth Stats
18 in
Height
TypeVining
Spacing
36
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Zones
3-13
Size
18in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Originally bred in California, Striped Klondike Blue Ribbon combines heirloom reliability with surprising cold tolerance and heat resilience. The smooth, tender flesh lacks the fibrous quality found in many seeded watermelons, delivering a superior eating experience. These heat-tolerant, adaptable plants even withstand sunburn pressure, making them one of the few watermelons that perform confidently in less-than-ideal conditions. The open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seeds year after year, connecting you directly to a century-old breeding tradition.
Common Uses
Striped Klondike Blue Ribbon is a classic picnic watermelon, bred and selected for fresh eating straight from the garden. The smooth, less fibrous flesh cuts cleanly and eats with tender pleasure, making it ideal for slicing and serving at summer gatherings. The seeded character is prized by gardeners who want to save seeds, connecting the eating experience to seed stewardship and food security.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds into warm soil after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperature reaches 70°F or above. Sow seeds 1 inch deep in hills or rows, spacing thinned seedlings 36 inches apart.
Harvesting
Harvest melons 77-80 days after planting, when the melon shows full color and the bottom spot (where it rested on the ground) develops a creamy yellow hue rather than remaining pale green. Gently press the melon; ripe fruit yields slightly to pressure but isn't soft. You can also listen for a hollow sound when thumping ripe melons, or check that the tendril nearest the melon stem has dried and browned. Cut melons from the vine with a sharp knife, leaving a 1-2 inch stem attached.
Pruning
No formal pruning is necessary for Striped Klondike Blue Ribbon. Allow the vining growth habit to spread freely across your garden plot. You may remove damaged or diseased vines, or selectively thin excessive growth if plants crowd each other or encroach on pathways, but the plant's natural architecture produces fruit reliably without heavy-handed intervention.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Citrullus lanatus
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Citrullus
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)
History & Origin
“The Striped Klondike Blue Ribbon emerged from California breeding work focused on creating watermelons suited to the region's unpredictable summer conditions. Breeders selected for plants that could tolerate cooler temperatures and handle stress from sun exposure, traits that made these melons far more adaptable than most picnic varieties of their era. As an open-pollinated heirloom, this cultivar has been preserved and saved by gardeners and seed keepers for generations, maintaining genetic consistency that allows home growers to collect and replant their own seeds. The variety's persistence in seed catalogs and among heirloom enthusiasts speaks to its proven performance across diverse growing regions.”