Heirloom Watermelon
Orangeglo Watermelon is a stunning heirloom variety that delivers on both looks and taste, with deep orange flesh that's almost tropical in its sweetness. Introduced by Willhite Seed Co. before 1965, this cultivar has earned a devoted following among gardeners and farmers who prize it for being the most flavorful of all orange watermelon varieties. Medium-sized fruits weighing 10 to 15 pounds mature in 85 to 95 days and thrive in full sun across hardiness zones 3 through 11. The vines are vigorous and naturally resistant to wilt and insect pressure, making this a variety that rewards patient growers with abundant harvests and fruits that genuinely sell themselves at farmers markets.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual
High
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Deep orange flesh with a flavor so rich it's been described as tropical sits inside dark green skin that promises bounty. These melons are notably low in seeds and almost drip with juice when cut, thanks to higher than average water content that concentrates the sweetness. Willhite's introduction of this variety more than 50 years ago gave gardeners a genuinely superior orange watermelon, not just a novelty; the vines stay strong and healthy without fussy disease management, and the fruits consistently earn praise from anyone who tastes them.
Orangeglo is grown and eaten fresh, celebrated for its exceptional sweetness and tropical character that makes it a summer standout. The firm, deep orange flesh is ideal for slicing and serving cold, though the high juice content and low seed count also make it excellent for blending into beverages and sorbets. At farmers markets and roadside farm stands, these melons earn admiration simply by being cut open; the striking color and lush sweetness command premium prices and return customers.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed to at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant seeds 1 inch deep into full-sun beds with well-draining soil adjusted to pH 6.0 to 7.0. Seeds will sprout in 5 to 10 days under ideal conditions.
Orangeglo melons mature in 85 to 95 days from planting and are ready to harvest when the bottom spot (the part that rested on soil) turns creamy yellow or light orange, the tendril nearest the stem browns and dries, and the melon gives slightly when pressed gently at the blossom end. The deep orange flesh is your first visual clue of ripeness once you cut into a melon; fruits are medium-sized, typically weighing 10 to 15 pounds. Cut melons from the vine with a sharp knife rather than pulling; ripe Orangeglo will separate cleanly when fully mature.
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“Orangeglo Watermelon entered the American seed trade through Willhite Seed Company prior to 1965, arriving at a moment when home gardeners were hungry for varieties with real flavor rather than appearance alone. The variety's journey reflects the broader heirloom movement of the late 20th century, when seed savers and small farms recognized that older cultivars offered qualities that modern breeding had overlooked. By the time it appeared in seed catalogs across the country, Orangeglo had already proven itself in fields and home gardens as an exceptional performer, becoming a standby for growers who refused to compromise on taste. Its continued presence in catalogs today is testament to the gardeners who saved and replanted it, preserving a variety that genuinely deserves its reputation.”