Art Combe's Ancient Watermelon carries one of horticulture's most enchanting origin stories. In the early 1920s, a Southwestern plant expert and amateur prospector named Art Combe discovered a small woven pot brimming with bright red watermelon seeds in an abandoned sandstone cave on Arizona's Mogollon Rim. He planted those seeds, and they grew into this heirloom variety, which now produces stunning 20-pound fruits with green rinds and succulent red flesh. The melons mature in 95 to 105 days under full sun in warm conditions (75, 95°F), rewarding patient gardeners with exceptional flavor and sweetness.
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Few vegetables come with as thrilling a backstory as this one. Art Combe's ancient seeds were pulled from a cave, preserved by unknown hands centuries ago, and now live again in home gardens. The melons themselves are stunning to behold: deep green exteriors concealing that vibrant red flesh inside. Growing to around 20 pounds each, they deliver the kind of intense sweetness and tender texture that explains why this variety was worth saving in the first place.
This is a fresh-eating watermelon at heart. The succulent red flesh and excellent flavor make it a standout choice for slicing and serving on hot summer days, whether at picnics, family gatherings, or simply enjoyed straight from the garden. The tender, sweet meat makes it equally suited to simple presentations where the melon's natural character can shine.
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Direct sow seeds into warm soil after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperature reaches at least 75°F. Plant seeds about 1 inch deep in hills or rows spaced 36 inches apart.
Watermelons are ripe when they've reached full size (around 20 pounds for this variety) and the skin develops a waxy sheen. Check the underside for a creamy yellow spot where the melon rested on soil. The melon should feel heavy for its size and give slightly when pressed at the blossom end. Harvest in 95 to 105 days from planting. Cut the stem with a sharp knife rather than twisting the fruit.
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“This watermelon's journey begins in the early 1920s with Art Combe, a Southwestern plant expert and amateur prospector whose curiosity led him into an abandoned sandstone cave on Arizona's Mogollon Rim. Inside, he found a small woven pot containing bright red watermelon seeds, a cache preserved by someone, somewhere, in the distant past. Combe planted these seeds, and they grew into the variety we know today. The fact that these seeds survived in that cave, that Combe found them, and that they were passed along through seed savers and eventually to modern heirloom catalogs, represents one of the most fascinating seed discoveries in modern history. This variety represents not just a plant but a tangible link to an unknown cultivator's past.”