FruitWatermelon
Garrisonian Watermelon
Garrisonian Watermelon is a seeded heirloom picnic watermelon that delivers generous, 35-pound fruits with a striking appearance and reliably sweet flesh. The light green rind striped with darker green sets off a luminous light pink or rose-colored interior that's as beautiful as it is delicious. Hardy across zones 3-13 and ready to harvest in 80-89 days, this open-pollinated variety thrives in full sun and warm soil, earning its reputation for heat tolerance. It's the kind of watermelon that feels substantial in your hands and rewards patient gardeners with the satisfying crack of a perfectly ripe slice.
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
Moderate
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Highlights
Large, oblong fruits averaging 35 pounds make Garrisonian a standout for summer gatherings and serious watermelon lovers. The combination of light green skin with dark green striping and pale pink flesh creates an visually stunning melon that tastes as good as it looks. Its seeded nature and open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seeds year after year, tying you to generations of gardeners who've grown this variety. This heirloom handles heat beautifully, thriving where other melons might struggle, and matures reliably within 80-89 days.
Common Uses
Garrisonian watermelons excel as fresh-eating melons, sliced and served chilled on hot summer days or cut into chunks for fruit salads and refreshing desserts. The substantial size and sweet flavor make them particularly suited to picnic settings and large gatherings where a single melon feeds a crowd. The seeded character is traditional for watermelons and preferred by many gardeners for seed saving purposes.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors only after the last frost has passed and soil temperature has reached at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 36 inches apart to accommodate their vigorous vining growth.
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly into warm soil (70-85 degrees Fahrenheit) after all danger of frost has passed. Plant seeds in rows spaced 6 inches apart, thinning to the full 36-inch spacing once seedlings are established.
Harvesting
Harvest Garrisonian watermelons 80-89 days after planting when the fruit shows full maturity. Look for a melon with a pale, creamy yellow or ivory-colored spot where it rested on the ground (rather than a bright white spot), and listen for a hollow, deep thump when tapped with your knuckles. The rind should resist puncture from a fingernail. Cut the melon from the vine with a sharp knife rather than twisting it off.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Citrullus lanatus
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Citrullus
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)