Triple Treat Watermelon

Start seeds indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your last spring frost date in soil warmed to 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in peat pots or individual cells to minimize transplant shock, since watermelons resent root disturbance. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged until germination occurs within 7 to 10 days.

Transplant seedlings outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil temperatures reach at least 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, typically 2 to 3 weeks after your last frost. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space plants 36 inches apart in rows spaced 120 inches apart, planting them at the same soil depth they grew indoors.

Direct sow seeds 1/2 inch deep once soil has warmed to 70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and frost danger has completely passed. Sow seeds in groups of 2 to 3, thinning to the strongest seedling once they develop true leaves.

Harvest Triple Treat melons when the rind loses its shine and develops a creamy, pale spot where it rested on soil, typically 80 to 89 days after planting. Press the melon gently with your thumb near the blossom end; ripe fruit yields slightly to pressure without being soft. Listen for a hollow sound when thumped, which indicates ripeness in experienced ears. Cut the stem with a sharp knife rather than twisting, leaving several inches of stem attached for easier handling.

As a vining watermelon, Triple Treat benefits from minimal pruning focused on air circulation. Remove any leaves that touch soil or show signs of disease, and thin crowded vine growth if coverage becomes so dense that fruit cannot receive adequate sunlight for ripening. Avoid heavy pruning that stresses the plant; watermelons need robust foliage to support fruit development.