Heirloom Watermelon
Ali Baba Watermelon is a treasured heirloom variety with an extraordinary story, seeds rescued from Iraq by a collector named Aziz Nael and introduced to Western gardeners just 20 years ago. These melons weigh 12 to 30 pounds and develop hard, light green rinds that make them exceptional for shipping and storage while also protecting them from sun damage. With incredible flavor and a 85 to 95 day growing season, Ali Baba thrives in full sun and delivers a slice of culinary history to any garden.
Full Sun
High
3-11
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Annual
Moderate
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What sets Ali Baba apart is both its taste and its provenance. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds describes the flavor as incredible, and the hard light green rind isn't just visually distinctive, it's a practical feature that makes these melons travel well and store longer than thin-skinned varieties. The fact that this ancient Iraqi variety nearly vanished makes growing it an act of seed preservation, connecting your garden to a resilient agricultural heritage.
These melons are grown for fresh eating, where their incredible flavor shines. The sturdy, hard rind makes them ideal for shipping to market or storing for later enjoyment, extending the season of fresh watermelon well beyond the typical window.
Direct sow seeds into warm soil after all danger of frost has passed, when soil temperature reaches at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant seeds approximately 1 inch deep.
Harvest Ali Baba watermelons 85 to 95 days after planting. Ripe melons are ready when they feel heavy for their size and the underside where they rest on the ground develops a creamy yellow spot. The distinctive hard light green rind will feel firm and resistant to pressure from your thumb. Cut the melon from the vine with a sharp knife rather than twisting it.
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“Ali Baba arrived in American gardens through an extraordinary act of seed stewardship. About 20 years before the present day, Aziz Nael, an Iraqi gentleman devoted to collecting heirloom varieties from his homeland, sent seeds to Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. This introduction proved to be a rescue mission of sorts, as the source notes with quiet urgency, it is now nearly impossible to obtain seeds from Iraq itself, where generations of gardeners have lost much of their genetic heritage due to the long, tragic conflicts that have ravaged the region. By growing Ali Baba, gardeners become custodians of a variety that represents not just culinary tradition but also the resilience of seed-saving communities.”