FruitWatermelon
Cal Sweet Bush Watermelon
Bush Variety
Cal Sweet Bush Watermelon brings the joy of homegrown watermelons to patios, balconies, and small garden spaces where traditional vining varieties simply won't fit. This compact 2019 AAS winner reaches just 12 to 18 inches tall, producing sweet, seeded melons in roughly 90 days and thriving in hardiness zones 3 through 13. Urban gardeners and space-conscious growers can finally enjoy the summer succulence of fresh watermelons without surrendering their entire garden to sprawling vines.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/watermelon-seeds-cal-sweet-bush-aas)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Soil
Well-drained, Sandy Loam, Fertile
Preferred Temp70-85°F
Growth Stats
18 in
Height
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush
Spacing
24-36 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Zones
3-13
Size
18in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
This bush watermelon shatters the myth that you need acres to grow melons at home. The short-vined growth habit opens watermelon growing to container gardeners (it thrives in 7-gallon pots and larger), apartment dwellers, and anyone working with limited space. At 2019 AAS winner status, it's been tested and proven across diverse growing regions, and its heat tolerance means it performs reliably even in challenging summers. Open-pollinated and heirloom genetics mean you can save seeds year after year if you choose.
Common Uses
Cal Sweet Bush Watermelon is grown primarily for fresh eating, offering the sweet, juicy flesh that defines summer eating. The seeded fruit can be eaten fresh, chilled and sliced for hot afternoons, or used in fruit salads. For gardeners interested in seed saving, this open-pollinated variety allows you to harvest seeds at the end of the season and replant the next year, creating a self-sustaining cycle that deepens the connection between gardener and plant.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Late Spring
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Late Summer
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings or direct-sown watermelon seeds outdoors only after all frost danger has passed and soil temperatures have warmed to at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off seedlings gradually to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before transplanting. Space plants 3 to 36 inches apart, adjusting based on whether you're growing in containers (closer spacing works fine in large pots) or open garden beds.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors into warm soil (70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit) after the last frost date has passed. Plant seeds at the depth and spacing indicated in the seed packet, keeping soil consistently moist until germination occurs.
Harvesting
Watermelons reach harvest readiness in approximately 90 days, though some sources report a range of 90 to 99 days depending on growing conditions and variety interpretation. The most reliable harvest indicator is checking the tendril closest to the fruit stem: when it dries and turns brown, the melon is ripe. Additionally, the bottom side of the fruit should display a yellow spot rather than pale green. Watermelons will not ripen further once picked, so harvest only fully mature fruits. Pick melons during the cool part of the day and chill them quickly after harvest to preserve quality.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Soil pH Range
6 – 7
Scientific Classification
Citrullus Schrad.
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Citrullus
History & Origin
“Cal Sweet Bush Watermelon earned its AAS (All-America Selections) award in 2019, a recognition that comes after rigorous trial growing across North America. This open-pollinated, heirloom variety represents the kind of plant breeding focused on practical home gardening rather than commercial shipping demands. Its compact growth habit was deliberately selected to answer a real need: gardeners who love watermelons but lack the space traditional varieties demand. The breed carries the genetic memory of watermelon cultivation back through generations of open-pollination, preserving the natural seed-saving ability that makes it enduring for home growers.”