FruitWatermelon
Strawberry Watermelon
Icebox Watermelon
Strawberry Watermelon is a Florida heirloom that Walt Childs selected and introduced in 1989, instantly earning a reputation as one of the finest-tasting watermelons available. The flesh glows a stunning strawberry red, ripening almost to the rind with remarkably few seeds and a distinctly sweet, fine-grained character that sets it apart from standard varieties. These oblong, striped fruits weigh 15 to 25 pounds and mature in 85 to 95 days under full sun in warm temperatures (70 to 95°F). With moderate disease resistance and the genetic heritage of a long-preserved Florida heirloom, it deserves to anchor your summer garden.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/strawberry-clover)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Soil
Well-drained, Sandy Loam, Fertile
Preferred Temp75-90°F
Growth Stats
PeriodAnnual
TypeVine
Spacing
36-48 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Zones
3-11
Size
?in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The flesh reaches an arresting strawberry red that ripens within a half-inch of the rind, a visual signature that announces its quality before the first bite. Few seeds, fine grain, and a distinctly sweet flavor combine to create a watermelon that serious tasters rank among the absolute best. An oblong, striped exterior and 15 to 25-pound size make it both beautiful on the vine and practical for most home gardens; plant it 36 inches apart in full sun and you'll have ripe fruit in less than 100 days.
Common Uses
Strawberry Watermelon is grown and eaten fresh, where its low seed count and fine-grained, sweet flesh shine without need for processing or preservation. The oblong shape and moderate size make it practical for slicing and serving at summer meals, picnics, and family gatherings. Its reputation as an exceptional eating watermelon, earned through Childs's careful selection and preserved in seed catalogs, positions it as the choice for gardeners who prioritize flavor above yield.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Summer
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date in warm soil (70 to 95°F). Sow seeds 1 inch deep in individual pots or cells, keeping soil moist but not waterlogged until germination. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before transplanting.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 70°F. Space plants 36 inches apart in rows or hills, positioning them in full sun. Gentle handling is important; watermelon roots resent disturbance, so minimize root damage during the transplanting process.
Direct Sow
In warm climates with long growing seasons, direct sow seeds 1 inch deep in warm soil after the last frost date. Sow 2 to 3 seeds per hill, spacing hills 36 inches apart, and thin to the strongest seedling once true leaves emerge.
Harvesting
Harvest Strawberry Watermelon when the skin develops a deep, matte appearance and the bottom spot (where the fruit rested on the ground) turns creamy yellow or tan. The fruit should feel heavy for its size and produce a hollow thump when tapped with your knuckles. Ripeness typically arrives 85 to 95 days after planting. Cut the fruit from the vine with a sharp knife rather than twisting it off, which can damage the plant and nearby developing melons.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Soil pH Range
6 – 7
Scientific Classification
Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. lanatus
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Citrullus
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Vine, Forb/herb
Native Status
L48 (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“Strawberry Watermelon began as a Florida heirloom, preserved and refined by Walt Childs, who recognized something exceptional in this variety and formally introduced it in 1989 through Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Childs's selection work honored the original Florida genetics while stabilizing the variety's remarkable flavor and flesh color, transforming a regional treasure into a seed catalog staple that has remained in circulation for decades. This lineage connects modern gardeners directly to the Southeastern watermelon traditions that shaped American fruit growing.”