FruitWatermelon
Bush Jubilee Watermelon
Bush Jubilee Watermelon is a compact, heat-loving annual that delivers the iconic flavor of classic Jubilee watermelons in a space-conscious package. Instead of sprawling vines that produce melons up to 35 pounds, this bush variety grows in a tight 3 to 5 feet and yields perfectly sized 10 to 13-pound fruits with light green skin striped in dark green and brilliant red, sweet flesh inside. Ready in 90 days, it thrives in zones 3 through 13 and demands full sun and simple spacing, making it surprisingly doable for small-space gardeners who thought watermelon was off-limits.
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
The charm of Bush Jubilee lies in its audacious contradiction: it gives you genuine Jubilee watermelon flavor without demanding a sprawling garden bed. Those 10 to 13-pound melons are the Goldilocks size, large enough to feel substantial and feed a family, yet manageable to handle and store. The light green skin with dark green stripes and deep red flesh isn't just beautiful; it signals the sweetness you get from an open-pollinated heirloom that's been bred for taste, not just shelf life. For gardeners in smaller spaces or with limited summers, reaching a mature, delicious watermelon in 90 days feels almost miraculous.
Common Uses
Bush Jubilee watermelons are eaten fresh, chilled, and sliced on hot days, the way watermelon has been enjoyed for generations. The sweet red flesh makes them ideal for cutting into wedges, cubing for fruit salads, or simply serving cold with a pinch of salt. The seeded nature means the flesh contains viable seeds, which home gardeners can save and replant the following season.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Bush Jubilee seeds outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil temperature reaches 70°F or warmer. Sow at the spacing intervals specified for your garden layout, pushing seeds into warm soil where they can germinate quickly.
Harvesting
Bush Jubilee watermelons are ready to harvest around 90 days from planting. A ripe melon will feel heavy for its size, the skin will resist light pressure, and the spot where it rested on the ground will turn creamy yellow rather than pale green. The best indicator is the hollow sound produced when you tap the melon with your knuckles; a ripe fruit sounds deeper and more resonant than an unripe one. Cut the melon from the vine with a knife rather than twisting, leaving a short stem attached if possible.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Citrullus lanatus
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Citrullus
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)