FruitWatermelon
Peacock Improved Watermelon
Peacock Improved Watermelon is a beloved heirloom variety that has earned its place in southwestern American gardens for generations. This open-pollinated, seeded picnic watermelon produces hardy fruits built for both the table and the road, thriving in hardiness zones 3 through 13. From seed to ripe melon takes roughly 80 to 89 days, and the plants sprawl across garden beds with characteristic vining growth, reaching 12 to 18 inches tall while needing ample space to spread.
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
High
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Highlights
Peacock Improved is a heat-loving heirloom that thrives where summers get hot and long. Its reputation for hardiness and shipping capability speaks to fruit quality that doesn't fade during handling or storage. This variety produces seeded watermelons with the sturdy character that made it a staple in the Southwest, rewarding gardeners who give it full sun, warmth, and room to vine across garden beds.
Common Uses
Peacock Improved watermelons are grown as fresh eating melons, the kind you slice into wedges on hot summer days or serve chilled at picnics. The seeded fruit, characteristic of this heirloom type, offers the traditional watermelon eating experience. Its shipability also speaks to its suitability for storage and transport, making it practical for gardeners who want to preserve their harvest or share melons with friends and family across distances.
Growing Timeline
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Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Peacock Improved seeds into warm garden soil after the last frost date has passed and soil has warmed to at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant seeds in warm to hot weather conditions, as the variety strongly prefers warm soil for germination and growth.
Harvesting
Peacock Improved watermelons are ready to pick 80 to 89 days after planting. Harvest when the melon develops a full, rounded shape and the underside turns from white to a pale creamy yellow (the spot where the melon rested on the ground). The melon should feel heavy for its size, and the skin should resist puncture from a fingernail. Cut or carefully twist the melon from the vine rather than pulling, which can damage the stem. With good harvesting technique, these sturdy fruits remain undamaged and ready for storage or immediate enjoyment.
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)
History & Origin
“Peacock Improved holds the distinction of being a popular heirloom watermelon in the southwestern region of the USA, where it developed a reputation for producing melons robust enough to withstand shipping. The variety's dual name as Peacock Improved Shipper underscores its practical heritage: farmers and gardeners selected it specifically for fruits that could travel from field to market without bruising or degrading. As an open-pollinated heirloom, it has been maintained through seed saving by growers who valued both its resilience and its reliable flavor, preserving this variety through the decades into contemporary seed catalogs.”