Seedless
Orange Crisp is a seedless watermelon that delivers exceptional sweetness in a compact, manageable plant. Bred for northern gardeners who want reliable harvests in just 87 days from transplants, this F1 hybrid thrives in zones 3-11 and produces fruit with vibrant orange flesh and clean, refreshing flavor. Its compact growth habit and relatively short season make it surprisingly doable even for gardeners with limited space, while the seedless character appeals to anyone tired of spitting out seeds.
36-48 inches apart
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High
3-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual
High
Hover over chart points for details
The real draw here is reliability paired with an unusually short growing window. Orange Crisp matures in just 87 days from transplants, making it one of the few watermelons that can deliver a full harvest even in cool climates. The seedless character means nothing but sweet, crunchy flesh, and the orange color signals a uniquely flavored melon that breaks from the expected red interior. Compact vine growth means you're not battling sprawling plants across your entire garden.
Orange Crisp is grown primarily for fresh eating. The seedless character and excellent flavor make it ideal for slicing and serving fresh, either chilled as a simple snack or incorporated into fruit platters and desserts where the striking orange color becomes a visual centerpiece. The crisp texture suggests it holds up well to cutting and serving, making it particularly suited to entertaining or market sale.
Sow 2 seeds per cell or pot in 50-cell plug trays or 2-3 inch peat pots in late April, planting seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep. Maintain soil temperature at 80-90°F until germination, then grow seedlings at 75°F. About one week before transplanting, reduce both water and temperature to harden off your plants. Handle young plants carefully throughout and never allow the soil to dry out.
Transplant outdoors only when weather is frost-free, warm, and settled. Space plants 2-3 feet apart in rows 6-8 feet apart (72 inches between rows). If you've grown multiple seedlings per pot, thin to one plant per pot before moving to the garden.
Harvest when melons reach full maturity at 87 days from transplanting. Look for a creamy yellow spot on the underside where the melon rested on the ground, and check that the stem begins to crack or separate from the vine with gentle pressure. The melon should feel heavy for its size and produce a hollow sound when thumped, indicating ripe, crisp flesh inside.
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