Watermelon Charleston Gray

Watermelon Charleston Gray Seeds: Big, Juicy Heirloom

Grow the popular Charleston Gray Watermelon (*Citrullus lanatus*), a big and juicy open-pollinated heirloom perfect for your home garden! These oblong watermelons typically reach 24 inches long and 10 inches wide, weighing around 30 pounds.

The flesh is a vibrant bright red, fiberless, and crisp, while the tough rind makes it an excellent choice for shipping. Charleston Gray is known for its resistance to Fusarium Wilt (FW), Anthracnose Race 1 (AN1), and Anthracnose Race 3 (AN3).

This reliable variety matures in approximately 88 days, offering a satisfying harvest of large, delicious, and transportable watermelons.

Key Features of Charleston Gray Watermelon

• Large & Juicy: Produces substantial watermelons around 30 pounds.
• Bright Red & Fiberless Flesh: Offers a delightful texture and taste.
• Excellent Shipper: Tough rind ensures good transportability.
• Resistant to FW, AN1, AN3: Provides good disease resistance.
• Open-Pollinated & Heirloom: A trusted variety with a rich history.
• Matures in 88 Days: Offers a relatively quick harvest.

Growing Your Charleston Gray Watermelon

In cooler climates, start watermelon seeds indoors about a month before transplanting, planting three seeds per peat pot 1/4 inch deep and maintaining a soil temperature of 80-85°F. Thin to the strongest seedling and transplant after the last frost, placing two or three plants per hill with 6-8 feet of space in all directions.

In warmer climates, direct sow seeds once the soil reaches at least 75°F, planting six seeds per hill with the same spacing and thinning to the strongest plants. Choose a location with full sun and rich, loose soil. Mulching can help warm the soil and control weeds.

Keep the soil moist until fruit begins to develop, then water only when the soil is dry. Harvest when the underside turns a rich yellow, the tendril closest to the stem browns, and the melon sounds dull when tapped.