Watermelon with orange flesh and crisp, “Tendersweet” produces an oblong fruit of about 7 kg (15 lb), sweet and juicy. Similar to the Orangelo variety, but smaller in size and slightly harder with light green skin with dark green stripes.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Difficulty       

Hard

Sowing        

Direct, Indoor

Lifecycle      

Annual

Root cellar   

No

Sowing season       

Spring

Seeds

~15

Growing tips

Conditions of germination:

depth of sowing: 1.5 cm

optimal temperatures of germination: 25 to 30ºC

time for germination: 5 to 10 days

When to sow:

indoor sowing 3 to 4 weeks before the last date in your area OR

direct sowing after any risk of frost, when the soil is warm and reaches 21ºC

Sowing technique: in pocket

Inside the same hole, sow 3 to 5 seeds spaced 1 to 2 cm apart; when the seeds have germinated and the seedlings have reached a height of 5 cm, keep all the plants if space is available or keep only the best plants.

for indoor seedlings: transplant into individual containers while waiting for transplanting in the garden OR

for direct seedlings: transplant to their final location in the garden

Transplanting outdoors (for seedlings started indoors):

When all risk of frost is removed and the soil is warmed.

Distance in the garden:

between plants: 50 cm

between rows: 100 cm

Port of the plants: running plant

Plant length: 300 cm if not pruned

Soil: enriched with organic matter and well drained

Watering: moderate, mulch to keep the soil moist

Exposure: full sun

Maturation (after transplanting): 85 to 95 days

Average life span of seeds: 4 to 5 years

Specificities:

Sow in biodegradable peat moss cups to avoid disturbing the roots when transplanting;

Since melons like heat, for best results, grow under cover or on black plastic mulch, especially at the beginning and end of the season when the nights are colder;

The melon is ready to be harvested when it sounds hollow when tapped.