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Growing African Giant Watermelon in the Vegetable Garden

African Giant is a warm-season crop that demands heat and plenty of growing space. Start seeds indoors in peat pots 3 to 4 weeks before your last frost date to avoid disturbing roots at transplant. Set transplants outdoors once soil has warmed to at least 65 F and all frost danger has passed — typically 2 weeks after the last frost date. To direct sow, plant 4 to 5 seeds per hill at a depth of 1 inch once soil temperatures are reliably above 65 F. Space hills 3 to 4 feet apart in rows 6 to 8 feet apart, then thin to the 2 to 3 strongest seedlings per hill once true leaves appear.

Water deeply and consistently throughout the season, applying 1 to 2 inches per week. As fruits approach maturity, taper off watering to concentrate sweetness and reduce the risk of splitting. Apply a balanced fertilizer at planting and side-dress with a nitrogen source once vines begin to run. Mulching around plants conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, and helps keep developing fruit off the soil. Use row covers early in the season to warm soil and protect young plants from cucumber beetles — remove covers when flowers appear to allow pollination.

Harvesting African Giant Watermelon

African Giant is ready to harvest around 90 days from direct seeding. Look for three ripeness cues together: the tendril nearest the fruit withers and browns, the ground spot (where the melon rests on soil) shifts from white to creamy yellow, and the rind takes on a dull, waxy sheen rather than a glossy finish. A hollow thump when you knock on the fruit with your knuckles is another reliable indicator. Harvest by cutting the stem cleanly with garden shears rather than pulling. Uncut melons keep at room temperature for up to 10 days; once cut, wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

About African Giant Watermelon Garden Seeds

Watermelon originated in Africa, where wild ancestors were cultivated in the Nile Valley and surrounding regions thousands of years ago. Large-fruited African types have long been grown across the continent for their abundant flesh and impressive size.

African Giant carries on that tradition, producing elongated fruits with deep green, lightly striped skin, sweet red flesh, and the bold, black-speckled seeds characteristic of traditional open-pollinated watermelons.

With fruits routinely exceeding 30 pounds, this variety is an excellent choice for growers who want to maximize yield per plant or put up an impressive display at the end of a long summer.

Tips From Our Gardeners

With a melon this size, give the developing fruit a little help — slip a folded piece of cardboard or a scrap of wood under each one to keep it off bare soil. It keeps the bottom from rotting and helps the fruit ripen evenly all the way around.

- Jerry Sawyer, True Leaf Market Writer

African Giant Watermelon Seeds Per Package:

• 2 g Packet - Approximately 20 Seeds
• 1 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 225 Seeds
• 4 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 1,100 Seeds
• 1 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 4,700 Seeds
• 5 lb - Wholesale - Approximately 23,500 Seeds
• 25 lb - Wholesale - Approximately 117,000 Seeds

African Giant Watermelon seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.