{"product_id":"watermelon-seeds-giant-african-giant","title":"Watermelon Seeds - Giant - African Giant","description":"\u003cp\u003e90 days. \u003cem\u003eCitrullus lanatus\u003c\/em\u003e. African Giant Watermelon Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, seeded, giant watermelon. This crop is suitable for growing in fields and garden plots. African Giant lives up to its name, producing massive, elongated fruits that routinely top 30 pounds at harvest. Deep green skin with lighter stripes gives way to sweet, juicy red flesh packed with large black-speckled seeds — a classic look and taste in a truly impressive package. A heat-loving variety ideal for long summer seasons and spacious growing areas. ~294 seeds\/oz.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!--split--\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.trueleafmarket.com\/pages\/the-vegetable-growing-guide-from-true-leaf-market\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDownload Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!--attr--\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatin Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eCitrullus lanatus\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness Zone:\u003c\/strong\u003e Annual in zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDays to Maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDays to Germination:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4-10\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeeding Depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 inch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDirect Sow:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStart Indoors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, 3 to 4 weeks before transplanting outdoors.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Spacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e 36-48 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRow Spacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e 72-96 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Height:\u003c\/strong\u003e 12-24 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Width:\u003c\/strong\u003e 96-144 inches\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Habit:\u003c\/strong\u003e Vining\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeer Resistant:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil Preference:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well-drained, fertile, sandy loam; pH 6.0 to 6.8. Amend with compost before planting.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature Preference:\u003c\/strong\u003e Warmer, 70 to 85 F\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGermination Temperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e 70 to 95 F\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLight Preference:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full Sun\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePests and Diseases:\u003c\/strong\u003e Susceptible to cucumber beetles, aphids, and vine borers. Watch for powdery mildew, anthracnose, and gummy stem blight; rotate cucurbits annually to reduce disease pressure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatermelon Color:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep green skin with lighter stripes; sweet red flesh\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWatermelon Flavor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sweet, juicy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGarden Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fields, Garden Plot\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClimate Tolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Heat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!--endattr--\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing African Giant Watermelon in the Vegetable Garden\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfrican 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWater 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHarvesting African Giant Watermelon\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfrican 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout African Giant Watermelon Garden Seeds\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWatermelon 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfrican 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eTips From Our Gardeners\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ctable width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 20.7517%;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" height=\"89\" width=\"89\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2016\/2681\/files\/jerry-sawyer-true-leaf-market-author.jpg\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 75.2483%;\"\u003e \u003cem\u003e- Jerry Sawyer, True Leaf Market Writer\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eAfrican Giant Watermelon Seeds Per Package:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 g Packet - Approximately 20 Seeds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 225 Seeds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4 oz - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 1,100 Seeds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 lb - Bulk Seeds - Approximately 4,700 Seeds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e5 lb - Wholesale - Approximately 23,500 Seeds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e25 lb - Wholesale - Approximately 117,000 Seeds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfrican Giant Watermelon seeds are available for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/trueleafmarket.com\/pages\/shipping-information\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFast Free Shipping\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e on qualifying orders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c!--split--\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- PACKAGE PARAGRAPHS (plain text, for organic page reuse) --\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- PARAGRAPH 1 (salesy, 100-225 chars):\nGiant watermelons with deep green skin and sweet red flesh. African Giant delivers impressive 30-lb fruits for summer harvests that turn heads.\n--\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- PARAGRAPH 2 (growing instructions, 100-225 chars):\nDirect sow after frost in full sun. Space hills 3-4 ft apart in 6-8 ft rows. Keep watered and mulched; harvest at 90 days.\n--\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- ELEVATOR PITCH (1 sentence):\nAfrican Giant Watermelon seeds grow enormous 30-plus-pound fruits with sweet red flesh and bold striped skin - a showstopping harvest for gardeners with space to grow big.\n--\u003e\n\n","brand":"Mountain Valley Seed Company","offers":[{"title":"2g Packet","offer_id":45133263274099,"sku":"83746","price":3.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 oz","offer_id":45133263306867,"sku":"83747","price":11.69,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"4 oz","offer_id":45133263339635,"sku":"83748","price":27.76,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 lb","offer_id":45133263372403,"sku":"64969","price":81.69,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5 lb","offer_id":45133263405171,"sku":"83749","price":313.16,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"25 lb","offer_id":45133263437939,"sku":"83750","price":1253.07,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2016\/2681\/files\/1782758576_watermelon_african_giant_comp_189a96ef-706c-4e34-ac8c-e21a2977aec0.jpg?v=1782872413","url":"https:\/\/store.trueleafmarket.com\/products\/watermelon-seeds-giant-african-giant","provider":"True Leaf Market","version":"1.0","type":"link"}