7 Types and Varieties of Watermelon Most Famous and Delicious

The watermelon (or watermelon, as it is known in some American countries) is today one of the most widespread fruits in the world, due to its exquisite flavor and texture.

Spain is one of the countries where it is most cultivated, along with Turkey, Greece, Italy, Japan and China.It is a tropical fruit native to Africa, where since ancient times it was grown on the banks of the Nile River.

Africans brought it to Europe and Europeans brought it to America.Its main varieties are the following:

crimson-sweet

If we were in the movies, this variety of sangria would be one of the classic movies of all time.

We find it everywhere. Its plant is rustic and resistant and has the advantage of adapting to any climatic and cultivation conditions.

Its fruit is round, with light green skin striated dark green. Its size is characteristic, as it can weigh up to 15 kg of crunchy, sweet, red meat without streaks. It is a variety of medium cycle and very grouped production.Its sale in Spain is very good.

Cute queen

Striped watermelon variety of the Encanto type, characterized by its earliness; of excellent germination.

Vigorous plant, with medium round fruits, weighing 3 kg, and resistant to over-ripening, which makes it exportable.

Its red meat is firm, has a low content of white seeds and is very sweet; this allows an abundant early harvest. It is a type of fruit highly valued in the markets.

black queen

It is a triploid variety (seedless) with very dark skin, without veining, round; It is the largest type in black, 9 kg.Its main characteristic is the sweetness of its bright red flesh, very attractive, and its good germination.

Zebra

Variety of triploid watermelon with stripes darker than that of the beautiful queen, but of equal weight. It is ideal for production because it adapts easily to greenhouses and outdoors. The great quality of its intense red pulp, without seeds, makes it a favorite for the most demanding palate.

funny

Novel variety in the market of seedless watermelons, striped skin, bright yellow flesh, with a fibrous texture and high sugar content. Average weight of 5 kg. It is also known as watermelon melon.

It has different properties from its sisters, the red watermelons, which is why it is very popular throughout Europe.

It is believed that it arises from natural pollination that combines the properties of pumpkin and watermelon. It is produced in Salamanca and has medicinal properties to improve the immune system, and the amino acids it contains are used to combat hypertension and diabetes.

sugarbaby

One of the sweetest varieties. North American, with a smooth, dark green skin and pale pink flesh with a lot of water, it is very productive and has a short ripening cycle.

Its fruits are medium 5 kg. It has the particularity that it breaks easily. It prefers well-drained soils rich in organic matter and essential nutrients.

fashion

Seedless (triploic) watermelon that is produced in Tarragona and is very popular in the Spanish market. Its appearance is similar to the traditional watermelon, dark green color almost black.

Good palate, great resistance and conservation. It is produced both in the greenhouse and in the open air. Its production and supply go from April to October.

Seedless watermelons are formed by hybridization when two plants with incompatible sets of chromosomes are crossed.From this cross, a very appetizing type of watermelon is obtained that has a series of benefits for humans.

One of the characteristics of the seedless watermelon is that it contains lycopene, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, iron, citrulline and beta-carotene.For the rest, watermelons contain vitamins A, B1, B2, and B6, which shows that it is not only an exquisite fruit but also necessary for health.

Picnic

Picnic-type varieties are what most of us think of when we think of watermelon.

Whether oblong or round, the fruits weigh at least 15 pounds, but often more, enough to feed a small crowd at a summer gathering.

A close-up of three large oblong watermelons with mottled green skin on a blue wooden chair with a brick wall in the background.
The large fruits of these varieties require more cultivation time than others before they are ready for harvest.

If your growing season is long, you can sow the seeds directly into the soil in your garden.

But if, like me, your summer garden fun is often cut short by early fall frosts, you’ll probably need to start growing picnic watermelons indoors and transplant them into your garden after the last spring frost.

Read more about how to determine if you should start the seeds indoors or plant them directly in the garden.

Ready to delve into all the sweet and juicy details? All right, grab your napkin and let’s go!

allsweet

‘Allsweet’ has the classic look of a picnic variety of watermelon. With good disease resistance, it is well suited to long growing seasons.

This cultivar produces large oblong fruits weighing between 9 to 13 kg each, with dark and light green striped skin.

With firm, sweet, bright red flesh, the fruits reach 60 to 90 centimeters in length and seven inches in diameter at maturity. The seeds are dark brown.

Also called «All Sweet,» it’s an open-pollinated variety, so you can save the seeds from this year’s harvest to grow next year’s melons.

A close up of a large ‘Allsweet’ watermelon with bright red flesh, cut in half and placed on a wooden surface with the foliage softly focused in the background.

They are resistant to fusarium wilt and anthracnose.

‘Allsweet’ will be ready for harvest in 90-104 days after planting.

Packets of 100 certified organic seeds are available for purchase at Burpee.

charleston gray

‘Charleston Gray’ is a distinguished heirloom variety that produces large, cylindrical fruit with uniform greenish-grey skin.

Also known as «Charleston Grey,» the sweet, red flesh of this open-pollinated cultivar is crisp and fiberless. The hard rind of the fruits makes them keep well.

They often reach 12 to 15 kg each when they are ready to be harvested, so you had better be prepared to munch on some watermelons this summer if you choose this type.

A close-up of a long, oval fruit, Citrullus lanatus ‘Charleston Gray’, with light green skin and red flesh with black seeds, placed on a metal surface.

The plants reach a height of 40 to 60 centimeters and should be thinned 90 cm apart, to allow a spread of 180 to 250 centimeters.

This cultivar is resistant to fusarium wilt and anthracnose, as well as sunburn. It can be harvested in 85 days.

‘Charleston Gray’ is available to buy in packs of 50 Burpee seeds.

Georgia Rattlesnake

‘Georgia Rattlesnake’ bears large, oblong fruit with light green skin and dark green stripes, leading some gardeners to think of the skin of a rattlesnake.

This heirloom picnic-type watermelon variety can reach 60 centimeters in length and average 14 kg at maturity, with sweet, bright pink flesh and a thin rind.

And it’s open pollinated, so save those seeds to plant next year.

A close-up of freshly harvested Citrullus lanatus ‘Georgia Rattlesnake ‘, cut in half to show the bright red flesh, contrasting with the mottled light green skin. The fruits are placed in a wooden box and displayed under the sunlight.

The ‘Georgia Rattlesnake’ takes 90 days to mature, with a height of 40 to 60 centimeters and a spread of 180 to 250 centimeters.

You’ll find ‘Georgia Rattlesnake’ seed packets for purchase in an assortment of sizes at Eden Brothers.

Klondike Blue Ribbon Striped

‘Klondike Blue Ribbon Striped’ is an open-pollinated heirloom variety that has been a garden favorite since the early 20th century, loved for its deliciously sweet flesh.

This variety of picnic watermelon produces oblong watermelons that top out at 6-10 kilograms.

The fruits have a thin but tough rind with alternating light and dark green stripes. The flesh is bright crimson, delicious and crisp, and its high sugar content makes it very sweet.

A close up of a large speckled green fruit of Citrullus lanatus ‘Klondike Blue Ribbon’ growing in the garden, surrounded by foliage. A white circular logo with text appears at the bottom right of the frame.

The plants are resistant to fusarium wilt, anthracnose and sunburn. Although the shells of these fruits are thin, they hold up well to handling.

‘Klondike Blue Ribbon Striped’ will be ready for harvest in 80-90 days.

Golden Midget

‘Golden Midget’ is a personal size watermelon variety that will really stand out in your watermelon garden, literally.

The skins of this open-pollinated variety turn golden when ripe, making it easy to harvest.

The round fruits are small, barely one kilo each, and contain a sweet pink pulp with dark seeds.

A close up of Citrullus lanatus ‘Golden Midget’. These small fruits have bright orange skin and light red flesh, and are placed on a wooden surface.

‘Golden Midget’ is a super early variety, ideal for short season growers: fruits will be ready for harvest in just 70 days.

You’ll find ‘Golden Midget’ available for purchase in an assortment of pack sizes at Eden Brothers.

little darling

‘Little Darling’ is a small, early maturing hybrid watermelon variety bearing 2-3kg oblong fruits with dark green rind.

These personal-sized fruits are high in sugar, which means their red meat is super sweet.

A close up of a bunch of Citrullus lanatus ‘Little Darling’. The bright red flesh contrasts with the dark green skin of these miniature watermelons, arranged on a wooden tray, with the foliage in soft focus in the background.

Vines of this early maturing cultivar are compact and 1.5-1.5 meters long, producing melons that are ready for harvest in 65-70 days. Three to four fruits per plant are expected.

mini-love

‘Mini Love’ is a compact, high yielding hybrid that produces round watermelons that will only bear fruit once.

The fruits weigh between three and six pounds, with about six fruits per plant.

The flesh of this cultivar is deep red in color and has a high sugar content, making it a delicious and juicy personal-sized treat.