Sugar Baby melons are a popular choice for home gardeners due to their compact size and sweet flavor. These “icebox” watermelons weigh between 8 to 10 pounds and measure 7 to 8 inches across. They have a dark green rind, often with slight dark veins, and a vibrant red, firm, crisp flesh containing few small, tan-black seeds. With a high “brix” measurement of 10.2, Sugar Baby watermelons are one of the sweetest cultivars available.
Planting Sugar Baby Melons
Successful Sugar Baby melon planting begins with careful site selection and soil preparation. These melons need full sun exposure, at least eight hours daily, for optimal growth and sweetness. Well-draining soil is also important, as excessive moisture can cause issues.
The ideal soil pH for Sugar Baby melons ranges from 6.0 to 6.8, though they tolerate 5.5 to 7.5. Amending the soil with organic matter, such as compost or well-aged manure, improves fertility and drainage. Before planting, ensure the soil temperature stays above 70°F (21°C), as these warm-season crops cannot tolerate cold.
You can direct sow seeds outdoors or start them indoors for an earlier harvest, especially in regions with shorter growing seasons. If starting indoors, plant seeds about 3-4 weeks before the last expected frost, keeping them warm around 75°F (24°C). For direct sowing, plant seeds ½ to 1 inch deep in hills or rows after the danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures are warm.
When planting in hills, space them 4 to 6 feet apart, with 3-4 seeds per hill, thinning to the healthiest plant once seedlings emerge.
For row planting, space individual plants 3 to 4 feet apart, with rows 6 to 8 feet apart to allow for vine spread.
After planting, provide initial deep watering to help establish seeds or transplants.
Caring for Sugar Baby Melons
Consistent watering is important throughout the growing season. Deep watering is beneficial, especially during flowering and fruiting, as this encourages development. Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Avoid overwatering or overhead watering, which can encourage fungal diseases.
Sugar Baby melons are heavy feeders, requiring nutrients to produce sweet fruit. At planting, incorporating compost provides a foundational nutrient boost. A balanced fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 blend, can be applied every 3-4 weeks once plants begin to grow. A fertilizer higher in phosphorus and potassium (like a 5-10-10 or 8-16-16) can be used once vines start running and fruit sets. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization once flowering begins, as this promotes leafy growth at the expense of fruit.
Monitoring for common pests and diseases helps maintain plant health. Cucumber beetles can damage leaves, flowers, and fruits, and transmit bacterial wilt. Aphids suck plant sap, leading to yellowing leaves and stunted growth, and can transmit viruses. Powdery mildew, anthracnose, and fusarium wilt are common diseases.
Organic control methods include:
Hand-picking pests.
Using floating row covers to protect young plants (removed during flowering for pollination).
Applying neem oil or insecticidal soaps for aphid and mildew control.
Crop rotation to disrupt pest and disease cycles.
Pollination is essential for fruit set, as bees transfer pollen between the separate male and female flowers. If natural pollination is insufficient, hand-pollination can be performed by transferring pollen from male to female blooms using a small brush or cotton swab. Trellising can save space and keep fruit off the ground. Light pruning can manage overly dense vines. Maintaining a weed-free area reduces competition for water and nutrients.
Harvesting Sugar Baby Melons
Knowing when to harvest Sugar Baby melons ensures best sweetness and flavor. Several indicators signal ripeness. The tendril closest to the fruit stem is a reliable clue; when it turns completely brown and dry, the melon is ready or will be soon. Some growers suggest waiting about a week after the tendril dries for sugars to fully develop.
The ground spot, where the melon rests on the soil, is another indicator. A ripe Sugar Baby melon’s ground spot turns from white or pale green to a creamy yellow or butter yellow. The skin appearance also changes; a dulling of the shiny rind suggests ripeness, moving from a glossy to a matte finish.
The “thump test” can also be used; a ripe melon produces a dull, hollow sound when lightly tapped with knuckles, unlike the higher-pitched sound of an unripe melon. When multiple indicators align, the melon is ready for harvest. Sugar Baby melons mature in about 75 to 80 days from planting. To harvest, cut the melon from the vine with a sharp knife or pruners, leaving a small stem segment attached.
Common Issues and Solutions
Gardeners may encounter challenges when growing Sugar Baby melons. If plants produce flowers but no fruit sets, poor pollination is a common cause, often due to insufficient bee activity or extreme temperatures. Hand-pollinating flowers can help.
Melons rotting on the vine can occur due to excessive moisture around the fruit or direct contact with damp soil. Placing a barrier, such as cardboard, straw, or a pot, underneath the developing melon elevates it, improving air circulation and preventing rot. Fungal diseases can also contribute to rotting, so proper spacing and avoiding overhead watering help.
Yellowing leaves often signal an underlying issue. This can result from overwatering, which deprives roots of oxygen, or from nutrient deficiencies, particularly nitrogen. Pests like aphids also cause leaves to yellow. Adjusting watering practices, providing balanced fertilization, and managing pest populations can resolve yellowing.
Cracked melons result from inconsistent watering, where a sudden influx of water after a dry spell causes the fruit to expand too rapidly. Maintaining a consistent watering schedule, especially as fruits mature, prevents this. Small or bland fruit can stem from inadequate sunlight, insufficient nutrients, or premature harvesting. Ensuring plants receive full sun, providing consistent fertilization, and waiting for all ripeness indicators before harvesting leads to larger, sweeter melons.