Citrullus lanatus
Origin: Africa via Vashon Island, Washington
Improvement status: Breeding population
Seeds per packet: ~15
Germination tested 01/2026: 94%
Life cycle: Annual
This exciting breeding mix comes from our good friend Jennifer Williams of Wild Dreams Farm on Vashon Island in the Salish Sea of Washington State. This is the first watermelon grex we've offered (that word is the Latin for "flock" and was first used by plant breeders in the orchid world, to describe wide crosses with a lot of diversity, continually intercrossing through generations). We'll let Jen take the story from here:
"These seeds are the first generation of a large scale crowd breeding project. [Many different watermelons were] grown together, cross pollinated, and the seeds as that result will produce highly diverse fruits, flowers, roots, and leaves. It is a fun and exiting way to encourage biodiversity as the plants rearrange their genetics and produce many different combinations of sizes, colors, shapes, and flavors. Now not all of the seeds in this mix will produce perfect watermelons. You will have the opportunity to select which plants are healthy and produce delicious fruits for you in your garden and your microclimate. If you continue to save seeds from the plants and fruits you like best, over many years you will begin to create a watermelon variety just for you and your community!
This project started with two diverse mixes from friends in the Going to Seed community. Thank you Kay and Evalisa for helping get this project started with tons of diversity! I added to the mix multiple stable watermelon varieties such as 'Small Shining Light', 'Crimson Sweet', 'Petite Yellow', 'Moon and Stars', and 'Sugar Baby'. Over 300 plants were grown together and cross pollinated."
She concludes, "I hope you enjoy the start of a breeding project in your own soil!" And we can't wait to see what you all do with these!
GROWING TIPS: Direct-sow once soil begins to warm in spring. You can also start a few weeks earlier indoors, but watermelon doesn't always appreciate being transplanted. Leave plenty of room for plants to sprawl around.
