Cuban Queen Watermelon

Cuban Queen Watermelon

• The "Cuban Queen" watermelon is a hybrid variety first developed in the late 1800s. It is known for its ability to produce fruit up to 100 pounds in size, though reaching this weight requires a lot of pampering by the grower. The fruits are white-seeded and are nearly round, typically measuring slightly longer than wide. The seed was first offered to the public in 1890 by Johnson and Stokes Seed Co. and continues to be a common variety today.

Culture

• "Cuban Queen" watermelons need a long, hot growing season to reach their full potential. They grow well in the southern half of the country but need to get an early start to ripen in northern climates. The fruit grows on long tendrils that sprawl up to 10 feet and matures about 90 days after planting. Ample irrigation is critical for fruit formation, but too much water can also lead to problems with fruit rot and fungal infections.

Planting

• "Cuban Queen" watermelons usually germinate in less than a week if the soil temperature is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They can be sown outdoors after all danger of frost has passed, or indoors about two weeks before the average date of last frost. To ensure good drainage, plant on mounds or raised beds, allowing at least 50 square feet for each plant. For the biggest melons, enrich the soil with rotted manure several weeks before planting. "Cuban Queen" watermelons prefer soils with a pH between 6.1 and 7.5.

Optimum Harvest

• For the sweetest, most flavorful watermelons, reduce watering in the last weeks before harvest to concentrate the sugars in the fruit. For the biggest melons, don't hold back on the water, but apply it at ground level only, if possible. The plants are more susceptible to mildew and other fungal diseases if they are constantly wet -- if using an overhead irrigation system, water in the morning so the leaves can dry off quickly in the heat of day. When the tendril nearest to the fruit begins to turn brown, the watermelon is at peak ripeness. Harvest the "Cuban Queen" late in the day to reduce the chance of cracking.