Navajo Winter Watermelon

We live in the high desert of southern utah, 5000k elevation zone 7a-b. This watermelon is easy to grow with minimal water ( ideal for our area ) and attention. It is sprawling but the leaves are smaller so it does not completely take over a bed. I planted these after last frost date around mid May. They were slow to set fruit but once they did, the melons grew pretty well without much attention from me. They were at the hot south side of the house. They are a good size and have a delicious flavor. They "volunteered" in my compost bin - they started growing in July and have full size melons. I do not offer them any additional water. Their growth did coincide with our monsoon season, so this may be something to consider when planting again next year and also for others who live in a similar climate. Great melon - will grow again and would recommend to others

I tried growing about 8 different types of shorter season watermelons and melons last year. This one and the Cream Of Saskatchewan were the clear winners. Both produced well in our dry climate. The Navajo Winter had one of the best flavors for a winter melon and kept in our garage until early December (picked in early September). The only downside is that this watermelon was LOADED with seeds.

Kids ate them up before I could test the storage!

I did this for my container garden and its doing really well. I love the leaves on it and the vine trailing out of the container on to the balcony and I also trained it up the trellis. Pre started the seeds indoors. Have small watermelons golf ball size or less. I did it to be more ornamental. It seemed to be slow growing in June and it liked Julys heat. Watering container once a day.yellow flowers and still blooming in August. Will do again

This plant handles heat very well. As does the melons. Gets well established before setting fruit. Fruit set when vines got about fifteen feet. We have 5 melons per plant. They are between ten and fifteen pounds each. Picked one already and it was delicious. No chemical fertilizers or pesticides needed. Just some old fashioned compost tea does the trick. Great plant if you have the space and like to grow organic.