(82 days) Open-pollinated. When David Nonnenmacher of Hawley, PA, claimed his absolute beauties started at 15 lb and topped off at 26 and 28, he would perhaps forgive our skepticism. You couldn’t grow those in Maine, we thought, until Erica Rudloff of Exeter proved us wrong by exhibiting her magnificent 19-lb specimen at the 2015 Common Ground Fair. Bred by David Podoll of North Dakota to be intermediate between its parents, small early maturing Early Canada and enormous late-maturing Black Diamond, its skin light green with dark green stripes and its flesh red. A star in CR’s 2007 trials, maturing early and producing 8–12 lb fruits, 2–3 per plant. It has few seeds and stores longer than most others.
Nonnenmacher reported its outstanding juiciness and flavor “drew raves from chefs and many fellow PASA members. I think I have them convinced that modern seedless watermelons not only leave out the seeds but also the flavor.” We have no difficulty believing that. OSSI. Independent Breeder. ①
This item is certified organic