Watermelon ‘Sugar Baby’

Watermelon ‘Sugar Baby’

Think watermelons can’t be grown in the UK? Think again! Sugar Baby is the ultimate compact watermelon variety, producing small, ultra-sweet fruits around 20cm across and weighing up to 4kg. With deep red, juicy flesh and a thin rind, these little melons are bursting with summer flavour — perfect for patios, greenhouses, or warm, sunny garden spots. A true showstopper you’ll be proud to grow!

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Harvest

July to September — fruits turn almost black when ripe, with a rich red interior.
Tap the melon with your knuckle:
• Hollow sound = perfectly ripe.

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Growing Instructions

• Best Location: Melons love warmth — a greenhouse is ideal, though they can grow outdoors in the warmest regions.
• Planting: Choose a sunny, sheltered position in well-drained soil or a growbag.
• Training: Grow along the ground or train upwards like cucumbers. If growing vertically, support the fruits with nets.
• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist (but not waterlogged). A drip feeder helps prevent drying out.
• Pollination: If needed, use a male flower to gently pollinate a female flower (identified by the tiny swelling beneath it).
• Feeding: Feed only once the fruit has begun to form.
• Pruning: Remove weak side shoots so the plant focuses energy on developing strong, sweet melons.

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Top Tips

• Warmth Equals Sweetness: The warmer the spot, the sweeter the fruit.
• Don’t Let Them Dry Out: Constant moisture makes all the difference with melons.
• Vertical Growing: Perfect for saving space — just remember to net the fruits as they grow.