Re: watermelon (sugar baby)

We had two kinds of Watermelon in the field last year.

Neither kind did much the first half of summer, but took off after that.

Interestingly, the smaller of the two (which may have been Sugar Babies) ripened noticeably LATER than the larger ones (a medium-sized striped variety).

We saved all kinds of seeds from both varieties, thinking we could always grind them for tea, and kidney cleansing.

We have just moved to a city garden in the past two weeks, so, likely we are too late planting Watermelon but we'll try some anyway with a winter squash or two...on a compost heap. The height of your pile gives extra surface space for the vines to sprawl. Fences give much extra room, too, if one has the time to place the vines on them.

Spring here has been at least two weeks later than traditional, and some fruit trees froze more than usual last year...so we may have some advantage in planting some things late.

Whatever we can do this year will help for next year, of course.

Yes, Watermelon is an annual plant, seeding itself from melons left in the field, or from folks who are good spitters, or seed-savers.

:D