What is a Moon and Stars Watermelon?

Since my last blog, I have had a few friends ask for a little more information about the "moon and stars" watermelon variety, which is a main ingredient in the wonderful gazpacho recipe recently posted. The moon and stars Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a variety that I grow every summer. Our cottage garden is small in square footage, but the edible landscape provides a huge amount of produce. Every plant in the garden must earn its keep. The moon and stars watermelon is a flavorful fruit that can also serve as an eye-catching yellow-speckled leaf groundcover that can help keep weeds at bay.

Like a night sky?

This variety is an heirloom variety that has been said to date back to before the 1900s and reached popularity in the 1920s seed catalogs (according to Slow Food USA). Seeds—much like fashion—go in and out of vogue. Every season, major growers select and grow their favorite plants. They are then packaged, marketed, and distributed through the retail outlets. The consumer then makes their purchase from the selection given at point of sale. Viola! A plant trend for that season may emerge.

Decorating the garden walk...

Although the plant industry has come a long way in delivering fantastic plants for our gardens, there are sometimes drawbacks to this form of distribution. As a gardener, I save seeds, propagate plants by cutting, and always share. This brings me back to the celestial beauty of a watermelon, the moon and stars. Had it not been for a farmer from Missouri by the name of Merle Van Doren sharing his seeds with Kent Whealy of Seed Savers Exchange, this variant may not exist. It was thought to have fallen into extinction. When I see the moon and stars variety, it reminds me of the importance of saving seeds and sharing plants to keep varieties going—just in case they are not on trend and fall out of vogue.

On the vine...

The moon and stars watermelon is like no other watermelon. It has a yellow-spotted skin on a deep green background that resembles looking up into the night sky. The interior can be red or yellow depending on variety. Each contains a large number of seeds and is oblong in shape. When close to maturity, it will be heavy in weight and have slightly raised ridges.

Jumping the fence...

Want to give it a try? Below are some growing tips for your next warm-season garden.

Growing Tips:

·      Amend planting area with compost.

·      Plant when soil temperature is 60 degrees or above.

·      Give it eight hours of full sun, and well-draining sandy loam soil with pH of 6 to 6.8.

·      The vine will spread about eight to 10 feet.

·      Give it plenty of water.

For more information about growing watermelons, go to Clemson Extension Home and Garden Information Center.