Variety field guide
What to expect from Charleston Gray Watermelon Seeds
Charleston Gray Watermelon seeds produce red watermelon, commonly 20-40 lb, on vining/climbing plants.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Charleston Gray Watermelon seeds produce red watermelon, commonly 20-40 lb, on vining/climbing plants. It is best suited to large gardens, elongated picnic melons, transport, fresh slicing, and productive warm-season rows. crisp, juicy, sweet red watermelon flavor Grow the recognizable pale-rinded, elongated watermelon built for large harvests and crisp red slices.
About Charleston Gray
Charleston Gray is an annual watermelon with red color, 97–120 in mature height or spread, and a vining/climbing habit. Harvest form or size: commonly 20-40 lb. Botanically it is Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai. Maturity or first bloom: 80-89 Days; germination: 5-10 Days at 75–90 °F. Best for large gardens, elongated picnic melons, transport, fresh slicing, and productive warm-season rows. Crisp, juicy, sweet red watermelon flavor.
History and provenance
Charleston Grey was developed by USDA horticulturist Charles Fredric Andrus and released in 1954. Its elongated pale rind, red flesh, and disease-resistance work made it an important American watermelon standard. Botanical record: Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus. The broader crop history is kept separate from the documented history of the named variety. Where an exact breeder, introduction date, family story, or cultural attribution cannot be supported by a credible record, repeated claims are not presented as certain. Charleston Grey watermelon seeds produce large elongated watermelons with pale gray-green rinds and red flesh. The defining kitchen quality is crisp, juicy, sweet red watermelon flavor. Charleston Grey watermelon seeds are warm-season seed. The vines need full sun, warm soil, fertile drainage, and steady moisture while fruit is sizing.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | 80-89 Days |
| Germination | 5-10 Days at 75–90 °F |
| Seed depth | 1 in |
| Plant height / spread | 97–120 in |
| Growth habit | Vining/Climbing |
| Spacing | 36 in between plants; 48 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Charleston Gray from seed
How to grow Charleston Gray Watermelon
Botanical identity: Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai. Life cycle: Annual.
Sow 1 in and use a seed-zone temperature near 75–90 °F. Expected emergence: 5-10 Days. No stratification; direct sow into warm soil or start briefly in biodegradable cells and transplant young
Plant during Late Spring. Space plants 36 in apart with 48 in between rows or planting bands.
Provide Full sun, moderate water, and loamy near pH 6.0–6.5. Support: No-Support.
Garden performance and care
Give Charleston Gray enough room for its vining/climbing growth. Direct irrigation to the soil, keep developing fruit on dry mulch or boards where rot is common, and leave seed-saving fruit on the plant beyond the eating stage. Expected emergence is 5-10 Days; the listed maturity or bloom timing is 80-89 Days.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Charleston Gray is best for large gardens, elongated picnic melons, transport, fresh slicing, and productive warm-season rows. Harvest form or size: commonly 20-40 lb. Color at the principal harvest or mature stage: Red. Crisp, juicy, sweet red watermelon flavor.
Saving seed
Seed saving for Charleston Gray Select several healthy, true-to-type plants so the saved lot represents the variety rather than one unusually early or large individual. Melons are insect-pollinated and varieties of the same species can cross. Isolate compatible varieties or use controlled pollination, and mark fruit from healthy true-to-type plants. Allow seed fruit to become fully ripe; eating ripeness and seed maturity should both be reached. Remove seed, separate pulp by washing or short fermentation as appropriate, rinse until clean, and dry in a thin layer with good airflow. Keep records of species, variety, plant count, isolation, ripeness test, fruit traits, and year.
Common problems
Watch Charleston Gray for cucumber beetles, squash bugs where applicable, aphids, powdery or downy mildew, bacterial wilt, crown rot, poor pollination, and fruit damage on wet soil. Rotate cucurbit crops, provide airflow, water at the root zone, protect young plants before flowering, and remove covers when blossoms need pollinators. Do not work wet vines.
Frequently asked questions
When is Charleston Gray ready?
80-89 Days from warm direct sowing or equivalent established transplant
How long does germination take?
Expect 5-10 Days near 75–90 °F; actual emergence changes with moisture, seed condition, and soil temperature.
How large does it grow?
About 97–120 in with a vining/climbing habit. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container?
Best in open ground or a large raised bed; mature vines require substantial horizontal or vertical space.
How is it used?
Primary uses: large gardens, elongated picnic melons, transport, fresh slicing, and productive warm-season rows. Crisp, juicy, sweet red watermelon flavor.
Can I save seed?
Yes where the crop biology allows, but keep compatible varieties isolated, use several healthy plants, wait for full seed maturity, dry thoroughly, and label the lot.
Minimum Seed Count:30 seeds
