Watermelon Charleston Gray
Watermelon Charleston Gray is a heirloom melon. Germination takes 4-12 days and fruit ripens from about day 85-95. Skin runs to gray-green skin with red flesh and dark seeds. Water need is 1-2 inches per week, deep watering preferred. Suits zones 5-11.
Sowing
Direct sow when soil reaches 70°F. Plant 4-6 seeds per hill, thin to 2-3 strongest seedlings. Requires long growing season.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hours)
- Water
- 1-2 inches per week, deep watering preferred
- Soil
- Deep, well-drained sandy loam with high organic matter
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 72-96 inches
- Height
- 4-8 inches
- Season
- Warm season
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Gray-green skin with red flesh and dark seeds
- Size
- 25-40 lbs
- Shape
- Elongated oval
- Flavour
- Sweet and refreshing with firm, crisp texture
In the kitchen
Fresh eating, large gatherings, juice, preserves
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Cucumber beetles, squash vine borers, aphids
- Diseases
- Powdery mildew, bacterial fruit blotch, gummy stem blight
- Resistance
- Excellent resistance to anthracnose and fusarium wilt
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | May – June | July | July – August | October – September |
| 3 | May | June – July | June – August | October |
| 4 | April – May | June | June – July | September – October |
| 5 | April | May – June | May – July | September – October |
| 6 | April | May – June | May – July | September – October |
| 7 | March – April | May | May – June | August – October |
| 8 | March | April – May | April – June | August – September |
| 9 | February | March – April | March – May | July – August |
| 10 | January – February | March | March – April | June – August |
| 11 | January | February | February – March | May – July |
| 12 | January | February | February – March | May – July |
| 13 | January | February | February – March | May – July |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 30
- Protein (g)
- 0.61
- Fat (g)
- 0.15
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 7.55
- Fibre (g)
- 0.4
- Sugars (g)
- 6.2
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 28
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 8.1
- Vitamin E (mg)
- 0.05
- Vitamin K (µg)
- 0.1
- Vitamin B6 (mg)
- 0.045
- Folate (µg)
- 3
- Calcium (mg)
- 7
- Iron (mg)
- 0.24
- Magnesium (mg)
- 10
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 11
- Potassium (mg)
- 112
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.1
- Selenium (µg)
- 0.4
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Watermelon Charleston Gray?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other melons with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Watermelon Charleston Gray suits these too.
- Early Dew Honeydew 85 days
- Hale's Best Cantaloupe 85 days
- Charleston Gray Watermelon 85 days
- Orange Honeydew Melon 85 days
- Watermelon Picnic 85 days
- Jade Dew Honeydew 85 days