Tiger Baby Watermelons – Growing Tiger Baby Melons In The Garden

All cold, ripe watermelons have fans on hot afternoons, but some types of melons are particularly delicious. Many put Tiger Baby watermelons in that category, with their super-sweet, bright red meat. If you are interested in growing Tiger Baby melons, read on.
About Tiger Baby Melon Vines
If you are wondering why they call this melon ‘Tiger Baby,’ just take a look at its outside. The peel is a dark gray-green and covered with rich green stripes. The pattern resembles the stripes of a young tiger. The meat of the melon is thick, bright red, and deliciously sweet. The melons that grow on Tiger Baby vines are round, growing to 1.5 feet (45 cm.) in diameter. They are a very early cultivar with great potential.
Growing Tiger Baby Melons
If you want to start growing Tiger Baby melons, you will do best in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. The Tiger Baby melon vines are tender and cannot tolerate a freeze, so don’t plant them too early. When you start growing these melons, check the acidity of your soil. The plants prefer a pH between slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. Sow the seeds after all chance of frost is passed. Plant the seeds at a depth of about one-third of an inch (1 cm.) and about 8 feet (2.5 m.) apart to allow the melon vines enough room to develop. During germination, the soil temperature should be above 61 degrees F. (16 C.).
Tiger Baby Watermelon Care
Plant Tiger Baby melon vines in a full sun location. This will help the plant flower and fruit most efficiently. The blossoms are not only attractive, but also attract bees, birds, and butterflies. Tiger Baby watermelon care includes regular irrigation. Try to keep to a watering schedule and don’t overwater. The melons require about 80 growing days before they are ripe. Fortunately, Tiger Baby watermelons are resistant to both anthracnose and fusarium. These two diseases prove troublesome for many melons.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free copy of our e-book "How to Grow Delicious Tomatoes".

Teo Spengler is a master gardener and a docent at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, where she hosts public tours. She has studied horticulture and written about nature, trees, plants, and gardening for more than two decades. Her extended family includes some 30 houseplants and hundreds of outdoor plants, including 250 trees, which are her main passion. Spengler currently splits her life between San Francisco and the French Basque Country, though she was raised in Alaska, giving her experience of gardening in a range of climates.
-
What Is A Pollinator Garden? Grow Gorgeous Blooms While Benefiting Your Local Ecosystem
Pollinator gardens look great and also provide a diverse ecosystem that benefits your local pollinating insects and animals. Get started today with this guide!
By Bonnie L. Grant
-
5 Tough Urban Trees That Thrive In Cities – Top Picks For Urban & Suburban Landscapes
Explore the best urban trees that will add value to even the most challenging of landscapes. Get growing with these ideas and enjoy all the benefits of trees.
By Teo Spengler