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Watermelon Varieties – Common Types and Their Tastes



watermelon-varietiesA Watermelon is a Watermelon, Right?

Did you know that there are hundreds of different watermelon varieties enjoyed daily.

When picking a watermelon from your local fruit and vegetable market the only decision you will need to make is the size. Many small markets only offer one type of watermelon. This has led us to believe that there is only one type although just like apples, watermelons come in a number of varieties.



Globally 200 to 300 different varieties of watermelon are accounted for although only 50 of these are enjoyed regularly. Of the 300 varieties it is no surprise that the most loved are on the sweeter side of the scale.

Contents

  • 1 Differentiating Between Watermelons
    • 1.1 A Seeded watermelon –
    • 1.2 A Seedless Watermelon –
    • 1.3 A Miniature Watermelon –
    • 1.4 An Orange or Yellow Watermelon –
  • 2 Cousins of the Watermelon
  • 3 Watermelon Dictionary – 26 Varieties of Watermelon
    • 3.1 Amarillo Watermelons
    • 3.2 Bijou Watermelons
    • 3.3 Black Diamond Watermelons
    • 3.4  Calsweet (Bush) Watermelons
    • 3.5 Captivation Watermelons
    • 3.6 Charleston Grey Watermelons
    • 3.7 Crimson Sweet Watermelons
    • 3.8 Estrella Watermelons
    • 3.9 Exclamation Watermelons
    • 3.10 Excursion Watermelons
    • 3.11 Fascination Watermelons
    • 3.12 Harvest Moon Watermelons
    • 3.13 Jamboree Watermelons
    • 3.14 Jubilee Watermelons
    • 3.15 Kingman Watermelons
    • 3.16 Melody Watermelons
    • 3.17 Moon and Stars (Red) Watermelon
    • 3.18 Sangria Watermelons
    • 3.19 Sugar Baby Watermelons (Garden Baby)
    • 3.20 Sweet Dawn Watermelons
    • 3.21 Sweet Gem Watermelons
    • 3.22 Sweet Polly Watermelon
    • 3.23 Syngenta Watermelon
    • 3.24 Traveler Watermelon
    • 3.25 Triple Treat Watermelon
    • 3.26 Yellow Doll/Baby Watermelon

Differentiating Between Watermelons

We tend to use five different terms to differentiate between watermelon varieties. These five terms refer to the characteristics of the melon rather than the direct variety. This allows us to combine multiple watermelon varieties under one category. The five terms used to describe watermelons are:

A Seeded watermelon –

Used to describe a basic watermelon that is round or oblong and weighs between 15 t0 45 pounds. These watermelons contains noticeable black seeds.

A Seedless Watermelon –

Hybrid watermelons that are the most popular due to their seedless nature. These watermelons are generally around the 15 pound mark. Seedless watermelons often have small and easily edible white seeds.

Some varieties of watermelon that fall into this category include:

  • Crimson
  • Bijou
  • Jack of Hearts
  • King of Hearts
  • Millionaire
  • Nova
  • Queen of Hearts
  • Trio

A Miniature Watermelon –

The smaller variety of watermelons that has a thin rind.

Watermelon varieties such as the Sugar Baby and the Tiger Baby fall under this category.

An Orange or Yellow Watermelon –

Varieties of watermelon that lack lycopene often fall under the orange or yellow watermelon category.

Some watermelon varieties that fall under this category include:

  • Desert King
  • Tender-gold
  • Yellow Baby
  • Yellow Doll

Cousins of the Watermelon

Before we delve into finding out the varieties of watermelon, you may be wondering who they share some relation to. The scientific name for a watermelon is ‘Citrullus Lanatus’. ‘Citrullus Lanatus’ are a part of the ‘Curcurbitaceae’ family making their closest cousins the:

  • Cucumber
  • Pumpkin and
  • Squash

Watermelon Dictionary – 26 Varieties of Watermelon

Below you can read about a number of different watermelon varieties along with their taste, texture and appearance.

If you are a keen gardener with a green thumb, why not buy some seeds online and grow them in your very own backyard!

Amarillo Watermelons

amarillo-watermelon

Amarillo Seeds: 25 Seeds / $18.95

amazon-purchase-button

Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless variety
Shape of Watermelon Round / Approximately 15 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Bright and crispy flesh

Sweet in flavor

Color

Bright yellow flesh / green skin with narrow dark green stripes

Bijou Watermelons

bijou-watermelon

Bijou Seeds: Similar seeds 100 / $3.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless

Shape of Watermelon

Round / Approximately 4 pounds

Flesh Type / Flavor

Firm and Crisp

Sweet / Can be enjoyed alone

Color

Red

Black Diamond Watermelons

black-diamond-watermelons

Black Diamond Seeds: 10 Seeds / $2.80 amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seeded – Grey seeds

Shape of Watermelon

Oblong shape / Approximately 30 to 50 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Crisp flavorful flesh

Color

Bright red flesh / Dark black/green rind

 Calsweet (Bush) Watermelons

calsweet-watermelon

Calsweet Seeds: 70 Seeds / $5.45 amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seeded

Shape of Watermelon

Round or oval/ 10 to 12 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Sweet and crisp flesh

Color

Red flesh / Light and dark green stripped rind

Captivation Watermelons

captivation-watermelon

Captivation Seeds: Similar seeds 100 / $3.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless

Shape of Watermelon

Oblong / Uniform in shape / 14 to 17 pounds in weight 

Flesh Type / Flavor

Firm flesh that is sweet and tasty

Color

Bright red flesh with deep green rind

Charleston Grey Watermelons

charleston-grey-watermelon

Charleston Grey Seeds: 50 Seeds / $15.00  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seeded – One of the most popular seeded watermelon varieties

Shape of Watermelon

Oblong / Approximately 25 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Sweet fiber-less flesh

Color

Red flesh with a grey/green colored rind

Crimson Sweet Watermelons

crimson-sweet-watermelon

Crimson Sweet Seeds: 60 Seeds / $8.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seeded – Small black seeds

Shape of Watermelon

Oblong / Approximately 20 to 25 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Sweet flesh with a high sugar content. This watermelon is one of the most popular within the species.

Color

Bright red flesh (high in lycopene) / Light green watermelon with dark green stripes

Estrella Watermelons

estrella-watermelons

Estrella Seeds: Similar Seeds 100 / $3.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seeded

Shape of Watermelon

Long although Uniform in shape / 20 to 24 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Exceptional flesh that is sweet in flavor

Color

Red fleshed with dark and light green stripped skin.

Exclamation Watermelons

exclamation-watermelon

Exclamation Seeds: Similar Seeds 100 / $3.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seeded – Small pips

Shape of Watermelon

Block fruit shape / 17 to 21 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Firm flesh with Crimson Sweet flavor.

Color

Red flesh / Features Crimson Sweet rind pattern with light and dark green stripes

Excursion Watermelons

excursion-watermelon

Excursion Seeds: Similar Seeds 100 / $3.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless

Shape of Watermelon

Oval and  Blocky / 18 to 20 pounds

Flesh Type / Flavor

Firm fleshed and sweet watermelon. 

Color Red flesh / Light green rind with medium to dark stripes

Fascination Watermelons

fascination-watermelons

Fascination Seeds: Similar Seeds 100 / $3.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless

Shape of Watermelon

Oblong / 16 to 20 pounds

Flesh Type / Flavor

Firm flesh that is sweet in flavor. 

Color

Deep red flesh / glossy green skin with Crimson stripes

Harvest Moon Watermelons

harvest-moon-watermelon

Harvest Moon Seeds: 5 Seeds / $3.00 amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless hybrid watermelon

Shape of Watermelon

Round / Medium sized watermelons / 18 to 20 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Crisp / Sweet in flavor

Color

Pink flesh with dark green rind that features some yellow dotting.

Jamboree Watermelons

jamboree-watermelon

Jamboree Seeds: Similar Seeds 100 / $3.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seeded

Shape of Watermelon

Elongated uniform fruit / 25 to 27 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Firm flesh that has an excellent flavor.

Color

Deep red flesh

Jubilee Watermelons

jubilee-watermelons

Jubilee Seeds: 20 Seeds / $7.95  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seeded

Shape of Watermelon

Oblong (elongated) Watermelon / 25 to 40 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Very sweet watermelon with finely textured flesh.

Color

Bright pink/red flesh / Dark green stripped rind

Kingman Watermelons

kingman-watermelon

Kingman Seeds: Similar Seeds 100 / $3.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless

Shape of Watermelon

Round and Oval in shape / 18 to 22 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Firm and crisp flesh that is sweet in flavor.

Color

Bright red flesh / Light green skin with medium green stripes.

Melody Watermelons

melody-watermelon

Melody Seeds: Similar Seeds 100 / $3.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless

Shape of Watermelon

Oblong in shape / approximately 14 to 16 pounds

Flesh Type / Flavor

Crisp and flavorsome 

Color

Dark red flesh with deep green skin

Moon and Stars (Red) Watermelon

moon-and-stars-watermelon

Moon and Stars Seeds: 15 Seeds / $11.00  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seeded

Shape of Watermelon

Round and blocky / Can grow up to 40 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Sweet flesh that is loved globally

Color

Red fleshed / Dark green rind with yellow spotting

Sangria Watermelons

sangria-watermelons

Sangria Seeds: 100 Seeds / $15.00 amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seeded

Shape of Watermelon

Oblong / 20 to 25 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Sweet and juicy red flesh

Color

Red fleshed / Mostly green skinned with light green stripes

Sugar Baby Watermelons (Garden Baby)

sugar-baby-watermelons

Sugar Baby Seeds: 50 Seeds / $30.00 amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seeded

Shape of Watermelon

Round / 7 to 10 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Firm and fine grained flesh / Very sweet in flavor making it a popular choice

Color

Bright red flesh / Solid dark green colored skin

Sweet Dawn Watermelons

sweet-dawn-watermelons

Sweet Dawn: Similar Seeds 100 / $3.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless

Shape of Watermelon

Round / Oblong / Approximately 16 pounds

Flesh Type / Flavor

Firm and crisp flesh that is sweet in flavor. 

Color

Dark red flesh / smooth green skin

Sweet Gem Watermelons

sweet-gem-watermelons

Sweet Gem: Similar Seeds 100 / $3.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless

Shape of Watermelon

Round / Approximately 15 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Juicy / Sweet and juicy

Color

Dark red flesh with dark green glossy skin

Sweet Polly Watermelon

sweet-polly-watermelons

Sweet Polly Seeds: Similar Seeds 100 / $3.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless

Shape of Watermelon

Oval / 13 to 17 pounds in weight

Flesh Type / Flavor

Sweet flavor similar to the Crimson Sweet watermelon variety.

Color

Dark red flesh / Deep green skin with Crimson stripping

Syngenta Watermelon

sygenta-watermelon

Syngenta Seeds: Similar Seeds 100 / $3.50  amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless / Crimson Sweet Family

Shape of Watermelon

Oblong or Oval / Approximately 15 pounds in weight 

Flesh Type / Flavor

Crisp and very firm fleshed watermelon

Color

Red flesh / Crimson stripped appearance

Traveler Watermelon

traveller-watermelon

Traveler Seeds: 100 Seeds / $4.00 amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless / High yielding watermelon

Shape of Watermelon

Uniform oblong shaped watermelon / These melons weigh between 10 and 15 pounds.

Flesh Type / Flavor

Crisp flesh / Sweet and juicy

Color

Red Flesh / Crimson dark and light green stripped skin

Triple Treat Watermelon

triple-treat-watermelon

Triple Treat Seeds: 10 Seeds / $9.95 amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seedless hybrid variety

Shape of Watermelon

Round / These watermelons weigh between 8 and 10 pounds on average.

Flesh Type / Flavor

Crispy and sugary / Very sweet flesh

Color

Bright red flesh with green on green stripped, smooth skin.

Yellow Doll/Baby Watermelon

yellow-doll-watermelon

Yellow Doll Seeds: 16 Seeds / $11.00 amazon-purchase-button
Seeded or Seedless Variety Seeded

Shape of Watermelon

Round and uniform. These watermelons weigh between 5 and 8 pounds on average.

Flesh Type / Flavor

Yellow, juicy and sweet flesh. These watermelons are often used in gourmet fruit trays.

Color

Yellow flesh with dark and light green stripes on the skin.


Related posts:

  1. Can Dogs Eat Watermelon?
  2. 32 Fun Facts About Watermelon
  3. Yellow Watermelon vs Red Watermelon

Filed Under: General Tagged With: health, nutrition, red watermelon, seeds, Watermelon, watermelon food, Watermelon Types, Watermelon Varieties, yellow watermelon

Comments

  1. Chris J Wade says:

    Always enjoy the seeded varieties over the seedless watermelons anytime I can get them, but it seems I can never fine them anywhere around where I live. All they sell around here are the seedless and the personal varieties. I sure miss going in the grocery store and the first thing I’d see were the biggest, sweetest jubilees and Charleston Grays in the produce department. All you see now days are those little rounds seedless “things” they call watermelons. Once in a while you might fine a big, juicy All sweet melon, but that was few and far between. I use to be able and go to the store in the middle of winter and be able to purchase a jubilee that weighed about 30/35 Lbs. and when I got it home and cut it open it was the sweetest, meatiest, watermelon you could ever enjoy !!!

    Reply
    • Jimmie says:

      I’m right there with you Chris! It’s seeded for me!

      Reply
  2. Eric Oh says:

    Oh wow I never knew there were so many different variations of watermelon. Thanks for the info!

    Reply
  3. David Kra says:

    Had some unusual watermelon the other day. It was red with small seeds, but what set it apart was the amazing flavor. It tasted as if it had been misted with rose water. This is in Israel. Any guess as to the variety? The hostess said she had cut it up herself, so it wasn’t altered by a merchant.

    Reply
  4. Tom says:

    Is a red diamond a type of water melon?

    Reply
  5. Jovey Awl says:

    So every cultivar is sweet, juicy, firm, and crisp. …helpful?
    All I really know is that most melons are juicy and sweet enough so a good watermelon is all about texture. Even setting aside personal preference for coarse or fine grain textures, there are so many strangely textured melons show up in the stores, mealy, even outright mushy in the seed pockets (including “seedless” types), some parts almost seem slightly elastic. End up composting 2/3rds of the melon after separating the good from unusable bits.

    Reply
  6. Andre Liebenberg says:

    Good day what is the difference between black diamond and baby sugar watermelons besides the taste? How do you know when is it black diamond watermelon please let me know thanks

    Reply
    • chanel says:

      Black Diamond and Baby Sugar watermelons have several differences beyond their taste. Here are a few differences:

      Size: Black Diamond watermelons are typically much larger than Baby Sugar watermelons. Black Diamond watermelons can weigh up to 50 pounds, while Baby Sugar watermelons generally weigh around 6-8 pounds.

      Skin Color: Black Diamond watermelons have a dark green skin with a mottled pattern, while Baby Sugar watermelons have a light green skin with darker stripes.

      Flesh Color: The flesh of Black Diamond watermelons is typically bright red, while the flesh of Baby Sugar watermelons is usually a paler pinkish-red.

      To determine if a watermelon is a Black Diamond, look for its size and dark green mottled skin. The flesh should be a bright red color when it is ripe. You can also ask your local farmer or grocer for more information about the specific varieties they sell.

      Reply

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