Thanks to the rapid rise in the popularity of watermelon, new varieties and hybrids are constantly getting created. Few of these new varieties are more popular or delicious than the Big Tasty Watermelon.
The Big Tasty is a seedless hybrid perfect for a hot summer day or a picnic in the park. If you’re curious about this melon variety and want to learn more, you’ve come to the right place.
Characteristics of the Big Tasty Watermelon
The Big Tasty watermelon is one of the newer melon varieties on the market. It’s a hybrid seedless variety, which means you won’t have to pick around those pesky black seeds.
They’re usually oval or round and are one of the best-tasting watermelon varieties on the market. Most notably, Big Tasty recently won the Burpee’s contest for best-tasting watermelon by beating out over 50 of its fellow competitors.
Taste
With a name like Big Tasty, you can expect a delicious flavor from this watermelon. It’s described as having a sweet, full flavor and the perfect crunchy texture.
The delicious taste of this watermelon variety is the main reason for its popularity. It’s as sweet as candy and much healthier, which makes this melon a great treat if you’re trying to eat healthy.
Size
The size of this melon is another reason for its popularity. It isn’t big and bulky like traditional melons, but it also isn’t miniature.
On average, the Big Tasty watermelon will be between ten and twelve inches in circumference and between twelve and sixteen inches long. It’s the perfect medium size if you want a large melon but not one that weighs a ton.
Pairings
When you think of watermelon, you likely think of hot summer days, barbecues, and picnics. The Big Tasty will go great with any of these occasions or the foods you serve at them.
Specifically, Big Tasty’s sweet taste and crunchy texture go perfectly with burgers, wings, sandwiches, and other summer favorites.
Color
The red, jewel-like color of the Big Tasty Watermelon is another one of its outstanding features. It has the classic red color of a ripe watermelon but without the black seeds that fill traditional melons.
While the inside of the Big Tasty Watermelon looks much like any other melon, the outside is slightly different. Rather than the stark, green color of most watermelons, Big Tasty has a lighter green shell bordering on gray.
Snacking
While Big Tasty certainly isn’t a meal on its own, it makes for a great side dish or snack. It also tends to hold onto its flavor profile longer than most melons, which makes it great for extended storage.
Kids
If you have difficulty getting your kids to eat healthy fruits and veggies, give them a bowlful of Big Tasty Watermelon chunks. They’ll be blown away by the sweet flavor, and they’ll probably end up asking for seconds!
Health Benefits
Despite having a sweet and succulent taste, Big Tasty retains all the health benefits common to watermelon. Here are some of the most notable.
- They have very few calories which makes them a great, healthy snack.
- Packed with water for hydration
- Contains numerous vitamins, minerals, and healthy nutrients such as magnesium and potassium.
- It may have other benefits, such as helping with digestion, skin health, heart health, and more.
Growing at Home
The great thing about the Big Tasty Watermelon is that it’s a variety you can grow at home. While it isn’t the most straightforward melon variety to grow, it also isn’t the hardest and falls somewhere in the middle in terms of difficulty.
It’s a plant that produces annually, and the fruits take roughly ninety days to mature. Here’s everything you need to know about planting, growing, caring for, and harvesting the Big Tasty Watermelon.
Soil
Like most watermelons, Big Tasty prefers sandy, well-draining soil with a pH level of between 6.0 and 6.5. You should also ensure that your soil is loamy and packed with nutrients.
Choosing the right soil is the most important part of planting watermelons that produce a bountiful crop annually.
Spacing
Watermelons are crawling vine plants, which means they’ll need plenty of space to grow and expand. You should plant your Big Tasty seeds around one inch deep and space the seeds four to seven feet apart.
Pruning
Pruning is an essential part of the growing process for watermelon. Once your plant is one foot tall, you should trim back the seedlings to produce a bushy, bountiful plant.
Water
Once again, as with all watermelon varieties, Big Tasty needs tons of water. Water is necessary for watermelons to produce sugar.
Because the focal point of Big Tasty watermelons is their sweetness, they need even more water than average. Investing in a drip irrigation system might be wise to ensure they get the moisture they need.
Sun
Big Tasty Watermelons love sunlight and should get an average of eight hours of sun per day. The optimal growing temperature for these plants is between 60 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and you should maintain a soil temperature of around 70 degrees.
Pests to Watch Out For
There are several pests to watch out for when it comes to growing your Big Tasty Watermelon, namely aphids. There are also several diseases that they’re prone to, including several forms of wilt, mildew, scab, and anthracnose.
For more information about how to identify and rid yourself of watermelon pests or protect your melon from diseases, Minnetonka Orchards is here to help with our guides!
When to Harvest Your Watermelon
Knowing when to harvest watermelon is one of the trickiest components of the planting process. It’s difficult to know when the watermelon is ripe, but you can do so by checking the rind, performing the tap test, and by checking the “field spot.”
In most cases, this type of watermelon will be ready to harvest roughly eighty to ninety days from the time you plant it.
Where to Buy the Big Tasty Watermelon
You can purchase your Big Tasty Watermelon seeds at Amazon. Make sure to order them in time for spring planting. Within 12 weeks you’ll be enjoying the best watermelon you’ve ever tasted!
Wrapping Up the Big Tasty Watermelon
As you can see, there’s a lot to love about the Big Tasty Watermelon. It’s delicious, fairly easy to grow, and perfect for your home garden.
For more information about this melon variety and many others, visit our Watermelon Plants page for blog posts about different watermelon varieties, plus helpful growing and care guides!