Watermelons are a classic summer treat; they’re crisp, sweet, and refreshing. That’s why they’re a popular choice at cookouts and picnics. So if you’re looking for the perfect watermelon to share with friends, look no further than a picnic watermelon!
Rather than a specific variety, this term applies to a group of watermelons. To learn what makes a watermelon a picnic watermelon, keep reading. We bet you’ll make room for one of these beauties in your garden each summer!
What is a Picnic Watermelon?
Picnic watermelons are the quintessential watermelons: round or oval-shaped, bright green on the outside, red on the inside, sweet, and juicy. Nicknamed for their size that’s large enough to feed a crowd, picnic watermelons can grow between 10 and 50 pounds, if not more!
Because picnic watermelons are quite large, they have a long growing time, with some varieties requiring up to 95 days before they reach maturity. They also grow long vines, so they aren’t ideal for gardeners with limited space. To learn more about growing them yourself, read our How to Grow Watermelon blog.
There are many types of picnic watermelon to choose from, including Allsweet, Black Diamond, Charleston Gray, Crimson Sweet, Georgia Rattlesnake, Jubilee, Klondike Blue Ribbon Striped, and Sweet Princess.
Read on to learn more about each of these picnic watermelon varieties.
Allsweet
Just like it sounds, the Allsweet Watermelon is sweet and flavorful. Perfect for kids and families, it grows in a long oval shape between 25 and 30 pounds, with fewer seeds than many other types of watermelon.
On the outside, the Allsweet Watermelon’s rind is a dark green color with light green stripes, and on the inside, its flesh is bright red and juicy.
If you want to try your hand at growing these watermelons yourself, make sure you have plenty of time and space. The melons are big, and the vines grow long, so they’ll need plenty of room as they mature.
Black Diamond
Black Diamond Watermelons are identifiable by their dark, blueish-blackish-green color that gives them their name. Their exteriors are typically solid in color, without many stripes. The inside of this fruit, a vibrant red, creates a striking contrast against the dark rind. You can expect it to taste sweet, too!
These types of picnic watermelons grow up to 50 pounds and are a popular variety for home growers. Because of their larger size, they require a longer growing season, as well as plenty of water and sunlight.
Charleston Gray
Named for the grayish shade of their exterior, Charleston Gray watermelons are another popular choice for home gardeners. They grow between 30 and 35 pounds at maturity, in a long, oblong shape. And the fruit tastes sweet, with a crisp and fiberless texture.
A major perk to this variety of picnic watermelon is that they were created to be disease- and wilt-resistant. However, if you plan to grow some yourself, just keep in mind that their vines get quite long and require a lot of room to grow.
Crimson Sweet
Crimson Sweet watermelons have a beautiful, striped green exterior. This variety is beloved for its extra sweet flavor, high sugar content, and relatively few seeds compared to other watermelons.
For anyone new to watermelons or home gardening, Crimson Sweet melons are relatively easy to grow. Like the Charleston Gray Watermelon, they are disease-resistant, which removes a layer of complexity that exists with growing other watermelons. They typically reach 15 to 25 pounds by the time they’re ready to eat.
Georgia Rattlesnake
The Georgia Rattlesnake is one of the bigger types of picnic watermelon, growing up to two feet in length and reaching from 25 to 50 pounds at maturity. It is named for its dark, irregular stripes, which loosely resemble those of a rattlesnake.
These watermelons have been around since the 1800s, which goes to show how resilient they are. Because they were developed in the southern state of Georgia, they grow best in hot summer climates, with plenty of sunlight.
Jubilee
Like other Picnic Watermelons, Jubilee Watermelons are large, juicy, and sweet. They typically grow between 25 and 40 pounds, with an especially long oval shape. Their appearance is light green with darker stripes on the outside, and the inside is a vibrant red.
Jubilee Watermelons grow best in hot and humid climates, and they require 95 days before they are mature. A major advantage is that they are disease- and wilt-resistant, so you’ll be less likely to run into problems that can arise with other types of melons.
Klondike Blue Ribbon Striped
As you may have guessed from their name, Klondike Blue Ribbon Striped Watermelons have a striped exterior. These stripes are a classic green color, appearing against a lighter background on the oblong fruit. The melons typically grow between 10 and 25 pounds and up to 16 inches in length.
Klondike Blue Ribbon Striped Watermelons grow best in climates with cooler summers, preferring temperatures below 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If you choose to grow this variety, you may find it relatively straightforward, since they are sunburn and disease-resistant.
Sweet Princess
Sweet Princess is a type of picnic watermelon that typically grows between 20 and 30 pounds. Like other watermelons in this family, its flesh is bright and sweet. On the outside, its rind is a yellow-green shade, thin but tough.
The Sweet Princess Watermelon is popular among both home and commercial growers, for several reasons. Notably, in addition to the melon’s perfectly sweet flavor, it’s also resistant to several common diseases.
The Perfect Watermelons for Sharing!
Despite the many different types of picnic watermelons, they all share several things in common: they’re big, sweet, and full of juice. Whether you plan to share them with family at home or with friends at a picnic, these melons won’t disappoint.
Want to learn even more about this fruit? Check out our watermelon plants page for blog posts about different varieties, growing tips, and other information!