Charleston Gray Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus 'Charleston Gray'
A classic heirloom watermelon that has been delighting gardeners since the 1950s with its distinctive gray-green skin and exceptional disease resistance. Charleston Gray produces large, oblong fruits with sweet, crisp red flesh that's perfect for summer gatherings and has excellent keeping quality. This vigorous variety consistently delivers reliable harvests even in challenging growing conditions.
Harvest
85-90d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Height
4-8 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Charleston Gray Watermelon in USDA Zone 7
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Charleston Gray Watermelon · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May – May | June – July | June – August | September – October |
| Zone 4 | April – May | June – June | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 5 | April – April | May – June | May – July | September – October |
| Zone 6 | April – April | May – June | May – July | August – October |
| Zone 7 | March – April | May – May | May – June | August – September |
| Zone 8 | March – March | April – May | April – June | July – September |
| Zone 9 | February – February | March – April | March – May | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – February | March – March | March – April | June – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: #yellow flowers#showy fruits#vegetable garden#edible fruits#edible garden#fruits summer#vine#warm season vegetable#edible#annual#early childhood#child#children#preschool#early care#easy edibles#hortcontest. Soil: Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: SIT-troo-lus la-NAY-tus. Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.. Spread: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The plant produces melons which are large modified berries called a pepo. They are rounded to oval mottled green with darker green rind. Black, cream or mottled colored elliptic seeds. Flesh general red or pink but can also be yellowish.
Color: Green. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Spring, Summer
Edibility: The fruit can be eaten raw or pickled. The rind is edible after cooking.
Storage & Preservation
Store whole Charleston Gray watermelons at room temperature for up to 2-3 weeks, as this variety has exceptional keeping quality compared to most watermelons. Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and turn occasionally to prevent flat spots.
Once cut, refrigerate pieces in airtight containers for 3-5 days. For longer preservation, cube the flesh and freeze in freezer bags for up to 8 months – frozen watermelon works excellently in smoothies and agua fresca. Dehydrate thin slices at 135°F for watermelon 'leather' that stores for months.
The thick rinds are perfect for pickling using traditional bread-and-butter pickle recipes, creating a crunchy, refreshing condiment that stores for months in the refrigerator. You can also ferment cubed watermelon with salt brine for a probiotic-rich treat that keeps for several weeks refrigerated.
History & Origin
Charleston Gray watermelon was developed in 1954 by Dr. C.F. Andrus at the U.S. Department of Agriculture research station in Charleston, South Carolina. This variety emerged from a breeding program specifically designed to create watermelons with superior disease resistance and longer keeping quality for commercial shipping.
Dr. Andrus crossed several varieties including Congo, a large African watermelon, with other disease-resistant lines to achieve Charleston Gray's distinctive characteristics. The variety was officially released in 1959 and quickly became popular among both commercial growers and home gardeners throughout the southeastern United States.
Charleston Gray gained prominence during the 1960s as one of the first widely-available watermelons that could withstand the fusarium wilt that devastated many traditional varieties. Its success helped establish Charleston, South Carolina, as a major watermelon breeding center. Today, this heirloom variety represents an important genetic foundation for modern watermelon breeding programs and remains prized for its reliability and classic flavor profile that defined American summer eating for decades.
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees
- +Edible: The fruit can be eaten raw or pickled. The rind is edible after cooking.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Nasturtiums
Trap crop for cucumber beetles and squash bugs, repels aphids
Marigolds
Repel nematodes and cucumber beetles, attract beneficial insects
Radishes
Repel cucumber beetles and squash vine borers, improve soil structure
Beans
Fix nitrogen in soil, provide natural ground cover without competing
Corn
Provides natural windbreak and partial shade for vines
Sunflowers
Attract pollinators and beneficial insects, provide vertical structure
Catnip
Repels ants, aphids, and cucumber beetles more effectively than DEET
Oregano
Repels cucumber beetles and provides ground cover
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill melon plants
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that stunt growth of nearby plants
Potatoes
Compete for nutrients and space, may harbor similar pests like cucumber beetles
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #167765)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent resistance to fusarium wilt and anthracnose, good tolerance to sunscald
Common Pests
Cucumber beetles, aphids, squash bugs, flea beetles
Diseases
Bacterial fruit blotch, gummy stem blight, powdery mildew, mosaic virus