Blacktail Mountain Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus 'Blacktail Mountain'
A remarkable short-season watermelon developed in Montana for northern gardeners who thought they couldn't grow melons. This compact variety produces sweet, juicy 6-12 pound fruits even in cool climates with short summers. The dark green fruits with darker stripes are perfectly sized for small families and mature in just 70 days.
Harvest
70-75d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
3–9
USDA hardiness
Height
4-8 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Blacktail Mountain Watermelon in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 vine →Zone Map
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Blacktail Mountain Watermelon · Zones 3–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
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.
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
Deter cucumber beetles and squash vine borers, mature quickly before watermelon spreads
Corn
Provides natural trellis support and wind protection for watermelon vines
Beans
Fix nitrogen in soil to benefit heavy-feeding watermelons
Sunflowers
Attract pollinators essential for watermelon fruit set, provide shade
Oregano
Repels cucumber beetles and attracts beneficial predatory insects
Catnip
Strongly repels cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and ants
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that severely stunts or kills watermelon plants
Fennel
Allelopathic properties inhibit growth and germination of watermelon
Sage
Can stunt growth of cucurbits through competitive root systems
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good cold tolerance, some resistance to fusarium wilt
Common Pests
Cucumber beetles, aphids, squash bugs
Diseases
Fusarium wilt, anthracnose, powdery mildew