{"product_id":"charleston-grey-watermelon","title":"Charleston Gray Watermelon","description":"\u003cp\u003eRed, delicous, and crisp oblong melon with thick skin, the Charleston Grey is a classic summertime treat. It was introduced in 1954 by Charles Fredric Andrus, of ARS’s U.S. Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston, SC as a variety that is easy to stack and ship. This has made it a favorite of the iconic Watermelon Man - Black long haulers who continue to bring up truckloads of watermelons from Southern farms to Northern customers. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur dear friends Mr. Aundrae and Mrs. Sheila Cassell grow this special melon for our catalog as a tribute to their ancestors. Mr. \u003cspan\u003eAundrae's relatives grew various \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003ewatermelons\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on Galberry Road, in Chesapeake, VA where family roots date back to his great-great-great grandmother. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhile his g\u003c\/span\u003ereat grandfather moved to Philadelphia, Aundrae's grandparents would make yearly trips back down Virgina. His grandfather's car trunk would be loaded full of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003eCharleston Gray\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003ewatermelons\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewhich made the front of his big black sedan rise high in the front until he delivered all the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003ewatermelons\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto family and friends in the Philadelphia area. Aundrae adds \"my wife and I fondly grow the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"il\"\u003eCharleston Gray watermelon,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewhich evokes joyful sunny memories of summertime past.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDays to maturity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 85-95\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds per pack:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20-25\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGermination rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90% on 2\/16\/2026\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlanting \/ harvesting notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDirect sow in warm soil after the last frost, or seed indoors 3-4 weeks beforehand and transplant. Space 12-18\" apart in rows that are 6-8' apart. Keep ground slightly moist until germination, but do not overwater. Watermelons love heat and well drained soils.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSeed keeping notes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv itemprop=\"description\" class=\"product-description rte\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWatermelons are insect pollinated and need 1\/2 mile between different varieties of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eC. lanatus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto prevent unwanted cross-pollination. It is difficult to know when a watermelon is truly ripe. In\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chelseagreen.com\/seed-to-seed\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eSeed to Seed\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eby Suzanne Ashworth\u003c\/a\u003e, she recommends waiting until the small tendril opposite the melon's \"peduncle\" (stem attachment) changes from green to brown and dries out. You can also look for color changes in the skin, and listen for a thud when the fruit is tapped. Seeds are ready for harvest when the melon is ready to eat. Dry them out in a ventilated place away from direct sunlight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Ucandoit Farms","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47752372158702,"sku":"CUC-033","price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2406\/3467\/files\/33d43ddc57d74805-photo.jpg?v=1773239379","url":"https:\/\/trueloveseeds.sbs\/products\/charleston-grey-watermelon","provider":"Truelove Seeds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}