Watermelon Varieties by Size: From Personal Melons to Giants

Choosing the right watermelon variety can make all the difference when it comes to garden space, growing time, and harvest goals. Whether you’re planting in a container or dreaming of blue-ribbon giants, there’s a watermelon to match your needs. After decades of growing melons in raised beds and open ground, I’ve come to rely on size as a smart first step in picking the right variety.

Here’s a categorized list of watermelon varieties by size to help you plan your garden—from compact personal melons to prize-winning giants.

Table of Contents

🍉 Icebox Watermelons (Personal Size, 2–12 lbs)

Ideal for small households or tight spaces, these melons are quick to mature and fit easily in the fridge.

‘Early Midget’ – 65 days. Small, round red-flesh melon. Ideal for northern climates.
‘Garden Baby’ – 70 days. Dark green rind, sweet red flesh; vines stay compact.
‘Golden Midget’ – 65 days. Unique golden rind when ripe, pink flesh, ultra-early.
‘Sugar Baby’ – 68–96 days. Classic small melon; dark green rind, deep red flesh.
‘Tiger Baby’ – 80 days. Sweet, juicy; distinctive tiger-striped rind.

🍉 Mid-Sized Oblong Melons (15–30 lbs)

These standard-size melons need more space but reward growers with high yields and classic picnic fruit.

Green rind:

‘Northern Sweet’ – 68 days. Early maturity; cold-tolerant with a sweet punch.

Grayish rind:

‘Allsweet’ – 100 days. High-sugar content; classic elongated shape.
‘Calsweet’ – 92 days. Crisp, bright red flesh; strong performer in heat.
‘Charleston Gray’ – 90 days. Vigorous vines, sunburn-resistant.
‘Desert Storm’ – 80 days. Compact but productive; pale green-gray rind.
‘Fiesta’ – 85 days. Colorful flesh and rind patterns; excellent sweetness.
‘Regency’ – 82 days. Consistent yields, bright flavor.
‘Royal Majesty’ – 80 days. Uniform fruit, excellent shelf life.
‘Sangria’ – 85 days. Deep red flesh, strong vines.
‘Strawberry’ – 85 days. Strawberry-like flavor; pinkish red flesh.
‘Sun Sweet’ – 85 days. Heat-tolerant and sweet.
‘Sweet Favorite’ – 64–79 days. Reliable in warm and cool regions.

🍉 Round Melons (Classic Look, 20–40 lbs)

Dark green rind:

‘Black Diamond’ – 75–95 days. Thick rind, rich red flesh.
‘Black Diamond Yellow Belly’ – 90 days. Adds a creamy yellow ground spot at ripeness.
‘King and Queen’ – 80–90 days. Heirloom, excellent texture and flavor.
‘Moon and Stars’ – 100 days. Unique yellow speckles on dark rind, old-time flavor.

Striped rind:

‘Crimson Sweet’ – 80–96 days. Reliable favorite; excellent flavor balance.
‘Navajo Sweet’ – 90 days. Sweet and juicy, grown traditionally by the Navajo.
‘Super Sweet’ – 90 days. High brix levels, very sweet flesh.

🍉 Giant Watermelons (Up to 200 lbs!)

If you have the space, time, and ambition—grow a giant.

‘Carolina Cross’ – 100 days. The largest of them all—can reach over 200 pounds with ideal care. Needs full sun and wide spacing (10+ feet). A show-stopper.

🍉 Space-Saving Watermelons (Bush Types)

Great for raised beds, small gardens, or container growing.

‘Bush Sugar Baby’ – 80 days. Same great fruit as Sugar Baby but on compact vines.
‘Garden Baby’ – 75 days. Perfect for container gardeners.
‘Petite Sweet’ – 75 days. Mini melons with maximum flavor.
‘New Hampshire Midget’ – 77 days. Early and small, developed for northern climates.
‘Sugar Baby’ – 79 days. Classic icebox type with a short vine strain.

🍉 Watermelons with Yellow or Orange Flesh

A fun twist on tradition—these are as tasty as they are colorful.

‘Arikara’ – 85 days. Native American heirloom; deep yellow flesh and sweet flavor.
‘Yellow Doll’ – 75 days. Small, crisp, and extra sweet with vibrant yellow flesh.

My Experience

When choosing a watermelon variety, size is one of the best starting points—especially if you’re working with limited space, short seasons, or specific culinary goals. After 30+ years of growing melons, I’ve learned that matching the right variety to your garden setup leads to better flavor, fewer problems, and more harvest joy. Whether you’re slicing up a single-serving ‘Golden Midget’ or hauling in a ‘Carolina Cross’ for bragging rights, there’s a watermelon just right for you.

My Cheatsheet of Watermelon Varieties

Icebox size watermelons: ‘Early Midget’ (65 days); ‘Garden Baby’ (70 days); ‘Golden Midget’ (65 days); ‘Sugar Baby’ (68-96 days); ‘Tiger Baby’ (80 days).
Oblong, green rind: ‘Northern Sweet’ (68 days).
Oblong, grayish rind: ‘Allsweet’ (100 days); ‘Calsweet’ (92 days); ‘Charleston Gray’ (90 days); ‘Desert Storm’ (80 days); ‘Fiesta’ (85 days); ‘Regency’ (82 days); ‘Royal Majesty’ (80 days); ‘Sangria’ (85 days); ‘Strawberry’ (85 days); ‘Sun Sweet’ (85 days); ‘Sweet Favorite’ (64-79 days).
Round, green: ‘Black Diamond’ (75-95 days); ‘Black Diamond Yellow Belly’ (90 days); ‘King and Queen’ (80-90 days); ‘Moon and Stars’ (100 days).
Round, striped: ‘Crimson Sweet’ (80-96 days); ‘Navajo Sweet’ (90 days); ‘Super Sweet’ (90 days).
Giant-sized: ‘Carolina Cross’ (100 days).
Space savers: ‘Bush Sugar Baby’ (80 days); ‘Garden Baby’ (75 days); ‘Petite Sweet’ (75 days); ‘New Hampshire Midget’ (77 days); ‘Sugar Baby’ (79 days).
Yellow or orange flesh: ‘Arikara’ (85 days); ‘Yellow Doll’ (75 days).