2017 AAS Edible - Vegetable Winner
Watermelon Mini Love F1
This personal-sized Asian watermelon is perfect for smaller families and smaller gardens. Shorter vines (3-4 feet) still produce up to six fruits per plant and can be grown in smaller spaces. Several judges commented on the crack and split resistant rinds, important for reducing crop loss. For culinary purposes, this deep red-fleshed watermelon has a thin but strong rind that can be carved into attractive shapes for fruit salad presentations. Mini Love has a high sugar content resulting in sweet and crisp, juicy flesh that will be a true summer delight for watermelon lovers.
Plant Description
Genus:
Citrullus
Species:
lanatus
Common Name:
Asian watermelon
Plant Habit:
Compact, vining
Plant Spread:
36 inches by 36 inches
Fruit Color (Harvest):
Light green with dark stripes
Fruit Shape:
Round to oval
Fruit Weight:
7-9 pounds
Fruit Flavor Description:
Sweet, refreshing, few seeds
Foliage Color:
Dark green
Disease Resistances or Tolerances:
Intermediate resistance to Anthracnose
Breeder:
HM. Clause, distributed by Harris Seeds Wholesale
Close Market Comparison:
Shiny Boy F1, Bush Sugar Baby
Planting & Care
Garden Spacing:
3-4 feet
Days To Harvest (Sowing Seed):
80
Days To Harvest (Transplant):
70
Duration Type:
Annual
Light Needs:
Full sun
Water Needs:
Normal
Season Type:
Warm season
Staking Required:
No
How to Grow:
Sow indoor 1 month before transplanting or outdoors when temperatures are high enough after last spring frosts. Transplant 40 inches apart. Provide well-drained, nutrient-rich soil that’s high in organic matter and full sun exposure. Keep soil moist the first weeks.
Reviews
Ed Welch –
As basically a second-year gardener I was fortunate to select the Mini Love Hybrid watermelon for this year’s watermelon. Having planted Wilson Sweets last year and having difficulty with them (and other vegetables) I decided to try a hybrid this year.
My garden is roughly 1500 square feet and since I try to grow many other things I try to pay attention to plant sizes, especially vining plants and the Mini Love had some good size characteristics for me.
The entire garden was fertilized early this spring with alfalfa pellets and later in the season after blooms appeared a single side-dressing of Tomato-Tone fertilizer. The pH tested at 5.9 this year, up from last year…a small amount of lime was added to nudge the pH up a tad. During the season, during dry spells I irrigated with a drip-tape system.
The Mini Love was advertised as a compact plant with small (for watermelons) fruit. The size of the plant and the fruit did not disappoint us. I think the advertised vine was something like 4′ long, but I believe ours did reach out beyond that length…more like 6′ or so. The watermelons were all in the size range of 8-10 pounds each. The plants and fruit was healthy with little bug damage and no notable disease…and in my garden pest and pestilence is *tough*!!! For example, immediately beside the Mini Loves are Charantais cantaloupe growing. I had a rough time with the cantaloupe…mostly splitting to begin with but now some critter(s) are dining on them each night…the watermelons immediately beside them are untouched!!!
The plants grew strong and healthy and produced some pretty fruit. But, the proof’s in the puddin’. The taste was very good…old time watermelon taste with a high sugar-level to it…crisp texture…few seeds. A great, small watermelon. It’s love (Mini Love!!!) at first sight!!! My (short) search for a watermelon to grow in my new garden ended very quickly…the Mini Love Hybrid has won the spot!!!!!!!!! Try it, you won’t regret it!!!!
AAS Display Garden- River Valley Master Gardeners –
Mini Love watermelon had excellent disease resistance and produced several 5 inch diameter melons on 5 foot vines. No problems with cracking, enjoyed the crisp sweet taste. Zone 6a