How to Grow Watermelon Jubilee

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Watermelon Jubilee

Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus

fruit

Watermelon Jubilee is a mid-season icebox or personal watermelon variety producing small, round melons (5-8 lbs) with dark green striped skin and sweet, crisp red-pink flesh. This compact vine is ideal for home gardens and containers due to its manageable size while maintaining excellent flavor. It's a favorite for gardeners with limited space who still want full-sized watermelon taste.

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Example Watermelon Jubilee timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Watermelon Jubilee
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Watermelon Jubilee
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Watermelon Jubilee dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily (essential for sugar development)

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Water: Deep watering 1-2 inches per week; increase to daily watering once flowering begins and fruits develop. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Taper watering in final 2 weeks before harvest to concentrate sugars.

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Spacing: 36-48 inches between plants; rows 6 feet apart inches

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Days to maturity: 70-85 days from transplant

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Planting depth: 1 inch deep for seeds; transplants at soil line

Soil

Type: Well-draining sandy loam or loamy soil

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Perlite or sand for drainage Balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer at planting

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Best in zones 5-9, but can be grown in zones 3-4 with season extension and in zones 10+ with afternoon shade

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

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Growth Stages

Germination & Seedling

3-4 weeks

Seeds germinate in 3-7 days at 70-85°F. Seedlings develop true leaves within 2 weeks and grow vigorously.

Keep soil warm and consistently moist. Start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, or direct seed after soil reaches 70°F. Use grow lights if needed.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Vines rapidly spread with large palmate leaves and increasing stem diameter. Multiple runners develop establishing the plant framework.

Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer. Provide trellising or allow horizontal spread. Thin weaker runners if desired. Monitor for pests weekly.

Flowering

2-3 weeks

Yellow flowers appear on leaf axils; male flowers bloom first, followed by female flowers with visible small fruit behind the bloom.

Ensure bees and pollinators have access. Do not use broad-spectrum pesticides during bloom. Begin fertilizing with higher potassium (10-10-20) formula. Hand-pollinate if needed.

Fruit Development

3-4 weeks

Female flowers set and develop into small round melons. Melons grow rapidly, reaching 5-8 lbs. Skin develops characteristic dark green striping.

Maintain consistent watering (1-2 inches weekly). Once melons reach grapefruit size, limit to 3-4 fruits per vine for optimal size and sweetness. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer.

Maturation & Harvest Readiness

2-3 weeks

Melons stop growing, skin toughens, and stem connecting melon to vine begins to brown. Bottom spot turns creamy yellow. Sugar content peaks.

Reduce watering in final 2 weeks to concentrate sugars. Stop fertilizing. Check maturity indicators daily once melons are full-sized. Reduce to light watering only.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Corn Beans Cucumber Squash Nasturtium Marigold Basil

Avoid planting near:

Potato Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli) Fennel Aromatic herbs (strongly scented varieties)

Common Pests

Use row covers until flowering, yellow sticky traps, spinosad spray, or neem oil. Encourage beneficial insects. Remove infected vines if beetle-borne viruses appear.
Check base of vines weekly for entry holes and sawdust-like frass. Inject Bt into stems or inject mineral oil into entry holes. Wrap base with aluminum foil. Plant succession crops every 2 weeks.
Ensure good air circulation. Spray with sulfur or potassium bicarbonate every 7-10 days at first sign. Remove heavily infected leaves. Avoid overhead watering.
Use resistant varieties if available. Apply copper fungicide or chlorothalonil at first symptom. Improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering.
Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly. Use yellow sticky traps. Encourage predatory insects. Remove heavily infested leaves.

Uses

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Fresh eating and desserts

Culinary

Watermelon Jubilee is prized for fresh consumption due to its compact size perfect for individual or small family servings. The sweet, crisp flesh is ideal for fruit salads, smoothies, granitas, and desserts. [source]

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Juice and beverages

Culinary

The high water content and sweetness make Jubilee excellent for fresh-pressed juices, aguas frescas, and refreshing summer beverages. Seeds can also be roasted and eaten. [source]

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Hydration and antioxidants

Medicinal

Watermelon contains lycopene, citrulline, and vitamin C, supporting cardiovascular health and hydration. Traditionally used to cool and refresh the body in hot climates. [source]

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Seed saving

Household

Open-pollinated Jubilee varieties allow easy seed saving for future seasons. Seeds can be dried and stored for 3-5 years. Collect only from your best-tasting melons. [source]

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Pollinator support

Wildlife

Watermelon flowers provide abundant nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators throughout the growing season. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Watermelons do not ripen after picking, so harvest at full maturity only. Signs of ripeness include: (1) yellow-cream ground spot on bottom, (2) dull (not shiny) skin, (3) hollow sound when thumped, (4) dried tendrils near stem attachment, (5) slight give when gently pressed. Cut stem with sharp knife rather than pulling. Harvest in early morning for best sweetness. Typical harvest window is 2-3 weeks once melons reach full size.

Fun Facts

🌱 Watermelon Jubilee earned its name for being small enough to 'celebrate' individually—perfect for single servings or small families, making it a jubilant addition to home gardens.
🌱 The darker the green stripes on a watermelon, the more developed the fruit; these stripes are not decorative but indicate ripeness and sugar concentration.
🌱 Watermelons are over 92% water, but Jubilee concentrates its sugars exceptionally well despite its small size, often delivering sweeter flavor than much larger varieties.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Runner Trellis True Leaves

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