Congo Watermelon — Heirloom Seeds
Citrullus lanatus | 95–100 Days | Open-Pollinated
The name was chosen deliberately — a tribute to the African continent where watermelons were born. The wild ancestors of every watermelon on earth trace back to Africa, where the fruit was first cultivated thousands of years ago before spreading north into Egypt, across ancient trade routes, and eventually into the American South, where it became the most iconic summer fruit in the country. The Congo carries that lineage in its name and in its DNA.
This classic heirloom produces enormous oblong fruits — we're talking 35–45 pounds — with a deep green striped rind thick enough to shrug off the bumps of harvest season. Slice one open and you'll find dense, candy-sweet red flesh that holds its texture beautifully, making it as good for a backyard cookout as it is for the farmers market table.
The vines are vigorous, the fruits store well after harvest, and the seeds you save this fall will grow you the same melon next summer. Grow it once and it's a staple. Guaranteed.