Watermelon Seeds – Odell’s White

Expected to be back in stock by March

Citrullus lanatus

HEIRLOOM. Odell’s White is an enormous watermelon that is not very heavily seeded for its size, and its sweet, smooth flesh makes for excellent eating enjoyment! Fruits can weigh in at up to 60 pounds, and have pale green, almost gray, skin. The rind is almost an inch thick, making it great for pickling! We know from a historical account that this variety was developed by an unnamed enslaved plant breeder at the plantation owned by Col. A.G. Summer in Pomaria, SC in the 1840s. Its name comes from a Summer family friend, Milton O’Dell, who popularized the variety by winning many a contest with the melon’s immense size and sweetness. It seems probable that some other plant varieties developed in the American South before 1860 might have similar hidden origins, though this history is little-known.

Odell’s White watermelons should be direct seeded in a location with full sun and well-draining soil after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. Fruits will mature in 95 days. 1.5 gram packet contains approximately 20 seeds.

SMALL FARM GROWN by Thompson Heritage Farms, Mexico, MS

On the Slow Foods Ark of Taste!