(Citrullus lanatus) When it's in season, we generally don’t need to be asked twice when it comes to eating our weight in watermelon. It is one of the great joys of late summer, and we are always on the hunt for the great, short-season adapted cultivars. People are continuously incredulous when we bring one to a potluck or picnic here in the Pacific Northwest, saying, “I never thought you could grow watermelons here,” but as is true with all the heat-loving vegetables, there have been people in cooler, northern climes selecting for early maturing, cool weather tolerant traits for many, many generations. Janosik comes to us from Poland by way of Italy, and it was a massive success for us on the home farm. The fruits, with dark green rinds, bright yellow flesh, and wonderfully sweet refreshing flavor, were quite large by northern standards, averaging probably around 10-12# with some tipping the scales at up to 16#, and plants yielding between 30-40# of fruit each! Texture is VERY important to us when it comes to watermelon, and Janosik delivers just the perfect combination of crisp and grainy (never smooth or mealy!) flesh. The name refers to a real-life Slovak highwayman from the late 1600s who became a semi-legendary Robinhood-like hero of Slovak, Polish, and Hungarian folklore robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. His name has become a symbol of resistance to oppression in central Europe and was used by an anti-Nazi resistance group in the Slovak National Uprising. It just goes to show that there are all sorts of things you can learn from a seed, and that’s a name we can get behind.
80-85 days. UO

Packet: 25 seeds

[split]

Growing Info

SOWING:

Sow indoors 3-4 weeks before your last frost date. Keep soil moist before emergence, growing at 80-90F, reducing to 75F.

Transplant out 2-3 weeks after your last frost date, when soil has sufficiently warmed.

Direct sow after 2-3 weeks after last frost when soil is 70F+.

Note: Provide ample and even water when transplanting, and take care not to disturb roots.

PLANTING DEPTH:

1/2"

SPACING:

18-24" spacing in rows 5' apart.

EMERGENCE:

5-10 days @ soil temp 75-85F

LIGHT:

Full sun

FERTILITY:

Medium. Prefers well-drained, evenly moist, and well-balanced fertile soil with a pH of 6.5-7. Avoid the addition of excess Nitrogen to the soil. Phosphorus and potassium are key for a healthy fruit set.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Be gentle while transplanting to keep the root system undisturbed.

Consistent warmth and water are essential.

Row cover may be used for extra warmth and possibly earlier fruit set. Remove as plants begin to flower.

Keep transplants through fruit set well-watered. Cut back water a week or so before ripe to avoid bland tasting fruit.

Watermelon, 'Janosik'