By Johnson 
Watermelons are a sure sign of summer. As soon as the weather is warm enough for a beach trip, I see watermelon, everything popping up in stores, and it always makes me smile. They’re also delicious, but I never had the space to grow them until I discovered the mini varieties!
Mini watermelons are similar to dwarf varieties, but not exactly the same. Dwarf watermelon refers to a variety that has compact stems and is generally a small plant. They may or may not produce smaller melons. Some produce standard ones.
Some mini watermelons are also dwarf varieties, but some grow on larger plants with longer vines. The difference is in the size of the fruit, not the plant. While their vines may still be long, the actual melons take up far less space. I grow mine between rows, and they incorporate nicely with the rest of the garden.
Mini watermelons that are also dwarf are typically referred to as ‘bush type’ or ‘dwarf vine,’ and these are even more convenient in a small garden space. They also grow well in container gardens. Let’s take a look at some sweet and juicy mini watermelon varieties!
Sugar Baby Watermelon
Sugar Baby Watermelon Seeds
Summer never tasted so good! As the name suggests, ‘Sugar Baby’ is delectably sweet and small enough to easily fit in the refrigerator. This plant produces an abundant crop of 7″–10″, 8–10 pound, juicy fruit with red flesh.
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‘Sugar Baby’
‘Sugar Baby‘ is a classic heirloom mini watermelon variety. It’s known for its small size and sweet red flesh. It also has a relatively short maturation time, ranging from 75 to 85 days. This is the variety I am growing in my vegetable patch this year, and I’m excited to harvest some sweet little melons.
While it’s not a dwarf variety, ‘Sugar Baby’ is more compact than a standard vine. It can grow up to ten feet, which is substantial. The watermelons are perfect for two, though, at only six to ten inches in diameter. The rind is thin and dark, and the flesh is sweet and bright red with a fine texture.
‘Sweet Beauty’
‘Sweet Beauty’ is a modern mini with semi-compact vines and small, exceptionally sweet melons. Bred for flavor and uniformity, these single-serve watermelons are extra sweet and mature relatively early. You can expect them to ripen in about 80 days.
Because they are a modern hybrid, the seeds from this variety will not breed true to type. It has all the sweetness of an heirloom, but with significantly improved disease and crack resistance. ‘Sweet Beauty’ is a winner of an All-American Selections award. If you prefer them chilled, these watermelons are only five to seven pounds, and several can fit perfectly in the fridge.
‘Blacktail Mountain’
If the name ‘Blacktail Mountain’ sounds rugged and cold-tolerant, this one stacks up to its moniker. It’s known for its ability to grow well in cooler climates with shorter summers and at high altitudes. It’s not a dwarf plant, but it’s more manageable than a full-sized cultivar with 8- 12-foot vines.
To thrive in cooler climates, ‘Blacktail Mountain’ requires rapid ripening. The six to 12-pound melons ripen in as few as 70 days! It is an open-pollinated heirloom, so you can plant the seeds in subsequent years, and it will produce similar fruit to the parent plant. The flavor and texture are excellent, with crisp, deep red flesh.
‘Mini Love’
‘Mini Love’ is both a mini watermelon and a dwarf. The semi-bush growth habit keeps this plant small so that you can grow it in containers and small spaces. It’s also an All-America Selections winner and a hybrid that ripens early, making it suitable for shorter growing seasons.
If you love the classic look of a watermelon with a striped, green rind and juicy pink flesh, this is a perfect melon. The personal-sized fruits are about three to seven pounds and ripen in about 70 days. The plants produce a high yield despite their limited stature.
‘Golden Midget’
‘Golden Midget’ is a unique heirloom variety of mini watermelon with a rind that turns a deep golden hue upon ripening. It’s an early-ripening variety, maturing in about 70 days, and grows on compact, dwarf-sized vines that are vining rather than bushy.
The three to five-pound watermelons have deep pink flesh that is sweet and juicy. They are great for short-season gardens and make a fun conversation piece because they look more like a canary melon. But when you cut them open, there is that telltale pop of pink.
‘Treasure Chest’
‘Treasure Chest’ is a compact, semi-bush type with three to five-pound watermelons that ripen early, in about 75 days. Developed for high yields in small spaces, this variety is ideal for use in containers or raised beds. Each plant can produce multiple melons.
The personal-sized fruits are light green with dark green stripes. Split it open to find bright red flesh that is uncommonly crisp and sweet for a mini. This hybrid is great if you want a reliable variety for a garden with a small footprint.
‘Triple Treat’
‘Triple Treat’ is a mini hybrid watermelon that produces multiple fruits per dwarf sized, vining plant. Each plant will produce three or more watermelons weighing three to five pounds each. They mature in about 75 days. It’s great for gardeners who are looking for a high yield in a smaller space.
The fruits are classic light green with dark green stripes. They have crisp, super sweet, bright red fruit that is uniform in shape and size. They have an excellent shelf life.
‘Mini-Me’
‘Mini-Me’ is another hybrid mini that is semi-bush and semi-vining. It’s compact, but the vines do trail about five to six feet. It’s a productive variety with melons maturing in as few as 75 days. They are small, uniform, and ideal for single servings or sharing with a friend.
As for the actual watermelons, they are small, ranging from three to five pounds, with a thin, edible rind. The rind is light green with deep green stripes. The flesh is sweet, crisp, and bright red, and this cultivar contains few seeds, making it easier to eat, especially for kids.
‘Yellow Petite’
‘Yellow Petite’ is a mini watermelon that grows on a larger plant, so it’s highly productive. It matures early, in only 65 to 75 days, making it perfect for short-season climates. It’s an heirloom, and an excellent choice for those who want something small and extra colorful in the garden.
The four to seven-pound melons are dark green on the outside, sometimes with slight mottling. The flesh is bright yellow, and as sweet, juicy, and crisp as any red variety. It has a honey-like quality. Grow this variety with a red one for an especially colorful fruit platter.
‘Cream of Saskatchewan’
I saved ‘Cream of Saskatchewan’ for last because it’s a striking and unique miniature watermelon variety that deserves special recognition. This mini watermelon grows on mid-sized plants with sprawling vines that are more compact than standard, but substantial enough to produce multiple melons.
The fruits have a thin, delicate rind that is easy to cut. It can be tricky when it comes to transporting them, though. Handle this one more gently than the average watermelon. The rind is classic light green with dark green stripes, but the flesh is in a class of its own. It’s cream colored, nearly white, with a sweet, juicy, honeyed flavor!