Here’s one infected with Papaya Ringspot in my patch in 2020.
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I grew Blacktail Mountain this year. I don’t think mine had any visible stripes at all… They were all a very dark green.
Ringspot looks like the kind of alien writing on space capsules in sci-fi movies.
Too bad it isn’t harmless.
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I did notice those and had no idea, thanks for the info Jerry, greatly appreciated.
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ditto
first year ive seen it and only on blacktail mt. we had sooooo many stripers (and a few spotted, a first) this year. I was vacuuming them up earlier in the season. Ive noticed periodically theyll go for non-curcurbits. I found one munching away at a ripe tomato today.
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You should sterilize the knife you use to cut melons off the vine so the sap won’t spread it to others. It is listed as a “touch” virus due to its easy spread. I use rubbing alcohol.
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I am looking for good eating, red-flesh watermelon varieties that are about 15-25 lbs in size.
I have grown varieties that are 25-40 lbs. they are too large for my, friends’ and neighbors’ families.
Varieties that ripen in 70-85 days would be great. @jerryrva ’s Mickylee is on my list
Any other suggestions, please?
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Crimson sweet and Wilson’s sweet are the best I’ve had that size. Harvest Moon if you’re willing to try seedless- easiest I’ve ever grown for knowing ripeness.
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Yes, I love Crimson Sweet and grow it every year. Hope to learn about other varieties that are as good and that size or a bit smaller.
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Finally had a great watermelon, a Crimson Sweet, and it will be perhaps the only one. 
Terrible year for watermelons.
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If I could plant only one watermelon it would be a Crimson Sweet. It has over the years been dependable and one I can seem to pick at the right time.
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Here’s a size comparison for those interested in under 20 pound watermelons. Wibb on the left, Wilson Sweet middle two, and Mickylee on the right.
Might be the end of the season for me. The tropical storm for tonight and tomorrow is headed my way. My house is in the center of the cone once it moves into Virginia. Already getting rain at 345pm.
A late planting of Wibb and Sweet Princess having about 6 melons each is the last I’d like to get picked next week if not too much rain.
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How do they all taste? How would rank them is taste and production?
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I had the wettest summer and fall. Never went 2 weeks without rain after late June. Wilson Sweet the sweetest, then Wibb. All three put out at least 6 melons on 2 plant hills.
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Here’s a Wilson’s sweet from last year. They taste amazing in hot weather but in my experience the flavor really goes down hill once the cooler nights come. Much less so with some others I’ve grown. They are very productive.
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Here’s Sweet Princess, a watermelon released by North Carolina in 1967. A cross of a small seeded Congo x a mutant of Charleston Gray. It is still recognized as an elite watermelon and used as a parent. Fine textured, very sweet, classic watermelon flavor and very small seeds. They run from 21 to 27 pounds according to release notes. Mine was 29.8lbs with 13.1 brix. I have six melons on one plant. A definite must grow next year for me.
This one beat out Wibb and Red N Sweet on flavor and sweetness cut this morning.
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Where did you get the seeds of this variety?
Do you think the one you picked was fully ripened or needed a few more days?
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Two more sunny days would have been nice perhaps but I picked it day before the tropical storm. This is first one out of the patch so if the storm doesn’t burst open the later ones, I have more chances to see how they are. That one was hand pollinated. The others were bee pollinated and look very uniform from end to end.
Seed from Reimer Seed. True Leaf also has it. Both companies have had complaints from customers. Although Reimer says it’s under new management for whatever that is worth. At least with its tiny seed, you know it’s the right variety.
I will have to look at the stake in the patch to see when I planted the seed. I think June 29 and pulled September 21.
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Glad you mentioned when you planted it. Where I am 85 days are a max
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I planted Wibb and Orangeglo at same time. Orangeglo still has a green tendril. I picked a dead ripe Wibb same time as that SP.
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