I too really just love watermelons and am passionate about getting a nice landrace that does well in any given year for me. I live in the Loire region of France, near Roanne. I have sandy soil, so when things get hot in summer, I’d like my watermelons to be ready for that. I try to be parsimonious about watering as I also travel a lot for work, so I need my garden to be as independent as possible.
Summer 2025 I started a watermelon project and I’ve recently updated it to include the seed finds I’ve gotten on my recent travels to the US and Canada. Follow along here: Watermelon landrace project in France - Loire region
This is my first project so I’m looking forward to all of your insights and questions. And I’m very excited to work on this with you guys.
In general I have a particular preference for smaller watermelons, so I wonder if we might want to make choices as to what we are looking for, or have to grexes for smaller and bigger? Or other qualities as well? I’m curious about watermelons for storage as well. I’ve come across some varieties here in US/CA specifically king and queen winter that I got in Quebec that is resistant to cold and properly handled can store till December there King and Queen winter watermelon - Organic - Jardins de l’écoumène. Any experience or curiosity there? Might be the kind of thing to keep separate and or a secondary characteristic to choose for after other qualities?