Moon and Stars Watermelon Seeds (Citrullus lanatus cv.)

The Moon and Stars Watermelon has a dark green rind speckled with tiny yellow "stars" and an occasional large yellow patch, or "moon". Released by the seed-house of Peter Henderson and Co. of New Jersey in 1926, its rediscovery in 1981 on a farm near Macon, Missouri, was a victory for heirloom seed savers, who had spent nearly a decade in search of this curious and delicious melon.

Direct sow seeds in hills or rows after the last spring frost; for hills, sow 6-8 seeds per 12"-wide hill, then thin to the best 3 plants per hill. To grow in a shorter season, start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost. Watermelons prefer light, fertile soil on the dry side. Approximately 10 seeds per packet.