Some one some time ago asked for seeds for the moon and stars watermelon. At the time I thought that maybe this was a joke! BUT I just got my catalog from Shepherds and here is where you can order them: www.shepherdseeds.com. Hard to believe but I am getting some. Ada

-- Aagje Franken (Backyardy2k@aol.com), March 12, 2001

Answers

Ada,you should have asked on the forum.Several of us would have been glad to give you seed.BTW it comes in several "varieties".Yellow,pink,Amish,Milky Way and probably others as well.

-- JT (gone2seed@hotmail.com), March 12, 2001.

I have always wondered about Moon & Stars watermelon.Is it good?Is it comparable to say...crimson sweet?

-- nobrabbit (conlane@prodigy.net), March 12, 2001.

We've always planted the crimson sweet and sugar baby's and had great luck with them here in Cent. Wisc. Our son's godparents have always been given a garden pod out here and last year they planted the moon & stars watermelon. They looked great, actually had little yellow celestial patterns on the dark green skin. However, they weren't as sweet and they seemed a lot more "mealy" inside. Maybe they don't take as long and were overripe when we picked, but I don't think so.

-- Rose Marie Wild (wintersongfarm@yahoo.com), March 12, 2001.

Moon and Stars watermelon is actually a fluke out of the black diamond watermelon strain. The watermelon, if grown under good conditions, should be a juicy red fleshed melon, up to 20 lbs. As with all non-hybrid, the plants may be true to type, but no better than the melons they came out of. When you choose to raise heirloom melons, you do well to only save the seeds from the second watermelon off of a vine that produced a very sweet one the first time. It is possible that the non-sweet mealy melon was simply of a less desireable strain. I personally suggest moon and stars to anyone wanting to start growing heirloom melons, but if you want guarenteed sweetness, go with a hybrid of two sweets or seeds saved from a knowledgable seed savor.

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), March 13, 2001.

I really like Moon & Stars, but honestly the best watermelon I ever had was a Desert King. Yellowish orange flesh and very good. Think lot has to do with how watermelon is grown also.

-- Hermit John (hermit@hilltop_homestead.zzn.com), March 13, 2001.

I've an old catalog for Gurney's (www.gurneys.com), & they have quite a bit of things(though not always heirlooms).

For watermelons they have the Moon & Stars as well as Desert King, a bush Jubilee & more. But one that caught my attention (though I've yet to try as I only have room for a 1/2 barrel size pot) is called Hybrid Funbell. It's supposed to have a built in ripeness indicator. It's a red fleshed melon with dark green stripes on a golden yellow rind. When ripe, the stripes turn yellow. Oval fruits are compact 4-5 pound melons. Only draw back I can see (without trying them first) is there are only 10 seeds in a pack.

Also for the person that was looking for Tahitian Squash, they got it (also 10 to a pack). I also can't agree with the prices.

animalfarms

-- animalfarms (jwlewis@indy.net), March 13, 2001.

I would love to get some seed for growing a few Moon and Stars watermelons. I have some nice Ropreco (paste) tomato seeds to trade. Thanks!

-- Lori in SE Ohio (klnprice@yahoo.com), March 13, 2001.

I sent my first ever seed order into Gurney's. I chose them over the others because no matter how much you order the shipping cost is $2.95. That aspect really appealed to me. We will be planting our first real garden this year and we are really excited about it. I bought the ordinary variety seeds at 10cents a packet at WalMart and bought some of the odd stuff (at least odd to me) from Gurney's. Can't wait to try them. Moon and Stars, and Desert King were among my order. Glad to hear that they are both good. Thanks !

-- cindy palmer (jandcpalmer@sierratel.com), March 13, 2001.

Lori,

I'll trade you five seeds for five seeds. Please e-mail me at Mrs.Puck@Excite.com if your interested. I havn't grown that tomatoe yet, can you tell me more about it?

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), March 14, 2001.