Dixie Queen Watermelon

Dixie Queen watermelon was introduced in the 1930s and quickly earned praise for combining excellent eating quality with a rind that was thin, yet surprisingly strong. A 1935 Burpee catalog described it as a new melon that was smooth, round in shape, and weighed as much as 60 pounds, noting its pale green rind with darker stripes, bright red flesh, and fine flavor. In our 2025 trials, Dixie Queen quickly became one of our favorite varieties. The flesh was intensely sweet, vibrant red, and extended nearly all the way to the rind—exactly what you want in a backyard watermelon, where flavor matters far more than shelf life. Despite that tender eating quality, the rind held together better than expected, helping explain why it stood out when first introduced. The fruit are large, round to slightly oblong, with a classic picnic-style look and crisp, juicy texture. Its full, old-fashioned watermelon flavor makes it the kind of melon that doesn't hang around once it's cut open. Approximately 80-90 days to maturity. Each packet contains a minimum of 25 seeds.