Watermelon seeds reach their peak germination success rate after reaching 5
years of age. Planting new seeds will probably fall within the 50 percent
range. I have never tried to test this out, but I learned it from a
television gardening show or read it in a book on watermelons, I don't
remember which.

I have also been told (by an old melon grower) that if you take one of the
runners from a watermelon plant, and cover the first leaf with dirt near the
main stem, then after it has put down roots, cut the stem between the dirt
and main stem, the resulting melons will be seedless. One test of this thus
far have proved unsuccessful. I am going to try this again, when I get a
chance.

Dwayne

From: "John Savage"
Subject: planting seeds to grow seedless melons
Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 6:12 PM

There was some discussion on a radio gardening program about
growing seedless watermelons, in particular, how to start.
Turns out that there are seeds on the market, they cost $1 each,
and have a relatively poor germination rate (about 50%).

Intriguing.
--
John Savage (news address invalid; keep news replies in newsgroup)