Ashly’s Easy Guide to Growing Sugar Baby Watermelon & Cajun Jewel Okra
- facethyfear
- Mar 17
- 3 min read
(From Homegrown Seeds – A FaceThyFear Gardening Guide)
Growing your own Sugar Baby Watermelon and Cajun Jewel Okra in Savannah’s warm climate (Zone 8b) is a great way to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce all summer long. Since these seeds are saved from last year’s harvest, we already know they’ll thrive in Savannah’s long, hot growing season!
This easy-to-follow guide will help you plant, care for, and harvest your crops like a pro—whether you start seeds indoors or sow them directly in the ground. Let’s get growing!
🌍 Meet the Plants
🍉 Sugar Baby Watermelon
What It Is: A small, super-sweet watermelon perfect for personal servings.
Days to Harvest: 75-85 days from seed.
Size: 6-10 lbs, compact vines.
Temperature Needs:
Germination: 75-85°F
Growth: Best at 70-95°F
Soil Temperature: At least 70°F before planting outdoors.
Best Fertilizer: Low-nitrogen (5-10-10) – Too much nitrogen = more leaves, fewer melons!
🌱 Cajun Jewel Okra
What It Is: A Louisiana-bred dwarf okra that’s tender, heat-loving, and great for small spaces.
Days to Harvest: 55-60 days from seed.
Size: Grows 3-4 feet tall—compact but productive!
Temperature Needs:
Germination: 75-85°F
Growth: Best at 75-100°F
Soil Temperature: At least 65°F before planting outdoors.
Best Fertilizer: Balanced (10-10-10) or compost for steady growth.
📅 Savannah Planting Timeline (Zone 8b)
🌡️ Savannah has a long, hot growing season—perfect for these crops! Use this quick guide to know when to plant, care, and harvest.
✅ Start early = earlier harvest
✅ Mulch helps retain moisture & block weeds
✅ Bees help watermelons! Hand-pollinate if needed ✅ Harvest okra frequently for best flavor
🌱 Starting Seeds Indoors (For an Early Start!)
Starting your seeds indoors helps extend the growing season and gives your plants a strong head start.
🌱 Sugar Baby Watermelon (Start Indoors 3-4 Weeks Before Last Frost)
✅ When to Start: Late February - Early March
✅ Containers: Use peat pots or biodegradable cups (melons hate root disturbance).
✅ Soil: Use light, well-draining seed-starting mix.
✅ Planting Depth: 1 inch deep.
✅ Watering: Keep soil moist but not soggy—don’t drown the seeds!
✅ Temperature: Needs 75-85°F (A heating mat helps).
✅ Light: 12-14 hours daily under grow lights or near a sunny window.
✅ Transplanting: Move outside when soil is 70°F+ and nights are above 60°F.
🌱 Cajun Jewel Okra (Start Indoors 4-6 Weeks Before Last Frost)
✅ When to Start: Early March
✅ Pre-Soaking Trick: Soak seeds in warm water overnight to speed up germination.
✅ Containers: Peat pots or small biodegradable cups work best.
✅ Soil: Use rich, well-draining soil with compost.
✅ Planting Depth: ½ inch deep.
✅ Watering: Keep soil evenly moist.
✅ Temperature: Needs 75-85°F for fast sprouting.
✅ Light: Full sun or grow lights for 12-14 hours per day.
✅ Transplanting: Move outside when soil reaches 65°F+.
🌿 Direct Sowing Outdoors (For Warmer Weather Planting!)
Once the weather warms up, these plants love direct sowing straight into the ground.
🌿 Sugar Baby Watermelon (Plant Outside in April-May)
✅ Full Sun: Loves 8+ hours of direct sunlight daily.
✅ Soil Prep: Needs sandy, well-draining soil.
✅ Spacing: 3-4 feet apart (Watermelon vines spread wide).
✅ Planting Depth: 1 inch deep in mounds or rows.
✅ Watering: Deep water once a week—avoid overwatering!
✅ Mulching: Use straw or black plastic to retain warmth and moisture.
✅ Harvesting:
The tendril near the stem turns brown.
The bottom turns yellow.
The melon sounds hollow when tapped.
🌿 Cajun Jewel Okra (Plant Outside in April-May)
✅ Full Sun: Thrives in hot, sunny locations.
✅ Soil Prep: Needs loose, rich soil with compost.
✅ Spacing: 12-18 inches apart in rows.
✅ Planting Depth: ½ inch deep.
✅ Watering: Needs 1 inch of water per week.
✅ Harvesting:
Pick pods when 2-4 inches long—larger ones get woody & tough.
Harvest every 2-3 days to keep plants producing.
💧 Watering & Fertilizer Tips
💧 Watering
✅ Watermelon: Deep water once a week (water at the base to prevent disease).
✅ Okra: Needs consistent moisture, but once established, it’s drought-tolerant.
🌱 Fertilizing
✅ Watermelon: Use 5-10-10 fertilizer when vines start growing, then switch to potassium-rich fertilizer when fruit appears.
✅ Okra: Use 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer monthly or add compost for steady growth.
🎉 Final Gardening Tips for Ashly’s Garden!
✔ Start Early = Earlier Harvest✔ Mulch Helps – Keeps moisture in, weeds out.✔ Bees Love Watermelons! – More bees = More melons!✔ Harvest Okra Often – The more you pick, the more it grows!✔ Save Seeds for Next Year! – Let some pods/melons mature fully.
Enjoy a bountiful harvest of sweet watermelons & tender okra, and keep spreading the FaceThyFear Gardening spirit! 🌱✨
📍 FaceThyFear Gardening – Keep Growing, Keep Thriving!🔗 www.FTFNow.net | Copyright © FaceThyFear™ 🌱
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