O'Dell's Large White Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
Seeds per packet ~ 25
Germination: 87% June 2025 (Packed for 2026)
Origins and History
O’Dell’s Large White Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a rare South Carolina heirloom with deep roots in the Dutch Fork region of the South Carolina Midlands. It’s recognized by Slow Food’s Ark of Taste, and historical accounts trace the variety’s development to the 1840s at Pomaria (South Carolina), where an African American plant breeder selected and refined what became known as Odell’s White / O’Dell’s Large White—a notable story of Black agricultural innovation in the 19th century.
This giant African heirloom has been traced back to an unnamed African American farmer who grew it on a South Carolina plantation in the mid-1800's. Also known as Stoney Mountain Watermelon, the fruits have pink, sweet, coarse flesh with a tender rind, light green (some say grayish) skin and white seeds that mature in 90 days. It is listed under Slow Food Ark of Taste. A truly delicious watermelon.
Appearance and Characteristics
This variety is famous for its very large, round fruits—often in the 30–35 lb range, and sometimes reported much larger under ideal conditions—wrapped in pale green to gray-green skin. The interior is typically pink, sweet, juicy flesh with white seeds, and it’s often described as not heavily seeded for its size. Maturity is commonly listed around 90 days.
Culinary Uses
O’Dell’s Large White is an excellent fresh-eating watermelon—best chilled and sliced when fully ripe. A standout bonus is the tender, flavorful rind, which many growers prize for pickling (rind pickles, chutneys, and preserves).
Growing Tips
O’Dell’s Large White performs best anywhere watermelons thrive: USDA Zones 3–11 as a warm-season annual, but it really shines in long, hot summers. Choose a site with full sun (8+ hours) and fertile, well-drained soil. For best germination and strong early growth, aim for warm soil—Slow Food notes strong performance in warm loam soils and suggests a warm ground-temperature range (about 21–32°C / 70–90°F).
Sow depth: Plant seeds about 1 inch deep (slightly shallower in heavier soils, slightly deeper in sandy soils).
Spacing: Give vines room—about 4–6 feet between hills (or 2–3 feet between plants in rows with 6–8 feet between rows).
Watering: Keep evenly moist early on; once fruits are sizing, water deeply but avoid constant saturation. Reduce watering slightly as fruits near maturity to concentrate sweetness and help prevent splitting.
Harvesting Guidance
Harvest when multiple ripeness signals line up (especially important for big heirlooms):
- The tendril closest to the fruit turns brown and dries.
- The ground spot changes from whitish to a creamy butter-yellow.
- The rind looks a bit duller (less glossy), and the fruit gives a deeper, hollow “thump.”
- For very large fruits, allow full ripening time—this variety is commonly listed at about 90 days.
