Type
elongated heirloom
Watermelon variety
Charleston Gray Watermelon
A long, light-green watermelon known for crisp red flesh and good heat performance. It has been a standard southern garden variety for decades.
Days to maturity
85 to 95
Best for
hot climates, large harvests
About Charleston Gray
Charleston Gray is a classic open-pollinated variety released by the USDA and long valued for its long, cylindrical fruit with a distinctive grayish-green rind. The red flesh is sweet, firm, and nearly fiberless, while the tough rind resists sunburn and ships well. It also offers resistance to fusarium wilt and anthracnose.
Growing Charleston Gray Watermelon
Its large 20 to 30 pound oblong melons and long vines need generous spacing of about 4 to 6 feet and a warm season of roughly 85 to 90 days. The pale rind helps guard against sunscald, but keep plants evenly watered to prevent cracking. Harvest when the underside ground spot turns a buttery yellow and the nearest tendril withers.
Full growing guide
For planting dates, care, and harvest that apply to all watermelon, see the complete guide.
How to grow WatermelonOther watermelon varieties
Variety characteristics are general guidance for US home gardens; performance varies by climate, soil, and season. Seed and plant availability differs by supplier. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.