Of all the watermelon varieties we’ve offered over the years, Red-N-Sweet has been the most requested. True to its name, this legendary Southern melon delivers deep red flesh, exceptional sweetness, and the bold, old-fashioned flavor many modern watermelons lack. Red-N-Sweet was the final watermelon released from the Calhoun breeding program, developed at the Calhoun Research Station and introduced in 1987 after more than a decade of selection. Like its Calhoun counterparts, it was bred for both flavor and resilience and shows strong resistance to Fusarium wilt—making it especially dependable in hot, humid regions. Once thought to have been lost, Red-N-Sweet resurfaced in Louisiana and was grown out again in 2020 with remarkable results: vigorous vines, heavy yields, and melons typically weighing 18–22 pounds, with standout fruits reaching 30 to 46 pounds. Brix readings of 12–13% confirmed its reputation as a genuinely sweet watermelon. We gratefully credit LSU AgCenter agent Kerry Heafner for bringing this precious heirloom back into circulation. His work restoring Red-N-Sweet—along with the nearly lost Calhoun Sweet—helped spark the North Louisiana Seed Preservation Program and ensured these watermelons weren’t lost to history. Matures approximately 90 days after sowing. Each packet contains a minimum of 10 seeds.
