Çekirdeği Oyalı is hands down the most unique watermelon we have ever grown. As the seeds of this variety dry, their seed coats crack which gives the seeds a unique pattern on the surface as if they are hand carved. Fruits of this watermelon have sweet, red flesh and weigh in the range of 3-4 lbs.
This variety is regionally known as Çizgili, Dualı, Yazılı. To address the fruits’ very unique, seed-specific genetic trait and to make the seeds common across communities, I promoted it as Çekirdeği Oyalı, a culturally appropriate name that roughly translates to hand-carved seeds in English.
Our seeds came from a seed preservation center in İzmir. While there is strong evidence that the seeds are traditionally stewarded in Western Turkey, we also came across the same seed trait to be stewarded in Ovalı Village (possibly of Tokat Province), Northern Turkey.
Other synonyms: Çizgili, Dualı, Yazılı
Packet has min. 20 seeds
Commercially introduced by us
Phonetically pronounced: check-ear-day-ee o-ya-luh
- Citrullus lanatus
- Needs full sun
- Planting depth: 1/2-1″
- Sprouts in 7-10 days
- Ideal growing temperature: 75-95F
- Plant spacing: 18-36″
- Frost hardy: No
- Growth habit: Vining
I was able to save a bunch of seeds and was amazed by the different patterns and striations that appeared when the black seeds dried. My wife makes jewelry and this is the second plant in my OUR Garden at Reed’s Organic Farm in Egg Harbor Township, NJ that she has been able to fashion earrings and necklaces out of. the first was the Job’s Tear’s dried seeds that come from southeast Asia.
I’m giving these a 5 just for their beauty even though they didn’t grow because something ate the seeds after planting.