Watermelon Seeds, Abla

Turkish Watermelons

Browse and shop for Turkish watermelons. Some of these traditional watermelon seeds have been stewarded by small communities in specific regions in Turkey. Others have been grown in home gardens and homesteads widely across the country, generation upon generation. These Turkish watermelons reflect the significance of seed stewardship in Turkey. They also manifest the incredible diversity and richness of kitchen traditions, flavors, texture, and colors of food crops, among other traits, in the country.

Watermelon is native to Africa, and it is a crop widely celebrated for so long in Turkey. Turkish watermelons come in various shapes, textures and flavors. They are a staple food crop across Turkey.

Watermelons are mainly used for fresh eating in Turkey.

In our catalog, we may also offer Turkish watermelons which were bred as part of commercial plant breeding efforts in the 20th century in Turkey. These seeds can be more commonly found at farmers’ markets across the country. It is still possible to find these seeds in Turkish commercial seed catalogs. However, many of them are also disappearing from these catalogs due to unacceptable seed laws and regulations that force farmers to become dependent on hybrid and patented seeds. Hence, it is also one of our goals to offer these now commercially rare Turkish watermelons to pass on their genetically powerful traits that also acknowledge and intersect traditions.

In addition, you will also find here the watermelon seeds from our culturally appropriate plant breeding and seed selection efforts.

Showing all 10 results

  • Cut Abla watermelon photographed on the hood of a farm truck.
    Purchase & earn 4 points!

    Watermelon Seeds, Abla

    Small, round watermelon from Çanakkale, Turkey. White-seeded sweet flesh. Our introduction.

    $3.50
  • One cut and one whole Adana Black Turkish watermelons on concrete slab.
    Purchase & earn 4 points!

    Watermelon Seeds, Adana Black

    Very sweet, mid-size, round watermelon. Flesh is crunchy, very sweet and never grainy. Traditional variety in Adana, Turkey. Our introduction.  

    $3.50
  • SOLD OUT
    Çekirdeği Oyalı Orange Flesh watermelon photographed on grass
    Earn up to 6 points.

    Watermelon Seeds, Çekirdeği Oyalı (Orange Flesh)

    Orange-flesh strain of our signature watermelon variety, Çekirdeği Oyalı. Mid-size fruits are larger than those of the red-flesh strain. Crisp texture, sweet flavor, and of course breathtaking seeds.

    $3.50
    Read more This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page

    Out of stock

  • Çekirdeği Oyalı watermelon seeds in a bowl along with fruit scooped in another bowl photographed together
    Earn up to 6 points.

    Watermelon Seeds, Çekirdeği Oyalı (Red Flesh)

    Perhaps the most unique watermelon we know, thanks to its seeds’ coating that looks like hand-carved when the seeds are dry. Plants produce small and sweet fruits with red flesh. Our commercial introduction.

    $3.00
    Add to cart This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
  • Many Cekirdegi Oyali (White Flesh) watermelons photographed in a tractor's bucket.
    Purchase & earn 4 points!

    Watermelon Seeds, Çekirdeği Oyalı (White Flesh)

    White-flesh strain of our signature watermelon variety, Çekirdeği Oyalı. Firm, white and sweet flesh with great storage capacity post-harvest. Breath-taking seeds that look like carved by hand. Our introduction.

    $3.50
  • Two halved yellow watermelons on basket
    Purchase & earn 4 points!

    Watermelon Seeds, Et Sari Tohum Al

    Red-seeded, yellow flesh Turkish watermelon with white-ish light green rind. Firm, crunchy, sweet texture. Our commercial introduction.

    $3.50
  • Seed savers and farmers Kristyn Leach and Mehmet Oztan holding Kırklareli Yellow watermelon fruits while standing and photographed on Leach's former farm in Davis, CA.
    Purchase & earn 4 points!

    Watermelon Seeds, Kırklareli Yellow

    Volleyball-sized, yellow flesh, sweet Turkish watermelon. Resistant to cracking even after a rainy season. We continuously select seeds for a pleasant, crunchy texture.

    $3.50
  • One half and two whole Turkey Dark Rind Red Seeded watermelon fruits photographed on concrete slab.
    Purchase & earn 4 points!

    Watermelon Seeds, Turkey Dark Rind Red Seeded

    Small watermelon with dark rind and sunset-colored seeds. This variety turned out to be one of the reliable watermelons during the extreme drought of Southeast Ohio in 2024. Very good flavor. Our introduction!

    $3.50
  • Yeni Dunya watermelons on grassy ground
    Purchase & earn 4 points!

    Watermelon Seeds, Yeni Dünya

    Round Turkish watermelon with light green rind and red flesh. Very productive and sweet. 

    $3.50
  • SOLD OUT
    Sürme watermelon on the vine
    Purchase & earn 4 points!

    Watermelon, Sürme

    $4.00

    Out of stock