By WENDY LEIGH
The Unique Watermelon Variety That Looks Like A Sky Full Of Stars
The rare Moon and Stars watermelon is a variety of heirloom watermelon known for the small yellow dots that cover its dark green rind, which ends up looking like the night sky.
These melons can be round or oblong with varying interior colors, though the most common ones harbor red flesh. Their average weight is up to 15 pounds, but they can get larger.
While yellow-flesh ones weigh 20 to 25 pounds, other varieties can reach 40 to 50 pounds. These melons have numerous huge, brown seeds and leaves with a similar starry pattern.
Their size, weight, and rarity make them hard to find online or in grocery stores or farmers' markets, but many online gardening companies sell the Moon and Stars watermelon seeds.
The seeds can deliver melons within 95 to 100 days after planting at a depth of 1/2 inch, spaced 12 to 18 inches apart, in soil temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Make sure they get full sun for at least six hours daily, and check the seed packet to ensure you're buying a variety that matches the amount of space you can devote to the melons.
Moon and Stars watermelons are super-sweet and juicy, especially in the red-skinned versions. Some report the flesh texture becomes "mealy" faster than other melon varieties.
You will need to extract the seeds to make smoothies, juice pops, slushies, sorbets, mocktails, or fruity cocktails like sangria, margaritas, daiquiris, and mojitos.
The flesh of these melons perks up salads, salsas, and gazpacho soups and pairs well with caprese or soft cheeses like feta. You can also pickle the rind or sizzle it on the grill.