growing sugar baby watermelons: old roots, new dreams

When I walk through my backyard, I remember my grandmother’s garden—a wild, sweet-smelling tangle where she grew watermelons the old-fashioned way, letting the vines sprawl wherever they pleased. Now, as a middle-aged gardener in North America, I find myself torn between her traditions and the new, tidy raised beds my neighbors swear by. This summer, I planted Bush Sugar Baby watermelons, a compact variety perfect for our unpredictable Midwest weather and smaller suburban plots. It’s funny—my grandkids roll their eyes at my stories of hauling giant melons from the field, but they’re quick to snap photos of our tiny, perfectly round Sugar Babies for their friends. Sometimes I wonder: are we losing something by trading wild abundance for neat efficiency? Or are we just adapting, like our gardens, to changing times and climates? Last week, the HOA sent a letter about my vines creeping over the border. It made me laugh and sigh at the same time. Isn’t gardening about freedom and creativity? Or should we follow the rules for the sake of neighborhood harmony? I’d love to hear how others balance tradition, community expectations, and the urge to try something new—especially as the seasons shift and the old ways meet the new. #gardeningmemories #sugarbabywatermelon #traditionvsinnovation #Gardening