Wild Watermelons

While doing our morning walks, we've noticed this watermelon patch growing wild along the creek.

Each time, I'm tempted to dig one up and take it home to replant. The last time the City came out to mow the area, I held my breath. This is what survived. I would have dug one up sooner, but I'm not sure a plant can survive a transplant that's already gone to fruit...

Update: Discovering the Story Behind the Wild Watermelon

Since first noticing this little watermelon patch growing along the creek, I’ve done some digging and learned that what we likely stumbled upon is what many people call a feral or volunteer watermelon. These are watermelon plants that grow wild from seeds that were dropped by animals, washed downstream by flooding, or left behind from old gardens or farms.

In many parts of Texas and the South, small wild melons like this were once fairly common. Farmers sometimes referred to them as citron melons or stock melons, and they were often grown or allowed to grow for livestock feed. The thick-rinded fruit stored well and could be fed to pigs, chickens, and other animals, especially during the heat of summer when fresh moisture was valuable.

While some feral melons may come from edible garden varieties, others can have very firm or bitter flesh, which is why they weren’t always used as table melons. Instead, many homesteads used them for preserves, livestock feed, or simply allowed them to grow naturally along fence rows and creek banks.

Historically, melons and gourds have been grown in North America for centuries. Native American tribes in the Southwest and southern regions cultivated several types of melons and squash, often selecting seeds from plants that survived the toughest conditions. Over time, seeds could spread beyond gardens and continue growing wild along waterways and open land.

Whether this particular vine came from an old garden, wildlife, or simply a stray seed carried by the creek, it’s a reminder of how resilient these plants can be. Nature has a way of continuing the work long after people have moved on.

If the fruit turns out to be edible, it would certainly make for an interesting taste test. If not, it’s still fascinating to see how something as simple as a dropped seed can grow into a thriving patch of melons along a quiet stretch of creek.