Growing heat-loving crops in the Pacific NW can be tricky, but gardeners up to the challenge may want to try 'Sugar Baby' watermelons. Excellent flavor in a smaller package, 'Sugar Baby' watermelon needs room to grow, as the vines will spread from six to ten feet. Water melon plants deeply when the top inch of soil is dry, and fertilize with a low-dose fertilizer. When can one tell a watermelon is ready to pick? Good question, with several possible indicators - the rind where the melon is resting on soil turns yellowish, the rind becomes dull and possibly a bit rough, the skin is difficult to penetrate with a thumbnail, and/or the green tendril on the stem near the point of attachment dries and turns brown.