1999 All-America Selections Winners for the Home Vegetable Garden

1999 All-America Selections Winner: Tomato "Juliet" Photo credit: All-America Selections	1999 All-America Selections Winner: Watermelon "New Queen" Photo credit: All-America Selections	1999 All-America Selections Winner: Squash "Eight Ball" Photo credit: All-America Selections

Four vegetables received the All-America Selections award for 1999.

The winning vegetables are: a backyard tomato variety, "Juliet," a zucchini squash variety called "Eight Ball," a compact growing pumpkin variety called "Wee-B-Little," and an icebox watermelon variety, "New Queen."

The tomato variety, "Juliet," is heralded for its excellent holding qualities. This small-fruited variety produces 1- ounce, glossy red tomatoes in clusters like grapes.

Have you ever had a problem with tomatoes splitting? The oblong-shaped fruits of "Juliet" are crack-resistant. This cherry tomato is perfect for salads or eating whole. Expect ripened fruit about 60-70 days from transplanting. "Juliet" plants may be available in your local garden center this spring. Or, check seed catalogs, and plan to grow your own transplants.

"Eight Ball" is a zucchini squash you will enjoy having in your home garden. It is the first dark zucchini green, round summer squash. This cute, baby round squash matures its fruit quickly. "Eight Ball" has a bush, upright growth habit, so space plants 2-3 feet apart.

Many home gardeners don't have the space for long vining vegetables such as pumpkins or melons. "Wee-B-Little" pumpkin fits into small space gardens because it was bred to have compact vine growth. The average spread of the vine is about 6 to 8 feet. As the name suggests, "Wee-B-Little" is a miniature pumpkin variety, weighing 8 to 16 ounces. They are great for children's gardens or fall decorative uses. From sowing seed to harvest is 120 days. This pumpkin has deep-orange skin and when cured has long storage qualities.

"New Queen" is a new gourmet icebox watermelon with delicious bright orange flesh. The 9-to-10-foot vines produce melons weighing between 5 and 6 1/2 pounds. This watermelon, noted for its sweet, firm flesh has very little rind. Plants should be spaced 2 to 3 feet apart, and provided with plenty of water throughout the growing season.