Watermelon with improved processing qualities

A method for producing a watermelon plant that produces a mature fruit having flesh that resists pressure of at least 3.5 pounds force (lbf) and soluble solids of at least 6 brix comprising:

• a. crossing a first watermelon variety comprising soluble solids of not less than 8 brix with a second watermelon variety comprising mature fruit flesh that resists pressure of at least 3.5 lbf when said flesh is measured from the center of a cut fruit with a penetrometer having an 8 millimeter diameter probe;
• b. performing at least one backcross with said first watermelon variety or said second watermelon variety, and
• c. performing one or more cycles of self-pollination of products of the backcross of step (b) or one or more recurrent backcrosses with said first watermelon variety or said second watermelon variety, wherein the progeny of said crosses, backcrosses, or self-pollination at maturity are selected for soluble solids of not less than 8 brix, flesh that resists pressure of at least 3.5 lbf when said flesh is measured from the center of a cut fruit with a penetrometer having an 8 millimeter diameter probe, or both.