March 12, 2026

Q&A: Bradford watermelons, corned beef & cabbage

Each week, we answer reader questions about food and drink in Charlotte

Nat Bradford says his family’s namesake heirloom watermelons should return this year. TM Petaccia/UP

Q: Will there be Bradford watermelons this year?
Tom: Funny you should ask! I spoke with Nat Bradford just last week. The once nearly extinct heirloom family watermelon was almost in danger of disappearing again as a season of bad weather four years ago was followed by a disastrous cross-contamination (watermelons are highly susceptible to mutation) that wiped out all the field crops and usuable seeds. Nat had to go back to a few seeds his grandfather stored in 1990. It’s taken all this time to build back up new clean stock of seeds in enough numbers to produce a commericial crop. Fingers crossed, Nat says we can look forward to purchasing the prized fruit later this summer. We’ll keep you posted as the season progresses.

Midwood Smokehouse will have a smoked corned beef and cabbage special on St. Patrick’s Day at all of its locations. Photo courtesy

Q: With St. Patrick’s Day coming, where can I get a good corned beef and cabbage?
Tom: Sure as the sun shines of the green, you can get your fill of the the big red at Sir Edmond Halley’s Pub at Park Road Shopping Center, Clutch Kitchen & Pour House in Uptown, Midwood Smokehouse (various locations, March 17 only), and Mary O’Neill’s in Waxhaw. You can also scarf down some corned beef egg rolls at McHale’s Pub in NoDa.