Melon Variety Guide
Nov. 27, 2024
Melon Variety Guide
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It's melon time! There’s nothing as refreshing as a ripe and sweet melon during its peak season. Here’s how to choose the ideal melon: engage your senses. A ripe melon emits a delightful and fresh aroma. When you tap it, listen for a subdued thump. If the melon feels heavy relative to its size, it's likely deliciously sweet and ready to enjoy. Discover all the varieties available this season, from the classic watermelon to the intriguing Piel de Sapo!
Ambrosia
- Small size, similar to a cantaloupe
- Sand-colored exterior with a rough netting that becomes more pronounced as it ripens
- Pale orange flesh that's sweet, juicy, and tender with floral notes
- Sweet fragrance
Canary
- Pale greenish flesh
- Soft texture when ripe
- Has a tangy and sour taste
Cantaloupe
- Netted and smooth skin
- Bright orange flesh
- Remarkably sweet flavor
Charentais
- Heirloom melon from France
- Known for its sweet and fragrant scent
- Bright orange and exceptionally sweet flesh
Crenshaw
- Large melon, typically weighing between 8-10 pounds
- Yellowish-green rind with a smooth texture, free of netting
- Golden-yellow skin at peak ripeness, slightly waxy to the touch
- Peach-colored flesh that is dense yet tender
- Flavor profile is very sweet with a hint of spice
Galia
- A hybrid between Honeydew and Cantaloupe
- The more orange its exterior is, the higher the sugar content in the flesh
- Chartreuse flesh with a juicy texture
- Distinct spicy-sweet flavor complemented by tropical fragrances
Goddess
- Oval with subtle suturing and medium-coarse netting
- Similar in appearance to a cantaloupe
- Soft orange flesh that is exceptionally sweet and juicy
Hami
- Large, comparable in size to watermelon
- Golden yellow skin with light netting
- Pale coral inner flesh that surrounds a large seed cavity
- Crisp and juicy with a refreshingly sweet flavor
- Has a floral and sweet aroma
- Boasts a long shelf life
Harper
- Resembles a cantaloupe but slightly less tawny
- Netted outer rind
- Salmon-orange flesh with a firm yet juicy texture
- Slightly less aromatic than other melon varieties
- Sweet flavor with bright honey notes
For more information on Galia Melon Varieties seeds, please contact us for expert guidance.
Green Honeydew
- Perfectly round with a smooth, creamy-waxy skin
- Pale green flesh that is both sweet and juicy
- Flavor contains hints of honey and cucumber
Orange Honeydew
- Oval to round in shape
- Smooth pale yellow-green rind
- Salmon-hued flesh that tastes honey-like
Piel de Sapo
- Name translates to 'toad skin' in Spanish
- Oval and elongated with a distinctive rind
- Sweet white flesh
Sharlyn
- Exterior mimics an elongated cantaloupe with a delicate, mosaic netting
- Pale green flesh that is soft in the center and firm near the rind
- Has a distinct, perfume-like fragrance
- Flesh delivers a well-balanced sweetness
- Short shelf life, best consumed within a week after harvest
Snow Leopard
- Cream-colored skin adorned with green spots and streaks
- White flesh that has a pleasantly crunchy texture
- Sweet and bright flavor, enhanced by undertones of honey and pear
Watermelon
- Available in seeded, seedless, and mini varieties
- Recognizable by its two-toned green striped skin
- Juicy and sweet aromatic flesh
- Succulent and crisp texture
Arava Organic Galia-type Melon
For optimal results, harvest when the skin turns yellow and the melon is at full slip.
The name Galia stems from the Hebrew name Gal, meaning 'wave.' This variety was cultivated in Israel by breeder Zvi Karchi, known for its smooth lime-green flesh and tropical flavor profile.
Melon Cultivation
- Seed count: approximately 25-35 seeds/g for melons; around 20 seeds/g for watermelons, with some exceptions.
- Days to maturity are calculated from the transplant date.
With proper storage, melon seeds can last over 10 years. Historical growers in the 18th and 19th centuries preferred to sow older seeds, rooted in the belief that they cultivate smaller plants that yield more aromatic fruits.
Melon Growth in Maine
Melons are heat-loving crops with high nitrogen needs. They cannot endure frost and may suffer damage from nighttime temperatures below 40°F. While they require careful attention, the payoff is undeniably rewarding.
- Keep an eye on the days to maturity and select varieties suitable for your climate; Alvaro and Halona tend to perform well.
- Start indoors in early May (or later, if spring is slow) using plastic or peat pots, planting 2-3 seeds per pot. Minimum germination temperature: 60°F, optimal range: 75-95°F.
- Prepare planting hills ahead of time, incorporating ample well-rotted manure or compost to ensure warmth. Transplant only once frost danger has passed, typically between May 20 and June 20.
- Water thoroughly, and apply mulch as needed to maintain moisture until rain is received.
- Due to their sensitivity compared to squash, utilize low tunnels with non-abrasive row covers to protect them. Regular irrigation may be necessary in sandy soils.
- Employ blue, black, or clear plastic mulch between plants.
- Implement a foliar feeding regimen to expedite ripening.
- Remove row covers before blooming; replace them if you wish to prevent additional fruits from setting.
- Rotate ripening melons to decrease rot risk and elevate them on bricks to deter rodents.
- Check daily for ripeness; most muskmelons slip from the vine upon gentle tugging. For Galia, Charentais, and Honeydew, harvest before full slip, while watermelons are ripe when the stem's tendril is dry.
- Revel in an unmatched flavor experience!
Pest Management: Striped Cucumber Beetle
Control strategies: choose tolerant varieties, practice crop rotation, clear debris post-harvest, utilize floating row covers until flowering, incorporate plastic mulch, and utilize yellow sticky traps. Manual removal is effective in the morning when beetles are lethargic.
Materials: Surround, Pyrethrum (PyGanic).
Diseases: Powdery Mildew
Control: Utilize small plots to contain spread, select indeterminate (viny) varieties, and manage weed growth.
Materials: sulfur and whole milk, mineral oils with potassium bicarbonate. Bacterial Wilt
Control measures: manage the striped cucumber beetle, the disease vector, by selecting resistant varieties.
If you're intrigued by heirloom melons, check out Amy Goldman's book, "Melons for the Passionate Grower," which takes a delicious journey through her top 100 varieties, serving as a helpful guide for identification and cultivation.
For additional information, please visit Janna Type Hybrid Melon Seeds.
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