Few issues say summer season fairly like the load of a ripe cantaloupe in your fingers, the candy fragrance rising earlier than you’ve even made the primary minimize. Homegrown melons are sweeter, juicier, and extra flavorful than something you’ll discover in a grocery retailer, and rising them organically means you possibly can get pleasure from each chunk realizing your fruit is freed from artificial pesticide residues.
Melons belong to the cucurbit household (Cucurbitaceae), the identical sprawling clan as cucumbers, squash, and pumpkins. They’re warm-season, heat-loving vines that reward affected person gardeners with an abundance of fruit in late summer season. With a bit planning and a few consideration to their primary wants, you possibly can develop beautiful, garden-fresh melons nearly wherever within the U.S. Right here’s every thing you should know.
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The Historical past of Rising Melons
Melons have one of many longest cultivated histories of any fruit. Archaeological and botanical proof suggests they originated someplace in Southwest Asia, possible in what’s now Iran or India, although some researchers level to Africa as an alternate supply.1 What is for certain is that they had been being grown by historical Egyptians way back to 2400 BCE, and their likeness seems in work from that interval.2
The Romans had been passionate melon-eaters. Rome sourced its melons from Armenia, and the love affair between these two cultures gave us the identify “cantaloupe.” The phrase derives from Cantalupo, a papal property close to Rome, the place seeds from Armenia had been cultivated within the pope’s gardens,3 and by 1518, photographs of each cantaloupes and muskmelons appeared in illustrated texts, suggesting the demand for candy melon was intense.4
Christopher Columbus introduced cantaloupe seeds to the Americas on his second voyage in 1494, the place Native American communities adopted them. In the US, cantaloupe cultivation didn’t develop into commercially important till after the Civil Battle. The W. Atlee Burpee Firm launched the ‘Netted Gem’ selection in 1881, which helped set up cantaloupes as a industrial crop. By 1895, manufacturing in Colorado and California had taken maintain, with California’s San Joaquin and Imperial Valleys finally turning into main rising areas.
Melon Varieties
The phrase “melon” covers much more floor than most gardeners understand. Virtually all edible candy melons belong to a single species, Cucumis melo, however inside that species there may be monumental variety in pores and skin, flesh, taste, aroma, and rising behavior. There are a whole bunch of melon cultivars to select from! Understanding the foremost varieties helps you select cultivars suited to your local weather, your backyard’s house, and your kitchen.
Additionally it is price clearing up a persistent level of confusion: What Individuals name “cantaloupe” shouldn’t be a real cantaloupe. True cantaloupes (C. melo var. cantalupensis) have tough, warty, deeply grooved rinds and are primarily grown in Europe. What Individuals name cantaloupe is technically a muskmelon (C. melo var. reticulatus), recognized by its tan, corky netting and intensely fragrant orange flesh. The identify “cantaloupe” has caught in American utilization regardless, and all through this text the 2 phrases are used interchangeably as they generally are in the US.
Here’s a information to each main class of candy melon you would possibly develop at dwelling:
Muskmelon / Cantaloupe (C. melo var. reticulatus)
The most well-liked dwelling backyard melon in North America. Characterised by its raised, corky netting over a tan or beige rind and intensely candy, aromatic, normally orange flesh. They slip simply from the vine when prepared, making harvest timing intuitive. Most mature in 75–90 days. Fashionable heirloom cultivars embrace ‘Hale’s Best Jumbo,’ ‘Honey Rock,’ ‘Minnesota Midget‘ (superb for small gardens and northern climates), and ‘Tigger‘ (a putting Armenian heirloom with yellow-orange striped pores and skin).
True Cantaloupe / Charentais (C. melo var. cantalupensis)
The cantaloupe of Europe, hardly ever grown commercially in the US, however accessible from seed catalogs and price searching for out. True cantaloupes have ribbed, gray-green to cream-colored pores and skin—with no netting—and terribly wealthy, fragrant orange flesh that many contemplate superior in taste to the American muskmelon. ‘Charentais,’ a basic French selection, is essentially the most well-known instance. It’s small (roughly 2 kilos), intensely perfumed, and greatest eaten on the peak of ripeness. ‘Prescott Fond Blanc‘ and ‘Noir de Carmes‘ are different beloved French heirlooms price rising. These varieties do greatest in heat, dry climates, maturing in 75–100 days, and may be difficult to develop in humid areas.
Honeydew (C. melo var. inodorus)
Honeydews have clean, pale inexperienced or creamy white pores and skin and juicy, gentle inexperienced flesh with a light, honey-sweet taste. In contrast to muskmelons, they aren’t fragrant and won’t slip from the vine at ripeness. You need to look ahead to colour change and a barely waxy really feel to the pores and skin, and snip the fruit from the vine with pruning shears. They have an inclination to mature later than cantaloupes (80–110 days) and like a protracted, scorching, dry rising season. ‘Green Flesh Honey Dew,’ is a dependable heirloom choice. ‘Kazakh‘ is tremendous candy, early season honeydew from Asia with an orange rind, and crisp, white flesh. ‘Banana‘ is a thin-skinned, rectangular heirloom that’s nice for freshmen. Honeydews preserve longer after harvest than most different melon varieties.
Casaba (C. melo var. inodorus)
An historical melon kind with wrinkled, shiny yellow pores and skin and a particular pointed finish much like an acorn squash. The flesh is white, delicate, and refreshing—nearer to a cucumber than to the extraordinary sweetness of a muskmelon, although nonetheless nice and subtly candy. Casabas originated across the Mediterranean and thrive in scorching, dry circumstances. They’re late-maturing (100–120 days) and have a superb post-harvest shelf life, holding for weeks in cool storage. ‘Golden Beauty‘ is essentially the most broadly accessible cultivar, however ‘Bidwell‘ is understood for producing big melons. As a result of they don’t slip from the vine and have little aroma when ripe, harvest timing requires anticipating the pores and skin to show totally golden-yellow and the blossom finish to melt barely.
Crenshaw (C. melo var. inodorus)
A pure hybrid between a Casaba and a Persian melon, the Crenshaw is massive (usually 5–10 kilos), rectangular, and unmistakable with its darkish inexperienced, barely corrugated rind that softens to golden-yellow because it ripens. The flesh is an attractive peach-orange colour and is exceptionally candy and fragrant. Many growers contemplate it one of many finest-flavored melons accessible. It matures late (roughly 90–110 days) and does greatest in long-season, heat climates. Due to its measurement, it advantages from a robust trellis sling on the fruits, if grown vertically. Out there cultivars embrace customary ‘Crenshaw‘ and ‘Early Crenshaw.’
Canary / Juan Canary (C. melo var. inodorus)
Named for its shiny, unmistakable yellow pores and skin, the canary melon is oval-shaped with clean, agency rind and ivory-to-pale-green flesh that’s mildly candy, tangy, and faintly paying homage to pear. It doesn’t slip from the vine. Canary melons are good keepers and sometimes mature in 75–90 days. The flavour is taken into account delicate and refreshing quite than intensely candy, making it a flexible kitchen melon. ‘Yellow Canary‘ is essentially the most generally accessible cultivar.
Persian Melon (C. melo var. reticulatus)
Regarded as the progenitor of the modern-day cantaloupe, the Persian melon resembles a big, overgrown cantaloupe with a darker inexperienced rind lined in positive, dense netting. The flesh is salmon-orange, juicy, and candy. Persian varieties like ‘Small Persian‘ are late-maturing (roughly 95–110 days), require a protracted scorching season, and might weigh 5–8 kilos. They’re unusual in dwelling gardens however rewarding in heat climates. Harvest timing is much like muskmelon: Search for slight softening on the blossom finish and a candy perfume.
Winter Melon / Christmas Melon / Santa Claus Melon (C. melo var. inodorus)
Winter melons are late season melons developed in Spain that want 100-120 days to mature. Their most exceptional attribute is their extraordinary shelf life: Harvested in late summer season, winter melons may be held in a cool cellar via the winter, incomes them the identify, “Christmas melons.” These are a sensible choice for gardeners who need a melon that may final effectively into the chilly months. ‘Piel de Sapo‘ and ‘Tendral Verde Tardif‘ are varieties cherished for his or her distinctive taste and perfume.
Sharlyn (C. melo, reticulatus × inodorus kind)
A particular, netted melon with a green-to-orange mottled rind and white, mildly candy flesh that falls someplace in taste between a honeydew and a cantaloupe. Sharlyns are late-season (roughly 100 days), very juicy, and recognized for his or her wealthy, tropical taste. They don’t slip from the vine. As a result of they’re much less generally present in shops, homegrown Sharlyns are a real discovery for individuals who can present a protracted, heat rising season.
Galia (C. melo var. reticulatus)
Developed in Israel in 1973 by melon breeder Dr. Zvi Karchi, Galia is a hybrid between a cantaloupe and a honeydew selection. The fruit is small (sometimes 1–2 kilos), spherical, and lined in tan corky netting over a rind that turns from inexperienced to golden-yellow when ripe. That colour change is the first ripeness indicator, as they don’t reliably slip from the vine. The flesh is pale inexperienced, juicy, and fragrant, with a tropical, spiced-honey taste that’s distinct from cantaloupe. Galia melons ripen in roughly 70–85 days and are well-suited to trellising and containers as a result of their compact measurement. Search for varieties like ‘Galia Gallo,’ and ‘Ha’Ogen‘ from specialty seed suppliers.
Hami Melon (C. melo var. inodorus)
Initially from Hami, Xinjiang, China, the Hami melon has been cultivated in Central Asia for hundreds of years and remains to be thought of a prized fruit in China. It has a yellowish or cream-colored netted rind and crisp, pale orange or white flesh with a fragile, floral sweetness and a texture nearer to a pear than to the tender flesh of a cantaloupe. Hami melons like ‘Golden Hami‘ mature late (roughly 110 days) and thrive in scorching, dry circumstances, making them significantly well-suited to the American Southwest and excessive desert climates.
Korean Melon (C. melo var. makuwa / conomon)
A small, oval melon frequent in Korean, Chinese language, and Japanese cuisines. The rind is shiny yellow with distinctive white longitudinal traces operating from stem to blossom finish. The flesh is white, crisp, and mildly candy—extra refreshing than sugary. Eaten younger, the entire fruit together with the pores and skin may be consumed. Korean melons mature in roughly 55–65 days, making them one of many fastest-maturing melons accessible and a very good alternative for northern gardeners with quick rising seasons. ‘Golden Giant‘ and ‘Early Silver Line‘ are frequent varieties.
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)
Watermelon is botanically distinct from all different melons—a separate species native to Africa, the place proof of cultivation stretches again greater than 4,000 years. Whereas it shares the identical primary cultural necessities as different melons (full solar, heat soil, constant moisture, and a protracted rising season), its considerably bigger vines, distinctive ripeness indicators, and particular concerns round seedless varieties make it a topic worthy of its personal devoted information. See our full article on how to grow watermelon organically for full planting, care, and harvest particulars.
Soil Preparation for Melons
Melons are heavy feeders that demand heat, well-drained, fertile soil. They develop greatest in a sandy loam with a pH of 6.0–6.8. Heavy clay soils should be amended with beneficiant quantities of compost to enhance drainage; waterlogged soil is deadly to melon roots and invitations a number of fungal illnesses.5
In autumn, work 3-inches of well-rotted compost or aged manure into the highest 6–8 inches of soil in your future melon mattress. This feeds soil biology over winter and offers natural matter time to combine. In spring, apply one other spherical of compost and work it in. Keep away from contemporary manure, which might burn crops, harbor dangerous micro organism and introduce weed seeds.
In case your soil check reveals a pH under 6.0, amend with lime within the fall. Melons planted in soil that’s too acidic will drop their blossoms earlier than fruit can set. Select a spot that receives full solar (6–8 hours minimal each day), is protected against robust winds, and sits effectively away from areas vulnerable to standing water after rainfall.
Two to a few weeks earlier than planting, it’s a good suggestion to put black plastic mulch or black panorama material over your ready beds and safe the perimeters with soil or rocks. Plastic warms the soil quicker in spring, conserves moisture, and suppresses weeds. While you’re able to plant, take up the plastic and put it away for subsequent season, then plant your melons into the soil on the acceptable spacing.
Planting Melons
Melons is not going to tolerate frost. Don’t direct-sow or transplant open air till all frost hazard has handed and soil temperatures are constantly at or above 70°F (21°C). Cooler soil considerably slows germination and stresses younger crops.6
In most areas, this implies planting open air from late Could via early June. Briefly-season climates, begin seeds indoors 4–5 weeks earlier than your final anticipated frost date. Use biodegradable peat pots or soil blocks, since melons are delicate to root disturbance at transplanting. Sow 2–3 seeds per pot, 1 inch deep, and skinny to the strongest seedling. Harden off seedlings regularly over 7–10 days earlier than transplanting.
For direct seeding, make low hills and plant 4–6 seeds per hill, 1 inch deep. House hills 2–3 ft aside, with rows 6–10 ft aside to present vines room to unfold. After germination, skinny to the two strongest seedlings per hill. For trellised and square-foot melons (see under), house crops 18–24 inches aside alongside the bottom of the assist.
As a basic rule, plan for 1–2 cantaloupe or muskmelon crops per particular person for contemporary consuming. Every plant ought to produce 3–5 melons per season. For preserving, juicing, or utilizing melons in amount all through the summer season, contemplate 3–4 crops per particular person.
After planting, water in effectively and canopy the mattress with floating row cowl to retain heat and defend younger crops from insect pests, significantly cucumber beetles. Take away row covers when flowering begins in order that pollinators can entry the blooms.
Fertilizing Melons
Melons are hungry crops. In case you have amended the soil effectively with compost, begin with making use of a balanced natural fertilizer at planting time. A granular product with roughly equal components nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (resembling a 5-5-5 or related) labored into the planting space supplies basis.
As soon as vines start to run (normally 3–4 weeks after planting), side-dress every plant with a fertilizer larger in phosphorus and potassium and decrease in nitrogen. Apply 6–8 inches away from the stem, and water it in completely. An excessive amount of nitrogen later within the season promotes lush vine progress on the expense of fruit sugar improvement. Seaweed/kelp extract utilized as a foliar spray each 2–3 weeks throughout peak flowering is especially efficient at boosting micronutrients and supporting fruit set.7
About 7–10 days earlier than your anticipated harvest, cut back irrigation and maintain again on fertilizer. Lowering water barely on the finish of ripening concentrates the sugars within the flesh, leading to sweeter fruit.
Particular Ideas for Rising Melons
Choose melon varieties on your local weather.
Gardeners in USDA zones 3–5 ought to prioritize short-season cultivars that mature in 75 days or fewer (Korean melons, ‘Minnesota Midget,’ ‘Tigger’). In zones 6–10, the total vary of varieties is accessible, however you’ll get higher harvests should you place black mulch and row covers for further heat. Late-season varieties resembling Crenshaw, Casaba, Winter, and Hami melon are greatest reserved for zones 7 and hotter, the place the rising season reliably extends lengthy sufficient for them to develop full taste.
Heat the soil early.
Melons crave warmth above virtually every thing else. Use clear or black plastic mulch, panorama material or cloches to heat planting beds 2–3 weeks earlier than you intend to place crops within the floor. In cool climates, this alone can add 2–3 weeks to your efficient rising season.
Water appropriately.
Melons want constant moisture however not moist soil. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses directed on the base of the plant are superb as a result of they preserve foliage and fruit dry, dramatically lowering the chance of powdery mildew and different fungal illnesses. Overhead watering encourages foliar illnesses. Water deeply however enable the soil to dry considerably between waterings; constantly soggy circumstances result in root rot and poor taste. Goal for about 1–2 inches of water per week throughout energetic progress.
Mulch generously.
An natural straw mulch a number of inches deep round (however not touching) the vines conserves soil moisture, moderates temperature, suppresses weeds, and retains fruit from sitting straight on damp soil.
Rotate your crop.
Don’t plant melons, cucumbers, squash, or any cucurbit in the identical location for not less than 3–5 years. Rotation is your greatest protection in opposition to the buildup of soil-borne illnesses resembling Fusarium wilt and Phytophthora crown rot.
Help pollination.
Melons produce separate female and male flowers on the identical vine. Male flowers seem first and drop off; that is regular. When feminine flowers open (identifiable by the tiny proto-fruit on the base of the bloom), bees and different pollinators should switch pollen from male to feminine flowers. Plant pollinator-attracting flowers close by and keep away from making use of any sprays within the morning when bees are most energetic. In areas with poor pollinator populations, you possibly can hand-pollinate utilizing a small paintbrush or by transferring pollen along with your fingertip.
Prune for fewer, higher fruits.
Restrict every vine to three–4 growing fruits at anybody time. When small melons attain the scale of a golf ball, take away extras. The vine will redirect the sugars produced by the leaves to the remaining fruit, leading to bigger, sweeter melons. Leaving too many fruits to compete concurrently dilutes sugar content material throughout all of them.
Trellis your melons.
Rising melons vertically is a wonderful technique for small gardens. A single horizontally sprawling cantaloupe vine can devour as much as 24 sq. ft of backyard house; a trellised plant makes use of a fraction of that. Vertical rising additionally improves air circulation round foliage (which reduces powdery mildew), holds fruit off the soil (which prevents rot and retains pests away), and makes harvest far simpler. Compact and small-fruited varieties (resembling ‘Minnesota Midget’) are particularly well-suited to trellising.
To trellis melons, set up a robust assist construction earlier than planting: A cattle panel arch, heavy-gauge wire fence, or sturdy wood A-frame not less than 5–6 ft tall. Weave or tie the rising vines to the trellis with tender material strips or previous pantyhose as they climb.
As soon as the growing melons attain the scale of a softball (roughly 3 kilos), cradle each in a sling comprised of previous nylon stockings, mesh vegetable luggage, or a strip of stretchy material. Tie the sling securely to the trellis itself, not the vine, so the trellis bears the load quite than the vine-to-fruit connection. Examine and regulate slings weekly because the fruit expands.
Companion Crops for Melons
Considerate companion planting can enhance the well being of your melon patch, deter pests, entice pollinators, and make environment friendly use of backyard house. Listed below are the most effective companions for melons:
- Nasturtiums – A workhorse companion. Nasturtiums act as a lure crop, drawing aphids, whiteflies, leafhoppers, and squash bugs away out of your melons. Plant them on the edges of the mattress so that they don’t compete for house with the vines. Each the flowers and leaves are edible and glorious in salads.
- Marigolds – Their pungent aroma deters aphids, whiteflies, nematodes, and cucumber beetles. Plant French marigolds alongside the perimeter of the melon patch quite than straight throughout the mattress. Additionally they entice useful bugs.
- Bush beans – Legumes repair atmospheric nitrogen within the soil, naturally fertilizing heavy-feeding melons all through the season. Bush beans (quite than pole beans) are preferable as a result of they keep low and don’t shade the vines.
- Borage – Attracts pollinators and is claimed to repel tomato hornworm and cabbage worms. Plant borage on the edges of the mattress, because the vines might finally crowd it out. Chop and drop spent borage crops as a nitrogen-rich mulch.
- Herbs (basil, oregano, catnip) – Fragrant herbs planted close by can confuse and repel frequent melon pests with their robust scents. Maintain catnip and mint in containers, as each unfold aggressively.
- Radishes and lettuce – Quick-maturing, shallow-rooted crops that may be interplanted with melon seedlings. They assist suppress weeds and break up compacted soil, and are totally harvested earlier than the melon vines have to unfold into that house.
- Sunflowers – Entice pollinators and useful bugs. Plant on the north facet of the melon patch so that they don’t shade the vines.
Keep away from planting melons close to different cucurbits (cucumbers, squash, pumpkins), as they share the identical pest and illness pressures and can compound issues if planted collectively. Maintain fennel effectively away from the melon patch, as it’s allelopathic and might inhibit the expansion of many greens. Potatoes also needs to be averted close by, as they will harbor blight that spreads to melons.
Frequent Pests and Ailments for Melons
Melons share pest and illness challenges with the entire cucurbit household. Staying forward of issues requires common monitoring, good cultural practices, and fast motion when points come up.
Cucumber Beetles – The only most severe melon pest. Each the striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) and the noticed cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata) feed on leaves, flowers, and fruits. Extra significantly, they’re the first vector of bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila), a deadly illness that may kill vines inside days of an infection.8 Natural controls embrace floating row cowl (eliminated at flowering), neem oil, yellow sticky traps, hand-picking, and pyrethrin sprays as a final resort. There isn’t a remedy for bacterial wilt; take away and destroy contaminated crops instantly to forestall unfold.
Aphids – Gentle-bodied bugs that cluster on leaf undersides and tender new progress, sucking plant sap and transmitting mosaic viruses. A powerful spray of water dislodges them. Encourage useful predators resembling ladybugs and lacewings. Insecticidal cleaning soap or neem oil utilized to the undersides of leaves may be efficient for gentle infestations; for heavy ones, a broader approach is recommended.
Squash Bugs – Protect-shaped brown or grey bugs that pierce plant tissue and suck juices, inflicting wilting. Lay boards close to the backyard in a single day to lure adults, then destroy them within the morning. Hand-pick egg plenty from leaf undersides. Rotate crops faithfully every season.
Powdery Mildew – A fungal illness inflicting white powdery patches on leaf surfaces, most typical in late summer season when heat days are adopted by cool nights. It doesn’t kill crops instantly however weakens them and might trigger fruit to ripen prematurely. Stop it by selecting resistant varieties, guaranteeing good air circulation, avoiding overhead watering, and rotating the melon patch. Take away contaminated leaves promptly.
Downy Mildew – One other fungal illness, presenting as angular yellow spots on the higher leaf floor with a grayish-purple spore progress on the undersides. It spreads quickly in humid, moist circumstances. Enhance air circulation, rotate crops, take away particles at season’s finish, and plant resistant varieties. Accredited copper-based natural fungicides might help if utilized preventatively.
Mosaic Viruses – Cucumber mosaic virus, watermelon mosaic virus, and squash mosaic virus are all unfold by aphids. Contaminated crops present mottled, distorted leaves and deformed fruit. There isn’t a remedy. Take away contaminated crops and management aphid populations aggressively to forestall unfold.9
Fusarium Wilt – A soil-borne fungal illness inflicting sudden wilting and collapse, even in well-watered crops. There isn’t a therapy. Prevention depends solely on crop rotation, selecting resistant varieties, and guaranteeing good drainage.
The way to Harvest and Retailer Melons
Melons don’t proceed to ripen as soon as faraway from the vine. In contrast to many fruits, they won’t sweeten after selecting. This makes realizing when to reap critically vital. Selecting too early means a flavorless, mealy melon; too late and the flesh turns tender and mushy.
Cantaloupe, muskmelon, Galia, and Persian melon are the best to guage. A ripe muskmelon will “slip” from the vine with little or no resistance. It should start to crack on the stem finish and pull free with mild stress. Different indicators of ripeness embrace a thick, raised netting sample on the pores and skin; a colour shift from inexperienced to beige or tan beneath the netting; a robust, candy, musky perfume from the stem finish; and a slight give once you press on the blossom finish along with your thumb. Galia melons don’t slip as reliably as muskmelons. As an alternative, use the rind colour shift from inexperienced to golden-yellow and the event of a robust tropical aroma as your major cues. Persian melons observe the muskmelon mannequin: search for softening on the blossom finish and a candy perfume.
Charentais and different true cantaloupes are intensely fragrant when ripe and can slip from the vine, although they’ve a narrower window between completely ripe and overripe than American muskmelons. Examine them each day as soon as they start to paint up. The perfume alone is usually essentially the most dependable sign.
Honeydew, casaba, canary, Santa Claus, Sharlyn, Crenshaw, and Hami melon belong to the inodorus group and don’t slip from the vine. Snip the stem with clear pruning shears quite than pulling.
For honeydew, search for pores and skin that transitions from pale inexperienced to creamy white or yellow, a slight tackiness or waxy really feel to the pores and skin floor, a candy perfume, and a barely tender blossom finish. Casaba is ripe when the pores and skin turns totally golden-yellow and the blossom finish softens barely. It has little aroma even when ripe, so colour and contact are your solely guides. Canary melon follows the identical sample: totally yellow pores and skin and a tender blossom finish. Crenshaw shifts from darkish inexperienced to golden-yellow and develops a pronounced candy perfume. Santa Claus melon is ripe when the pores and skin turns into totally yellow-green and the blossom finish provides slightly below thumb stress. Hami melon is prepared when the netting is totally developed, the rind turns creamy yellow, and the flesh feels agency however not arduous on the blossom finish.
Korean melons are harvested younger quite than totally ripe. Korean melon is greatest at 55–65 days when the pores and skin is shiny yellow and the flesh remains to be crisp.
As soon as harvested, entire uncut melons may be held at room temperature for a day or two, then refrigerated. Refrigerated entire melons preserve for as much as 5 days, although inodorus varieties (casaba, Santa Claus, canary) preserve significantly longer—as much as a number of weeks in a cool cellar.
As soon as minimize, melons must be wrapped tightly and refrigerated, then eaten inside 2–3 days. Reduce melon absorbs the odors of your fridge contents rapidly, so wrap it effectively.
In case you have an abundance of ripe fruit, freeze cubed melon in a single layer on a parchment-lined sheet tray, then switch to an hermetic container or freezer bag. Frozen melon softens upon thawing however works effectively in smoothies and frozen desserts.
The way to Save Melon Seed
Melons are one of many best seeds for freshmen to save lots of, because the seeds are massive, plentiful, and easy to course of. Just a few vital caveats apply:
First, save seed solely from open-pollinated or heirloom varieties, not hybrids. Hybrid seeds is not going to breed true, and the ensuing crops might look nothing just like the guardian. Industrial grocery retailer melons are sometimes hybrid varieties grown for uniformity quite than seed viability.
Second, melons cross-pollinate freely with different forms of the identical species. Completely different forms of Cucumis melo (cantaloupes, honeydews, muskmelons) will cross with one another if planted inside 800 ft to a half-mile. (Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) are a distinct species and won’t cross with Cucumis melo varieties.) To keep up seed purity, develop just one number of every species for seed saving, or use isolation cages and hand-pollination.
To avoid wasting seed from a heirloom melon, enable the fruit to ripen totally on the vine—ideally a bit previous peak consuming ripeness. The seeds inside a fruit that’s barely overripe shall be extra totally mature and have larger germination charges. Reduce the overripe melons open and scoop the seeds and surrounding gel right into a jar or bowl. Add a bit heat water and permit the combination to sit down and ferment for two–4 days, stirring each day. Throughout fermentation, the gel coat across the seeds breaks down, the viable seeds sink to the underside, and hole or poor-quality seeds float to the highest together with pulp particles. Pour off the floating materials and rinse the nice seeds in a colander beneath operating water.
Unfold the cleaned seeds in a single layer on a espresso filter, paper towel, or previous window display screen in a heat, dry location away from direct daylight. Stir each day to forestall clumping. Seeds are dry sufficient to retailer when a check seed snaps cleanly in half quite than bending. This sometimes takes 1–2 weeks relying on humidity. Retailer dried seeds in a labeled paper envelope inside an hermetic glass jar in a cool, darkish location resembling a basement or fridge. Melon seeds stay viable for 4–6 years beneath good storage circumstances. Save seed from not less than 5–10 crops at any time when potential to take care of genetic variety throughout the selection.
The way to Use Melons within the Kitchen
Ripe, homegrown melons are pure summer season on a plate. Most frequently they’re eaten contemporary and unadorned, which is solely acceptable, as a result of a very ripe melon wants nothing in any respect. However there may be rather more you are able to do with a backyard stuffed with melons.
Contemporary cantaloupe and muskmelon pair fantastically with salty, savory counterparts: prosciutto or Serrano ham, olives, salty cheeses, and so forth. The basic Italian mixture of thinly sliced prosciutto wrapped round chilly melon wedges is without doubt one of the nice summer season appetizers for excellent purpose.
Melons work effectively blended into chilly soups and gazpachos, the place their pure sweetness balances with cucumber, shallot, citrus, and herbs. Chilled cantaloupe soup is a sublime, no-cook starter on a scorching night. Melons additionally make glorious granitas, sorbets, and “good lotions.” Their excessive water content material and pure sweetness make them naturally suited to frozen desserts with out the necessity for dairy or added sugars.
Contemporary melon salads with mint, lime, honey, and a pinch of salt are a staple at summer season tables, and the mixture of melon with contemporary herbs, cucumber, and a light-weight citrus dressing is endlessly adaptable. Strive including arugula, thinly sliced pink onion, or toasted seeds for texture and distinction.
For preserving your harvest, cubed melon freezes effectively for smoothies and frozen desserts. Dehydrated melon makes a surprisingly nice candy snack with a taste like nature’s sweet.
Melon Recipes
Listed below are 5 top-rated, gluten-free and dairy-free melon recipes from across the internet to place your harvest to good use:
- The Best Mint Cantaloupe Melon Salad – Allianna’s Kitchen
- Honey-Lime Cucumber and Melon Salad – Prevention RD
- Healthy Homemade Melona Bars (Binggrae Copycat!) – What Nice Grandma Ate
- Cantaloupe Gazpacho – Savory Easy
- Easy 3-Ingredient Cantaloupe Sorbet – What Nice Grandma Ate
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melon
- https://www.plantanswers.com/publications/vegetabletravelers/muskmelon.html
- https://foodprint.org/real-food/melons/
- Paris, Harry S., et al. “Medieval Emergence of Candy Melons, Cucumis melo (Cucurbitaceae).” Annals of Botany 110, no. 1 (2012): 23–33. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3380595/
- https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-melons-home-garden
- https://www.groworganic.com/blogs/articles/perfecting-melon-planting-techniques
- https://www.groworganic.com/blogs/articles/how-to-grow-melons
- Bauernfeind, Steve. “Cucumber Beetles: Natural and Biorational Built-in Pest Administration.” ATTRA – Nationwide Sustainable Agriculture Data Service. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237632132_Cucumber_Beetles_Organic_and_Biorational_Integrated_Pest_Management
- https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/cucumber-squash-melon-other-cucurbit-diseases/
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