Cantaloupe also has potassium which helps regulate muscle contractions, and folate which helps prevent birth defects. Choose melons that are symmetrical in shape and heavy for their size. They should be free from cracks, bruises and soft spots.

Smell may not be a good indicator that the melon is ripe and sweet. Store uncut melons on the counter for up to 10 days or in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. Cut melons should be covered in an air-tight container and refrigerated for up to five days. The Seasonal Produce Handouts page includes a variety of handouts, recipes, and recipe cards that are available as downloadable PDFs.

You can use these resources in your educational programs. View Seasonal Produce Handouts. Skip to main content. Nebraska IANR Nebraska Extension UNL Food Eat Healthy Seasonal Produce Melons.

Provide Feedback. Nutrition and Health Benefits of Melons Honeydew, cantaloupe and watermelon are good sources of vitamin C, which helps heal wounds and cuts. How to Select Melons Choose melons that are symmetrical in shape and heavy for their size.

How to Store Melons Store uncut melons on the counter for up to 10 days or in the refrigerator for up to three weeks. Seasonality: May - SeptOrigin: USA Sunshine Watermelons belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, including squash, pumpkin, zucchini and cucumber, and t Seasonality: July - SeptOrigin: USA This melon is well known to most and can be quickly identified by its roughly netted, green skin.

Cut into it, A new hybrid variety of the popular Honeydew that has the same creamy yellow-white exterior but with many more defined light brown sugar cracks, in Seasonality: May - AugOrigin: USAThis is a very special variety melon in which the seed originated in the Xingjiang area of China.

Oblong in shape As you may or may not know, cantaloupe and honeydew melons are the 2 most popular melons in the US. There are actually 3 varieties of honeydew: gre Seasonality: May - AugOrigin: USA, Mexico All melons are believed to have originated in India, having been cultivated since ancient times.

Today, t Seasonality: Apr - SepOrigin: USA A refreshing melon for snacks, added to fruit salads, in cold fruit soups or as an edible garnish. They can be Seasonality: May - SepOrigin: USA, MexicoThe casaba melon was first cultivated in Persia thousands of years ago.

It wasn't introduced to the United Seasonality: Jun - AugOrigin: USACanary Melons vary in shape from oval to oblong, almost similar to a bright yellow Honeydew Melon. The pale green Seasonality: May - JulOrigin: USASometimes called the snake cucumber or uri, the Armenian cucumber is regarded as one of the best slicing cucumber Seasonality: Aug - SeptOrigin: USA Chilled watermelon is the perfect snack!

Melissa's Organic Emerald Watermelon is an attractive round seedless var Home Melons Melons Explore Melissa's exceptional variety of juicy, aromatic, and exotic melons, including some you've never heard of. Create profiles for personalised advertising.

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This variety can tolerate cooler temperatures, making it a good choice for mid-western and high elevation growing locations. This cantaloupe is a Carolina favorite named for the hot and humid coastal conditions of South Carolina.

The heirloom Bradford Family Watermelon is a super special, super rare variety. In its day, it was known as the sweetest, most flavorful watermelon right down to its dark green rind. While we categorize this as a cucumber, this fruit - also known as mouse melon or cucamelon - deserves a special shout out.

This rampant vine will produce dozens of one inch green and white fruits whose resemblance to watermelons will delight anyone who comes across them. While not particularly sweet like other melons, this cucumber is delicious pickled or eaten fresh. A yellow watermelon!

With super sweet yellow flesh and classic black seeds, this unique watermelon found popularity in the s because it was well-adapted to the cooler growing region of the Northeast. These fruits grow to about pounds and are a show stopper at any picnic.

Now, this cucumber is actually, botanically, a melon. Though, culinarily, is most often used as a cucumber. But its hallmark thin skins and cucumbery taste makes it delectable in salads or beverages alike.

Melons are satisfying to grow AND eat. Article Written by: Leah Smith. About the Author: Leah Smith is the Seed Product Manager at Sow True Seed, where she focuses on adding new varieties to the catalog and ensuring the seed stock is top-notch.

Her firsthand experience in farming has given her a deep understanding of cultivating crops while caring for the environment. Sign in close. We've sent you an email with a link to update your password. No account yet? Create an Account Login. Shopping cart close. No products in the cart. Open 10AM - 5PM Monday - Sunday.

Garden Blog. By Tech Sow True. What Is A Melon? Related Products. Watermelon Seeds - Mountain Sweet Yellow, ORGANIC. Acidifying fertilizers also have a "long term" acidifying effect on soil that is cumulative and leads to lower SMP buffer readings.

Sandy soils to which fertilizers have not been recently applied sometimes record low pH and high SMP buffer values. For acid soils low in Mg less than 0.

Dolomite and ground lime stone have about the same ability to neutralize soil acidity. The possibility of seedling injury from the band application of fertilizer is less when the soil pH is 5. Some Willamette Valley experiments have shown decreased uptake of phosphorus from band applications of phosphorus when the pH approaches 5.

Lime applications should be broadcast, preferably in the fall, and incorporated into the seedbed. Do not plow lime down leaving the surface soil unlimed.

These fertilizer recommendations are based on research conducted by OSU Horticulture and Crop and Soil Science Department faculty, and are quoted from OSU Fertilizer Guide FG Avoid excessive soil moisture.

As might be expected, the effect of soil moisture on sugar content of muskmelon is particularly serious when prolonged periods of saturated or near-saturated soil moisture occur during the final stages of fruit development.

Other conditions that limit photosynthesis during this time would accentuate the excessive moisture effect on muskmelon quality. This effect may differ with variety; thus growers should select less responsive varieties when excessive soil moisture may be a problem.

Planting on beds is recommended for soils with potential drainage problems, and reduce irrigations after fruit begins to mature. Approximate summer irrigation needs for the Hermiston area are: 3. Research has shown that the use of drip irrigation under black plastic mulch is superior to sprinkler irrigation with black plastic mulch.

Yields usually increase dramatically. This was true of 10 of 13 varieties tested, and particularly true of later-maturing types. Soil type does not affect the amount of total water needed, but does dictate frequency of water application.

Lighter soils need more frequent water applications, but less water applied per application. Melons are often grown with furrow irrigation in eastern Oregon.

Water soluble polyacrylamide PAM is useful for flocculating soil particles in irrigation furrows and reducing erosion of soil from the furrow. Good yields of large lb melons will range from to fruit per acre. Smaller fruited lb varieties will range from 12, to 15, fruit per acre assuming excellent cultural practices and pollination.

These melons should be firm, well netted, well formed and pulled at full slip for best quality. For distant shipment, less mature cantaloupes are picked at "half slip" but when the stem attachment area is smooth, rounded and slightly depressed.

During the early part of the season harvest every other day. Later in the season, daily picking is best. Some varieties are non-slip types and have to be cut from the vine. Muskmelons develop their highest dessert quality a day or more after harvest, even though the sugar content does not increase.

Therefore, muskmelons attain their highest quality in fruits that have been harvested when they have reached their maximum sugar content. These high sugar levels, obtained from harvesting muskmelons at a more mature stage, result in lower shelf life in muskmelons intended for long distance shipping.

Maintain healthy, green foliage until final harvest. The edible quality of muskmelons is frequently undesirable, particularly those harvested the last half of the picking season, because the sugar-producing photosynthetic potential of the leaves is not maintained through harvest.

Drought, nutrient deficiencies, and weed, insect, and disease stresses can seriously limit the plant's capacity to produce and translocate sugars to developing fruit. Almost half of the final concentration of sugars is accumulated during the last week of fruit maturation.

During this "critical" few days, the fruit passes from immature green to ripe full slip. Thus, spray programs, irrigations, and nutrient supply must be maintained to "keep the plant going" during this critical last week. Plants are naturally weakened and more susceptible to moisture, nutrient, and biological stresses during heavy fruiting.

Neglect at this time can seriously reduce fruit quality. Disease-resistant varieties should be used where possible to help maintain healthy foliage for a longer period for maximum sugar production.

After melons have been picked, they should be placed in the shade or in a cold room and handled carefully. Cold storage is little used for melons except to avoid temporary adverse market conditions.

Symptoms of chilling injury are pitting and surface decay. Full-slip melons are more resistant to chilling injury and can be held 5 to 14 days at 32 to 36 F.

Muskmelons ripen after harvest but do not increase in sugar content. Muskmelons need precooling soon after harvest to reduce high field temperatures.

In some packing sheds, muskmelons are first dipped in hot, water to cleanup surface bacteria. Research indicates that muskmelons dipped in F water for 3 minutes, dried quickly then wrapped in plastic film, sealed in shipping boxes, and cooled to 40 F can be stored in cold storage for up to 7 weeks.

Chlorination of the hot water has not been shown to add any benefit. Warm, wet melons are subject to invasion by micro-organisms. Therefore drying and cooling should immediately follow this treatment.

Melons treated in this way, and stored for extended periods have a shortened shelf life days after removal from storage.

Cooling can be done with cold water, cold air, or ice. The choice depends primarily on economic factors and type of container. Hydrocooling is the most efficient method for rapidly cooling muskmelons, and they should be cooled to at least 50 F.

Crushed ice is still used to remove field heat from muskmelons. Cooled melons should be stored in a cold room and shipped in refrigerated trucks. Ice is blown in between rows of crates or waxed cartons and over a load packed for shipment. Although melons are chilling sensitive, they are not injured by extended contact with ice.

Research has also shown that desiccation in shipping is a major cause of loss in quality. Film wrapping has been shown to markedly increase shelf life and this should be considered for melons intended for long distance shipping. Honeydew melons should be harvested when the stem end is slightly springy and the skin begins to take on a creamy yellow appearance.

Crenshaw melons are picked when the blossom end begins to soften and the skin is golden yellow and green. The flesh should be a golden pink. Casabas are ready for harvest when the skin is slightly golden and the flesh is white.

Persian melons when ripe have a skin that begins to turn a mauve color under the net, the blossom ends begins to soften and the flesh has a tinge of orange. These melons are chilling sensitive and should not be held below 40 F. The best prolonged holding temperature is 45 F for Honey Dew, Crenshaw, and Persian melons, and 50 F for Casaba melons.

The crenshaw and Persian melons should keep for 2 weeks, and Honey Dew and Casaba melons for 3 weeks, before the quality of the ripened melons becomes unacceptable.

These melons may keep longer, but with extended holding, the may fail to ripen or may ripen but fail to develop the desirable flavor and aroma. When these melons are stored too long or at too low a temperature, they deteriorate decay, surface breakdown, softening, or off-flavors so rapidly upon transfer to room temperature that they soon become worthless.

Honey Dew melons are less perishable than most other melons. Storage at as high as 65 F has been recommended for them. Honeydew melons are usually given an 18 to hour ethylene treatment ppm to ripen uniformly.

Other concentrations 40 to ppm have proved effective experimentally. Pulp temperature should be 68 or above during treatment. Honey Dew melons must be mature when harvested; immature melons fail to ripen even if treated with ethylene.

Honeydew melons are less sensitive to chilling injury as the fruit ripens, and a hour treatment with ppm ethylene will ripen the fruit sufficiently to make it less sensitive to chilling injury.

Dipping melons muskmelons - see above for 3 minutes in hot water F has been reported to reduce stem-scar and surface molds, and extend shelf life, and may be useful with these types.

Muskmelons are commonly packaged in 38 to lb half-cartons containing 9, 12, 18 or 23 melons; 53 to lb two-thirds cartons, packed 12, 14, 18, 24, or 30 melons; 80 to lb jumbo crates, packed melons; lb standard crates; or 45 to lb half wirebound crates.

Skip to main content. Melons: Cantaloupe, Muskmelon, Honeydew, Crenshaw, Casaba, etc. Cucumis melo Last revised February 11, TYPES AND VARIETIES The currently accepted protocol is to divide all melons into two categories -- melons and watermelons. Photo credit: Bill Mansour, Oregon State University Right: Charentais Melons.

Photo credits: Bill Mansour, Oregon State University Although all melons are classified as Cucumis melo, several "botanical" or "varietal" subdivisions are recognized.

Some of these are: C. Left: Persian Melon Right: 'Snow Charm' Hami Melon. Photo credits: Bill Mansour, Oregon State Unversity SOILS AND SITE SELECTION Choose light, well-drained soils for earliest crops and reduced risk of stand establishment problems.

SEEDING Direct seed melons when soil temperatures exceed 65 F. Approximate dates are: Western Oregon: Begin direct seeding in the middle of May.

Eastern Oregon: Begin direct seeding from April 10 to May 5. SPACING Seed at a rate of 4 seeds per foot and thin to 18 inches Plant the seed 1 inch deep, and space the rows feet apart.

SEED AND SEED TREATMENT Muskmelon seed numbers approximately 19, per pound. GROUND MULCH AND ROW COVERS Black plastic ground mulch controls weeds, may increase soil temperature, conserves moisture, and protects fruit from ground rots. Soil-supported Covers Preliminary research in California indicates that soil-supported covers or mini-tunnels have been used to promote early production of some crops.

POTASSIUM K Potassium should be applied before planting or banded at planting time. MAGNESIUM Mg When the soil test value is below 1. BORON B In general, boron deficiencies are uncommon. ZINC Zn Zinc deficiencies are uncommon in Willamette Valley soils.

LIME Muskmelons are sensitive to soil acidity. The rate of lime application can be estimated from the following SMP buffer table. This outstanding variety is celebrated for its remarkable combination of sweet flavor, fine texture, prolific production, and robust hardiness. The fruits, characterized by their ridged, oval shape, typically….

Orange Flesh 76 days. The lb ribbed fruits have a helpful ripeness indicator: over hours the greenish-black rinds suddenly…. Bred specially for growing in unirrigated clay soil….

White flesh 75 days. Very prolific, best grown with trellising or support, fruit is yellow…. Salmon flesh 80 days. fruits, small seed cavities, sweet flesh. Sturdy, heavily netted rinds. Popular commercial variety. Slips vine when ripe.

Resistant to Downy and Powdery Mildew. Good keeper. Bred for downy mildew resistance and striped cucumber beetle resistance. Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. Quick Order Register Log In Search. Gourds Greens Ground Cherries Kohlrabi Leeks Lettuce Melons Okra Onions Parsnips Peanuts Peas Peppers Potatoes.

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