8 Must-Have Melons
This month’s variety specs feature focuses on the latest cantaloupe and melon varieties. Some of the features highlighted include disease resistance packages, days to maturity, yield potential, shelf life, and regions best suited for production.
Stay tuned for next month’s feature where we will be highlighting some of the latest leafy greens varieties.
Caribbean King RZ (34-757)
Breeder: Rijk Zwaan
Type: Harper
Weight: 4.4 to 5.5 pounds
Disease resistance/Tolerance: High resistance to Fusarium wilt; intermediate resistance to powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea now Podosphaeria xanthii) races 2, 3, and 5
Days to maturity: 80 to 110 days
Yield potential: 1,000-plus cartons per acre
Region(s) best suited for production: Widely adaptable
Brix level: High
Other attributes: Very high yield, deep-orange flesh, long shelf life, concentrated set, and less labor. Most suitable in the late season. Sizes 9s and 12s
Delightful F1
Breeder: Seeds By Design
Type: Tuscan
Weight: 4.5 to 5 pounds
Days to maturity: 85
Region(s) best suited for production: Northeast
Other attributes: High sugars and flavor
Dynamic
Breeder: Syngenta
Type: Fresh
Disease resistance/Tolerance: High resistance to Fusarium wilt caused by specific races of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis races 0, 1, and 2; melon necrotic spot; powdery mildew caused by specific races of Sphaerotheca fuliginea
Days to maturity: 85 to 90 days
Yield potential: High
Region(s) best suited for production: Open field cultivation in California and Central America
Other attributes: Doesn’t slip off of the vine, allowing sugars to optimize for flavor. Non-climacteric melon features reduced ethylene production and improved shelf life.
Syngenta-US.com/Seeds/Vegetables
Durawest F1
Breeder: Nunhems/Bayer CropScience
Type: hybrid extended shelf life netted melon
Weight: 4 to 6 pounds
Disease resistance/Tolerance: Tolerant to Fusarium and powdery mildew
Days to maturity: Mid to late
Region(s) best suited for production: Excellent for main season in Mexico and the U.S.
Other attributes: Round to oval shape, medium netting, high-quality orange flesh and excellent Brix and seed cavity. Flesh firmness: 6 PSI, medium to large vine, and good vigor
Nunhems.com
Ever Summer SV6239MF
Breeder: Seminis
Type: Harper
Disease resistance/Tolerance: Fusarium race 0, 1, and 2; aphid resistance
Days to maturity: Dependent on the growing environment
Yield potential: Dependent on the growing environment
Region(s) best suited for production: Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Honduras
Other attributes: Ever Summer hybrid SV6239MF combines improved quality, competitive agronomic characteristics demanded of the winter melon market.
9 to 12 melons per box.
Infinite Gold
Breeder: Sakata Seed America
Distributors on the East Coast: Clifton Seed Company and Rupp Seeds
Distributor on the West Coast: TS&L Seed
Type: Long shelf life (LSL) cantaloupe
Weight: 5 to 7 pounds (9s and 12s)
Disease resistance/Tolerance: Fusarium races 0 and 2; powdery mildew race 2
Days to maturity: mid-maturing, 84
Yield potential: Good
Region(s) best suited for production: Arizona, California, Mexico, Australia
Other attributes: Strong vines, uniform size and shape, excellent fruit quality; LSL melon that doesn’t sacrifice flavor
or firmness
SakataVegetables.com
RuppSeeds.com
Sweet Gal F1
Breeder: Golden Valley Seed
Type: Melon Galia GVS 31071 F1 Hybrid
Weight: Mini melons weigh between 1.1 to 2.2 pounds
Disease resistance/Tolerance: Fusarium wilt race 1 and 2; powdery mildew race 1 and 2
Days to maturity: 70, very early
Yield potential: High yields, semi-fine net on yellow/green rind
Region(s) best suited for production: Southern U.S.
Brix level: High
Other attributes: Tasty and sweet; light-green flesh; can be grown in net houses, greenhouses, tunnels, and in the open field
GoldenValleySeed.com
Sweet Peridot
Breeder: Takii & Company, Ltd.
Type: hybrid honeydew
Weight: 5.8 to 5.11 pounds
Disease resistance/Tolerance: Fusarium races 0 and 2
Days to maturity: 97 to 102 after sowing
Yield potential: High yield potential, sizing mostly 6s and 8s
Region(s) best suited for production: California’s Central Valley
Other attributes: Firm green flesh: 6 to 7.5 PSI; 14% to 15% Brix; smooth milky-white skin