Cantaloupe and Other Melon Varieties Plant Breeders Are Excited About Right Now
Compare the wide range of characteristics to find which cantaloupe varieties and other melon selections are a good fit for your vegetable operation.
-
-
1 of 13
Accolade (Syngenta Vegetable Seeds | Gowan Seed Company)
‘Accolade’ is a hybrid cantaloupe with improved internal fruit quality for extended shelf life. It has a tight seed cavity with firm flesh. Early to main season plantings. A strong and vigorous plant. Matures in 73 days.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0-2), Px (1), IR: Ag, Px (3.5), T: S
https://www.syngentavegetables.com/en-us/product/seed/melon/accolade
-
2 of 13
Cleopatra (Seneca Vegetable Research | Rupp Seeds, Inc.)
‘Cleopatra’ is a cantaloupe with consistent early fruit set. A tight seed cavity and great quality for an early variety. Suitable for local delivery, roadside stands, and fresh market. It’s great as a first early or to plant with ‘Goddess’. Brix: 11%. Matures in 70 days.
Disease package: Fom (0, 1, 2), Px (1, 2)
https://www.ruppseeds.com/vegetables/products/melons/cantaloupe/cleopatra
-
3 of 13
Collective Farm Women (Seeds by Design)
‘Collective Farm Women’ has a yellow-gold rind with extra-sweet, white flesh. Fruit is 7 to 10 inches. This delicious melon is a must have at fresh market. Matures in 80 days.
https://seedsbydesign.com/collections/melons/products/collective-farm-woman-melon
-
4 of 13
Karameza (Enza Zaden)
A concentrated set of fruit and the ability to hold in the field. ‘Karameza’ can be harvested in only two or three passes. These plants love the heat, making this cantaloupe a great fit for spring and summer crops. Fruit size mainly 9’s.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0, 1, 2), IR: Px (1, 2, 5)
https://www.enzazaden.com/us/products-and-services/our-products/melon/Karameza
-
5 of 13
Milan (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
‘Milan’ is a great option to kick off your cantaloupe season. The oblong Tuscan fruits average 5 pounds, and feature medium netting and green sutures. The flavor is distinctively aromatic, and very sweet. The fruit set is concentrated, and is among the earliest cantaloupes to ripen, making it an excellent choice for the northern tier of the U.S. Matures in 72 days.
Disease package: IR: F (0-2), PM
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/melons/cantaloupe-muskmelon/milan-f1-melon-seed-4102.html
-
6 of 13
Natal RZ (Rijk Zwaan USA | Gowan Seed Company)
‘Natal RZ’ is a Canary hybrid melon with great taste. It has good vigor, easy fruit setting, and oval fruit matures to a beautiful, shiny yellow rind. Matures in 80 to 95 days.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0, 2) IR: Gc (1), Px (2)
https://www.rijkzwaanusa.com/melon/NATAL-RZ-F1-34-152-prdCM10555-ctgCrops.melon
-
7 of 13
Niala (SEEDWAY, LLC)
‘Niala’ is a Canary melon offered for growers looking for consistently larger fruit. Also known as ‘1915’, it averages fruit in the 5- to 8- pound range. ‘1915’ is an earlier maturing variety and shows the traditional wrinkled rind typical of canary melons. Matures in 84 to 86 days.
Disease package: IR: Fom (0, 1, 2)
https://www.seedway.com/product/vm18011915-melon-treated-seed/
-
8 of 13
Solstice F1 (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc., Harris Seeds)
A large-fruited melon, with the looks of the old Eastern- type melons. ‘Solstice F1’ offers an impressive disease package. The huge 7- to 9-pound fruits have deep sutures and heavy ropey netting. High yields and outstanding eating quality have been noted in our trials. Matures in 76 days.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0, 1, 2), Px (1, 2)
https://www.harrisseeds.com/products/11216-melon-solstice-f1?variant=35441509695560
-
9 of 13
Sugar Cube (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc. | Rupp Seeds, Inc. | Stokes Seeds Inc.)
A personal- size hybrid with deep-orange flesh, amazing quality, and excellent shelf life. ‘Sugar Cube’s’ size is around 4 inches. The most disease- resistant melon on the market with exceptional taste! An Eastern shipper. Brix: 14%. Matures in 81 days.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0-2), IR: PRSV, Px (1, 2), WMV, ZYMV
https://us.stokeseeds.com/melon-0260108.html
https://www.ruppseeds.com/vegetables/products/melons/personal-size/sugar-cube
-
10 of 13
Sugar Rush (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc. | Stokes Seeds Inc.)
In ‘Sugar Rush’, quality meets size. This hybrid Eastern shippper has sweet, orange flesh and a productive plant habit. The flavor is similar to that of ‘Sugar Cube’. Brix: 15%. Matures in 73 to 75 days.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0-2), Px (1, 2)
https://us.stokeseeds.com/melon-0260132.html
-
11 of 13
Thunderstruck (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc. | Harris Seeds)
This Eastern melon can be stored longer (post harvest) than other Eastern types, while still having outstanding flavor and texture. ‘Thunderstruck F1’ weighs 5 to 7 pounds and has exceptional sweetness. Brix: 13%. Matures in 80 days.
Disease package: IR: Fom (0, 1, 2), Px (1, 2)
https://www.harrisseeds.com/products/13136-melon-thunderstruck-f1?variant=39370423140424
-
12 of 13
Triton (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
If you grow ‘Athena’, give ‘Triton’ a try. This classic Eastern shipper brings improved flavor and earlier maturity to the category. Fruits are also a more manageable size than ‘Athena’, ranging from 4 to 5 pounds. It has a smaller seed cavity, so you get more edible flesh. ‘Triton’ also has excellent crack tolerance in wet weather, and very good shelf life. Matures in 75 days.
Disease package: HR: F (0-2), IR: PM
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/melons/cantaloupe-muskmelon/triton-f1-melon-seed-4182.html
-
13 of 13
Vine Peach (Seeds by Design)
‘Vine Peach’ is a melon the size of a peach at around 3 inches. This variety is popular for making sweet pickle pies and preserves. A nice feature at fresh market. Matures in 60 to 90 days.
View all
Accolade (Syngenta Vegetable Seeds | Gowan Seed Company)
![Accolade (Syngenta Vegetable Seeds | Gowan Seed Company)](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Accolade-cantaloupe-from-Syngenta-300x200.jpg)
Cleopatra (Seneca Vegetable Research | Rupp Seeds, Inc.)
![Cleopatra (Seneca Vegetable Research | Rupp Seeds, Inc.)](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Cleopatra_melons-300x169.jpg)
Collective Farm Women (Seeds by Design)
![Collective Farm Women (Seeds by Design)](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/w_Collective-Farm-Women_Melon_Seeds-by-Design_gallery-300x169.jpg)
Karameza (Enza Zaden)
![Karameza (Enza Zaden)](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/P15_karameza-2-300x225.jpg)
Milan (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
![Milan (Johnny's Selected Seeds)](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Milan-Melon_-_Johnny_s-Selected-Seeds_gallery-300x199.jpg)
Natal RZ (Rijk Zwaan USA | Gowan Seed Company)
![Natal RZ (Rijk Zwaan USA | Gowan Seed Company)](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/NATAL-RZ_Melon_Stokes-Seeds-300x200.jpg)
Niala (SEEDWAY, LLC)
![Niala (SEEDWAY, LLC)](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Niala-Melon-SEEDWAY_gallery-300x169.jpg)
Solstice F1 (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc., Harris Seeds)
![Solstice F1 (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc., Harris Seeds)](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Solstice-Melon-Harris-Seeds_gallery-300x169.jpg)
Sugar Cube (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc. | Rupp Seeds, Inc. | Stokes Seeds Inc.)
![Sugar Cube (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc. | Rupp Seeds, Inc. | Stokes Seeds Inc.)](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/w_195S-Melon-Sugar-Cube_gallery.jpg)
Sugar Rush (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc. | Stokes Seeds Inc.)
![Sugar Rush (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc. | Stokes Seeds Inc.)](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Sugar-Rush-Melon-from-Rupp-Seeds-Inc.-Stokes-Seeds-and-Gowan-Seed-300x200.jpg)
Thunderstruck (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc. | Harris Seeds)
![Thunderstruck (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc. | Harris Seeds)](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/w_Thunderstruck-Melon_Osborne_gallery-300x169.jpg)
Triton (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
![Triton (Johnny's Selected Seeds)](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Triton-Melon_-_-Johnnys_gallery-300x169.jpg)
Vine Peach (Seeds by Design)
![Vine Peach (Seeds by Design)](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/w_Vine-Peach_Melon_Seeds-by-Design_gallery-300x169.jpg)
Disease Code Key
- Ag: Cotton aphid
- Fom: Fusarium wilt caused by the specified races of Fusarium oxysporumf.sp.melonis
- MNSV: Melon necrotic spot virus
- Px: Powdery mildew
- Px (ex Sf): Powdery mildew caused by the specified races of Sphaerotheca fuliginea
- S: Sulfur burn caused by the application of some sulfur-based pesticides
- ZYMV: Zucchini yellow mosaic virus
- PRSV: Papaya ringspot virus
- WMV: Watermelon mosaic virus
Subscribe Today For
![Subscribe For Newsletter](https://www.growingproduce.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/newsletter-widget-image-2.png)
Carol Miller is Editor of American Vegetable Grower. See all author stories here.