Magnificent Melons You Will Want To Know and Grow
With so many juicy options, it can be hard to choose what melon and cantaloupe varieties to grow. So, why not just try them all? Scan the photo gallery of melon and cantaloupe varieties from major seed companies and take your picks.
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Ambassador (Seneca Vegetable Research, Rupp Seeds)
‘Ambassador’ is larger than other galia specialty melons. It has a high brix and enhanced fruit firmness for excellent storage ability. Ideal for main season when great tasting melons are desired. Matures in 76 days.
Disease package: Fom (0,1,2), Px (1,2)
https://www.ruppseeds.com/vegetables/products/melons/mixed-specialty/ambassador
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Chiriaco RZ (Rijk Zwaan USA, Holaday Seed Company)
‘Chiriaco RZ’ is a fresh market type honeydew melon with possibilities of dual purpose. It has concentrated setting and durable for mechanical harvesting. Matures in 75 to 120 days, depending on region.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0,2), IR: Px (ex SF) (2,3,5)
https://rijkzwaanusa.com/vegetable-seeds/melon-ctgCrops.melon
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Collective Farm Women (Seeds by Design)
‘Collective Farm Women’ is a melon with a yellow rind. It has extra sweet white flesh. A unique name for a delicious melon. A crowd stopper at fresh market! Matures in 83 days.
https://seedsbydesign.com/products/collective-farm-woman-melon
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Crackerjack (Enza Zaden)
‘Cracker Jack’ is a dark, crimson-stripe, seedless watermelon. A very strong vine provides good fruit cover, and the plant has continuous fruit setting ability. The uniform fruit has a nice, blocky-oval shape, a firm deep-red interior, and small pips. ‘Cracker Jack’ is recognized by growers and brokers alike for its’ outstanding yields, sweetness and flavor. This variety is mostly 45s with some 36s, and average weights are 15 to 18 pounds. An early maturity of 81 to 83 days.
Disease package: IR: Fon (0,1), Co (1)
https://www.enzazaden.com/us/products-and-services/our-products/watermelon/Cracker%20Jack
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5 of 17
Full Moon (US Agriseeds, Gowan Seed Company, Stokes Seeds Inc.)
An attractive round hybrid with a small cavity, and superior eating quality. It produces excellent high quality fruit on a strong plant, with a smooth, creamy-white exterior. ‘Full Moon’ is a honeydew variety for eastern production. Most other varieties will not produce quality fruits within our short season. The average weight is 3.5 to 4.5 pounds. Matures early at 82 days.
Disease package: IR: Fom (2), Px (2)
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Golden Giant (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
‘Golden Giant’ is a large fruited Korean melon. It is revered for early maturity, crunchy texture, and sugary flavor. A much different eating experience from the typical cantaloupe! ‘Golden Giant’ fruits average 9 to 10 inches long and 2.5 pounds. Bred to perform in cooler climates, this variety is an excellent choice (if your local climate is too cool) for cantaloupe. Cut from the vine when the fruits darken slightly, to a golden yellow. Matures in 60 days.
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/melons/asian-melons/golden-giant-f1-melon-seed-4627.html
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Infinite Gold (Sakata Seed America, Gowan Seed Company)
‘Infinite Gold’ is a hybrid Harper LSL melon. It’s bred for strong performance and long shelf life, without sacrificing great flavor and fruit quality. This round-oval beauty is 9 to 12 pounds. It has strong vines, high yield potential and uniform size and shape. Matures in 85 days.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0-2), Px (1,2)
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Melondade (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
‘Melonade’ is a delicious specialty melon with a sweet kick of citrus flavor. Tart and tangy like a fresh glass of lemonade! It’s still sweet and aromatic with a pleasant, melting texture reminiscent of a premium quality ‘Charentais’ melon. ‘Melonade’ features vigorous vines and good disease resistance. Cut from the vine when fruits become pale green-to-yellow color. Matures in 70 days.
Disease package: HR: F (0-2), IR: PM
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/melons/cantaloupe-muskmelon/melonade-f1-melon-seed-4473.html
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Natal RZ (Rijk Zwaan USA, Stokes Seeds Inc.)
‘Natal RZ’ is a beautiful canary melon with great taste. It has good vigor, easy fruit setting, and strong leaf cover that protects against sunburn. Matures in 80 to 95 days.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0-2), IR: Gc (1), Px (2)
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Niala (SEEDWAY, LLC)
‘Niala’ is a canary melon offered for growers looking for consistently larger fruit. ‘1915’ averages fruit in the 5 to 8 pound range. ‘Niala also known as 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/
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Rio Grande (Enza Zaden)
‘Rio Grande’ is a high yielding, dark-green, mottle-striped, seedless watermelon with an oval shape. This Crimson possesses a large leaf and strong aggressive vine. It has an intense, red colored interior and high sugar content, with small pips. Its’ good fruit setting ability and plant strength make this hybrid grower friendly. Matures in 84 to 85 days.
Disease package: IR: Fon (0,1)
https://www.enzazaden.com/us/products-and-services/our-products/watermelon/Rio%20Grande
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Shockwave F1 (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc., Harris Seeds)
‘Shockwave’ is a long shelf life (LSL) Harper-type melon. It offers growers holding ability for a more controlled pick. A great eating quality with firm sweet (15% Brix) orange flesh. The oval-shaped fruit are smooth and non-sutured, with a very tight seed cavity. Matures in 85 days.
Disease package: IR: F, PM
https://www.harrisseeds.com/products/12194-melon-shockwave-f1?variant=39983889875016
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Sunshine 628 (BASF | Nunhems)
‘Sunshine628’ is a round-to-oval cantaloupe. It has a non-sutured, nettled appearance with orange color flesh. It’s a main-to-late variety.
Disease package: HR: AG, Fom (0,1); IR: Fom (2), Px (0,1,5)
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Super Nectar (Sakata Seed America, Rupp Seeds)
An excellent main season honeydew with smooth, dense flesh and savory flavor. ‘Super Nectar’s’ vine is vigorous and adds good cover and protection from sunburn. It has good brix and firmness. Matures in 90 days.
Disease package: F, PM
https://www.ruppseeds.com/vegetables/products/melons/mixed-specialty/super-nectar
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Tweety F1 (Lark Seeds International, Harris Seeds)
A large canary melon with fruit weighing 4 to 6 pounds. ‘Tweety’ has a bright yellow exterior and pale, ivory-green flesh. It’s mild, sweet, and aromatic. Matures in 70 days.
Disease package: IR: Fom (1,2) GSB, AB
https://www.harrisseeds.com/products/12989-melon-tweety-f1?variant=39988512063560
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Vine Peach (Seeds by Design)
‘Vine Peach’ is a unique heirloom variety, the size of a peach! It has a yellow rind and white flesh. A big audience at fresh market! Matures in 60 to 90 days.
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Western Jewell (BASF | Nunhems)
‘Western Jewell’ is a round-to-oval shaped cantaloupe. It’s non-sutured with a nettled appearance. It has an attractive, orange flesh color and is a main-to-late variety.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0,1,2), IR: Px (1,2,5)
View all
Ambassador (Seneca Vegetable Research, Rupp Seeds)
Chiriaco RZ (Rijk Zwaan USA, Holaday Seed Company)
Collective Farm Women (Seeds by Design)
Crackerjack (Enza Zaden)
Full Moon (US Agriseeds, Gowan Seed Company, Stokes Seeds Inc.)
Golden Giant (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
Infinite Gold (Sakata Seed America, Gowan Seed Company)
Melondade (Johnny's Selected Seeds)
Natal RZ (Rijk Zwaan USA, Stokes Seeds Inc.)
Niala (SEEDWAY, LLC)
Rio Grande (Enza Zaden)
Shockwave F1 (Seneca Vegetable Research, Inc., Harris Seeds)
Sunshine 628 (BASF | Nunhems)
Super Nectar (Sakata Seed America, Rupp Seeds)
Tweety F1 (Lark Seeds International, Harris Seeds)
Vine Peach (Seeds by Design)
Western Jewell (BASF | Nunhems)
DISEASE CODES
- HR: High resistance
- IR: Intermediate resistance
- T: Tolerant
- Ag: Cotton Aphid
- Co: Anthracnose, caused by the fungus Colletotrichum orbiculare
- Bl: Downy mildew (Bremia lactucae)
- F: Fusarium Wilt
- Fom: Fusarium Wilt caused by specified races of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis
- Fon: Fusarium Wilt caused by specified races of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Niveum
- GSB: Gummy Stem Blight, also known as block rot; caused by Didymella bryoniae
- PM: Powdery mildew
- PRSV: Papaya ringspot virus Curcubitaceae
- Px: Powdery mildew caused by Podosphaeria xanthii (ex Sphaerotheca fuliginea)
- Sf: Powdery mildew caused by Sphaerotheca fuliginea
- WMV: Watermelon mosaic virus Cucurbitaceae
- ZYMV: Zucchini yellow mosaic virus Cucurbitaceae
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Carol Miller is the Lead Editor of American Vegetable Grower®, a Meister Media Worldwide publication. See all author stories here.