11 Tasty Cantaloupe and Other Melon Varieties Worth Trying
Compare these varieties’ regions, disease-resistance packages, and other features to find the right ones for you.
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Accolade
A tight seed cavity and extra-firm dark-orange flesh provides longer shelf life. It is tolerant to Fusarium races 0-2 and PM races 1-2, plus sulfur burn and cotton aphids. Oval, netted fruits weigh 5 to 6 pounds (2¼ to 2¾ kilograms) and are very high in soluble sugars (Brix). Matures in 74 days. Available from Stokes Seeds.
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Astound
Astound is an eastern shipper that features improved flesh firmness, a tighter seed cavity, and an improved disease package for main- to late-season plantings. The 5-6 pound oval fruit have a firm orange flesh, high-quality appearance, and improved shelf life. Available from Harris Seeds and Rupp Seeds.
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Buena Vista
An orange-flesh honeydew melon is for seasonal production territories in North America. Fruit size class is 5’, 6’. Firmness is 5 to 6 psi, Brix 14% to 16%. Bright white skin and salmon-orange flesh is complemented with a nice, tight cavity. Good field holding ability. Maturity: California 60 to 90 days; southwest U.S. desert 80 to 95 days; Mexico and Central America 60 to 70 days. It is ideal for fresh and process markets. Available from American Takii.
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Cayucos Beach RZ
Cayucos Beach RZ has high resistance to Fusarium races 0, 1, and 2 and intermediate resistance to powdery mildew races 2, 3, and 5. It weighs between 4½ to 5½ pounds and matures in 75 to 105 days. This variety is best suited for production in the West, Central, and East Coast regions of the U.S. Available from RijkZwaanUSA.com.
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Full Moon
Full Moon is bred by US Agriseeds and distributed by Siegers Seed Co. This honeydew has resistance to Fusarium wilt and powdery mildew. It weighs between 3½ to 4½ pounds and matures in 82 days. Full Moon has a small cavity, superior eating quality, and produces high-quality fruit on a strong plant. Available from VoloAgri.com and Siegers.com.
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Divergent
Johnny’s first organic hybrid cantaloupe is conveniently sized, at 3½ to 4 pounds. The heavily netted fruits have an excellent, sweet and aromatic flavor and are borne on plants with powdery mildew and Fusarium wilt resistance. Bred and trialed specifically for organic cropping systems. Organic seed. Available from Johnny's Selected Seeds.
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Gemma
Gemma, an exclusive Canary melon from Clifton Seeds, has crisp flesh that is ivory to pale green in color with high Brix. It also has a disease resistance/tolerance to Fusarium wilt (races 1 and 2), Alternia, and gummy stem blight. I matures at 75 to 79 days, at which point it will weigh 7 to 9 pounds. It's ideal for growing in the East and Southeast. Available from Clifton Seed Company.
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Infinite Gold
Infinite Gold has been bred for long shelf life and strong performance without sacrificing great quality and taste. Vigorous plants produce a high-yield potential of uniform, round/oval fruit with firm, dark orange flesh. Infinite Gold has high resistance to Fusarium wilt races 0 to 2 and powdery mildew race 2. Available from Sakata Seed America, Rupp Seeds, and Clifton Seed Company.
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Karameza
Karameza boasts a higher yield, to be faster harvesting, with a longer shelf life, and a lasting flavor. This cantaloupe is highly resistant to Fusarium wilt (races 0, 1, and 2), powdery mildew (races 1, 2, and 5). It reaches maturity in 80 to 95 days, and is best suited for the Desert Southwest and the Central Valley of California. Bred by Enza Zaden and distributed by TS&L Seed.
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Sweet Peridot
Sweet Peridot is a main-season melon for the San Joaquin Valley, Central America, and Mexico, this melon's firmness measures 6 to 7.5 psi, Brix 14% to 16% with size class of 5 and 6. It is resistant to Fusarium (races 0 and 2), and has intermediate resistance to powdery mildew, strong against sulfur. Ideal for domestic fresh and process markets. Available from American Takii.
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Tonga
All of the characteristics of a traditional western shipper, but with the benefit of longer shelf life. Tonga has a vigorous, healthy plant, with earlier-maturing fruit, beautiful internal flesh, with excellent taste, flavor, and Brix. It provides harvest flexibility with great post-harvest capabilities. Available from HM Clause.
View all
Accolade
Astound
Buena Vista
Cayucos Beach RZ
Full Moon
Divergent
Gemma
Infinite Gold
Karameza
Sweet Peridot
Tonga
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Carol Miller is Editor of American Vegetable Grower. See all author stories here.