14 Stand-Out Melon Varieties [Slideshow]

Posted by Lauren María Alexander|September 15, 2014

Valley Dew

Valley Dew is a main season, green flesh honeydew melon with great uniformity. Round, slightly oval with a small seed cavity and firm, sweet, green flesh, Valley Dew is resistant to Fusarium races 0 and 2. Its strong vine protects the fruit from sunburn and extends fruit set. Available from American Takii.

Cananas

Cananas F1 is a new hybrid with sparse netting, an oval shape, and excellent shipping ability. The exterior is golden yellow and the interior is creamy white and it has 23% Brix. The average size is 9 inches long by 6 inches wide, and it weighs between 3 to 3.5 pounds. It matures in approximately 98 days. It’s resistant to Fusarium races 0-2, and powdery mildew. Available from Golden Valley Seed.

GVS 212

This melon has medium netting and is round with a yellow-orange exterior. Interior coloring is light green near the center to dark green near the rind, and it’s very sweet and juicy. It matures in 85 days, the average size is 2 to 3 pounds, and it’s suitable for both outdoor and greenhouse production. It’s resistant to powdery mildew and Fusarium wilt races 0-2. Available from Golden Valley Seed.

Bronco

This larger main season western cantaloupe has a superior eating quality, excellent flavor profile, and semi-concentrated maturity and performs extremely well under stressful conditions. Available from Harris Moran.

Fiji

With its reliable and consistent field performance, uniformity, high Brix, excellent flesh and ability to be harvested without sacrificing quality or yield, Fiji is a hit with growers; while shippers and retailers love Fiji’s excellent shelf life which reduces shrink and increases shipping and storage. Available from Harris Moran.

Summer Dew

This delightful honeydew has a uniform shape with firm, excellently colored flesh with high Brix and a wonderful flavor profile. With mid-season maturity and a vigorous plant, this melon is a great addition to your field. Available from Harris Moran.

Sarah's Choice

Sarah’s Choice's sweet and juicy flesh has consistently been a winner in our trials. Its flavor, combined with its attractive oval fruits and ideal 3-lb. size, make it the best variety for retail sales. Intermediate resistance to fusarium wilt races 0, 1, and 2; and powdery mildew. Bred by Brent Loy, Univ. of NH, and offered exclusively by Johnny’s. Available from Johnny's Selected Seeds.

Infinite Gold

The newest trend in cantaloupe, this variety has been bred for long shelf life and strong performance without sacrificing great quality and taste. The vigorous plant produces a high yield potential of uniform, round/oval fruit with firm, dark-orange flesh. Infinite Gold has high resistance to Fusarium wilt races 0-2 and powdery mildew race 2. Available from Sakata and Clifton Seeds.

Alaniz Gold

Alaniz Gold (SME2778) is a Western Shipper with main season maturity. This variety has excellent firmness, good interior color, and maintains size uniformity with a high percentage of 9's. It also has very strong vines. Alaniz Gold performs well in the California Central Valley. Available from Sakata.

Aphrodite

Early maturing Athena type
Larger fruit size
Improved fruit net
Average fruit weight 6-7 pounds
Approximately 72 days to maturity
Performs well in Midwest plantings. Available from Syngenta.

Athena

Industry standard recognized by name
Proven performance with high quality and good flavor
Average weight of 5-6 pounds
Approximately 75 days to maturity. Available from Syngenta.

El camino

Large fruit (mostly 9s) with thick, medium dark flesh
Good net coverage
Excellent interior quality with medium-tight cavity
Good vine strength and disease resistance package. Available from Syngenta.

Gold Desire

Very firm, dark orange flesh with closed cavity
Consistent, uniform large shape
Very dense fruit netting
Main-season fresh market western shipper. Available from Syngenta.

Gold Express

Medium to large fruit with superior appearance
Excellent flavor and internal quality
Tight seed cavity and firm, dark-orange flesh
Designed for prolonged harvest conditions. Available from Syngenta.

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Browse the slideshow above for information on these exceptional melon varieties from the nation’s leading seed breeders and distributors.