18 Melons You Will Want To Know and Grow Now
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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Amaltea RZ F1 (Rijk Zwaan USA)
‘Amaltea RZ’ is an early black sugar baby. The strong internal quality sets its’ appealing deep-red flesh. ‘Amaltea RZ’ provides high yields with an excellent taste, high sugar and strong against tip burn. Matures in 78 to 82 days.
Disease package: Hb, TB
https://www.rijkzwaanusa.com/watermelon/AMALTEA-RZ-F1-prdCL10188-ctgCrops.watermelon
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Ambassador (Seneca Vegetable Research, Rupp Seeds)
‘Ambassador’ is larger than other galia melons. It has high brix and enhanced fruit firmness for excellent storage ability. Ideal for main season when great tasting melons are desired. Matures in 76 days.
Region: USA and Canada
Disease package: Fom (0, 1, 2), Px (1, 2)
https://www.ruppseeds.com/vegetables/products/melons/mixed-specialty/ambassador
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Arangina (Seminis Vegetable Seeds)
This mid-early maturity variety offers high and continuous fruit setting with a protected plant thanks to a strong disease package. It produces high-quality fruit with excellent internal and eating characteristics, including deep-flesh color, a small cavity, thin rind, good firmness, and strong shipping ability. It’s well suited for multi-harvest systems, it provides extended shelf life, outstanding aroma and flavor, and fruit that appeals to Northeast customers. Matures in 55 days.
Region: Northeast
Disease package: HR: F, IR: Ag, PM
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Arava F1 (Genesis Seeds Ltd., Osborne Seed Company)
Classic Galia melon with excellent sweet flavor and tender flesh. Arava F1’s netted skin will turn yellow and fruit will slip when ripe. Vigorous plants have good leaf coverage. Matures 77 days from transplant.
Disease package: IR: PM
https://www.osborneseed.com/products/arava-f1-organic-melon-seeds
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Griselet (Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
‘Griselet’ is a Charentais melon. It has exquisite flavor, succulent, sweet, creamy and smooth. It practically melts in your mouth. The sweetness is accented with hints of exotic spice. This hybrid version of the heirloom 'Petit Gris de Rennes' looks and tastes like the French original, but is protected by modern disease resistance. Unique greenish-yellow, green-sutured rind attracts attention, as does the intoxicating scent. Griselet’ can be cut from the vigorous, healthy vines when skin yellows and rind gives slightly from your touch. Matures in 75 days.
Region: Widely adapted
Disease package: IR: AB, HR: Fom (0 - 2)
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Hermosa Beach (Rijk Zwaan USA, Stokes Seeds Inc.)
‘Hermosa Beach’ is an early hybrid Harper melon. It’s an aromatic extended shelf life melon. It’s large in size and has high yields. A high brix percentage with good firmness, and high percentage of 9's.
Region: North America
https://us.stokeseeds.com/hybridmelon-hermosabeachrz-0260137.html
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Honey Blonde (Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
A honeydew that’s delicious and different. ‘Honey Blonde's eye-catching yellow rind, pairs with its equally bright-orange flesh. The attractive oval fruits average 3 – 3.5 pounds. Despite the unique appearance, the fruit have the excellent sweetness, thick texture, and mild melon flavor you would expect of the best traditional green-fleshed honeydew. Plants are strong and vigorous and perform well in warm or cool weather. Great for less experienced growers, or those growing in areas with less predictable weather. Matures in 71 days.
Region: Widely adapted
Disease package: IR: PM
https://www.johnnyseeds.com/fruits/melons/honeydew-melons/honey-blonde-f1-melon-seed-3640.html
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Jadeite (HM.CLAUSE)
‘Jadeite’ is an early maturing honeydew with an early, excellent Brix. A sweet taste in cool to warm plantings. It is very uniform, with smooth exterior and concentrated set. ‘Jadeite’ is well-adapted to the dry and hot growing regions.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0, 2), IR: Px (1, 2)
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Melondade F1 (Earthwork Seeds, Gowan Seed Company, Harris Seeds)
This unique melon has a distinct lemon-lime flavor with standard cantaloupe flesh color and texture. ‘Melonade’ is a repeat favorite in our taste tests. The 4 to 5 pound oval fruit has pronounced sutures and medium netting. This melon is ready to cut from the vine when they become pale green to yellow and the nearest tendril has dried. An excellent specialty variety for fresh market! Matures in 70 to 75 days.
Region: Well-adapted
Disease package: HR: Fom (0-2), IR: Px
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Orange Sherbet (Lark Seeds International, Gowan Seed Company)
‘Orange Sherbet’ is a hybrid Tuscan melon. Its high sugars, moderate fiber, and aromatics combine into one of the best tasting melons. An attractive looking fruit. Matures in 85 days.
Disease package: IR: Fom (1 ,2), Px (2), WMV
https://gowanseed.com/collections/melon-tuscan/products/melon-tuscan-hybrid-orange-sherbet
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Petit Gris de Rennes (Seeds by Design)
‘Petit Gris de Rennes’ is a French heirloom variety. It has a dark grey-green rind and sweet orange flesh. The average weight is 2 to 3 pounds. A standout at fresh market. Matures in 85 days.
Region: All USA
https://seedsbydesign.com/products/melon-seeds-petit-gris-de-rennes
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Sensation (Hollar Seeds, Rupp Seeds)
A one-of-a-kind melon that will amaze you with its taste, texture, sweetness, and aroma. These factors, along with high yield, make ‘Sensation’ a perfect addition to any roadside market. Matures in 85 days.
Region: USA
Disease package: Fom (0, 1, 2), Px
https://www.ruppseeds.com/vegetables/products/melons/mixed-specialty/sensation
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Silverbeauty (BASF/Nunhems)
‘Silverbeauty’ delivers exceptional flavor and clean appearance. An early-main honeydew melon.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0, 1, 2); IR: Px (1, 2, 5)
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Silverock (BASF/Nunhems)
‘Silverock’ is a honeydew that features firm texture and versatility in different conditions. A mid-late variety.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0,2), IR: Px (1, 2), Ag
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Sugar Cube F1 (Seneca Vegetable Research, Harris Seeds, Stokes Seeds)
Mini! ‘Sugar Cube’ is a small, personal-sized 2 melon that offers the best disease package that any melon variety has to offer. Although ‘Sugar Cube’ is small, it's big on taste with its deep-orange flesh that has a superb eating quality. A 14% Brix. The round fruit have medium netting and no sutures. They hold up well in cold storage after harvest. An Eastern shipper cantaloupe. Matures in 81 days.
Region: North America, well-adapted
Disease package: HR: Fom (0, 1, 2), IR: Px (1, 2), ZYMV, PRSV, WMV
https://www.harrisseeds.com/products/11575-melon-sugar-cube-f1?variant=15436019269704
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Sweet Spot (HM.CLAUSE)
‘Sweet Spot’ is a mid-early honeydew with concentrated yields of melons in the 5's and 6's range. It has a very smooth exterior, good shape for consumer appeal. ‘Sweet Spot’ is a strong plant, well adapted for the main growing season.
Disease package: HR: Fom (0, 2), IR: Px (1) (US)
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Tirreno F1 (Enza Zaden, Osborne Quality Seeds)
This is the Tuscan melon you have been looking for! It is a main season heavy producer of beautiful 2.5 to 3.5 pound fruit. The round to slightly high-round melons have uniform sutures and thick netting. The dark-green sutures form a bright yellow stripe on their edges, to let you know it is the perfect time to pick. The flesh is a very rich orange with crisp texture and an excellent sweet flavor. The Brix on this melon is 13 to 15°. Matures 80 days from transplant.
Disease package: HR: F, Fom (0-2), MNSV, IR: PM
https://www.osborneseed.com/products/tirreno-f1-organic-melon-seeds
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White Crenshaw ( Seeds by Design)
‘White Crenshaw’ is a melon with excellent foliage and creamy white flesh. Matures in 100 days. A nice variety for fresh market.
Region: All USA
https://seedsbydesign.com/products/melon-seeds-white-crenshaw
View all
Amaltea RZ F1 (Rijk Zwaan USA)
Ambassador (Seneca Vegetable Research, Rupp Seeds)
Arangina (Seminis Vegetable Seeds)
Arava F1 (Genesis Seeds Ltd., Osborne Seed Company)
Griselet (Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
Hermosa Beach (Rijk Zwaan USA, Stokes Seeds Inc.)
Honey Blonde (Johnny’s Selected Seeds)
Jadeite (HM.CLAUSE)
Melondade F1 (Earthwork Seeds, Gowan Seed Company, Harris Seeds)
Orange Sherbet (Lark Seeds International, Gowan Seed Company)
Petit Gris de Rennes (Seeds by Design)
Sensation (Hollar Seeds, Rupp Seeds)
Silverbeauty (BASF/Nunhems)
Silverock (BASF/Nunhems)
Sugar Cube F1 (Seneca Vegetable Research, Harris Seeds, Stokes Seeds)
Sweet Spot (HM.CLAUSE)
Tirreno F1 (Enza Zaden, Osborne Quality Seeds)
White Crenshaw ( Seeds by Design)
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 Content Lead of American Vegetable Grower®, a Meister Media Worldwide publication. See all author stories here.