Description
Gourmet-worthy oriental sweet melon on full-vining plants offer up nourishing green fruit with soft, sweet, succulent flesh. Fruits weigh 5-8 lb.
How to Grow
Keep weeds under control during the growing season. Weeds compete with plants for water, space and nutrients, so control them by either cultivating often or use a mulch to prevent their seeds from germinating.
Melons have a shallow root system, mulches help retain soil moisture and maintain even soil temperatures.
Keep plants well-watered during the growing season, especially during dry spells. Plants need about 1-2 inches of rain per week during the growing season. Use a rain gauge to check to see if you need to add water. It's best to water with a drip or trickle system that delivers water at low pressure at the soil level. If you water with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems. Keep the soil moist but not saturated.
As plants grow mulch to control weeds, keep fruits off the ground and conserve moisture
Do not move the vines, they are easily injured.
Monitor for pests and diseases. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service for pest controls recommended for your area.
Tips
Allow your melons to ripen on the vine. In general fruits are ripe when they smell aromatic and when stems start to crack and the fruit slips off easily with light pressure from your thumb.
Generally, fruits are ripe when they smell fruity.
Harvest cantaloupes when the fruits change from green to yellow or tan and they break away easily from the vine.
Harvest winter melons when they turn the appropriate color and their blossom ends are soft.
Honeydew melons are ripe when the skin turns to a creamy yellow color and the blossom end is slightly soft. To avoid damage cut the honeydew off the vine with sharp shears.
Watermelons are ready to harvest when their undersides turn from white to a creamy yellow. The tendrils closest to the fruit will also turn brown and dry up and the skin will become dull and hard at harvest time.
For best flavor eat at room temperature.
Melons may be stored in the refrigerator for a short time. They will lose their flavor and color if stored too long.
