Melons

Rating:

80%

1 Review

A flavorful old Amish heirloom that was collected by the members of Seed Savers Exchange. It has a rich, sweet muskmelon flavor that reminds you of the way melons tasted long ago. Fruit is oval and weigh 4-7 pounds each; the flesh color is orange. A good producer!

Armenian Yard-Long Cucumber
CU169

Rating:

86%

38 Reviews

(Cucumis melo) Light green, mild tasting, deeply ribbed fruit. The elongated fruit yields uniform, easily digestible, fluted slices. They are apt to twist and coil growing on the ground, but develop nice and straight when hanging from a trellis. Fruit reaches over 24 inches long, but is best harvested at about 15 inches. This classic Armenian “cucumber” is actually a melon genetically.

Banana Melon
AML113

Unique, sweet, citrus-like taste! 95 days. Oblong fruit is brownish-green and netted outside, lime green within. In our trials the flavor was an unusual, a very delicious, sweet-tart combination with a distinct citrus taste. The name simply means “old melon from Samarra,” which is a city in northern Iraq. Original seed was furnished by our friend, Iraqi seed collector Nael Aziz, who writes that this variety is known to have been grown in the Abbasid Period over one thousand years ago! Endangered due to war and America’s aggressive promotion of patented seeds in Iraq.

Rating:

83%

30 Reviews

90 days. Banana-shaped fruit with smooth, yellow skin; and sweet, spicy, salmon-colored flesh. 16-24 inches long, 5-8 lbs. It was listed in 1885 by J. H. Gregory’s Catalogue, which said, “When ripe it reminds one of a large, overgrown banana... It smells like one, having a remarkably powerful and delicious fragrance.” This is one of my all-time favorites, being very sweet and great for specialty markets.

Bateekh Samara Melon
OML142

$5.00

Rating:

80%

10 Reviews

Charentais Melon
ML114

Rating:

84%

78 Reviews

85 days. A famous superb heirloom French melon--super sweet and very fragrant. Light grey-green skin, smooth round 2-to 3-lb fruit, bright orange flesh. These are top sellers at high-dollar markets. This is always a favorite here. We just love the sweet flesh that is so firm.

Crane Melon
AML130

Rating:

100%

1 Review

85 days. Delicious Crenshaw type melons have sweet, fine flavored pale orange flesh. The green-skinned rind develops orange spots when ripe. Each fruit weighs 4 lbs. This famous California heirloom was introduced in 1920 by Oliver Crane, whose family has been farming near Santa Rosa for six generations.

Out of stock

Eden's Gem (Rocky Ford Green-Fleshed) Melon
AML109

$2.50

Rating:

84%

9 Reviews

90 days. An old heirloom variety, from 1881. This old-timer is still a popular green flesh muskmelon, with a heavily-netted rind and smooth, sweet-flavored flesh. Fruits weigh 2-3 lbs. A good keeper; has firm flesh. From Colorado.

Ginger's Pride Melon
AML141

Rating:

94%

7 Reviews

This gargantuan melon is the largest we offer! Huge, oblong fruit averages 14-22 lbs. each! The skin is green, turning yellowish when ripe. The flesh is very sweet, melting, and of excellent quality. The vines set heavy yields. This variety was sent to us by Rev. John R. Johnson from his Indiana garden. Named for his granddaughter, it has been in his family for many years, originating in Kentucky. This is a melon to proudly display at market or the county fair!

Golden Honeymoon Melon
AML119

Rating:

91%

7 Reviews

92 days. A honeydew melon with a brilliant, gold rind and delicious green flesh; unique flavor. Two weeks earlier than regular Honeydew; excellent yields. Will rarely sunburn; a great keeper, unique and rare!

Out of stock

Golden Jenny Melon
AML133

Rating:

98%

9 Reviews

An outstanding golden meated version of Jenny Lind, developed by long-time friend and the late master seed saver, Merl Neidens. Short vines just go wild producing these succulent, sweet 2 lb. beauties. Give this one a try at upscale markets. Early and productive.

Ha'ogen Melon
OML150

Rating:

94%

17 Reviews

75-80 days (Also known as Israel Melon) An excellent-tasting, early melon and our favorite for texture. Commonly thought to have originated in Israel, where its name means “anchor” but may have actually originated in Hungary. Flavorful green flesh; good yields of nearly round, 3-4 lb fruit; a beautiful melon! Very fragrant. A long-time favorite of the Gettle family (also from Hungary).

Out of stock

Hale's Best 45 Melon
AML101

$2.50

Rating:

92%

12 Reviews

85 days. A classic, silky-fleshed super sweet market musk melon from the early 20th century. In 1923 I.D. Hale encountered this variety in Imperial County, near Brawley, Calif., being grown by a Japanese American market farmer. This sweet, smooth, orange fleshed-musk melon has been a staple for home and market growers since!

Out of stock

Hearts of Gold Melon
AML115

Rating:

87%

6 Reviews

85 days. An orange fleshed muskmelon dating back to around 1890. Quality 2-3 lb. netted fruit with firm, sweet, tasty flesh; one of the first “modern type” melons. It was once very popular.

Honeydew Orangeflesh Melon
AML104

Rating:

97%

7 Reviews

98 days. Has the crisp and crunchy texture of a honeydew with fragrant orange flesh and a complex musk melon/honeydew flavor! Light green, smooth skin; cantaloupe colored orange flesh. A unique twist with sublime flavor!

Out of stock

Honeydew Tam Dew Melon
AML103

Rating:

56%

5 Reviews

100 days. A perfect mix of impressive hardiness and deluxe flavor. This prolific, uniform and disease-resistant variety is dripping with sugary honeydew flavor. Beautiful, ivory-green fruit is bright green and has good shipping and storing quality.

Kajari Melon
JS235

$4.50

Rating:

83%

63 Reviews

This amazing early Indian melon was collected by Joseph Simcox. The fruit is a brilliant copper-red and is striped in green and cream, making this an extremely unusual and beautiful melon. The pale green flesh is sweet, aromatic and slightly musky in taste. Joe believes that this melon originated in the Punjab, and he spent more than 8 years trying to find seeds of this extremely interesting variety. Vine produces lots of 2 lb fruit.

Out of stock

Kiku Chrysanthemum Melon
OML117

Rare Marvel from Japan! This historic melon is named for the Japanese Chrysanthemum flower, which it is said to resemble. One of the best melons we found in Japan, with an incredibly unique flavor. A very rare, early and beautifully productive, small, white, creamy melon that has mellow flesh. It tastes like Greek yogurt with a hint of lychee; the flavor has also been compared to pear. The origin of Kiku melon is the Makuwa Uri melon which came from China to Japan sometime in antiquity.

Rating:

90%

10 Reviews

Madhu Ras, Rajasthan Honey Melon
JS257

$4.00

Rating:

98%

17 Reviews

This is a small but delicious melon from Rajasthan, India. The name Madhu Ras means honey melon, an appropriate name for such a sweet fruit. These melons thrive in the hot and dry conditions of western India, and they will grow in similar conditions in the U.S. One of our favorites in trials, the flesh is soft and silky with a classic muskmelon taste. This is a rare find brought to us from Botanical Explorer Joseph Simcox, who found this special heirloom at a market in Delhi, India.

Out of stock

Mango Melon (Vine Peach)
OML115

Rating:

73%

8 Reviews

Grow your own delicious fruit for pies in 70 days! Fruit taste of honeydew melon and peach when cooked in desserts. The 3-inch fruit is the size of a peach, with a yellow rind and fruity-tasting white flesh. This variety was very popular in Victorian times for making sweet pickles, pies, and preserves. Developed in China and introduced into America in the 1880s. You can find easy recipes for melon pie online.

Minnesota Midget Melon
AML140

This micro melon is a very early heirloom, introduced in Minnesota in 1948. Measuring just 4 inches across, they have sweet, orange flesh and are perfect miniature versions of the “classic muskmelon.” Compact, 3-4-foot vines produce good yields of sweet orange orbs. Jere Gettle remembers eating these as a child in the 1980s in the mountains of Montana. They were the only melon that would grow in the mountain climate, and Jere remembers harvesting them with his father, cutting open the palm-sized fruit and savoring the sweet, succulent flesh.

Rating:

91%

55 Reviews

Noir de Carmes Melon
ML109

Rating:

74%

17 Reviews

80 days. This sugary melon has rightfully remained a popular choice in France for centuries. This variety was long ago preserved by Carmelite monks in France, at least since the 1800s but likely longer. This round/oblate, slightly ribbed 1.5 to 4-pound fruit has a sweet, juicy orange flesh and was a favorite of the “Maraichers” or vegetable farmers of Paris’ green belt in the 19th century.

Old Time Tennessee Melon
AML142

Rating:

90%

14 Reviews

An old favorite of mine. Produces huge, oblong melons that weigh 12-14 lbs and have a deeply creased rind. Their orange flesh is superior, being loaded with unique fruity undertones and a sweetness not often found in modern melons. High sugar content. Fragile melons are not good keepers but are winners with gourmet foodies. This old Tennessee heirloom was almost lost to modern gardens.

Petit Gris de Rennes Melon
ML104

85 days. Dense, 2-lb fruit has orange flesh that is superbly sweet, flavorful, and perfumed. This variety is early and well adapted to cool climates. The fruit weighs around 2 lbs and has a grey-green rind. This fine French variety is of the best quality and is the favorite melon of the French melon expert and author Bruno Defay. Rare in the USA. One of our most requested market melons; specialty growers love them because they command top prices! We continue to receive rave reviews about this melon, which is surely one of the best Charentais types.

Rating:

96%

39 Reviews

Prescott Fond Blanc Melon
ML102

Rating:

81%

16 Reviews

Rich Sweetness 132 Melon
OML126

85 days. A favorite Asian variety of Dr. Amy Goldman, author of Melons for the Passionate Grower. These small 3 to 4 inch round melons are very sweet with a high sugar content. Oriental varieties open a whole new dimension to melons as they are amazingly different. Crisp and crunchy; they have edible skins. Their small size and light, golden rind make them very attractive. This fine Japanese variety was developed by Sakata’s Seed Co., of Yokohama. This is a must for marketing. They are in high demand by melon lovers and command top prices! Rare and colorful.

Rating:

69%

36 Reviews

A tiny and wondrous melon from the Soviet Union. Vibrant in color, intense sweet aroma and juicy, honeydew-like flesh make this a favorite edible ornamental. Allow the vines to climb a trellis or a fence, and you will be rewarded with luminous, striped fruit about the size of a tennis ball. Its whimsical eye appeal and intoxicating scent will transform landscape and garden designs into a fairy land, but the fruit isn't just photogenic; it's also deliciously sweet and juicy in texture! The vines produce a large yield, early in the season.

Sakata's Sweet Melon
OML102

$2.50

Rating:

97%

18 Reviews

Out of stock

Small Persian
OML112

Rating:

93%

3 Reviews

A mouth-watering delicacy from ancient times, its superior taste and texture make this a top melon in our tasting trials. Each fruit weighs about 5 pounds with netted skin and thick, orange flesh dripping with honey sweet flavor. This Persian heirloom is thought to be the progenitor of the modern-day cantaloupe, and it has been a popular choice for centuries. One of Jere Gettle’s favorite melons to eat as a child, this heirloom has held a special place in many gardeners’ hearts as the granddaddy of all American-style cantaloupes! The Persian melon was a standard in early American gardens, and remained popular throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, but recently this melon has all but disappeared from the seed trade and is becoming quite rare. We are determined to save this supremely good variety that was a choice fruit of the great Persian empire.