Where do the individual species come from?

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The botanical assignment of the melons

Botanically they all belong Types of melons to the cucurbit family (Cucurbitaceae). The plants can be distinguished from pumpkin plants at first glance, as their leaves are usually slightly pinnate and less regularly heart-shaped. As with pumpkins and melons after the Fruit ripeness all parts of the plant die off completely and the plant in the next season completely new Seeds grow up, strictly speaking it is a vegetables and not about fruit.

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The origins of the different types of melons

Most botanists assume that all Types of melons originate in Africa. The tsamma melon is considered to be the original form of the various varieties of watermelon and is still found today as a wild plant in West and Central Africa. However, this was Type of melon in the past not because of the bitter-tasting pulp, but because of the many

Seed kernels as a base for flour and oil on ships as durable food taken away. This also laid the foundation for today's distribution, as melons found new areas of distribution in overseas areas as well as in the early cultural areas in ancient Egypt and Persia. Sugar melons as the Charentais melon and the Honeydew melon are now common in tropical areas of Australia, Asia and South America, but their ancestry is probably also based on melon forms from Africa.

Today's melon growing areas

Most Types of melons can now be offered in stores all year round, as they are available in different growing areas around the world at different times ripe will. Due to their high weight, however, watermelons of the heavy Crimson Sweet varieties are usually only available in this country during the season available from May to September from the following European growing areas:

  • Spain
  • Hungary
  • Italy
  • Turkey

Sugar melons such as the Charentais melon are widespread in southern France, the honeydew melon is Due to their extensive cultivation in the Canary Islands, sometimes also called Yellow Canary designated.

Tips & Tricks

Since the imported fruits often have to be harvested early due to their long transport route, you should buy theirs Maturity check by the sound and color of the peel.

WK