Types and varieties of melons: growing melons in Germany

Did you know that melons can also grow in Germany? In our overview we introduce you to the best types and varieties of melons for the garden at home.

Melons come in countless types and variations - many of them are known in this country and are very popular, especially in summer. But what types of melons are there anyway? And how are they divided? The melons that go with the cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae) are divided into two types: Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) with their green to yellow skin and the watery red, orange to yellow pulp as well as sugar melons (Cucumis melo). The latter include the universally popular honeydew melon with its sweet scent, the fragrant reticulated melon, the pineapple melon with a smooth skin and the Cantaloupe melon with their bright orange pulp. But despite the great temptation, not all melon varieties are suitable for cultivation in our latitudes. We will introduce you to suitable types and varieties of melons that also grow in Germany.

Melon species: an overview of all species

Melons can be divided into two types, the sugar melons and the watermelons. While the watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) stand on their own, can be found under the rubric of sugar melons (Cucumis melo) four subspecies:

• Honeydew melon (Cucumis melo var. inodorus)
• Net melon (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus)
• Smooth melon or pineapple melon (Cucumis melo var. saccharinus)
• Cantaloupe melon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis)

by the way: Water melons and sugar melons are both called melons, but botanically they are not very closely related. In fact, the melon (Cucumis melo) a closer relationship with the cucumber (Cucumis sativus) than with the watermelon.

Can you grow melons in Germany?

Melon species and varieties that are not very sensitive to the cold and ripen early are particularly suitable for cultivation in Germany. There are suitable varieties for outdoor cultivation of watermelons as well as cantaloupe and honeydew melons. In addition to the choice of variety, however, there are other points to consider. In order for them to ripen safely here, melons should be preferred on the windowsill from March onwards. Planting out should be done in the greenhouse, as with tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), from the beginning of May. Melons are allowed outside from mid-May after the ice saints. Melons love warmth and a protected location, and this also applies to varieties that are more cold-tolerant. They thrive particularly well with a heat-retaining rock or wall in the back. They should be given enough space so that they can spread out well with their tendrils.

Melons tend to grow and, like zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. pepo), male and female flowers. They grow as a long tendril, on the side shoots of which the flowers and later fruits develop. Sugar melons, like cucumbers, can be raised upwards. However, the heavy fruits must be supported. Melons are hungry for nutrients, but their roots are shallow and have little access to nutrients in the lower soil layers. You will therefore particularly benefit from a superficially incorporated, primarily organic slow-release fertilizer for vegetables such as ours Plantura organic tomato fertilizer. The plant-based granulate is slowly decomposed by soil organisms and thus releases its nutrients in small quantities. After about two months, you should re-fertilize and keep the soil slightly moist. Mulching using plant material reduces evaporation and the fruits do not lie directly on the ground. A wooden disc can also be used for this, on which the melons rest until harvest.

Types and varieties of melons for Germany

In Germany, water, pineapple, honey and cantaloupe melons are mainly grown. The best Watermelon varieties can be found in our special article. In the following, we will show you the varieties that are suitable for Germany for growing sugar melons.

Sugar melons for growing in Germany

Sugar melons can be divided into four subspecies, of which only the particularly demanding net melons are not grown in Germany. Particularly early varieties should be selected for cultivation in our latitudes. Here we present suitable varieties for cultivation in Germany.

• 'Pineapple': This crunchy variety with yellow pulp is one of the cold-tolerant varieties; its fruity-sweet taste is reminiscent of pineapple. It forms its own subspecies of the smooth melon or pineapple melon.
• ‘Blenheim Orange’: This variety of honeydew melon bears oval fruits that can weigh up to 1 kg. It impresses with its strongly fragrant, sweet pulp and reliable yield.
• "Charentais": This French cantaloupe produces small, round fruits with orange pulp. It has a particularly sweet, aromatic taste. Its fruits reach a weight of about 0.5 to 1.5 kg, the skin is greyish with green stripes when ripe.
• ‘Oka‘: A historic honeydew melon variety from 1912 from the Canadian town of Oka. It becomes sweet even in cooler summers and bears palm-sized, gray-green fruits with deep-orange flesh.
• ‘Oliwin‘: This oval honeydew melon, which weighs up to 1 kg, forms a smooth, white skin over pale green flesh. The Polish variety was selected for cold tolerance and ripens from early to mid-August. The taste of the honeydew melon is aromatic and fruity.

• ‘Rich Sweetness‘: A small melon variety from the former Soviet Union with a dark orange color and sun-yellow stripes. The creamy white pulp of the many palm-sized honeydew melons tastes sweet and juicy and can easily be spooned.
• ‘Sweet Granite‘: A honeydew melon that was specially bred for climatically unfavorable areas with short summers. This variety is orange-yellow on the outside and inside and has a good sweetness. It should be based on a breed by Prof. Elwyn Meader of the University of New Hampshire.
• ‘Zuccherino‘: This Italian cantaloupe melon forms oval, yellowish fruits with dark green stripes early on. Their flesh is orange-yellow in color and tastes aromatic and sweet.

There is now a large selection of melon varieties for our latitudes, both for outdoors and for cultivation in the greenhouse. Because of the different ripening times, it is worth growing several varieties. In this way you can harvest a wide variety of sweet melon fruits over the summer. Precise instructions and tips for the Cultivation of melons You can find it in our special article.