Melons: origin, species and variety

The watermelon is probably the most famous melon. But there are many more delicious ways. We bring light into the darkness of the variety of melons.

Melons are among the most popular fruits in summer and their cultivation is enjoying increasing growth in Germany. Whether served in a fruit salad or simply chilled - from watermelon to honeydew melon, the exotic fruit refreshes with a sweet and fruity flesh. But which others Types and varieties of melon besides these two, does the melon actually exist and where does the melon originally come from?

Melons: origin and characteristics

Nowadays, melons are grown all over the world, mostly in the warmer regions of Asia. However, all types of melon originally come from West to Central Africa, where they have been known for over 3000 years. Over time, the different types of melon have spread across Africa and Asia to the Mediterranean. In addition to the cultivated forms, wild forms also occur in Africa and Australia.

Contrary to popular belief, melons are not fruit, but vegetables. The decisive factor here is not the sweet taste, but whether the plant grows as an annual or perennial. Since melons have to be replanted every year, it is therefore a vegetable. More information can be found in our article “Why are watermelons a vegetable?“. But the different types and varieties of melon can also differ greatly in terms of taste. In the following we present the different variations.

Melons: variety and species

When people talk about melons, they refer to two different types: The watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and the cantaloupe (Cucumis melo). Although both belong to the cucurbit family (Cucurbitaceae) and are called melons, they are not very closely related. Curiously, there is a closer relationship between the cantaloupe melon and the cucumber than between the two types of melon. Overall, muskmelons show greater diversity than watermelons, which are either cultivated (Citrullus lanatus var. lanatus) or the wild form(Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) appear.

The following overview is intended to give an overview of the melon types and different varieties:

watermelon (Citrullus lanatus)

1. Citrullus lanatuslanatus: Cultivated form
2. Citrullus lanatuscitroides: Wild form

Popular varieties for growing melons are:

Bush Sugar Baby

• New breed derived from Sugar Baby
• Early ripening with smaller fruits: 2 - 4 kg (1 - 2 fruits per plant)
• Red flesh with a dark skin
• Plant remains quite compact (1 sqm per plant)

Crimson Sweet

• Widespread and popular variety worldwide
• Oval and light green fruits. High fruit weight: 5-8 kg
• Aromatic, light red flesh
• Good resistance to leaf blight and other fungal diseases
• 1.5 - 2 sqm per plant

cantaloupe melon (Cucumis melo)

1. honeydew melon (syn. Yellow Canary, Amarillo)
2. netted melon (incl. galia melon)
3. cantaloupe melon (incl. Charentais)
4. Futomelone (syn. Piel de Sap, Santa Claus melon, Christmas melon)
5. Korean melon (syn. Makuwa, Chamoe)
6. Oriental Pickling Melon

Popular varieties for cultivation are:

Giallo Canaria 3

• Yellow canary melon
• Oval and yellow fruits
• White and sweet flesh
• 1.5 sqm per plant

Bari F1

• Cantaloupe melon
• Round fruits with orange flesh and gray skin
• Very aromatic
• 1-2 square meters per plant

Hale's best

• netted melon
• Round fruits with a white-grey net structure as a shell
• Orange to red flesh
• 1-2 square meters per plant

Stellio F1

• Charentais melon
• Round, gray fruits
• Strongly scented
• 1-2 square meters per plant

Melon varieties: find suitable varieties

With this large selection of species and varieties, it is not easy to choose the most suitable melon for growing in the garden. The decision should be made according to personal taste and needs. Since melons are heat-loving plants, you should also select a suitable variety for cultivation in Germany. Here you will find the right one melon variety for your garden.

Once you have found a suitable strain, the next step is that planting the melons. In this article you will find helpful tips on location, care and harvest.