Melon types and varieties: Growing melons in Germany

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

Melons come in countless varieties and variations - many of which are well-known in this country and very popular, especially in summer. But which types of melons are there anyway? And how are they divided? The melons, which belong to the cucurbit family (Cucurbitaceae) are divided into two types: watermelons (Citrullus lanatus) with their green to yellow skin and water-containing red, orange to yellow flesh, as well as sugar melons (Cucumis melo). The latter include the ever-popular honeydew melon with its sweet scent, the wispy netted melon, the smooth-skinned pineapple melon and the Cantaloupe melon with their bright orange flesh. But despite the great temptation, by no means all melon varieties are suitable for cultivation in our latitudes. We will introduce you to suitable melon types and varieties that also grow in Germany.

Types of melon: All types at a glance

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

• honeydew melon (Cucumis melo var. inodorus)
• netted melon (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus)
• Smooth Melon or Pineapple Melon (Cucumis melo var. saccharine)
• cantaloupe melon (Cucumis melo var. cantalupensis)

by the way: Watermelons and cantaloupes, while both called melons, are not very closely related botanically. In fact, the cantaloupe (Cucumis melo) a closer relationship with the cucumber (Cucumis sativus) than with the watermelon.

Can you grow melons in Germany?

Types and varieties of melons that are less sensitive to cold and ripen early are particularly suitable for cultivation in Germany. There are varieties of watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew melon suitable for outdoor cultivation. In addition to the choice of variety, there are other points to consider. Melons should be placed on the windowsill from March so that they can ripen safely here. Planting out should be done in the greenhouse, as with tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), happen from the beginning of May. Melons are allowed outdoors from mid-May after the ice saints. Melons love warmth and a sheltered location, this also applies to cold-tolerant varieties. They do best with a heat-retaining rock or wall behind them. They should be given enough space to spread their tendrils well.

Melons are climbing and usually have, like the zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. pepo), male and female flowers. They grow as a long tendril, with flowers and later fruit developing on the side shoots. Sugar melons, like cucumbers, can be guided upwards. However, the heavy fruits need to be supported. Melons are nutrient hungry, but they have shallow roots and little access to nutrients in the lower layers of soil. They particularly benefit from a superficially incorporated, primarily organic slow-release fertilizer for vegetables, like ours Plantura organic tomato fertilizer. The plant-based granulate is slowly decomposed by soil organisms and thus releases its nutrients in small amounts. After about two months it should be fertilized and the soil should always be kept slightly moist. mulching with plant material reduces evaporation and the fruit does not lie directly on the ground. A wooden disc can also be used for this, on which the melons lie until they are harvested.

Types and varieties of melon for Germany

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

Sugar melons for cultivation in Germany

Sugar melons can be broken down into four subspecies, of which only the particularly demanding netted melons are not grown in Germany. For cultivation in our latitudes, early-ripening varieties should be selected. Here we present suitable varieties for cultivation in Germany.

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

• 'Rich Sweetness': A small melon variety from the former Soviet Union with dark orange coloring and sunny yellow stripes. The creamy-white flesh of the many palm-sized honeydew melons tastes juicy and sweet and can be eaten with a spoon.
• 'Sweet Granite': A honeydew melon specially bred for climatically unfavorable areas with short summers. This variety is orange-yellow on the outside and inside and has a good sweetness. She is said to be bred by Prof. Elwyn Meader of the University of New Hampshire.
• 'Zuccherino': This Italian cantaloupe forms early oval, yellowish fruits with dark green stripes. 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 outdoor and greenhouse cultivation. 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 throughout the summer. A detailed guide and tips for the cultivation of melons can be found in our special article.