1	Specialty Melons Bill Jester Extension Specialist & Associate Dept. Horticultural Science NCSU, Kinston, NC 28501
2	What is a Specialty Melon? A melon with distinct characteristics
3	Types – Cucumis melo C. melo var. reticulatus – Gallia, Ananas, Muskmelons C. melo var. inodorus - Honeydew, Casaba, Piel de Sapo, Canary, Crenshaw, Charentais C. melo var. conomon - Oriental pickling melon.
4	Types
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7	Israeli (Galia) Type Green to Gold Generally round Slips Green Flesh Aromatic Sugars around 10 to 12%
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9	Recommendation - Galia Golan329 - Hazera Sunny Gal - Nunhems Gallicum (Standard) - Seminis Elario - Hazera
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11	Charentais(French Breakfast Melon) Gray-Green background turning to light tan with green sutures. Splitting is a large problem. Slips but needs to be harvested prior to this. Orange to salmon flesh. 12 to 15% sugars.
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14	Recommendation- Charentais HMX 9606 – Good in 2002 and 2003
15	Ananas (Persian) Green rind to Green with Gold background to gold. Slips but needs to be harvested prior to this. White flesh. 12 to 15% sugars. Extremely perishable
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18	Recommendation- Ananas Duke - Hollar Trial –Abu -Palmer
19	Canary Melon Light yellow to a dark yellow to gold White to light green flesh Does not slip. 12-15% sugars
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21	Recommendation-Juan Canary CAN-04-15 –D.Palmer Golden Beauty – Johnny’s Selected Seeds
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24	Oriental Varys in shape and size Flesh crisp and sweet Does not slip 14-20% sugars
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28	Recommendation- Oriental Sprite – Sakata Seed
29	Piel de Sapo, Christmas and Rochet Melons Long storage melon Dark green rind turning yellow green White –firm flesh 12-16% sugars Does not slip.
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31	Recommendation- Piel de Sapo or Christmas Pegasus - Sakata Sancho – Syngenta Seeds
32	Crenshaw Green turning to blotchy yellow and green. Slip is not reliable indicator of ripeness. Orange to pink soft flesh and very perishable – Roadside Stand melon. Prone to sunscald Very mild muskmelon taste, aromatic.
33	Recommendation- Crenshaw Burpee Early Hybrid
34	Hami Melon
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37	Miscellaneous Melons that don’t fit neatly in any category.
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39	Recommendation Magenta – Nunhems Take your pick!
40	Honey Dew Rind green turning white to cream sometimes with a golden blush. Flesh – light green to green. Most do not slip. Netting often indicates ripening. 14-18 % sugars Splitting a problem
41	Rocio Nunhems Seeds Average Wt.: 2003: 5.5 lbs 2004: 7.2 lbs 2005: 7.8 lbs Number/A 2003: 18840 2004: 13504 2005: 11217 Brix 2003: 11.1 2004: 12.4 2005: 12.8 Doesn’t split
42	PS 3911298 Seminis Average Wt: 2003: 4.9 lbs 2004: 6 lbs 2005: 6 lbs Number/A: 2003:14048 2004:10781 2005: 11979 Brix: 2003: 13.1 2004: 13.3 2005: 14.2 Does not split, small seed cavity, uniform sizes
43	Honey Star Nunhems Seeds Average Wt: 2003: 4.3 lbs 2004: 6.9 lbs 2005:7.3 lbs Number/A: 2003: 13721 2004: 10563 2005: 10019 Brix: 2003: 12.8 2004: 12.7 2005: 13.7 No Cracking in 2003-4, Slight yellow mottling often when ripe.
44	HDM-02-02 D. Palmer Seed Co Average Wt: 2003: 4.5 lbs 2004: 6.6 lbs 2005: 6.2 Number/A: 2003: 13721 2004: 12197 2005: 13613 Brix: 2003: 11.8 2004: 12.6 2005: 13.5 No Cracking in 2003-5
45	HMX 4593 Harris Moran Average Wt: 2004: 6.7 lbs 2005: 7.4 lbs Number/A 2004:11652 2005: 11435 Brix: 2004: 13.4 2005: 13.1 No splitting; Very Firm flesh; Excellent
46	Recommendation - Honeydews Production (Green Flesh) Rocio PS3911298 Honey Star HDM-02-02 HMX4593
47	Cultural Practices Plasticulture with Drip Irrigation We use the same fertigation schedule as cantaloupes. Water is reduced two weeks prior to harvest.
48	Research, Extension and
49	Marketing go hand in hand