Melons
Melons are notoriously difficult to grow in Wisconsin’s northern climates, with unreliable flavor if the season is not hot enough. We have focused on short season cantaloupe and galia melons. We have found some good cantaloupe types, and continue to search for galia melons that are commercially available and reliable in Wisconsin.
Table Key
Best | Good | Acceptable | Poor |
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Cantaloupe
Divergent (F1)
BREEDER
Vitalis Organic Seeds
DESCRIPTION: Very early. Highest yield in WMARS. Low susceptibility to powdery mildew. Rated best for texture and tied with orange sherbet for flavor in crew evaluation.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: Johnny’s Selected Seeds External Link and High Mowing Organic Seeds External Link
Flavor | Production | Disease | Earliness |
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● | ● | ● | ● |
First Kiss (F1)
BREEDER
Dr. Brent Loy, University of New Hampshire
DESCRIPTION: Yielded a little less than other cantaloupes but good flavor and very low susceptibility to powdery mildew.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: High Mowing Organic Seeds External Link
Flavor | Production | Disease | Earliness |
---|---|---|---|
● | ○ | ● | ● |
Orange Sherbet (F1)
DESCRIPTION: Very large fruit. Fairly easy for a novice to tell ripeness. Some issues with cracking. Best yielding in Spooner. Moderately susceptible to powdery mildew. Tied with Divergent for flavor in crew evaluation.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: Multiple companes
Flavor | Production | Disease | Earliness |
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● | ● | ○ | ● |
Dakota Sisters (OP)
BREEDER
Theresa and David Podoll
DESCRIPTION: Early open pollinated melon. Good yield in Madison, lower in Spooner. Susceptible to powdery mildew. Good flavor. Open Source Seed Initiative.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: Prairie Road Organic Seeds External Link
Flavor | Production | Disease | Earliness |
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● | ● | ● |
Serenade (F1)
BREEDER
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
DESCRIPTION: Early and reliable small melon. Good yield in Madison and Spooner. Susceptible to powdery mildew. Good flavor.
SEED AVAILABLE FROM: Johnny’s Selected Seeds External Link
Flavor | Production | Disease | Earliness |
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● | ● | ● |